LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


977.355 

B29 


I.H.S. 


: 


THE 


HISTOEY 


Meaard  i  Mason  Counties, 


CONTAINING 


A   History  of   the  Counties — their  Cities,  Towns,  &c. ;    Portraits  of 
Early  Settlers  and  Prominent  Men;  General  Statistics;   Map 
of  Menard  and  Mason  Counties;   History  of  Illinois, 
Illustrated;    History    of    the    Northwest,  Illus- 
trated; Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
Miscellaneous  Matters,  &e.,  &e.,  <&e. 


CHICAGO: 
0.  L.  BASKIN  &  CO.,  HISTORICAL  PUBLISHERS,  186  DEARBORN  STREET. 

1879. 


PREFACE. 


TN  presenting  our  History  of  Menard  and  Mason  Counties,  we  deem  a  few  prefato: 
words  necessary.  We  have  spared  neither  pains  nor  expense  to  fulfill  our  engageme 
with  our  patrons  and  make  the  work  as  complete  as  possible.  We  have  acted  upon  tl 
principle  that  justice  to  those  who  have  subscribed,  be  they  few  or  many,  requires  th 
the  work  should  be  as  well  done  as  if  it  was  patronized  by  every  citizen  in  the  count 
We  do  not  claim  that  our  work  is  entirely  free  from  errors ;  such  a  result  could  not  1 
attained  by  the  utmost  care  and  foresight  of  ordinary  mortals.  The  General  History 
Menard  County  was  compiled  by  Rev.  R.  I).  Miller,  of  Petersburg,  and  the  Genei 
History  of  Mason  County  by  Gen.  J.  M.  Ruggles,  of  Havana,  and  the  Townships 
Mason  City  and  Salt  Creek  by  J.  C.  Warnock,  and  the  balance  of  the  Townships 
our  historians,  W.  H.  Perrin  and  D.  M.  Blair.  Some  of  the  Township  Histories  a 
indeed  longer  than  others,  as  the  townships  are  older,  containing  larger  cities  and  towi 
and  have  been  the  scenes  of  more  important  and  interesting  events.  While  ful 
recognizing  this  important  difference,  the  historians  have  sought  to  write  up  ea 
township  with  equal  fidelity  to  the  facts  and  information  within  their  reach.  V 
take  this  occasion  to  present  our  thanks  to  all  our  numerous  subscribers  for  th< 
patronage  and  encouragement  in  the  publication  of  the  work.  In  this  confident  beli< 
we  submit  it  to  the  enlightened  judgment  of  those  for  whose  benefit  it  has  be' 
,  believing  that  it  will  be  received  as  a  most  valuable  and  complete  work. 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


CHICAGO: 
CULVKB,  PAGE,  HOYNE  A  CO.,  PRINTERS, 

118  and  190  Monroe  Street. 


62 


A 


CONTENTS. 


1* 


PAGE. 

.History  Northwest  Territory 19 

Geographical 19 

Early  Exploration 20 

Discovery  of  the  Ohio 32 

English    Explorations    and  Settle- 
ments   34 

American  Settlements 59 

Division  of  the   Northwest  Terri- 
tory    65 

Tecnmseh  and  the  war  of  1812 79 


HISTORICAL,. 

PAGE. 
Black  Hawk  and  the  Black  Hawk 

War 73 

Present  Condition    of   the  North- 
west... .  ...  79 


History  of  Illinois 88 

Coal 103 

Compact  of  1787 95 

History  uf  Chicago 110 

Early  Discoveries 88 

Early  Settlements 94 


PAGE. 

Education 107 

First  French  Occupation 91 

Genius  of  La  Salle 92 

Material  Resources 102 

Massacre  ot  Fort  Dearborn 117 

Physical  Features 99 

Progress  of  Development 101 

Religion  and  Morals 106 

War  Record  ot  Illinois 108 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 

Source  of  the  Mississippi 22 

Mouth  of  the  Mississippi 31 

La  Salle  Landing  on  the  Shore  of 

Green  Bay 24 

Buffalo  Hunt 26 

Trapping 28 

Pontiac,  the  Ottawa  Chieftain 42 

Indians  Attacking  Frontiersmen...  55 
A  Pioneer  Dwelling 60 


PAGE. 

Lake   Bluff 62 

Tecumseh,  the  Shawuee  Chieftain...  68 

Indians  Attacking  a  Stockade 71 

Black  Hawk,  the  Sac  Chieftain 74 

Kinzie  House 87 

Lincoln  Monument,  Springfield,  111.  80 

A  Pioneer  School  House 81 

High  Bridge  and  Lake  Bluff 33 


PAGE. 
Hunting     Prairie    Wolves    at   an 

Early  Day 85 

Staiwed  Rock,  on  the  Illinois  River, 

-  La  Salle  County,  III 89 

Chicago  in  1833 82 

Old  Fort  Dearbron  in  1830 79 

Present  site  of  Lake  Street  Bridge, 

Chicago,  in  1833 58 

Shabbona 121 


lll.>  \KI>    COUNTY    HISTORY. 


PAGE. 
General  History  of  Menard  County. .189 

Athens  Precinct 328 

Green  view  Precinct 344 


PAGE. 
Indian  Creek  Precinct 366 


Petersburg. 
Rock  Creek 


PAGE. 
Sugar  Grove  Precinct 356 


Sandridge 
,.383  ,  Tallula 


.375 
,.316 


MASON    COUNTY    HISTORY. 


PAGE.  ; 
General  History  of  Mason  County..391  < 

Allen's  Grove  Township    603 

Bath  "         564 


Crane  Creek 
Forest  City 


PAGE. 

Havana   Township 501 

Kilbourne      " 614 

Lyftchburg     "        652 


,.660     Mason  City 
.645     Manito 


,.536 

..587 


PAGE- 

Pennsylvania  Township 680 

Quiver  "         634 

Salt  Creek  "         (525 

Sherman  "       i>70 


LITHOGRAPHIC    PORTRAITS. 


PAGE. 

Abbott,  J.  B 565 

Dieffenbacher,  Daniel 493 

Greene,  W.  G 259 

Greene,  Mrs.  W.  G 295 


PAGE. 

Houchin,  Jackson 601 

Krebaum,  A 457 

Lincoln,  Abraham 187 

Lacey,  Lyman 


Greene,  Miss  Kate  Y 331     Powell,  David 529 


PAGE 

390 

367 

637 

Tice,  John 223 


Ruggles,  J.  M., 

Spears,  J.  Q 

Smith,  M.  A 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF     111  >  VKI>    COUNTY. 


PAGE.  PAGE. 

Athens  Precinct 719    Petersburg  Precinct 687 

Greenview  Precinct 727    Rock  Creek  Precinct 749 

Indian  Creek  Precinct 742    Sugar  Grove  Precinct 736 


PAGE. 

Sandridge  Precinct 747 

Tallula   Precinct 707 


IV 


CONTENTS 


BIOGRAPHICAL,    SKETCHES    OF     MASOX     COUNTY. 


PAGE.  I                                                      PAGE.  PAGE. 

Allen's  Grove  Township 836    Kilbourne  Township 801    Pennsylvania  Township 851 

Bath  Township 812    Lynchburg  Township 858    Quiver  Township 819 

Crane  Creek  Township 855  I  Mason  City  Township 784    Salt  Creek  Township 843 

Forest  City  Township 848    Manito  Township 829    Sherman  Township 860 

Havana  Township 752 


ABSTRACT    OF    ILLINOIS    STATE    LAWS. 


PAGE. 

Adoption  of  Children 132 

Bills  of  Exchange  and  Promissory 

Notes 123 

County  Courts 127 

Conveyances 136 

Church  Organizations 157 

Descent 123 

Deeds  and  Mortgages 129 

Drainage 135 

Damages  from  Trespass 139 

Definition  of  Commercial  Terms 143 

Exemptions  from  Forced  Sale 128 

Estrays '. 129 

Fences 138 

Forms: 

Articles  of  Agreement 145 

Bills  of  Purchase 144 

Bills  of  Sale 146 

Bonds 146 


PAGE. 
Forms : 

Chattel  Mortgages 147 

Codicil 157 

Lease  of  Farm  and   Build- 
ings  149 

Lease  of  House 150 

Landlord's  Agreement 150 

Notes 144 

Notice  Tenant  to  Quit 151 

Orders 144 

Quit  Claim  Deed 153 

Receipt 144 

Real  Estate  Mortgaged  to  Secure 

Payment  of  Money 151 

Release 154 

Tenant's  Agreement 150 

Tenant's  Notice  of  Leaving 151 

Warranty  Deed 152 

Will 155 


PAGE. 

Game ....130 

Interest 123 

Jurisdiction  of  Courts 126 

Limitation  of  Action 127 

Landlord  and  Tenant 139 

Liens 142 


Married  Women 127 

Millers 131 

Marku  and  Brands 131 

Paupers 136 

Roads  and  Bridges 133 

Surveyors  and  Surveys 132 

Suggestions  to  Persons  Purchasing 

Books  by  Subscription 158 

Taxes....  126 


Wills  and  Estates 124 

Weights  and  Measures 130 

Wolf  Scalps 136 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


PAGE. 

Map  of  Menard  and  Mason  Coun- 
ties   Front 

Constitution  of  the  U.  S *160 

Electors  of  President  and  Vice  Pres- 
ident  172 

Practical  Rules  for  Every  Day  Use.173 
U.  8.  Government  Land  Measure. ..176 
Agricultural  Productions  of   Illi- 
nois by  Counties,  1870 186 

Surveyors'  Measure 177 


PAGE. 

How  to  Keep  Accounts 177 

Interest  Table 178 

Miscellaneous  Tables ITS 

Names  of  the  States  of  the  Union 

and  their  Signification 179 

Population  of  the  United  States 180 

Population  of  Fifty  Principal  Cities 

of  the  United  States 180 

Population  and  Area  of  the  United 

States 181 


PAOE. 

Population  of  the  Principal  Coun- 
tries in  the  World 181 

Population  ol  Illinois 182-183 

State  Laws  Relating  to  Interest 184 

State  Laws  Relating  to  Limitations 

of  Actions 185 

Population  of  Menard  and  Mason 

Counties 872 

Business  Directory 863 

Errata 862 


THE    NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 


GEOGRAPHICAL    POSITION. 

When  the  Northwestern  Territory  was  ceded  to  the  United  States 
by  Virginia  in  1784,  it  embraced  only  the  territory  lying  between  the 
Ohio  and  the  Mississippi  Rivers,  and  north  to  the  northern  limits  of  the 
United  States.  It  coincided  with  the  area  now  embraced  in  the  States 
of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  and  that  portion  of 
Minnesota  lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  River.  The  United 
States  itself  at  that  period  extended  no  farther  west  than  the  Mississippi 
River ;  but  by  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  in  1803,  the  western  boundary 
of  the  United  States  was  extended  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the 
Northern  Pacific  Ocean.  The  new  territory  thus  added  to  the  National 
domain,  and  subsequently  opened  to  settlement,  has  been  called  the 
"  New  Northwest,"  in  contradistinction  from  the  old  "  Northwestern 
Territory. " 

In  comparison  with  the  old  Northwest  this  is  a  territory  of  vast 
magnitude.  It  includes  an  area  of  1,887,850  square  miles ;  being  greater 
in  extent  than  the  united  areas  of  all  the  Middle  and  Southern  States, 
including  Texas.  Out  of  this  magnificent  territory  have  been  erected 
eleven  sovereign  States  and  eight  Territories,  with  an  aggregate  popula- 
tion, at  the  present  time,  of  13,000,000  inhabitants,  or  nearly  one  third  of 
the  entire  population  of  the  United  States. 

Its  lakes  are  fresh-water  seas,  and  the  larger  rivers  of  the  continent 
flow  for  a  thousand  miles  through  its  rich  alluvial  valleys  and  far- 
stretching  prairies,  more  acres  of  which  are  arable  and  productive  of  the 
highest  percentage  of  the  cereals  than  of  any  other  area  of  like  extent 
on  the  globe. 

For  the  last  twenty  years  the  increase  of  population  in  the  North- 
west has  been  about  as  three  to  one  in  any  other  portion  of  the  United 
States. 

(19) 


20  THE    NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


EARLY    EXPLORATIONS. 

In  the  year  1541,  DeSoto  first  saw  the  Great  West  in  the  New 
World.  He,  however,  penetrated  no  farther  north  than  the  35th  parallel 
of  latitude.  The  expedition  resulted  in  his  death  and  that  of  more  than 
half  his  army,  the  remainder  of  whom  found  their  way  to  Cuba,  thence 
to  Spain,  in  a  famished  and  demoralized  condition.  DeSoto  founded  no 
settlements,  produced  no  results,  and  left  no  traces,  unless  it  were  that 
he  awakened  the  hostility  of  the  red  man  against  the  white  man,  and 
disheartened  such  as  might  desire  to  follow  up  the  career  of  discovery 
for  better  purposes.  The  French  nation  were  eager  and  ready  to  seize 
upon  any  news  from  this  extensive  domain,  and  were  the  first  to  profit  by 
DeSoto's  defeat.  Yet  it  was  more  than  a  century  before  any  adventurer 
took  advantage  of  these  discoveries. 

In  1616,  four  years  before  the  pilgrims  "  moored  their  bark  on  the 
wild  New  England  shore,"  Le  Caron,  a  French  Franciscan,  had  pene- 
trated through  the  Iroquois  and  Wyandots  (Hurons)  to  the  streams  which 
run  into  Lake  Huron  ;  and  in  1634,  two  Jesuit  missionaries  founded  the 
first  mission  among  the  lake  tribes.  It  was  just  one  hundred  years  from 
the  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  by  DeSoto  (1541)  until  the  Canadian 
envoys  met  the  savage  nations  of  the  Northwest  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary, 
below  the  outlet  of  Lake  Superior.  This  visit  led  to  no  permanent 
result;  yet  it  was  not  until  1659  that  any  of  the  adventurous  fur  traders 
attempted  to  spend  a  Winter  in  the  frozen  wilds  about  the  great  lakes, 
nor  was  it  until  1660  that  a  station  was  established  upon  their  borders  by 
Mesnard,  who  perished  in  the  woods  a  few  months  after.  In  1665,  Claude 
Allouez  built  the  earliest  lasting  habitation  of  the  white  man  among  the 
Indians  of  the  Northwest.  In  1668,  Claude  Dablon  and  James  Marquette 
founded  the  mission  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary,  and  two 
years  afterward,  Nicholas  Perrot,  as  agent  for  M.  Talon,  Governor  Gen- 
eral of  Canada,  explored  Lake  Illinois  (Michigan)  as  far  south  as  the 
present  City  of  Chicago,  and  invited  the  Indian  nations  to  meet  him  at  a 
grand  council  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie  the  following  Spring,  where  they  were 
taken  under  the  protection  of  the  king,  and  formal  possession  was  taken 
of  the  Northwest.  This  same  year  Marquette  established  a  mission  at 
Point  St.  Ignatius,  where  was  founded  the  old  town  of  Michillimackinac. 

During  M.  Talon's  explorations  and  Marquette's  residence  at  St. 
Ignatius,  they  learned  of  a  great  river  away  to  the  west,  and  fancied 
— as  all  others  did  then — that  upon  its  fertile  banks  whole  tribes  of  God's 
children  resided,  to  whom  the  sound  of  the  Gospel  had  never  come. 
Filled  with  a  wish  to  go  and  preach  to  them,  and  in  compliance  with  a 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  21 

request  of  M.  Talon,  who  earnestly  desired  to  extend  the  domain  of  his 
king,  and  to  ascertain  whether  the  river  flowed  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
or  the  Pacific  Ocean,  Marquette  with  Joliet,  as  commander  of  the  expe- 
dition, prepared  for  the  undertaking. 

On  the  13th.  of  May,  1673,  the  explorers,  accompanied  by  five  assist- 
ant French  Canadians,  set  out  from  Mackinaw  on  their  daring  voyage  of 
discovery.  The  Indians,  who  gathered  to  witness  their  departure,  were 
astonished  at  the  boldness  of  the  undertaking,  and  endeavored  to  dissuade 
them  from  their  purpose  by  representing  the  tribes  on  the  Mississippi  as 
exceedingly  savage  and  cruel,  and  the  river  itself  as  full  of  all  sorts  of 
frightful  monsters  ready  to  swallow  them  and  their  canoes  together.  But, 
nothing  daunted  by  these  terrific  descriptions,  Marquette  told  them  he 
was  willing  not  only  to  encounter  all  the  perils  of  the  unknown  region 
they  were  about  to  explore,  but  to  lay  down  his  life  in  a  cause  in  which 
the  salvation  of  souls  was  involved  ;  and  having  prayed  together  they 
separated.  Coasting  along  the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  the 
adventurers  entered  Green  Bay,  and  passed  thence  up  the  Fox  River  and 
Lake  Winnebago  to  a  village  of  the  Miamis  and  Kickapoos.  Here  Mar- 
quette was  delighted  to  find  a  beautiful  cross  planted  in  the  middle  of  the 
town  ornamented  with  white  skins,  red  girdles  and  bows  and  arrows, 
which  these  good  people  had  offered  to  the  Great  Manitou,  or  God,  to 
thank  him  for  the  pity  he  had  bestowed  on  them  during  the  Winter  in 
giving  them  an  abundant  "  chase."  This  was  the  farthest  outpost  to 
which  Dablon  and  Allouez  had  extended  their  missionary  labors  the 
year  previous.  Here  Marquette  drank  mineral  waters  and  was  instructed 
in  the  secret  of  a  root  which  cures  the  bite  of  the  venomous  rattlesnake. 
He  assembled  the  chiefs  and  old  men  of  the  village,  and,  pointing  to 
Joliet,  said:  "  My  friend  is  an  envoy  of  France,  to  discover  new  coun- 
tries, and  I  am  an  ambassador  from  God  to  enlighten  them  with  the  truths 
of  the  Gospel."  Two  Miami  guides  were  here  furnished  to  conduct 
them  to  the  Wisconsin  River,  and  they  set  out  from  the  Indian  village  on 
the  10th  of  June,  amidst  a  great  crowd  of  natives  who  had  assembled  to 
witness  their  departure  into  a  region  where  no  white  man  had  ever  yet 
ventured.  The  guides,  having  conducted  them  across  the  portage, 
returned.  The  explorers  launched  their  canoes  upon  the  Wisconsin, 
which  they  descended  to  the  Mississippi  and  proceeded  down  its  unknown 
waters.  What  emotions  must  have  swelled  their  breasts  as  they  struck 
out  into  the  broadening  current  and  became  conscious  that  they  were 
now  upon  the  bosom  of  ths  Father  of  Waters.  The  mystery  was  about 
to  be  lifted  from  the  long-sought  river.  The  scenery  in  that  locality  is 
beautiful,  and  on  that  delightful  seventeenth  of  June  must  have  been 
clad  in  all  its  primeval  loveliness  as  it  had  been  adorned  by  the  hand  of 


22 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


Nature.  Drifting  rapidly,  it  is  said  that  the  bold  bluffs  on  either  hand 
"  reminded  them  of  the  castled  shores  of  their  own  beautiful  rivers  of 
France."  By-and-by,  as  they  drifted  along,  great  herds  of  buffalo  appeared 
on  the  banks.  On  going  to  the  heads  of  the  valley  they  could  see  a 
country  of  the  greatest  beauty  and  fertility,  apparently  destitute  of  inhab- 
itants yet  presenting  the  appearance  of  extensive  manors,  under  the  fas- 
tidious cultivation  of  lordly  proprietors. 


SOURCE    OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI. 


On  June  25,  they  went  ashore  and  found  some  fresh  traces  of  men  upon 
the  sand,  and  a  path  which  led  to  the  prairie.  The  men  remained  in  the 
boat,  and  Marquette  and  Joliet  followed  the  path  till  they  discovered  a 
village  on  the  banks  of  a  river,  and  two  other  villages  on  a  hill,  within  a 
half  league  of  the  first,  inhabited  by  Indians.  They  were  received  most 
hospitably  by  these  natives,  who  had  never  before  seen  a  white  person. 
After  remaining  a  few  days  they  re-embarked  and  descended  the  river  to 
about  latitude  33°,  where  they  found  a  village  of  the  Arkansas,  and  being 
satisfied  that  the  river  flowed  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  turned  their  course 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  23 

up  the  river,  and  ascending  the  stream  to  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois, 
rowed  up  that  stream  to  its  source,  and  procured  guides  from  that  point 
to  the  lakes.  "  Nowhere  on  this  journey,"  says  Marquette,  •'  did  we  see 
such  grounds,  meadows,  woods,  stags,  buffaloes,  deer,  wildcats,  bustards, 
swans,  ducks,  parroquets,  and  even  beavers,  as  on  the  Illinois  River." 
The  party,  without  loss  or  injury,  reached  Green  Bay  in  September,  and 
reported  their  discovery — one  of  the  most  important  of  the  age,  but  of 
which  no  record  was  preserved  save  Marquette 's,  Joliet  losing  his  by 
the  upsetting  of  his  canoe  on  his  way  to  Quebec.  Afterward  Marquette 
returned  to  the  Illinois  Indians  by  their  request,  and  ministered  to  them 
until  1675.  On  the  18th  of  May,  in  that  year,  as  he  was  passing  the 
mouth  of  a  stream — going  with  his  boatmen  up  Lake  Michigan — he  asked 
to  land  at  its  mouth  and  celebrate  Mass.  Leaving  his  men  with  the  canoe, 
he  retired  a  short  distance  and  began  his  devotions.  As  much  time 
passed  and  he  did  not  return,  his  men  went  in  search  of  him,  and  found 
him  upon  his  knees,  dead.  He  had  peacefully  passed  away  while  at 
prayer.  He  was  buried  at  this  spot.  Charlevoix,  who  visited  the  place 
fifty  years  after,  found  the  waters  had  retreated  from  the  grave,  leaving 
the  beloved  missionary  to  repose  in  peace.  The  river  has  since  been 
called  Marquette. 

While  Marquette  and  his  companions  were  pursuing  their  labors  in 
the  West,  two  men,  differing  widely  from  "him  and  each  other,  were  pre- 
paring to  follow  in  his  footsteps  and  perfect  the  discoveries  so  well  begun 
by  him.  These  were  Robert  de  LaSalle  and  Louis  Hennepin. 

After  La  Salle's  return  from  the  discovery  of  the  Ohio .  River  (see 
the  narrative  elsewhere),  he  established  himself  again  among  the  French 
trading  posts  in  Canada.  Here  he  mused  long  upon  the  pet  project  of 
those  ages — a  short  way  to  China  and  the  East,  and  was  busily  planning  an 
expedition  up  the  great  lakes,  and  so  across  the  continent  to  the  Pacific, 
when  Marquette  returned  from  the  Mississippi.  At  once  the  vigorous  mind 
of  LaSalle  received  from  his  and  his  companions'  stories  the  idea  that  by  fol- 
lowing the  Great  River  northward,  or  by  turning  up  some  of  the  numerous 
western  tributaries,  the  object  could  easily  be  gained.  He  applied  to 
Frontenac,  Governor,  General  cf  Canada,  and  laid  before  him  the  plan, 
dim  but  gigantic.  Frontenac  entered  warrniy  into  his  plans,  and  saw  that 
LaSalle's  idea  to  connect  the  great  iakas  by  a  chain  of  forts  with  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  would  bind  the  country  so  wonderfully  together,  give  un- 
measured power  to  France,  and  glory  to  himself,  under  whose;  adminis- 
tration he  earnestly  hoped  all  would  be  realized. 

LaSalle  now  repaired  to  France,  laid  his  plans  before  the  King,  who 
warmly  approved  of  them,  and  made  him  a  Chevalier.  He  also  receiv-scl 
from  all  the  noblemen  the  warmest  wishes  for  his  success.  The  Chev 


24 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


alier  returned  to  Canada,  and  busily  entered  upon  his  work.  He  at 
once  rebuilt  Fort  Frontenac  and  constructed  the  first  ship  to  sail  on 
these  fresh-water  seas.  On  the  7th  of  August,  1679,  having  been  joined 
by  Hennepin,  he  began  his  voyage  in  the  Griffin  up  Lake  Erie.  He 
passed  over  this  lake,  through  the  straits  beyond,  up  Lake  St.  Clair  and 
into  Huron.  In  this  lake  they  encountered  heavy  storms.  They  were 
some  time  at  Michillimackinac,  where  LaSalle  founded  e  fort,  and  passed 
on  to  Green  Bay,  the  "  Baie  des  Puans  "  of  the  French,  where  he  found 
a  large  quantity  of  furs  collected  for  him.  He  loaded  the  Griffin  with 
these,  and  placing  her  under  the  care  of  a  pilot  and  fourteen  sailors, 


LA  SALLE    LANDING    ON    THE    SHORE    OF    GREEN    BAY. 

started  her  on  her  return  voyage.  The  vessel  was  never  afterward  heard 
of.  He  remained  about  these  parts  until  early  in  the  Winter,  when,  hear- 
ing nothing  from  the  Griffin,  he  collected  all  the  men — thirty  working 
men  and  three  monks — and  started  again  upon  his  great  undertaking. 

By  a  short  portage  they  passed  to  the  Illinois  or  Kankakee,  called  by 
the  Indians,  "Theakeke,"  wolf,  because  of  the  tribes  of  Indians  called 
by  that  name,  commonly  known  as  the  Mahingans,  dwelling  there.  The 
French  pronounced  it  Kiakiki,  which  became  corrupted  to  Kankakee. 
"Falling  down  the  said  river  by  easy  journeys,  the  better  to  observe  the 
country,"  about  the  last  of  December  they  reached  a  village  of  the  Illi- 
nois Indians,  containing  some  five  hundred  cabins,  but  at  that  moment 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  25 

no  inhabitants.  The  Seur  de  LaSalle  being  in  want  of  some  breadstuffs, 
took  advantage  of  the  absence  of  the  Indians  to  help  himself  to  a  suffi- 
ciency of  maize,  large  quantities  of  which  he  found  concealed  in  holes 
under  the  wigwams.  This  village  was  situated  near  the  present  village 
of  Utica  in  LaSalle  County,  Illinois.  The  corn  being  securely  stored, 
the  voyagers  again  betook  themselves  to  the  stream,  and  toward  evening, 
on  the  4th  day  of  January,  1680,  they  came  into  a  lake  which  must  have 
been  the  lake  of  Peoria.  This  was  called  by  the  Indians  Pim-i-te-wi,  that 
is,  a  place  where  there  are  many  fat  beasts.  Here  the  natives  were  met 
with  in  large  numbers,  but  they  were  gentle  and  kind,  and  having  spent 
some  time  with  them,  LaSalle  determined  to  erect  another  fort  in  that 
place,  for  he  had  heard  rumors  that  some  of  the  adjoining  tribes  were 
trying  to  disturb  the  good  feeling  which  existed,  and  some  of  his  men 
were  disposed  to  complain,  owing  to  the  hardships  and  perils  of  the  travel. 
He  called  this  fort  "  Crevecceur"  (broken-heart),  a  name  expressive  of  the 
very  natural  sorrow  and  anxiety  which  the  pretty  certain  loss  of  his  ship, 
Griffin,  and  his  consequent  impoverishment,  the  danger  of  hostility  on  the 
part  of  the  Indians,  and  of  mutiny  among  his  own  men,  might  well  cause 
him.  His  fears  were  not  entirely  groundless.  At  one  time  poison  was 
placed  in  his  food,  but  fortunately  was  discovered. 

While  building  this  fort,  the  Winter  wore  away,  the  prairies  began  to 
look  green,  and  LaSalle,  despairing  of  any  reinforcements,  concluded  to 
return  to  Canada,  raise  new  means  and  new  men,  arid  embark  anew  in 
the  enterprise.  For -this  purpose  he  made  Hennepin  the  leader  of  a  party 
to  explore  the  head  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  and  he  set  out  on  his  jour- 
ney. This  journey  was  accomplished  with  the  aid  of  a  few  persons,  and 
was  successfully  made,  though  over  an  almost  u  iknown  route,  and  in  a 
bad  season  of  the  year.  He  safely  reached  Cana  ^a,  and  set  out  again  for 
the  object  of  his  search. 

Hennepin  and  his  party  left  Fort  Crevecceur  on  the  last  of  February, 
1680.  When  LaSalle  reached  this  place  on  his  return  expedition,  he 
found  the  fort  entirely  deserted,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  again  to 
Canada.  He  embarked  the  third  time,  and  succeeded.  Seven  days  after 
leaving  the  fort,  Hennepin  reached  the  Mississippi,  and  paddling  up  the 
icy  stream  as  best  he  could,  reached  no  higher  than  the  Wisconsin  River 
by  the  llth  of  April.  Here  he  and  his  followers  were  taken  prisoners  by  a 
band  of  Northern  Indians,  who  treated  them  with  great  kindness.  Hen- 
nepin's  comrades  were  Anthony  Auguel  and  Michael  Ako.  On  this  voy- 
age they  found  several  beautiful  lakes,  and  "saw  some  charming  prairies." 
Their  captors  were  the  Isaute  or  Sauteurs,  Chippewas,  a  tribe  of  the  Sioux 
nation,  who  took  them  up  the  river  until  about  the  first  of  May,  when 
they  reached  some  falls,  which  Hennepin  christened  Falls  of'St.  Anthony 


26 


THE    NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


in  honor  of  his  patron  saint.  Here  they  took  the  land,  and  traveling 
nearly  two  hundred  miles  to  the  northwest,  brought  them  to  their  villages. 
Here  they  were  kept  about  three  months,  were  treated  kindly  by  their 
captors,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time,  were  met  by  a  band  of  Frenchmen, 


BUFFALO    HUNT. 


headed  by  one  Seur  de  Luth,  who,  in  pursuit  of  trade  and  game,  had  pene- 
crated  thus  far  by  the  route  of  Lake  Superior ;  and  with  -these  fellow- 
countrymen  Hennepin  and  his  companions  were  allowed  to  return  to  the 
borders  of  civilized  life  in  November,  1680,  just  after  LaSalle  had 
returned  to  the  wilderness  on  his  second  trip.  Hennepin  soon  after  went 
to  France,  where  he  published  an  account  of  his  adventures. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  27 

The  Mississippi  was  first  discovered  by  De  Soto  in  April,  1541,  in  his 
vain  endeavor  to  find  gold  and  precious  gems.  In  the  following  Spring, 
De  Soto,  weary  with  hope  long  deferred,  and  worn  out  with  his  wander- 
ings, he  fell  a  victim  to  disease,  and  on  the  21st  of  May  died.  His  followers, 
reduced  by  fatigue  and  disease  to  less  than  three  hundred  men,  wandered 
about  the  country  nearly  a  year,  in  the  vain  endeavor  to  rescue  them- 
selves by  land,  and  finally  constructed  seven  small  vessels,  called  brigan- 
tines,  in  which  they  embarked,  and  descending  the  river,  supposing  it 
would  lead  them  to  the  sea,  in  July  they  came  to  the  sea  (Gulf  of 
Mexico),  and  by  September  reached  the  Island  of  Cuba.- 

They  were  the  first  to  see  the  great  outlet  of  the  Mississippi ;  but, 
being  so  weary  and  discouraged,  made  no  attempt  to  claim  the  country, 
and  hardly  had  an  intelligent  idea  of  what  they  had  passed  through. 

To  La  Salle,  the  intrepid  explorer,  belongs  the  honor  of  giving  the 
first  account  of  the  mouths  of  the  river.  His  great  desire  was  to  possess 
this  entire  country  for  his  king,  and  in  January,  1682,  he  and  his  band  of 
explorers  left  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan  on  their  third  attempt,  crossed 
the  portage,  passed  down  the  Illinois  River,  and  on  the  6th  of  February, 
reached  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi. 

On  the  13th  they  commenced  their  downward  course,  which  they 
pursued  with  but  one  interruption,  until  upon  the  6th  of  March  they  dis- 
covered the  three  great  passages  by  which  the  river  discharges  its  waters 
into  the  gulf.  La  Salle  thus  narrates  the  event : 

"  We  landed  on  the  bank  of  the  most  western  channel,  about  three 
leagues  (nine  miles)  from  its  mouth.  On  the  seventh,  M.  de  LaSalle 
went  to  reconnoiter  the  shores  of  the  neighboring  sea,  and  M.  de  Tonti 
meanwhile  examined  the  great  middle  channel.  They  founc^  the  main 
outlets  beautiful,  large  and  deep.  On  the  8th  we  reascended  the  river,  a 
little  above  its  confluence  with  the  sea,  to  find  a  dry  place  beyond  the 
reach  of  inundations.  The  elevation  of  the  North  Pole  was  here  about 
twenty-seven  degrees.  Here  we  prepared  a  column  and  a  cross,  and  to 
the  column  were  affixed  the  arms  of  France  with  this  inscription : 

Louis  Le  Grand,  Roi  De  France  et  de  Navarre,  regne  ;  Le  neuvieme  Avril,  1682. 

The  whole  party,  under  arms,  chanted  the  Te  Deum,  and  then,  after 
a  salute  and  cries  of  "  Vive  le  Roi"  the  column  was  erected  by  M.  de 
La  Salle,  who,  standing  near  it,  proclaimed  in  a  loud  voice  the  authority  of 
the  King  of  France.  LaSalle  returned  and  laid  the  foundations  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi settlements  in  Illinois,  thence  he  proceeded  to  France,  where 
another  expedition  was  fitted  out,  of  which  he  was  commander,  and  in  two 
succeeding  voyages  failed  to  find  the  outlet  of  the  river  by  sailing  along 
the  shore  of  the  gulf.  On  his  third  voyage  he  was  killed,  through  the 


28 


THE    NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 


treachery  of  his  followers,  and  the  object  of  his  expeditions  was  not 
accomplished  until  1699,  when  D'Iberville,  under  the  authority  of  the 
crown,  discovered,  on  the  second  of  March,  by  way  of  the  sea,  the  mouth 
of  the  "Hidden  River."  This  majestic  stream  was  called  by  the  natives 
"  Malbouchia"  and  by  the  Spaniards,  "  la  Palissade"  from  the  great 


-.- 


••% 


TRAPPING. 

number  of  trees  about  its  mouth.  After  traversing  the  several  outlets, 
and  satisfying  himself  as  to  its  certainty,  he  erected  a  fort  near  its  western 
outlet,  and  returned  to  France. 

An  avenue  of  trade  was  now  opened  out  which  was  fully  improved. 
In  1718,  New  Orleans  was  laid  out  and  settled  by  some  European  colo- 
nists. In  1762,  the  colony  was  made  over  to  Spain,  to  be  regained  by 
France  under  the  consulate  of  Napoleon.  In  1803,  it  was  purchased  by 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  29 

the  United  States  for  the  sum  of  fifteen  million  dollars,  and  the  territory 
of  Louisiana  and  commerce  of  the  Mississippi  River  came  under  the 
charge  of  the  United  States.  Although  LaSalle's  labors  ended  in  defeat 
and  death,  he  had  not  worked  and  suffered  in  vain.  He  had  thrown 
open  to  France  and  the  world  an  immense  and  most  valuable  country ; 
had  established  several  ports,  and  laid  the  foundations  of  more  than  one 
settlement  there.  "  Peoria,  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,  are  to  this  day  monu- 
ments of  LaSalle's  labors ;  for,  though  he  had  founded  neither  of  them 
(unless  Peoria,  which  was  built  nearly  upon  the  site  of  Fort  Crevecoeur,) 
it  was  by  those  whom  he  led  into  the  West  that  these  places  were 
peopled  and  civilized.  He  was,  if  not  the  discoverer,  the  first  settler  of 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  as  such  deserves  to  be  known  and  honored." 

The  French  early  improved  the  opening  made  for  them.  Before  the 
year  1698,  the  Rev.  Father  Gravier  began  a  mission  among  the  Illinois, 
and  founded  Kaskaskia.  For  some  time  this  was  merely  a  missionary 
station,  where  none  but  natives  resided,  it  being  one  of  three  such  vil- 
lages, tiie  other  two  being  Cahokia  and  Peoria.  What  is  known  of 
these  missions  is  learned  from  a  letter  written  by  Father  Gabriel  Marest, 
dated  "  Aux  Cascaskias,  autrement  dit  de  I'lmmaculate  Conception  de 
la  Sainte  Vierge,  le  9  Novembre,  1712."  Soon  after  the  founding  of 
Kaskaskia,  the  missionary,  Pinet,  gathered  a  flock  at  Cahokia,  while 
Peoria  arose  near  the  ruins  of  Fort  Crevecoeur.  This  must  have  been 
about  the  year  1700.  The  post  at  Vincennes  on  the  Oubache  river, 
(pronounced  Wa"-ba",  meaning  summer  cloud  moving  swiftly')  was  estab- 
lished in  1702,  according  to  the  best  authorities.*  It  is  altogether  prob- 
able that  on  LaSalle's  last  trip  he  established  the  stations  at  Kaskaskia 
and  Cahokia.  In  July,  1701,  the  foundations  of  Fort  Ponchartrain 
were  laid  by  De  la  Motte  Cadillac  on  the  Detroit  River.  These  sta- 
tions, with  those  established  further  north,  were  the  earliest  attempts  to 
occupy  the  Northwest  Territory.  At  the  same  time  efforts  were  being 
made  to  occupy  the  Southwest,  which  finally  culminated  in  the  settle- 
ment and  founding  of  the  City  of  New  Orleans  by  a  colony  from  England 
in  1718.  This  was  mainly  accomplished  through  the  efforts  of  the 
famous  Mississippi  Company,  established  by  the  notorious  John  Law, 
who  so  quickly  arose  into  prominence  in  France,  and  who  with  his 
scheme  so  quickly  and  so  ignominiously  passed  away. 

From  the  time  of  the  founding  of  these  stations  for  fifty  years  the 
French  nation  were  engrossed  with  the  settlement  of  the  lower  Missis- 
sippi, and  the  war  with  the  Chicasaws,  who  had,  in  revenge  for  repeated 

*  There  Is  considerable  dispute  about  this  date,  some  asserting  it  was  founded  as  late  as  1742.  When 
the  new  court  house  at  Vlncunnes  was  erected,  all  authorities  on  the  subject  were  carefully  examined,  and 
i Y02  fixed  upon  as  the  correct  date.  It  was  accordingly  engraved  on  the  corner-stone  of  the  court  house. 


30  THE   NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 

injuries,  cut  off  the  entire  colony  at  Natchez.  Although  the  company 
•  did  little  for  Louisiana,  as  the  entire  West  was  then  called,  yet  it  opened 
the  trade  through  the  Mississippi  River,  and  started  the  raising  of  grains 
indigenous  to  that  climate.  Until  the  year  1750,  but  little  is  known  of 
the  settlements  in  the  Northwest,  as  it  was  not  until  this  time  that  the 
attention  of  the  English  was  called  to  the  occupation  of  this  portion  of  the 
New  World,  which  they  then  supposed  they  owned.  Vivier,  a  missionary 
among  the  Illinois,  writing  from  "  Aux  Illinois,"  six  leagues  from  Fort 
Chartres,  June  8,  1750,  says:  "We  have  here  whites,  negroes  and 
Indians,  to  say  nothing  of  cross-breeds.  There  are  five  French  villages, 
and  three  villages  of  the  natives,  within  a  space  of  twenty-one  leagues 
situated  between  the  Mississippi  and  another  river  called  the  Karkadaid 
(Kaskaskias).  In  the  five  French  villages  are,  perhaps,  eleven  hundred 
whites,  three  hundred  blacks  and  some  sixty  red  slaves  or  savages.  The 
three  Illinois  towns  do  not  contain  more  than  eight  hundred  souls  all 
told.  Most  of  the  French  till  the  soil;  they  raise  wheat,  cattle,  pigs  and 
horses,  and  live  like  princes.  Three  times  as  much  is  produced  as  can 
be  consumed ;  and  great  quantities  of  grain  and  flour  are  sent  to  New 
Orleans."  This  city  was  now  the  seaport  town  of  the  Northwest,  and 
save  in  the  extreme  northern  part,  where  only  furs  and  copper  ore  were 
found,  almost  all  the  products  of  the  country  found  their  way  to  France 
by  the  mouth  of  the  Father  of  Waters.  In  another  letter,  dated  Novem- 
ber 7,  1750,  this  same  priest  says :  "  For  fifteen  leagues  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi  one  sees  no  dwellings,  the  ground  being  too  low 
to  be  habitable.  Thence  to  New  Orleans,  the  lands  are  only  partially 
occupied.  New  Orleans  contains  black,  white  and  red,  not  more,  I 
think,  than  twelve  hundred  persons.  To  this  point  come  all  lumber, 
bricks,  salt-beef,  tallow,  tar,  skins  and  bear's  grease  ;  and  above  all,  pork 
and  flour  from  the  Illinois.  These  things  create  some  commerce,  as  forty 
vessels  and  more  have  come  hither  this  year.  Above  New  Orleans, 
plantations  are  again  met  with ;  the  most  considerable  is  a  colony  of 
Germans,  some  ten  leagues  up  the  river.  At  Point  Coupee,  thirty-five 
leagues  above  the  German  settlement,  is  a  fort.  Along  here,  within  five 
or  six  leagues,  are  not  less  than  sixty  habitations.  Fifty  leagues  farther 
up  is  the  Natchez  post,  where  we  have  a  garrison,  who  are  kept  prisoners 
through  fear  of  the  Chickasaws.  Here  and  at  Point  Coupee,  they  raise 
excellent  tobacco.  Another  hundred  leagues  brings  us  to  the  Arkansas, 
where  we  have  also  a  fort  and  a  garrison  for  the  benefit  of  the  river 
traders.  *  *  *  From  the  Arkansas  to  the  Illinois,  nearly  five  hundred 
leagues,  there  is  not  a  settlement.  There  should  be,  however,  a  fort  at 
the  Oubache  (Ohio),  the  only  path  by  which  the  Engjish  can  reach  the 
Mississippi.  In  the  Illinois  country  are  numberless  mines,  but  no  one  to 


THE    NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 


31 


work  them  as  they  deserve."  Father  Marest,  writing  from  the  post  at 
Vincennes  in  181 2,  makes  the  same  observation.  Vivier  also  says  :  "  Some 
individuals  dig  lead  near  the  surface  and  supply  the  Indians  and  Canada. 
Two  Spaniards  now  here,  who  claim  to  be  adepts,  say  that  our  mines  are 
like  those  of  Mexico,  and  that  if  we  would  dig  deeper,  we  should  find 
silver  under  the  lead  ;  and  at  any  rate  the  lead  is  excellent.  There  is  also 
in  this  country,  beyond  doubt,  copper  ore,  as  from  time  to  time  large 
pieces  are  found  in  the  streams." 


MOUTH    OF   THE   MISSISSIPPI. 


At  the  close  of  the  year  1750,  the  French  occupied,  in  addition  to  the 
lower  Mississippi  posts  arid  those  in  Illinois,  one  at  Du  Quesne,  one  at 
the  Maumee  in  the  country  of  the  Miamis,  and  one  at  Sandusky  in  what 
may  be  termed  the  Ohio  Valley.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  Northwest 
they  had  stations  at.  St.  Joseph's  on  the  St.  Joseph's  of  Lake  Michigan, 
at  Fort  Ponchartiain  (Detroit),  at  Michillimackanac  or  Massillimacanac, 
Fox  River  of  Green  Bay,  and  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  The  fondest  dreams  of 
LaSalle  were  now  fully  realized.  The  French  alone  were  possessors  of 
this  vast  realm,  basing  their  claim  on  discovery  and  settlement.  Another 
nation,  however,  was  now  turning  its  attention  to  this  extensive  country, 


32  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

and  hearing  of  its  wealth,  began  to  lay  plans  for  occupying  it  and  for 
securing  the  great  profits  arising  therefrom. 

The  French,  however,  had  another  claim  to  this  country,  namely,  the 


DISCOVERY   OF   THE   OHIO. 

This  "  Beautiful "  river  was  discovered  by  Robert  Cavalier  de  La- 
Salle  in  1669,  four  years  before  the  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  by  Joliet 
and  Marquette. 

While  LaSalle  was  at  his  trading  post  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  he  found 
leisure  to  study  nine  Indian  dialects,  the  chief  of  which  was  the  Iroquois. 
He  not  only  desired  to  facilitate  his  intercourse  in  trade,  but  he  longed 
to  travel  and  explore  the  unknown  regions  of  the  West.  An  incident 
soon  occurred  which  decided  him  to  fit  out  an  exploring  expedition. 

While  conversing  with  some  Senecas,  he. learned  of  a  river  called  the 
Ohio,  which  rose  in  their  country  and  flowed  to  the  sea,  but  at  such  a 
distance  that  it  required  eight  months  to  reach  its  mouth.  In  this  state- 
ment the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries  were  considered  as  one  stream. 
LaSalle  believing*  as  most  of  the  French  at  that  period  did,  that  the  great 
rivers  flowing  west  emptied  into  the  Sea  of  California,  was  anxious  to 
embark  in  the  enterprise  of  discovering  a  route  across  the  continent  to 
the  commerce  of  China  and  Japan. 

He  repaired  at  once  to  Quebec  to  obtain  the  approval  of  the  Gov- 
ernor. His  eloquent  appeal  prevailed.  The  Governor  and  the  Intendant, 
Talon,  issued  letters  patent  authorizing  the  enterprise,  but  made  no  pro- 
vision to  defray  the  expenses.  At  this  juncture  the  seminary  of  St.  Sul- 
pice  decided  to  send  out  missionaries  in  connection  with  the  expedition, 
and  LaSalle  offering  to  sell  his  improvements  at  LaChine  to  raise  money, 
the  offer  was  accepted  by  the  Superior,  and  two  thousand  eight  hundred 
dollars  were  raised,  with  which  LaSalle  purchased  four  canoes  and  the 
necessary  supplies  for  the  outfit. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1669,  the  party,  numbering  twenty-four  persons, 
embarked  in  seven  canoes  on  the  St.  Lawrence ;  two  additional  canoes 
carried  the  Indian  guides.  In  three  days  they  were  gliding  over  the 
bosom  of  Lake  Ontario.  Their  guides  conducted  them  directly  to  the 
Seneca  village  on  the  bank  of  the  Genesee,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present 
City  of  Rochester,  New  York.  Here  they  expected  to  procure  guides  to 
conduct  them  to  the  Ohio,  but  in  this  they  were  disappointed. 

The  Indians  seemed  unfriendly  to  the  enterprise.  LaSalle  suspected 
that  the  Jesuits  had  prejudiced  their  minds  against  his  plans.  After 
waiting  a  month  in  the  hope  of  gaining  their  object,  they  met  an  Indian 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


33 


from  the  Iroquois  colony  at  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario,  who  assured  them 
that  they  could  there  find  guides,  and  offered  to  conduct  them  thence. 

On  their  way  they  passed  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River,  when  they 
heard  for  the  first  time  the  distant  thunder  of  the  cataract.     Arriving 


IIIGH  BKIDGE,   LAKK  BLUFF,  LAKE  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


among  the  Iroquois,  they  met  with  a  friendly  reception,  and  learned 
from  a  Shawanee  prisoner  that  they  could  reach  the  Ohio  in  six  weeks. 
Delighted  with  the  unexpected  good  fortune,  they  made  ready  to  resume 
their  journey ;  but  just  as  they  were  about  to  start  they  heard  of  the 
arrival  of  two  Frenchmen  in  a  neighboring  village.  One  of  them  proved 
to  be  Louis  Joliet,  afterwards  famous  as  an  explorer  in  the  West.  He ' 


34  THE  NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

had  been  sent  by  the  Canadian  Government  to  explore  the  copper  mines 
on  Lake  Superior,  but  had  failed,  and  was  on  his  way  back  to  Quebec. 
He  gave  the  missionaries  a  map  of  the  country  he  had  explored  in  the 
lake  region,  together  with  an  account  of  the  condition  of  the  Indians  in 
that  quarter.  This  induced  the  priests  to  determine  on  leaving  the 
expedition  and  going  to  Lake  Superior.  LaSalle  warned  them  that  the 
Jesuits  were  probably  occupying  that  field,  and  that  they  would  meet 
with  a  cold  reception.  Nevertheless  they  persisted  in  their  purpose,  and 
after  worship  on  the  lake  shore,  parted  from  LaSalle.  On  arriving  at 
Lake  Superior,  they  found,  as  LaSalle  had  predicted,  the  Jesuit  Fathers, 
Marquette  and  Dablon,  occupying  the  field. 

These  zealous  disciples  of  Loyola  informed  them  that  they  wanted 
no  assistance  from  St.  Sulpice,  nor  from  those  who  made  him  their  patron 
saint ;  and  thus  repulsed,  they  returned  to  Montreal  the  following  June 
without  having  made  a  single  discovery  or  converted  a  single  Indian. 

After  parting  with  the  priests,  LaSalle  went  to  the  chief  Iroquois 
village  at  Onondaga,  where  he  obtained  guides,  and  passing  thence  to  a 
tributary  of  the  Ohio  south  of  Lake  Erie,  he  descended  the  latter  as  far 
as  the  falls  at  Louisville.  Thus  was  the  Ohio  discovered  by  LaSalle,  the 
persevering  and  successful  French  explorer  of  the  West,  in  1669. 

The  account  of  the  latter  part  of  his  journey  is  found  in  an  anony- 
mous paper,  which  purports  to  have  been  taken  from  the  lips  of  LaSalle 
himself  during  a  subsequent  visit  to  Paris.  In  a  letter  written  to  Count 
Frontenac  in  1667,  shortly  after  the  discovery,  he  himself  says  that  he 
discovered  the  Ohio  and  descended  it  to  the  falls.  This  was  regarded  as 
an  indisputable  fact  by  the  French  authorities,  who  claimed  the  Ohio 
Valley  upon  another  ground.  When  Washington  was  sent  by  the  colony 
of  Virginia  in  1753,  to  demand  of  Gordeur  de  St.  Pierre  why  the  French 
had  built  a  fort  on  the  Monongahela,  the  haughty  commandant  at  Quebec 
replied :  "  We  claim  the  country  on  the  Ohio  by  virtue  of  the  discoveries 
of  LaSalle,  and  will  not  give  it  up  to  the  English.  Our  orders  are  to 
make  prisoners  of  every  Englishman  found  trading  in  the  Ohio  Valley." 


ENGLISH  EXPLORATIONS  AND  SETTLEMENTS. 

When  the  new  year  of  1750  broke  in  upon  the  Father  of  Waters 
and  the  Great  Northwest,  all  was  still  wild  save  at  the  French  posts 
already  described.  In  1749,  when  the  English  first  began  to  think  seri- 
ously about  sending  men  into  the  West,  the  greater  portion  of  the  States 
of  Indiana,  Ohio,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota  were  yet 
under  the  dominion  of  the  red  men.  The  English  knew,  however,  pretty 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  35 

conclusively  of  the  nature  of  the  wealth  of  these  wilds.  As  early  as 
1710,  Governor  Spotswood,  of  Virginia,  -had  commenced  movements  to 
secure  the  country  west  of  the  Alleghenies  to  the  English  crown.  In 
Pennsylvania,  Governor  Keith  and  James  Logan,  secretary  of  the  prov- 
ince, from  1719  to  1731,  represented  to  the  powers  of  England  the  neces- 
sity of  securing  the  Western  lands.  Nothing  was  done,  however,  by  that 
power  save  to  take  some  diplomatic  steps  to  secure  the  claims  of  Britain 
to  this  unexplored  wilderness. 

England  had  from  the  outset  claimed  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific, 
on  the  ground  that  the  discovery  of  the  seacoast  and  its  possession  was  a 
discovery  and  possession  of  the  country,  and,  as  is  well  known,  her  grants 
to  the  colonies  extended  "  from  sea  to  sea."  This  was  not  all  her  claim. 
She  had  purchased  from  the  Indian  tribes  large  tracts  of  land.  This  lat- 
ter was  also  a  strong  argument.  As  early  as  1684,  Lord  Howard,  Gov- 
ernor of  Virginia,  held  a  treaty  with  the  six  nations.  These  were  the 
great  Northern  Confederacy,  and  comprised  at  first  the  Mohawks,  Onei- 
das,  Onondagas,  Cayugas,  arid  Senecas.  Afterward  the  Tuscaroras  were 
taken  into  the  confederacy,  and  it  became  known  as  the  Six  NATIONS. 
They  came  under  the  protection  of  the  mother  country,  and  again  in 
1701,  they  repeated  the  agreement,  and  in  September,  1726,  a  formal  deed 
was  drawn  up  and  signed  by  the  chiefs.  The  validity  pf  this  claim  has 
often  been  disputed,  but  never  successfully.  In  1744,  a  purchase  was 
made  at  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  of  certain  lands  within  the  "  Colony  of 
Virginia,"  for  which  the  Indians  received  X200  in  gold  and  a  like  sum  in 
goods,  with  a  promise  that,  as  settlements  increased,  more  should  be  paid. 
The  Commissioners  from  Virginia  were  Colonel  Thomas  Lee  and  Colonel 
William  Beverly.  As  settlements  extended,  the  promise  of  more  pay  was 
called  to  mind,  and  Mr.  Conrad  Weiser  was  sent  across  the  mountains  with 
presents  to  appease  the  savages.  Col.  Lee,  and  some  Virginians  accompa- 
nied him  with  the  intention  of  sounding  the  Indians  upon  their  feelings 
regarding  the  English.  They  were  not  satisfied  with  their  treatment, 
and  plainly  told  the  Commissioners  why.  The  English  did  not  desire  the 
cultivation  of  the  country,  but  the  monopoly  of  the  Indian  trade.  In 
1748,  the  Ohio  Company  was  formed,  and  petitioned  the  king  for  a  grant 
of  land  beyond  the  Alleghenies.  This  was  granted,  and  the  government 
of  Virginia  was  ordered  to  grant  to  them  a  half  million  acres,  two  hun- 
dred thousand  of  which  were  to  be  located  at  once.  Upon  the  12th  of 
June,  1749,  800,000  acres  from  the  line  of  Canada  north  and  west  was 
made  to  the  Loyal  Company,  and  on  the  29th  of  October,  1751,  100,000 
acres  were  given  to  the  Greenbriar  Company.  All  this  time  the  French 
were  not  idle.  They  saw  that,  should  the  British  gain  a  foothold  in  tlie 
West,  especially  upon  the  Ohio,  they  might  not  only  prevent  the  French 


36  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

settling  upon  it,  but  in  time  would  come  to  the  lower  posts  and  so  gain 
possession  of  the  whole  country.  Upon  the  10th  of  May,  1774,  Vaud- 
reuil,  Governor  of  Canada  and  the  French  possessions,  well  knowing  the 
consequences  that  must  arise  from  allowing  the  English  to  build  trading 
posts  in  the  Northwest,  seized  some  of  their  frontier  posts,  and  to  further 
secure  the  claim  of  the  French  to  the  West,  he,  in  1749,  sent  Louis  Cel- 
eron with  a  party  of  soldiers  to  plant  along  the  Ohio  River,  in  the  mounds 
and  at  the  mouths  of  its  principal  tributaries,  plates  of  lead,  on  which 
were  inscribed  the  claims  of  France.  These  were  heard  of  in  1752,  and 
within  the  memory  of  residents  now  living  along  the  "•  Oyo,"  as  the 
beautiful  river  was  called  by  the  French.  One  of  these  plates  was  found 
with  the  inscription  partly  defaced.  It  bears  date  August  16,  1749,  and 
a  copy  of  the  inscription  with  particular  account  of  the  discovery  of  the 
plate,  was  sent  by  DeWitt  Clinton  to  the  American  Antiquarian  Society, 
among  whose  journals  it  may  now  be  found.*  These  measures  did  not, 
however,  deter  the  English  from  going  on  with  their  explorations,  and 
though  neither  party  resorted  to  arms,  yet  the  conflict  was  gathering,  and 
it  was  only  (a  question  of  time  when  the  storm  would  burst  upon  the 
frontier  settlements.  In  1750,  Christopher  Gist  was  sent  by  the  Ohio 
Company  to  examine  its  lands.  He  went  to  a  village  of  the  Twigtwees, 
on  the  Miami,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  above  its  mouth.  He 
afterward  spoke  of  it  as  very  populous.  From  there  he  went  down, 
the  Ohio  River  nearly  to  the  falls  at  the  present  City  of  Louisville, 
and  in  November  he  commenced  a  survey  of  the  Company's  lands.  Dur- 
ing the  Winter,  General  Andrew  Lewis  performed  a  similar  work  for  the 
Greenbriar  Company.  Meanwhile  the  French  were  busy  in  preparing 
their  forts  for  defense,  and  in  opening  roads,  and  also  sent  a  small  party 
of  soldiers  to  keep  the  Ohio  clear.  This  party,  having  heard  of  the  Eng- 
lish post  on  the  Miami  River,  early  in  1652,  assisted  by  the  Ottawas  and 
Chippewas,  attacked  it,  and,  after  a  severe  battle,  in  which  fourteen  of 
the  natives  were  killed  and  others  wounded,  captured  the  garrison. 
(They  were  probably  garrisoned  in  a  block  house).  The  traders  were 
carried  away  to  Canada,  and  one  account  says  several  were  burned.  This 
fort  or  post  was  called  by  the  English  Pickawillany.  A  memorial  of  the 
king's  ministers  refers  to  it  as  "  Pickawillanes,  in  the  center  of  the  terri- 
tory between  the  Ohio  and  the  Wabash.  The  name  is  probably  some 
variation  of  Pickaway  or  Picqua  in  1773,  written  by  Rev.  David  Jones 
Pickaweke." 

•*  The  following  Is  a  translation  of  the  Inscription  on  the  plate:  "In  the  year  1749,  reign  of  Louis  XV., 
King  of  France,  we,  Celeron,  commandant  of  a  detachment  by  Monsieur  the  Marquis  of  Gallisoniere,  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  New  France,  to  establish  tranquility  in  certain  Indian  villages  of  these  cantons,  have 
buried  this  plate  at  the  confluence  of  the  Toradakoin,  this  twenty- ninth  of  July,  near  the  river  Ohio,  otherwise 
Beautiful  River,  as  a  monument  of  renewal  of  possession  which  we  have  taken  of  the  said  river,  and  all  its 
tributaries;  inasmuch  as  the  preceding  Kings  of  France  have  enjoyed  it,  and  maintained  it  by  their  arms  and 
treaties;  especially  by  those  of  Ryswick,  Utrecht,  and  Aix  La  Chapelle." 


THE   NORTHWEST  TERRITORY.  37 

This  was  the  first  blood  shed  between  the  French  and  English,  and 
occurred  near  the  present  City  of  Piqua,  Ohio,  or  at  least  at  a  point  about 
forty-seven  miles  north  of  Dayton.  Each  nation  became  now  more  inter- 
ested in  the  progress  of  events  in  the  Northwest.  The  English  deter- 
mined to  purchase  from  the  Indians  a  title  to  the  lands  they  wished  to 
occupy,  and  Messrs.  Fry  (afterward  Commander-in-chief  over  Washing- 
ton at  the  commencement  of  the  French  War  of  1775—1763),  Lomax  and 
Patton  were  sent  in  the  Spring  of  1752  to  hold,  a  conference  with  the 
natives  at  Logstown  to  learn  what  they  objected  to  in  the  treaty  of  Lan- 
caster already  noticed,  and  to  settle  all  difficulties.  On  the  9th  of  June, 
these  Commissioners  met  the  red  men  at  Logstown,  a  little  village  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Ohio,  about  seventeen  miles  below  the  site  of  Pitts- 
burgh. Here  had  been  a  trading  point  for  many  years,  but  it  was  aban- 
doned by  the  Indians  in  1750.  At  first  the  Indians  declined  to  recognize 
the  treaty  of  Lancaster,  but,  the  Commissioners  taking  aside  Montour, 
the  interpreter,  who  was  a  son  of  the  famous  Catharine  Montour,  and  a 
chief  among  the  six  nations,  induced  him  to  use  his  influence  in  their 
favor.  This  he  did,  and  upon  the  13th  of  June  they  all  united  in  signing 
a  deed,  confirming  the  Lancaster  treaty  in  its  full  extent,  consenting  to  a 
settlement  of  the  southeast  of  the  Ohio,  and  guaranteeing  that  it  should 
not  be  disturbed  by  them.  These  were  the  means  used  to  obtain  the  first 
treaty  with  the  Indians  in  the  Ohio  Valley. 

Meanwhile  the  powers  beyond  the  sea  were  trying  to  out-manoeuvre 
each  other,  and  were  professing  to  be  at  peace.  The  English  generally 
outwitted  the  Indians,  and  failed  in  many  instances  to  fulfill  their  con- 
tracts. They  thereby  gained  the  ill-will  of  the  red  men,  and  further 
increased  the  feeling  by  failing  to  provide  them  with  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion. Said  an  old  chief,  at  Easton,  in  1758 :  "  The  Indians  on  the  Ohio 
left  you  because  of  your  own  fault.  When  we  heard  the  French  were 
coming,  we  asked  you  for  help  and  arms,  but  we  did  not  get  them.  The 
French  came,  they  treated  us  kindly,  and  gained  our  affections.  The 
Governor  of  Virginia  settled  on  our  lands  for  his  own  benefit,  and,  when 
we  wanted  help,  forsook  us." 

At  the  beginning  of  1653,  the  English  thought  they  had  secured  by 
title  the  lands  in  the  West,  but  the  French  had  quietly  gathered  cannon 
and  military  stores  to  be  in  readiness  for  the  expected  blow.  The  Eng- 
lish made  other  attempts  to  ratify  these  existing  treaties,  but  not  until 
the  Summer  could  the  Indians  be  gathered 'together  to  discuss  the  plans 
of  the  French.  They  had  sent  messages  to  the  French,  warning  them 
away ;  but  they  replied  that  they  intended  to  complete  the  chain  of  forts 
already  beguu.  and  would  not  abandon  the  field. 

Soon  after  this,  no  satisfaction  being  obtained  from  the  Ohio  regard- 


38  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

ing  the  positions  and  purposes  of  the  French,  Governor  Dinwiddie  of 
Virginia  determined  to  send  to  them  another  messenger  and  learn  from 
them,  if  possible,  their  intentions.  For  this  purpose  he  sele.cted  a  young 
man,  a  surveyor,  .who,  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen,  had  received  the  rank 
of  major,  and  who  was  thoroughly  posted  regarding  frontier  life.  This 
personage  was  no  other  than  the  illustrious  George  Washington,  who  then 
held  considerable  interest  in  Western  lands.  He  was  at  this  time  just 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  Taking  Gist  as  his  guide,  the  two,  accompanied 
by  four  servitors,  set  out  on  their  perilous  march.  They  left  Will's 
Creek  on  the  10th  of  November,  1753,  and  on  the  22d  reached  the  Monon- 
gahela,  about  ten  miles  above  the  fork.  From  there  they  went  to 
Logstown,  where  Washington  had  a  long  conference  with  the  chiefs  of 
the  Si::  Nations.  From  them  he  learned  the  condition  of  the  French,  and 
also  heard  of  their  determination  not  to  come  down  the  river  till  the  fol- 
lowing Spring.  The  Indians  were  non-committal,  as  they  were  afraid  to 
turn  either  way,  and,  as  far  as  they  could,  desired  to  remain  neutral. 
Washington,  finding  nothing  could  be  done  with  them,  went  on  to 
Venango,  an  old  Indian  town  at  the  mouth  of  French  Creek.  Here  the 
French  had  a  fort,  called  Fort  Machault.  Through  the  rum  and  flattery 
of  the  French,  he  nearly  lost  all  his  Indian  followers.  Finding  nothing 
of  importance  here,  he  pursued  his  way  amid  great  privations,  and  on  the 
llth  of  December  reached  the  fort  at  the  head  of  French  Creek.  Here 
he  delivered  Governor  Dinwiddie's  letter,  received  his  answer,  took  his 
observations,  and  on  the  16th  set  out  upon  his  return  journey  with  no  one 
but  Gist,  his  guide,  and  a  few  Indians  who  still  remained  true  to  him, 
notwithstanding  the  endeavors  of  the  French  to  retain  them.  Their 
homeward  journey  was  one  of  great  peril  and  suffering  from  the  cold,  yet 
they  reached  home  in  safety  on  the  6th  of  January,  1754. 

From  the  letter  of  St.  Pierre,  commander  of  the  French  fort,  sent  by 
Washington  to  Governor  Dinwiddie,  it  was  learned  that  the  French  would 
not  give  up  without  a  struggle.  Active  preparations  were  at  once  made 
in  all  the  English  colonies  for  the  coming  conflict,  while  the  French 
finished  the  fort  at  Venango  and  strengthened  their  lines  of  fortifications, 
and  gathered  their  forces  to  be  in  readiness. 

The  Old  Dominion  was  all  alive.  Virginia  was  the  center  of  great 
activities ;  volunteers  were  called  for,  and  from  all  the  neighboring 
colonies  men  rallied  to  the  conflict,  and  everywhere  along  the  Potomac 
men  were  enlisting  under  the  Governor's  proclamation — which  promised 
two  hundred  thousand  acres  on  the  Ohio.  Along  this  river  they  were 
gathering  as  far  as  Will's  Creek,  and  far  beyond  this  point,  whither  Trent 
had  come  for  assistance  for  his  little  band  of  forty-one  men,  who  were 


THE    NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  39 

working  away  in  hunger  and  want,  to  fortify  that  point  at  the  fork  of 
the  Ohio,  to  which  both  parties  were  looking  with  deep  interest. 

"  The  first  birds  of  Spring  filled  the  air  with  their  song ;  the  swift 

'river  rolled  by  the  Allegheny  hillsides,  swollen  by  the  melting  snows  of 
Spring  and  the  April  showers.  The  leaves  were  appearing  ;  a  few  Indian 
scouts  were  seen,  but  no  enemy  seemed  near  at  hand ;  and  all  was  so  quiet, 
that  Frazier,  an  old  Indian  scout  and  trader,  who  had  been  left  by  Trent 
in  command,  ventured  to  his  home  at  the  mouth  of  Turtle  Creek,  ten 
miles  up  the  Monongahela.  But,  though  all  was  so  quiet  in  that  wilder- 
ness, keen  eyes  had  seen  the  low  intrenchment  rising  at  the  fork,  and 
swift  feet  had  borne  the  news  of  it  up  the  river ;  and  upon  the  morning 
of  the  17th  of  April,  Ensign  Ward,  who  then  had  charge  of  it,  saw 
upon  the  Allegheny  a  sight  that  made  his  heart  sink — sixty  batteaux  and 
three  hundred  canoes  filled  with  men,  and  laden  deep  with  cannon  and 
stores.  *  *  *  That  evening  he  supped  with  his  captor,  Contrecosur, 
and  the  next  day  he  was  bowed  off  by  the  Frenchman,  and  with  his  men 
and  tools,  marched  up  the  Monongahela." 

The  French  and  Indian  war  had  begun.  •  The  treaty  of  Aix  la 
Chapelle,  in  1748,  had  left  the  boundaries  between  the  French  and 
English  possessions  unsettled,  and  the  events  already  narrated  show  the 
French  were  determined  to  hold  the  country  watered  by  the  Mississippi 
and  its  tributaries ;  while  the  English  laid  claims  to  the  country  by  virtue 
of  the  discoveries  of  the  Cabots,  and  claimed  all  the  country  from  New- 
foundland to  Florida,  extending  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  The 
first  decisive  blow  had  now  been  struck,  and  the  first  attempt  of  the 
English,  through  the  Ohio  Company,  to  occupy  these  lands,  had  resulted 

.  disastrously  to  them.  The  French  and  Indians  immediately  completed 
the  fortifications  begun  at  the  Fork,  which  they  had  so  easily  captured, 
and  when  completed  gave  to  the  fort  the  name  of  DuQuesne.  Washing- 
ton was  at  Will's  Creek  when  the  news  of  the  capture  of  the  fort  arrived. 
He  at  once  departed  to  recapture  it.  On  his  way  he  entrenched  him- 
self at  a  place  called  the  "  Meadows,"  where  he  erected  a  fort  called 
by  him  Fort  Necessity.  From  there  he  surprised  and  captured  a  force  of 
French  and  Indians  marching  against  him,  but  was  soon  after  attacked 
in  his  fort  by  a  much  superior  force,  and  was  obliged  to  yield  on  the 
morning  of  July  4th.  He  was  allowed  to  return  to  Virginia. 

The  English  Government  immediately  planned  four  campaigns ;  one 
against  Fort  DuQuesne  ;  one  against  Nova  Scotia  ;  one  against  Fort 
Niagara,  and  one  against  Crown  Point.  These  occurred  during  1755--6, 
and  were  not  successful  in  driving  the  French  from  their  possessions. 
The  expedition  against  Fort  DuQuesne  was  led  by  the  famous  General 
Braddock,  who,  refusing  to  listen  to  the  advice  of  Washington  and  those 


40  'J-'HE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

acquainted  with  Indian  warfare,  suffered  such  an  inglorious  defeat.  This 
occurred  on  the  morning  of  July  9th,  and  is  generally  known  as  the  battle 
of  Monongahela,  or  "  Braddock's  Defeat."  The  war  continued  with 
various  vicissitudes  through  the  years  1756-7  ;  when,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  1758,  in  accordance  with  the  plans  of  William  Pitt,  then  Secre- 
tary of  State,  afterwards  Lord  Chatham, active  preparations  were  made  to 
carry  on  the  war.  Three  expeditions  were  planned  for  this  year :  one, 
under  General  Amherst,  against  Louisburg  ;  another,  under  Abercrombie, 
against  Fort  Ticonderoga  ;  and  a  third,  under  General  Forbes,  against 
Fort  DuQuesne.  On  the  26th  of  July,  Louisburg  surrendered  after  a 
desperate  resistance  of  more  than  forty  days,  and  the  eastern  part  of  the 
Canadian  possessions  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British.  Abercrombie 
captured  Fort  Frontenac,  and  when  the  expedition  against  Fort  DuQuesne, 
of  which  Washington  had  the  active  command,  arrived  there,  it  was 
found  in  flames  and  deserted.  The  English  at  once  took  possession, 
rebuilt  the  fort,  and  in  honor  of  their  illustrious  statesman,  changed  the 
name  to  Fort  Pitt. 

The  great  object  of  the  campaign  of  1759,  was  the  reduction  of 
Canada.  General  Wolfe  was  to  lay  siege  to  Quebec ;  Amherst  was  to 
reduce  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  General  Prideaux  was  to 
capture  Niagara.  This  latter  place  was  taken  in  July,  but  the  gallant 
Prideaux  lost  his  life  in  the  attempt.  Amherst  captured  Ticonderoga 
and  Crown  Point  without  a  blow  ;  and  Wolfe,  after  making  the  memor- 
able ascent  to  the  Plains  of  Abraham,  on  September  13th,  defeated 
Montcalm,  and  on  the  18th,  the  city  capitulated.  In  this  engagement 
Montcolm  and  Wolfe  both  lost  their  lives.  De  Levi,  Montcalm's  successor, 
marched  to  Sillery,  three  miles  above  the  city,  with  the  purpose  of 
defeating  the  English,  and  there,  on  the  28th  of  the  following  April,  was 
fought  one  of  the  bloodiest  battles  of  the  French  and  Indian  War.  It 
resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  French,  and  the  fall  of  the  City  of  Montreal. 
The  Governor  signed  a  capitulation  by  which  the  whole  of  Canada  was 
surrendered  to  the  English.  This  practically  concluded  the  war,  but  it 
was  not  until  1763  that  the  treaties  of  peace  between  France  and  England 
were  signed.  This  was  done  on  the  10th  of  February  of  that  year,  and 
under  its  provisions  all  the  country  east  of  the  Mississippi  and  north  of 
the  Iberville  River,  in  Louisiana,  were  ceded  to  England.  At  the  same 
time  Spain  ceded  Florida  to  Great  Britain. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1760,  Major  Robert  Rogers  was  sent 
from  Montreal  to  take  charge  of  Detroit,  the  only  remaining  French  post 
in  the  territory.  He  arrived  there  on  the  19th  of  November,  and  sum- 
moned the  place  to  surrender.  At  first  the  commander  of  the  post, 
Beletre:  refused,  but  on  the  29th,  hearing  of  the  continued  defeat  of  the 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  ^L 

French  arms,  surrendered.  Rogers  remained  there  until  December  23d 
under  the  personal  protection  of  the  celebrated  chief,  Pontiac,  to  whom, 
no  doubt,,  he  owed  his  safety.  Pontiac  had  come  here  to  inquire  the 
purposes  of  the  English  in  taking  possession  of  the  country.  He  was 
assured  that  they  came  simply  to  trade  with  the  natives,  and  did  not 
desire  their  country.  This  answer  conciliated  the  savages,  and  did  much 
to  insure  the  safety  of  Rogers  and  his,  party  during  their  stay,  and  while 
on  their  journey  home. 

Rogers  set  out  for  Fort  Pitt  on  December  23,  and  was  just  one 
month  on  the  way.  His  route  was  from  Detroit  to  Maumee,  thence 
across  the  present  State  of  Ohio  directly  to  the  fort.  This  was  the  com- 
mon trail  of  the  Indians  in  their  journeys  from  Sandusky  to  the  fork  of 
the  Ohio.  It  went  from  Fort  Sandusky,  where  Sandusky  City  now  is, 
crossed  the  Huron  river,  then  called  Bald  Eagle  Creek,  to  "  Mohickon 
John's  Town"  on  Mohickon  Creek,  the  northern  branch  of  White 
Woman's  River,  and  thence  crossed  to  Beaver's  Town,  a  Delaware  town 
on  what  is  now  Sandy  Creek.  At  Beaver's  Town  were  probably  one 
hundred  and  fifty  warriors,  arid  not  less  than  three  thousand  acres  of 
cleared  land.  From  there  the  track  went  up  Sandy  Creek  to  and  across 
Big  Beaver,  and  up  the  Ohio  to  Logstown,  thence  on  to  the  fork. 

The  Northwest  Territory  was  now  entirely  under  the  English  rule. 
New  settlements  began  to  be  rapidly  made,  and  the  promise  of  a  large 
trade  was  speedily  manifested.  Had  the  British  carried  out  their  promises 
with  the  natives  none  of  those  savage  butcheries  would  have  been  perpe- 
trated, and  the  country  would  have  been  spared  their  recital. 

The  renowned  chief,  Pontiac,  was  one-  of  the  leading  spirits  in  these 
atrocities.  We  will  now  pause  in  our  narrative,  and  notice  the  leading 
events  in  his  life.  The  earliest  authentic  information  regarding  this 
noted  Indian  chief  is  learned  from  an  account  of  an  Indian  trader  named 
Alexander  Henry,  who,  in  the  Spring  of  1761,  penetrated  his  domains  as 
far  as  Missillimacnac.  Pontiac  was  then  a  great  friend  of  the  French, 
but  a  bitter  foe  of  the  English,  whom  he  considered  as  encroaching  on  his 
hunting  grounds.  Henry  was  obliged  to  disguise  himself  as  a  Canadian 
to  insure  safety,  but  was  discovered  by  Pontiac,  who  bitterly  reproached 
him  and  the  English  for  their  attempted  subjugation  of  the  West.  He 
declared  that  no  treaty  had  been  made  with  them;  no  presents  sent 
them,  and  that  he  would  resent  any  possession  of  the  West  by  that  nation. 
He  was  at  the  time  about  fifty  years  of  age,  tall  and  dignified,  and  was 
civil  arid  military  ruler  of  the  Ottawas,  Ojibwas  and  Pottawatamies. 

The  Indians,  from  Lake  Michigan  to  the  borders  of  North  Carolina, 
were  united  in  this  feeling,  and  at  the  time  of  the  treaty  of  Paris,  ratified 
February  10,  1763,  a  general  conspiracy  was  formed  to  fall  suddenly 


42 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


PONTIAC,  THE  OTTAWA  CHIEFTAIN. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  4$ 

upon  the  frontier  British  posts,  and  with  one  blow  strike  every  man  dead. 
Pontiac  was  the  marked  leader  in  all  this,  and  was  the  commander 
of  the  Chippewas,  Ottawas,  Wvandots,  Miamis,  Shawanese,  Delawares 
and  Mingoes,  who  had,  for  the  time,  laid  aside  their  local  quarrels  to  unite 
in  this  enterprise. 

The  blow  came,  as  near  as  can  now  be  ascertained,  on  May  7,  1763. 
Nine  British  posts  fell,  and  the  Indians  drank,  "  scooped  up  in  the  hollow 
of  joined  hands,"  the  blood  of  many  a  Briton. 

Pontiac's  immediate  field  of  action  was  the  garrison  at  Detroit. 
Here,  however,  the  plans  were  frustrated  by  an  Indian  woman  disclosing 
the  plot  the  evening  previous  to  his  arrival.  Everything  was  carried  out, 
however,  according  to  Pontiac's  plans  until  the  moment  of  action,  when 
Major  Gladwyn,  the  commander  of  the  post,  stepping  to  one  of  the  Indian 
chiefs,  suddenly  drew  aside  his  blanket  and  disclosed  the  concealed 
musket.  Pontiac,  though  a  brave  man,  turned  pale  and  trembled.  He 
saw  his  plan  was  known,  and  that  the  garrison  were  prepared.  He 
endeavored  to  exculpate  himself  from  any  such  intentions ;  but  the  guilt 
was  evident,  and  he  and  his  followers  were  dismissed  with  a  severe 
reprimand,  and  warned  never  to  again  enter  the  walls  of  the  post. 

Pontiac  at  once  laid  siege  to  the  fort,  and  until  the  treaty  of  peace 
between  the  British  and  the  Western  Indians,  concluded  in  August,  1764, 
continued  to  harass  and  besiege  the  fortress.  He  organized  a  regular 
commissariat  department,  issued  bills  of  credit  written  out  on  bark, 
which,  to  his  credit,  it  may  be  stated,  were  punctually  redeemed.  At 
the  conclusion  of  the  treaty,  in  which  it  seems  he  took  no  part,  he  went 
further  south,  living  many  years  among  the  Illinois. 

He  had  given  up  all  hope  of  saving  his  country  and  race.  After  a 
time  he  endeavored  to  unite  the  Illinois  tribe  and  those  about  St.  Louis 
in  a  war  with  the  whites.  His  efforts  were  fruitless,  and  only  ended  in  a 
quarrel  between  himself  and  some  Kaskaskia  Indians,  one  of  whom  soon 
afterwards  killed  him.  His  death  was,  however,  avenged  by  the  northern 
Indians,  who  nearly  exterminated  the  Illinois  in  the  wars  which  followed. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  treachery  of  a  few  of  his  followers,  his  plan 
for  the  extermination  of  the  whites,  a  masterly  one,  would  undoubtedly 
have  been  carried  out. 

It  was  in  the  Spring  of  the  year  following  Rogers'  visit  that  Alex- 
ander Henry  went  to  Missillimacnac,  and  everywhere  found  the  strongest 
feelings  against  the  English,  who  had  not  carried  out  their  promises,  and 
were  doing  nothing  to  conciliate  the  natives.  Here  he  met  the  cRief, 
Pontiac,  who,  after  conveying  to  him  in  a  speech  the  idea  that  their 
French  father  would  awake  soon  and  ntterly  destroy  his  enemies,  said : 
"  Englishman,  although  you  have  conquered  the  French,  you  have  not 


44  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

yet  conquered  us  !  We  are  not  your  slaves !  These  lakes,  these  woods, 
these  mountains,  were  left  us  by  our  ancestors.  They  are  our  inheritance, 
and  we  will  part  with  them  to  none.  Your  nation  supposes  that  we,  like 
the  white  people,  can  not  live  without  bread  and  pork  and  beef.  But  you 
ought  to  know  that  He,  the  Great  Spirit  and  Master  of  Life,  has  provided 
food  for  us  upon  these  broad  lakes  and  in  these  mountains." 

He  then  spoke  of  the  fact  that  no  treaty  had  been  made  with  them, 
no  presents  sent  them,  and  that  he  and  his  people  were  yet  for  war. 
Such  were  the  feelings  of  the  Northwestern  Indians  immediately  after 
the  English  took  possession  of  their  country.  These  feelings  were  no 
doubt  encouraged  by  the  Canadians  and  French,  who  hoped  that  yet  the 
French  arms  might  prevail.  The  treaty  of  Paris,  however,  gave  to  the 
English  the  right  to  this  vast  domain,  and  active  preparations  were  going 
on  to  occupy  it  and  enjoy  its  trade  and  emoluments. 

In  1762,  France,  by  a  secret  treaty,  ceded  Louisiana  to  Spain,  to  pre- 
vent it  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  English,  who  were  becoming  masters 
of  the  entire  West.  The  next  year  the  treaty  of  Paris,  signed  at  Fon- 
tainbleau,  gave  to  the  English  the  domain  of  the  country  in  question. 
Twenty  years  after,  by  the  treaty  of  peace  between  the  United  States 
and  England,  that  part  of  Canada  lying  south  and  west  of  the  Great 
Lakes,  comprehending  a  large  territory  which  is  the  subject  of  these 
sketches,  was  acknowledged  to  be  a  portion  of  the  United  States  ;  and 
twenty  years  still  later,  in  1803,  Louisiana  was  ceded  by  Spain  back  to 
France,  and  by  France  sold  to  the  United  States. 

In  the  half  century,  from  the  building  of  the  Fort  of  Crevecoeur  by 
LaSalle,  in  1680,  up  to  the  erection  of  Fort  Chartres,  many  French  set- 
tlements had  been  made  in  that  quarter.  These  have  already  been 
noticed,  -being  those  at  St.  Vincent  (Vincennes),  Kohokia  or  Cahokia, 
Kaskaskia  and  Prairie  du  Rocher,  on  the  American  Bottom,  a  large  tract 
of  rich  alluvial  soil  in  Illinois,  on  the  Mississippi,  opposite  the  site  of  St. 
Louis. 

By  the  treaty  of  Paris,  the  regions  east  of  the  Mississippi,  including 
all  these  and  other  towns  of  the  Northwest,  were  given  over  to  England ; 
but  they  do  not  appear  to  have  btsn  taken  possession  of  until  1765,  when 
Captain  Stirling,  in  the  name  of  the  Majesty  of  England,  established  him- 
self at  Fort  Chartres  bearing  with  him  the  proclamation  of  General  Gage, 
dated  December  30,  1764,  which  promised  religious  freedom  to  all  Cath- 
olics who  worshiped  here,  and  a  right  to  leave  the  country  with  their 
effects  if  they  wished,  or  to  remain  with  the  privileges  of  Englishmen. 
It  was  shortly  after  the  occupancy  of  the  West  by  the  British  that  the 
war  with  Pontiac  opened.  It  is  already  noticed  in  the  sketch  of  that 
•chieftain-  By  it  many  a  Briton  lost  his  life,  and  many  a  frontier  settle- 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  45 

ment  in  its  infancy  ceased  to  exist.  This  was  not  ended  until  the  year 
1764,  when,  failing  to  capture  Detroit,  Niagara  and  Fort  Pitt,  his  confed- 
eracy became  disheartened,  and,  receiving  no  aid  from  the  French,  Pon- 
tiac  abandoned  the  enterprise  and  departed  to  the  Illinois,  among  whom 
he  afterward  lost  his  life. 

As  soon  as  these  difficulties  were  definitely  settled,  settlers  began 
rapidly  to  survey  the  country  and  prepare  for  occupation.  During  the 
year  1770,  a  number  of  persons  from  Virginia  and  other  British  provinces 
explored  and  marked  out  nearly  all  the  valuable  lands  on  the  Mononga- 
hela  and  along  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  as  far  as  the  Little  Kanawha.  This 
was  followed  by  another  exploring  expedition,  in  which  George  Washing- 
ton was  a  party.  The  latter,  accompanied  by  Dr.  Craik,  Capt.  Crawford 
and  others,  on  the  20th  of  October,  1770,  descended  the  Ohio  from  Pitts- 
burgh to  the  mouth  of  the  Kanawha ;  ascended  that  stream  about  fourteen 
miles,  marked  out  several  large  tracts  of  land,  shot  several  buffalo,  which 
were  then  abundant  in  the  Ohio  Valley,  and  returned  to  the  fort. 

Pittsburgh  was  at  this  time  a  trading  post,  about  which  was  clus- 
tered a  village  of  some  twenty  houses,  inhabited  by  Indian  traders.  This 
same  year,  Capt.  Pittman  visited  Kaskaskia  and  its  neighboring  villages. 
He  found  there  about  sixty -five  resident  families,  and  at  Cahokia  only 
forty-five  dwellings.  At  Fort  Chartres  was  another  small  settlement,  and 
at  Detroit  the  garrison  were  quite  prosperous  and  strong.  For  a  year 
or  two  settlers  continued  to  locate  near  some  of  these  posts,  generally 
Fort  Pitt  or  Detroit,  owing  to  the  fears  of  the  Indians,  who  still  main- 
tained some  feelings  of  hatred  to  the  English.  The  trade  from  the  posts 
was  quite  good,  and  from  those  in  Illinois  large  quantities  of  pork  and 
flour  found  their  way  to  the  New  Orleans  market.  At  this  time  the 
policy  of  the  British  Government  was  strongly  opposed  to  the  extension 
of  the  colonies  west.  In  1763,  the  King  of  England  forbade,  by  royal 
proclamation,  his  colonial  subjects  from  making  a  settlement  beyond  the 
sources  of  the  rivers  which  fall  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  At  the  instance 
of  the  Board  of  Trade,  measures  were  taken  to  prevent  the  settlement 
without  the  limits  prescribed,  and  to  retain  the  commerce  within  easy 
reach  of  Great  Britain. 

The  commander-in-chief  of  the  king's  forces  wrote  in  1769  :  "  In  the 
course  of  a  few  years  necessity  will  compel  the  colonists,  should  they 
3xtend  their  settlements  west,  to  provide  manufactures  of  some  kind  for 
themselves,  and  when  all  connection  upheld  by  commerce  with  the  mother 
mntry  ceases,  an  independency  in  their  government  will  soon  follow." 

In  accordance  with  this  policy,  Gov.  Gage  issued  a  proclamation 
in  1772,  commanding  the  inhabitants  of  Vincennes  to  abandon  their  set- 
lements  and  join  some  of  the  Eastern  English  colonies.  To  this  they 


46  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

strenuously  objected,  giving  good  reasons  therefor,  and  were  allowed  to 
remain.  The  strong  opposition  to  this  policy  of  Great  Britain  led  to  its 
change,  and  to  such  a  course  as  to  gain  the  attachment  of  the  French 
population.  In  December,  1773,  influential  citizens  of  Quebec  petitioned 
the  king  for  an  extension  of  the  boundary  lines  of  that  province,  which 
was  granted,  and  Parliament  passed  an  act  on  June  2,  1774,  extend- 
ing the  boundary  so  as  to  include  the  territory  lying  within  the  present 
States  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Michigan. 

In  consequence  of  the  liberal  policy  pursued  by  the  British  Govern- 
ment toward  the  French  settlers  in  the  West,  they  were  disposed  to  favor 
that  nation  in  the  war  which  soon  followed  with  the  colonies ;  but  the 
early  alliance  between  France  and  America  soon  brought  them  to  the  side 
of  the  war  for  independence. 

In  1774,  Gov.  Dunmore,  of  Virginia,  began  to  encourage  emigration 
to  the  Western  lands.  He  appointed  magistrates  at  Fort  Pitt  under  the 
pretense  that  the  fort  was  under,  the  government  of  that  commonwealth. 
One  of  these  justices,  John  Connelly,  who  possessed  a  tract  of  land  in  the 
Ohio  Valley,  gathered  a  force  of  men  and  garrisoned  the  fort,  calling  it 
Fort  Dunmore.  This  and  other  parties  were  formed  to  select  sites  for 
settlements,  and  often  ca;ne  in  conflict  with  the  Indians,  who  yet  claimed 
portions  of  the  valley,  and  several  battles  followed.  These  ended  in  the 
famous  oattle  of  Kanawha  in  July,  where  the  Indians  were  defeated  and 
driven  across  the  Ohio. 

During  the  years  1775  and  1776,  by  the  operations  of  land  companies 
and  the  perseverance  of  individuals,  several  settlements  were  firmly  estab- 
lished between  the  Alleghanies  and  the  Ohio  River,  and  western  land 
speculators  were  busy  in  Illinois  and  on  the  Wabash.  At  a  council  held 
in  Kaskaskia  on  July  5,  1773.  an  association  of  English  traders,  calling 
themselves  the  "Illinois  Land  Company,"  obtained  from  ten  chiefs  of  the 
Kaskaskia,  Cahokia  and  Peoria  tribes  two  large  tracts  of  land  lying  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  River  south  of  the  Illinois.  In  1775,  a  mer- 
chant from  the  Illinois  Country,  named  Viviat,  came  to  Post  Vincennes 
as  the  agent  of  the  association  called  the  "  Wabash  Land  Company."  On 
the  8th  of  October  he  obtained  from  eleven  Piankeshaw  chiefs,  a  deed  for 
37,497,600  acres  of  land.  This  deed  was  signed  by  the  grantors,  attested 
by  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Vincennes,  and  afterward  recorded  in 
the  office  of  a  notary  public  at  Kaskaskia.  This  and  other  land  com- 
panies had  extensive  schemes  for  the  colonization  of  the  West ;  but  all 
were  frustrated  by  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution.  On  the  20th  of 
April,  1780,  the  two  companies  named  consolidated  under  the  name  of  the 
44  United  Illinois  and  Wabash  Land  Company."  They  afterward  made 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  47 

strenuous  efforts  to  have  these  grants  sanctioned  by  Congress,  but  all 
signally  failed. 

When  the  War  of  the  Revolution  commenced,  Kentucky  was  an  unor- 
ganized country,  though  there  were  several  settlements  within  her  borders. 

In  Hutchins'  Topography  of  Virginia,  it  is  stated  that  at  that  time 
"  Kaskaskia  contained  80  houses,  and  nearly  1,000  white  and  black  in- 
habitants —  the  whites  being  a  little  the  more  numerous.  Cahokia  con- 
tains 50  houses  and  300  white  inhabitants,  and  80  negroes.  There  were 
east  of  the  Mississippi  River,  about  the  year  1771  " — when  these  observa- 
tions were  made  — "  300  white  men  capable  of  bearing  arms,  and  230 
negroes." 

From  1775  until  the  expedition  of  Clark,  nothing  is  recorded  and 
nothing  known  of  these  settlements,  save  what  is  contained  in  a  report 
made  by  a  committee  to  Congress  in  June,  1778.  From  it  the  following 
extract  is  made : 

"  Near  the  mouth  of  the  River  Kaskaskia,  there  is  a  village  which 
appears  to  have  contained  nearly  eighty  families  from  the  beginning  of 
the  late  revolution.  There  are  twelve  families  in  a  small  village  at  la 
Prairie  du  Rochers,  and  near  fifty  families  at  the  Kahokia  Village.  There 
are  also  four  or  five  families  at  Fort  Ghartres  and  St.  Philips,  which  is  five 
miles  further  up  the  river." 

St.  Louis  had  been  settled  in  February,  1764,  and  at  this  time  con- 
tained, including  its  neighboring  towns,  over  six  hundred  whites  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  negroes.  It  must  be  remembered  that  all  the  country 
west  of  the  Mississippi  was  now  under  French  rule,  and  remained  so  until 
ceded  again  to  Spain,  its  original  owner,  who  afterwards  sold  it  and  the 
country  including  New  Orleans  to  the  United  States.  At  Detroit  there 
were,  according  to  Capt.  Carver,  who  was  in  the  Northwest  from  1766  to 
1768,  more  than  one  hundred  houses,  and  the  river  was  settled  for  more 
than  twenty  miles,  although  poorly  cultivated — the  people  being  engaged 
in  the  Indian  trade.  This  old  town  has  a  history,  which  we  will  here 
relate. 

It  is  the  oldest  town  in  the  Northwest,  having  been  founded  by 
Antoine  de  Lamotte  Cadillac,  in  1701.  It  was  laid  out  in  the  form  of  an 
oblong  square,  of  two  acres  in  length,  and  an  acre  and  a  half  in  width. 
As  described  by  A.  D.  Frazer,  who  first  visited  it  and  became  a  permanent 
resident  of  the  place,  in  1778,  it  comprised  within  its  limits  that  space 
between  Mr.  Palmer's  store  (Conant  Block)  and  Capt.  Perkins'  house 
(near  the  Arsenal  building),  and  extended  back  as  far  as  the  public  barn, 
and  was  bordered  in  front  by  the  Detroit  River.  It  was  surrounded  by 
oak  and  cedar  pickets,  about  fifteen  feet  long,  set  in  the  ground,  and  had 
four  gates  —  east,  west,  north  and  south.  Over  the  first  three  of  these 


48  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

gates  were  block  houses  provided  with  four  guns  apiece,  each  a  six- 
pounder.  Two  six-gun  batteries  were  planted  fronting  the  river  and  in  a 
parallel  direction  with  the  block  houses.  There  were  four  streets  running 
east  and  west,  the  main  street  being  twenty  feet  wide  and  the  rest  fifteen 
feet,  while  the  four  streets  crossing  these  at  right  angles  were  from  ten 
to  fifteen  feet  in  width. 

At  the  date  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Frazer,  there  was  no  fort  within  the 
enclosure,  but  a  citadel  on  the  ground  corresponding  to  the  present 
northwest  corner  of  Jefferson  Avenue  and  Wayne  Street.  The  citadel  was 
inclosed  by  pickets,  and  within  it  were  erected  barracks  of  wood,  two 
stories  high,  sufficient  to  contain  ten  officers,  and  also  barracks  sufficient 
to  contain  four  hundred  men,  and  a  provision  store  built  of  brick.  The 
citadel  also  contained  a  hospital  and  guard-fyouse.  The  old  town  of 
Detroit,  in  1778,  contained  about  sixty  houses,  most  of  them  one  story, 
with  a  few  a  story  and  a  half  in  height.  They  were  all  of  logs,  some 
hewn  and  some  round.  There  was  one  building  of  splendid  appearance, 
called  the  "  King's  Palace,"  two  stories  high,  which  stood  near  the  east 
gate.  It  was  built  for  Governor  Hamilton,  the  first  governor  commissioned 
by  the  British.  There  were  two  guard-houses,  one  near  the  west  gate  and 
the  other  near  the  Government  House.  Each  of  the  guards  consisted  of 
twenty-four  men  and  a  subaltern,  who  mounted  regularly  every  morning 
between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  Each  furnished  four  sentinels,  who  were 
relieved  every  two  hours.  There  was  also  an  officer  of  the  day,  who  pjr- 
formed  strict  duty.  Each  of  the  gates  was  shut  regularly  at  sunset ; 
even  wicket  gates  were  shut  at  nine  o'clock,  and  all  the  keys  were 
delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  commanding  officer.  They  were  opened 
in  the  morning  at  sunrise.  No  Indian  or  squaw  was  permitted  to  enter 
town  with  any  weapon,  such  as  a  tomahawk  or  a  knife.  It  was  a  stand- 
ing order  that  the  Indians  should  deliver  their  arms  and  instruments  of 
every  kind  before  they  were  permitted  to  pass  the  sentinel,  and  they  were 
restored  to  them  on  their  return.  No  more  than  twenty-five  Indians  were 
allowed  to  enter  the  town  at  any  one  time,  and  they  were  admitted  only 
at  the  east  and  west  gates.  At  sundown  the  drums  beat,  and  all  the 
Indians  were  required  to  leave  town  instantly.  There  was  a  council  house 
near  the  water  side  for  the  purpose  of  holding  council  with  the  Indians. 
The  population  of  the  town  was  about  sixty  families,  in  all  about  two 
hundred  males  and  one  hundred  females.  This  town  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  all  except  one  dwelling,  in  1805.  After  which  the  present  "  new  " 
town  was  laid  out. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  the  British  held  every  post  of 
importance  in  the  West.  Kentucky  was  formed  as  a  component  part  of 
Virginia,  and  the  sturdy  pioneers  of  the  West,  alive  to  their  interests, 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  49 

and  recognizing  the  great  benefits  of  obtaining  the  control  of  the  trade  in 
this  part  of  the  New  World,  held  steadily  to  their  purposes,  and  those 
within  the  commonwealth  of  Kentucky  proceeded  to  exercise  their 
civil  privileges,  by  electing  John  Todd  and  Richard  Gallaway,. 
burgesses  to  represent  them  in  the  Assembly  of  the  parent  state. 
Early  in  September  of  that  year  (1777)  the  first  court  was  held 
in  Harrodsburg,  and  Col.  Bowman,  afterwards  major,  who  had  arrived 
in  August,  was  made  the  commander  of  a  militia  organization  which 
had  been  commenced  the  March  previous.  Thus  the  tree  of  loyalty 
was  growing.  The  chief  spirit  in  this  far-out  colony,  who  had  represented 
her  the  year  previous  east  of  the  mountains,  was  now  meditating  a  move 
unequaled  in  its  boldness.  He  had  been  watching  the  movements  of  the 
British  throughout  the  Northwest,  and  understood  their  whole  plan.  He, 
saw  it  was  through  their  possession  of  the  posts  at  Detroit,  Vincennes, 
Kaskaskia,  and  other  places,  which  would  give  them  constant  and  easy 
access  to  the  various  Indian  tribes  in  the  Northwest,  that  the  British 
intended  to  penetrate  the  country  from  the  north  and  soutn,  ana  annihi- 
late the  frontier  fortresses.  This  moving,  energetic  man  was  Colonel, 
afterwards  General,  George  Rogers  Clark.  He  knew  the  Indians  were  not 
unanimously  in  accord  with  the  English,  and  he  was  convinced  that,  could 
the  British  be  defeated  and  expelled  from  the  Northwest,  the  natives 
might  be  easily  awed  into  neutrality ;  and  by  spies  sent  for  the  purpose, 
he  satisfied  himself  that  the  enterprise  against  the  Illinois  settlements 
might  easily  succeed.  Having  convinced  himself  of  the  certainty  of  the 
project,  he  repaired  to  the  Capital  of  Virginia,  which  place  he  reached  on 
November  5th.  While  he  was  on  his  way,  fortunately,  on  October  17th, 
Burgoyne  had  been  defeated,  and  the  spirits  of  the  colonists  greatly 
encouraged  thereby.  Patrick  Henry  was  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  at 
once  entered  heartily  into  Clark's  plans.  The  same  plan  had  before  been 
agitated  in  the  Colonial  Assemblies,  but  there  was  no  one  until  Clark 
came  who  was  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  condition  of  affairs  at  the 
scene  of  action  to  be  able  to  guide  them. 

Clark,  having  satisfied  the  Virginia  leaders  of  the  feasibility  of  his 
plan,  received,  on  the  2d  of  January,  two  sets  of  instructions — one  secret, 
the  other  open  —  the  latter  authorized  him  to  proceed  to  enlist  seven 
companies  to  go  to  Kentucky,  subject  to  his  orders,  and  to  serve  three 
months  from  their  arrival  in  the  West.  The  secret  order  authorized  him 
to  arm  these  troops,  to  procure  his  powder  and  lead  of  General  Hand 
at  Pittsburgh,  and  to  proceed  at  once  to  subjugate  the  country. 

With  these  instructions  Clark  repaired  to  Pittsburgh,  choosing  rather 
to  raise  his  men  west  of  the  mountains,  as  he  well  knew  all  were  needed 
in  the  colonies  in  the  conflict  there.  He  sent  Col.  W.  B.  Smith  to  Hoi- 


50  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

stou  for  the  same  purpose,  but  neither  succeeded  in  raising  the  required 
number  of  men.  The  settlers  in  these  parts  were  afraid  to  leave  their 
own  firesides  exposed  to  a  vigilant  foe,  and  but  few  could  be  induced  to 
join  the  proposed  expedition.  With  three  companies  and  several  private 
volunteers,  Clark  at  length  commenced  his  descent  of  the  Ohio,  which  he 
navigated  as  far  as  the  Falls,  where  he  took  possession  of  and  fortified 
Corn  Island,  a  small  island  between  the  present  Cities  of  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  and  New  Albany,  Indiana.  Remains  of  this  fortification  may 
yet  be  found.  At  this  place  he  appointed  Col.  Bowman  to  meet  him 
with  such  recruits  as  had  reached  Kentucky  by  the  southern  route,  and 
as  many  as  could  be  spared  from  the  station.  Here  he  announced  to 
the  men  their  real  destination.  Having  completed  his  arrangements, 
and  chosen  his  party,  he  left  a  small  garrison  upon  the  island,  and  on  the 
24th  of  June,  during  a  total  eclipse  of  the  sun,  which  to  them  augured 
no  good,  and  which  fixes  beyond  dispute  the  date  of  starting,  he  with 
his  chosen  band,  fell  down  the  river.  His  plan  was  to  go  by  water  as 
far  as  Fort  Massac  or  Massacre,  and  thence  march  direct  to  Kaskaskia. 
Here  he  intended  to  surprise  the  garrison,  and  after  its  capture  go  to 
Cahokia,  then  to  Vincennes,  and  lastly  to  Detroit.  Should  he  fail,  he 
intended  to  march  directly  to  the  Mississippi  River  and  cross  it  into  the 
Spanish  country.  Before  his  start  he  received  two  good  items  of  infor- 
mation :  one  that  the  alliance  had  been  formed  between  France  and  the 
United  States ;  and  the  other  that  the  Indians  throughout  the  Illinois 
country  and  the  inhabitants,  at  the  various  frontier  posts,  had  been  led  to 
believe  by  the  British  that  the  "  Long  Knives"  or  Virginians,  were  the 
most  fierce,  bloodthirsty  and  cruel  savages  that  ever  scalped  a  foe.  With 
this  impression  on  their  minds,  Clark  saw  that  proper  management  would 
cause  them  to  submit  at  once  from  fear,  if  surprised,  and  then  from  grati- 
tude would  become  friendly  if  treated  with  unexpected  leniency. 

The  march  to  Kaskaskia  was  accomplished  through  a  hot  July  sun, 
and  the  town  reached  on  the  evening  of  July  4.  He  captured  the  fort 
near  the  village,  and  soon  after  the  village  itself  by  surprise,  and  without 
the  loss  of  a  single  man  or  by  killing  any  of  the  enemy.  After  sufficiently 
working  upon  the  fears  of  the  natives,  Clark  told  them  they  were  at  per- 
fect liberty  to  worship  as  they  pleased,  and  to  take  whichever  side  of  the 
great  conflict  they  would,  also  he  would  protect  them  from  any  barbarity 
from  British  or  Indian  foe.  This  had  the  desired  effect,  and  the  inhab- 
itants, so  unexpectedly  and  so  gratefully  surprised  by  the  unlocked 
for  turn  of  affairs,  at  once  swore  allegiance  to  the  American  arms,  and 
when  Clark  desired  to  go  to  Cahokia  on  the  6th  of  July,  they  accom- 
panied, him,  and  through  their  influence  the  inhabitants  of  the  place 
surrendered,  and  gladly  placed  themselves  under  his  protection.  Thus 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  51 

the  two  important  posts  in  Illinois  passed  from  the  hands  of  the  English 
into  the  possession  of  Virginia. 

In  the  person  of  the  priest  at  Kaskaskia,  M.  Gibault,  Clark  found  a 
powerful  ally  and  generous  friend.  Clark  saw  that,  to  retain  possession 
of  tke  Northwest  and  treat  successfully  with  the  Indians  within  its  boun- 
daries, he  must  establish  a  government  for  the  colonies  he  had  taken. 
St.  Vincent,  the  next  important  post  to  Detroit, remained  yet  to  be  taken 
before  the  Mississippi  Valley  was  conquered.  M.  Gibault  told  him  that 
he  would  alone,  by  persuasion,  lead  Vincennes  to  throw  off  its  connection 
with  England.  Clark  gladly  accepted  his  offer,  and  on  the  14th  of  July, 
in  company  with  a  fellow-townsman,  M.  Gibault  started  on  his  mission  of 
peace,  and  on  the  1st  of  August  returned  with  the  cheerful  intelligence 
that  the  post  on  the  "  Oubache  "  had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  Old  Dominion.  During  this  interval,  Clark  established  his  courts, 
placed  garrisons  at  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,  successfully  re-enlisted  his 
men,  sent  word  to'  have  a  fort,  which  proved  the  germ  of  Louisville, 
erected  at  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  and  dispatched  Mr.  Rocheblave,  who 
had  been  commander  at  Kaskaskia,  as  a  prisoner  of  war  to  Richmond. 
In  October  the  County  of  Illinois  was  established  by  the  Legislature 
of  Virginia,  John  Todd  appointed  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  Civil  Governor, 
and  in  November  General  Clark  and  his  men  received  the  thanks  of 
the  Old  Dominion  through  their  Legislature. 

In  a  speech  a  few  days  afterward,  Clark  made  known  fully  to  the 
natives  his  plans,  and  at  its  close  all  came  forward  and  swore  alle- 
giance to  the  Long  Knives.  While  he  was  doing  this  Governor  Hamilton, 
having  made  his  various  arrangements,  had  left  Detroit  and  moved  down 
the  Wabash  to  Vincennes  intending  to  operate  from  that  point  in  reducing 
the  Illinois  posts,  and  then  proceed  on  down  to  Kentucky  and  drive  the 
rebels  from  the  West.  Gen.  Clark  had,  on  the  return  of  M.  Gibault, 
dispatched  Captain  Helm,  of  Fauquier  County,  Virginia,  with  an  attend- 
ant named  Henry,  across  the  Illinois  prairies  to  command  the  fort. 
Hamilton  knew  nothing  of  the  capitulation  of  the  post,  and  was  greatly 
surprised  on  his  arrival  to  be  confronted  by  Capt.  Helm,  who,  standing  at 
the  entrance  of  the  fort  by  a  loaded  cannon  ready  to  fire  upon  his  assail- 
ants, demanded  upon  what  terms  Hamilton  demanded  possession  of  the 
fort.  Being  granted  the  rights  of  a  prisoner  of  war,  he  surrendered  to 
the  British  General,  who  could  scarcely  believe  his  eyes  when  he  saw  tha 
force  in  the  garrison. 

Hamilton,  not  realizing  the  character  of  the  men  with  whom  he  was 
contending,  gave  up  his  intended  campaign  for  the  Winter,  sent  his  four 
hundred  Indian  warriors  to  prevent  troops  from  coming  down  the  Ohio, 


LIBRARY 

(INIVFR^ITV   (IF 


52  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

and  to  annoy  the  Americans  in  all  ways,  and  sat  quietly  down  to  pass  the 
Winter.  Information  of  all  these  proceedings  having  reached  Clark,  he 
saw  that  immediate  and  decisive  action  was  necessary,  and  that  unless 
he  captured  Hamilton,  Hamilton  would  capture  him.  Clark  received  the 
news  on  the  29th  of  January,  1779,  and  on  February  4th,  having  suffi- 
ciently garrisoned  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,  he  sent  down  the  Mississippi 
a  "  battoe,"  as  Major  Bowman  writes  it,  in  order  to  ascend  the  Ohio  and 
Wabash,  and  operate  with  the  land  forces  gathering  for  the  fray. 

On  the  next  day,  Clark,  with  his  little  force  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  men,  set  out  for  the  post,  and  after  incredible  hard  marching 
through  much  mud,  the  ground  being  thawed  by  the  incessant  spring 
rains,  on  the  22d  reached  the  fort,  and  being  joined  by  his  "  battoe,"  at 
once  commenced  the  attack  on  the  post.  The  aim  of  the  American  back- 
woodsman was  unerring,  and  on  the  24th  the  garrison  surrendered  to  the 
intrepid  boldness  of  Clark.  The  French  were  treated  with  great  kind- 
ness, and  gladly  renewed  their  allegiance  to  Virginia.  Hamilton  was 
sent  as  a  prisoner  to  Virginia,  where  he  was  kept  in  close  confinement. 
During  his  command  of  the  British  frontier  posts,  he  had  offered  prizes 
to  the  Indians  for  all  the  scalps  of  Americans  they  would  bring  to  him, 
and  had  earned  in  consequence  thereof  the  title  "  Hair-buyer  General," 
by  which  he  was  ever  afterward  known. 

Detroit  was  now  without  doubt  within  easy  reach  of  the  enterprising 
Virginian,  could  he  but  raise  the  necessary  force.  Governor  Henry  being 
apprised  of  this,  promised  him  the  needed  reinforcement,  and  Clark  con- 
cluded to  wait  until  he  could  capture  and  sufficiently  garrison  the  posts. 
Had  Clark  failed  in  this  bold  undertaking,  and  Hamilton  succeeded  in 
uniting  the  western  Indians  for  the  next  Spring's  campaign,  the  West 
would  indeed  have  been  swept  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Allegheny 
Mountains,  and  the  great  blow  struck,  which  had  been  contemplated  from 
the  commencement,  by  the  British. 

"  But  for  this  small  army  of  dripping,  but  fearless  Virginians,  the 
union  of  all  the  tribes  from  Georgia  to  Maine  against  the  colonies  might 
have  been  effected,  and  the  whole  current  of  our  history  changed." 

At  this  time  some  fears  were  entertained  by  the  Colonial  Govern- 
ments that  the  Indians  in  the  North  and  Northwest  were  inclining  to  the 
British,  and  under  the  instructions  of  Washington,  now  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Colonial  army,  and  so  bravely  fighting  for  American  inde- 
pendence, armed  forces  were  sent  against  the  Six  Nations,  and  upon  the 
Ohio  frontier,  Col.  Bowman,  acting  under  the  same  general's  orders, 
marched  against  Indians  within  the  present  limits  of  that  State.  These 
expeditions  were  in  the  main  successful,  and  the  Indians  were  compelled 
to  sue  for  peace. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  53 

During  this  same  year  (1779)  the  famous  "  Land  Laws"  of  Virginia 
were  passed.  The  passage  of  these  laws  was  of  more  consequence  to  the 
pioneers  of  Kentucky  and  the  Northwest  than  the  gaining  of  a  few  Indian, 
conflicts.  These  laws  confirmed  in  main  all  grants  made,  and  guaranteed 
to  all  actual  settlers  their  rights  and  privileges.  After  providing  for  the 
settlers,  the  laws  provided  for  selling  the  balance  of  the  public  lands  at 
forty  cents  per  acre.  To  carry  the  Land  Laws  into  effect,  the  Legislature 
sent  four  Virginians  westward  to  attend  to  the  various  claims,  over  many 
of  which  great  confusion  prevailed  concerning  their  validity.  These 
gentlemen  opened  their  court  on  October  13,  1779,  at  St.  Asaphs,  and 
continued  until  April  26,  1780,  when  they  adjourned,  having  decided 
three  thousand  claims.  They  were  succeeded  by  the  surveyor,  who 
came  in  the  person  of  Mr.  George  May,  and  assumed  his  duties  on  the 
10th  day  of  the  month  whose  name  he  bore.  With  the  opening  of  the 
next  year  (1780)  the  troubles  concerning  the  navigation  of  the  Missis- 
sippi commenced.  The  Spanish  Government  exacted  such  measures  in 
relation  to  its  trade  as  to  cause  the  overtures  made  to  the  United  States 
to  be  rejected.  The  American  Government  considered  they  had  a  right 
to  navigate  its  channel.  To  enforce  their  claims,  a  fort  was  erected  below 
the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  on  the  Kentucky  side  of  the  river.  The  settle- 
ments in  Kentucky  were  being  rapidly  filled  by  emigrants.  It  was  dur- 
ing this  year  that  the  first  seminary  of  learning  was  established  in  the 
West  in  this  young  and  enterprising  Commonwealth. 

The  settlers  here  did  not  look  upon  the  building  of  this  fort  in  a 
friendly  manner,  as  it  aroused  the  hostility  of  the  Indians.  Spain  had 
been  friendly  to  the  Colonies  during  their  struggle  for  independence, 
and  though  for  a  while  this  friendship  appeared  in  danger  from  the 
refusal  of  the  free  navigation  of  the  river,  yet  it  was  finally  settled  to  the 
satisfaction  of  both  nations. 

The  Winter  of  1779-80  was  one  of  the  most  unusually  severe  ones 
ever  experienced  in  the  West.  The  Indians  always  referred  to  it  as  the 
"Great  Cold."  Numbers  of  wild  animals  perished,  and  not  a  few 
pioneers  lost  their  lives.  The  following  Summer  a  party  of  Canadians 
and  Indians  attacked  St.  Louis,  and  attempted  to  take  possession  of  it 
in  consequence  of  the  friendly  disposition  of  Spain  to  the  revolting 
colonies.  They  met  with  such  a  determined  resistance  on  the  part  of  the 
inhabitants,  even  the  women  taking  part  in  the  battle,  that  they  were 
compelled  to  abandon  the  contest.  They  also  made  an  attack  on  the 
settlements  in  Kentucky,  but,  becoming  alarmed  in  some  unaccountable 
manner,  they  fled  the  country  in  great  haste. 

About  this  time  arose  the  question  in  the  Colonial  Congress  con- 
cerning the  western  lands  claimed  by  Virginia,  New  York,  Massachusetts 


54  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

and  Connecticut.  The  agitation  concerning  this  subject  finally  led  New 
York,  on  the  19th  of  February,  1780,  to  pass  a  law  giving  to  the  dele- 
gates of  that  State  in  Congress  the  power  to  cede  her  western  lands  for 
the  benefit  of  the  United  States.  This  law  was  laid  before  Congress 
during  the  next  month,  but  no  steps  were  taken  concerning  it  until  Sep- 
tember 6th,  when  a  resolution  passed  that  body  calling  upon  the  States 
claiming  western  lands  to  release  their  claims  in  favor  of  the  whole  body. 
This  basis  formed  the  union,  and  was  the  first  after  all  of  those  legislative 
measures  which  resulted  in  the  creation  of  the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana, 
Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota.  In  December  of  the  same 
year,  the  plan  of  conquering  Detroit  again  arose.  The  conquest  might 
have  easily  been  effected  by  Clark  had  the  necessary  aid.  been  furnished 
him.  Nothing  decisive  was  done,  yet  the  heads  of  the  Government  knew 
that  the  safety  of  the  Northwest  from  British  invasion  lay  in  the  capture 
and  retention  of  that  important  post,  the  only  unconquered  one  in  the 
territory. 

Before  the  close  of  the  year,  Kentucky  was  divided  into  the  Coun- 
ties of  Lincoln,  Fayette  and  Jefferson,  and  the  act  establishing  the  Town 
of  Louisville  was  passed.  This  same  year  is  also  noted  in  the  annals  of 
American  history  as  the  year  in  which  occurred  Arnold's  treason  to  the 
United  States. 

Virginia,  in  accordance  with  the  resolution  of  Congress,  on  the  2d 
day  of  January,  1781,  agreed  to  yield  her  western  lands  to  the  United 
States  upon  certain  conditions,  which  Congress  would  not  accede  to,  and 
the  Act  of  Cession,  on  the  part  of  the  Old  Dominion,  failed,  nor  was 
anything  farther  done  until  1783.  During  all  that  time  the  Colonies 
were  busily  engaged  in  the  struggle  with  the  mother  country,  and  in 
consequence  thereof  but  little  heed  was  given  to  the  western  settlements. 
Upon  the  16th  of  April,  1781,  the  first  birth  north  of  the  Ohio  River  of 
American  parentage  occurred,  being  that  of  Mary  Heckewelder,  daughter 
of  the  widely  known  Moravian  missionary,  whose  band  of  Christian 
Indians  suffered  in  after  years  a  horrible  massacre  by  the  hands  of  the 
frontier  settlers,  who  had  been  exasperated  by  the  murder  of  several  of 
their  neighbors,  and  in  their  rage  committed,  without  regard  to  humanity, 
a  deed  which  forever  afterwards  cast  a  shade  of  shame  upon  their  lives. 
For  this  and  kindred  outrages  on  the  part  of  the  whites,  the  Indians 
committed  many  deeds  of  cruelty  which  darken  the  years  of  1771  and 
1772  in  the  history  of  the  Northwest. 

During  the  year  1782  a  number  of  battles  among  the  Indians  and 
frontiersmen  occurred,  and  between  the  Moravian  Indians  and  the  Wyan- 
dots.  In  these,  horrible  acts  of  cruelty  were  practised  on  the  captives, 
many  of  such  dark  deeds  transpiring  under  the  leadership  of  the  notorious 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERR1TOEY. 


55 


frontier  outlaw,  Simon  Girty,  whose  name,  as  well  as  those  of  his  brothers, 
was  ii  terror  to  women  and  children.  These  occurred  chiefly  in  the  Ohio 
valleys.  Cotemporary  with  them  were  several  engagements  in  Kentucky, 
in  which  the  famous  Daniel  Boone  engaged,  and  who,  often  by  his  skill 
and  knowledge  of  Indian  warfare,  saved  the  outposts  from  cruel  destruc- 


1NDIANS    ATTACKING    FRONT1EKSMEN. 

tion.  By  the  close  of  the  year  victory  had  perched  upon  the  American, 
banner,  and  on  the  30th  of  November,  provisional  articles  of  peace  had 
been  arranged  between  the  Commissioners  of  England  and  her  uncon- 
querable colonies.  Cornwallis  had  been  defeated  on  the  19th  of  October 
preceding,  and  the  liberty  of  America  was  assured.  On  the  19th  of 
April  following,  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  peace  was 


5G  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

proclaimed  to  the  army  of  the  United  States,  and  on  the  3d  of  the  next 
September,  the  definite  treaty  which  ended  our  revolutionary  struggle 
was  concluded.  By  the  terms  of  that  treaty,  the  boundaries  of  the  West 
were  as  follows :  On  the  north  the  line  was  to  extend  along  the  center  of 
the  Great  Lakes ;  from  the  western  point  of  Lake  Superior  to  Long  Lake  ; 
thence  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods ;  thence  to  the  head  of  the  Mississippi 
River;  down  its  center  to  the  31st  parallel  of  latitude,  then  on  that  line 
east  to  the  head  of  the  Appalachicola  River ;  down  its  center  to  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Flint ;  thence  straight  to  the  head  of  St.  Mary's  River,  and 
thence  down  along  its  center  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

Following  the  cessation  of  hostilities  with  England,  several  posts 
were  still  occupied  by  the  British  in  the  North  and  West.  Among  these 
was  Detroit,  still  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Numerous  engagements 
with  the  Indians  throughout  Ohio  and  Indiana  occurred,  upon  whose 
lands  adventurous  whites  would  settle  ere  the  title  had  been  acquired  by 
the  proper  treaty. 

To  remedy  this  latter  evil,  Congress  appointed  commissioners  to 
treat  with  the  natives  and  purchase  their  lands,  and  prohibited  the  set- 
tlement of  the  territory  until  this  could  be  done.  Before  the  close  of  the 
year  another  attempt  was  made  to  capture  Detroit,  which  was,  however, 
not  pushed,  and  Virginia,  no  longer  feeling  the  interest  in  the  Northwest 
she  had  formerly  done,  withdrew  her  troops,  having  on  the  20th  of 
December  preceding  authorized  the  whole  of  her  possessions  to  be  deeded 
to  the  United  States.  This  was  done  on  the  1st  of  March  following,  and 
the  Northwest  Territory  passed  from  the  control  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
To  Gen.  Clark  and  his  soldiers,  however,  she  gave  a  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  acres  of  land,  to  be  situated  any  where  north  of  the 
Ohio  wherever  they  chose  to  locate  them.  They  selected  the  region 
opposite  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  where  is  DOW  the  dilapidated  village  of 
Clarksville,  about  midway  between  the  Cities  of  New  Albany  and  Jeffer- 
sonville,  Indiana. 

While  the  frontier  remained  thus,  and  Gen.  Haldimand  at  Detroit 
refused  to  evacuate  alleging  that  he  had  no  orders  from  his  King  to  do 
so,  settlers  were  rapidly  gathering  about  the  inland  forts.  In  the  Spring 
of  1784,  Pittsburgh  was  regularly  laid  out,  and  from  the  journal  of  Arthur 
Lee,  who  passed  through  the  town  soon  after  on  his  way  to  the  Indian 
council  at  Fort  Mclntosh,  we  suppose  it  was  not  very  prepossessing  in 
appearance.  He  says : 

"  Pittsburgh  is  inhabited  almost  entirely  by  Scots  and  Irish,  who 
live  in  paltry  log  houses,  and  are  as  dirty  as  if  in  the  north  of  Ireland  or 
even  Scotland.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  trade  carried  on,  the  goods  being 
bought  at  the  vast  expense  of  forty-five  shillings  per  pound  from  Phila- 


THE   NORTHWEST  TERRITORY.  57 

delphia  and  Baltimore.  They  take  in  the  shops  flour,  wheat,  skins  and 
money.  There  are  in  the  town  four  attorneys,  two  doctors,  and  not  a 
priest  of  any  persuasion,  nor  church  nor  chapel." 

Kentucky  at  this  time  contained  thirty  thousand  inhabitants,  and 
was  beginning  to  discuss  measures  for  a  separation  from  Virginia.  A 
land  office  was  opened  at  Louisville,  and  measures  were  adopted  to  take 
defensive  precaution  against  the  Indians  who  were  yet,  in  some  instances, 
incited  to  deeds  of  violence  by  the  British.  Before  the  close  of  this  year, 
1784,  the  military  claimants  of  land  began  to  occupy  them,  although  no 
entries  were  recorded  until  1787. 

The  Indian  title  to  the  Northwest  was  not  yet  extinguished.  They 
held  large  tracts  of  lands,  and  in  order  to  prevent  bloodshed  Congress 
adopted  means  for  treaties  with  the  original  owners  and  provided  for  the 
surveys  of  the  lands  gained  thereby,  as  well  as  for  those  north  of  the 
Ohio,  now  in  its  possession.  On  January  31,  1786,  a  treaty  was  made 
with  the  Wabash  Indians.  The  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  had  been  made 
in  1784.  That  at  Fort  Mclntosh  in  1785,  and  through  these  much  land 
was  gained.  The  Wabash  Indians,  however,  afterward  refused  to  comply 
with  the  provisions  of  the  treaty  made  with  them,  and  in  order  to  compel 
their  adherence  to  its  provisions,  force  was  used.  Daring  the  year  1786, 
the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  came  up  in  Congress,  and  caused 
various  discussions,  which  resulted  in  no  definite  action,  only  serving  to 
excite  speculation  in  regard  to  the  western  lands.  Congress  had  promised 
bounties  of  land  to  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution,  but  owing  to  the 
unsettled  condition  of  affairs  along  the  Mississippi  respecting  its  naviga- 
tion, and  the  trade  of  the  Northwest,  that  body  had,  in  1783,  declared 
its  inability  to  fulfill  these  promises  until  a  treaty  could  be  concluded 
between  the  two  Governments.  Before  the  close  of  the  year  1786,  how- 
ever, it  was  able,  through  the  treaties  with  the  Indians,  to  allow  some 
grants  and  the  settlement  thereon,  and  on  the  14th  of  September  Con- 
necticut ceded  to  the  General  Government  the  tract  of  land  known  as 
the  "  Connecticut  Reserve,"  and  before  the  close  of  the  following  year  a 
large  tract  of  land  north  of  the  Ohio  was  sold  to  a  company,  who  at  once 
took  measures  to  settle  it.  By  the  provisions  of  this  grant,  the  company 
were  to  pay  the  United  States  one  dollar  per  acre,  subject  to  a  deduction 
of  one-third  for  bad  lands  and  other  contingencies.  They  received 
750,000  acres,  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  Ohio,  on  the  east  by  the 
seventh  range  of  townships,  on  the  west  by  the  sixteenth  range,  and  on 
the  north  by  a  line  so  drawn  as  to  make  the  grant  complete  without 
the  reservations.  .In  addition  to  this,  Congress  afterward  granted  100,000 
acres  to  actual  settlers,  and  214,285  acres  as  army  bounties  under  the 
resolutions  of  1789  and  1790. 


58 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


While  Dr.  Cutler,  one  of  the  agents  of  the  company,  was  pressing- 
its  claims  before  Congress,  that  body  was  bringing  into  form  an  ordinance 
for  the  political  and  social  organization  of  this  Territory.  "When  the 
cession  was  made  by  Virginia,  in  1784,  a  plan  was  offered,  but  rejected. 
A  motion  had  been  made  to  strike  from  the  proposed  plan  the  prohibition 
of  slavery,  which  prevailed.  The  plan  was  then  discussed  and  altered, 
and  finally  passed  unanimously,  with  the  exception  of  South  Carolina. 
By  this  proposition,  the  Territory  was  to  have  been  divided  into  states 


PRESENT    SITE    OF    LAKE    STREET    BRIDGE,    CHICAGO,    IX    1833. 


by  parallels  and  meridian  lines.     This,  it  was  thought,  would  make  ten 
states,  which  were  to  have  been  named  as  follows  —  beginning  at  the 
northwest  corner  and  going  southwardly:    Sylvania,  Michigama,  Cher- 
sonesus,  Assenisipia,  Metropotamia,  Illenoia,  Saratoga,  Washington,  F 
potamia  and  Pelisipia. 

There  was  a  more  serious  objection  to  this  plan  than  its  category  c 
names,- the  boundaries.     The  root  of  the  difficulty  was  in  the  resolu- 
tion of  Congress  passed  in  October,  1780,  which  fixed  the   boundaries 
of  the  ceded  lands  to  be  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  59 

square.  These  resolutions  being  presented  to  the  Legislatures  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Massachusetts,  they  desired  a  change,  and  in  July,  1786,  the 
subject  was  taken  up  in  Congress,  and  changed  to  favor  a  division  into 
not  more  than  five  states,  and  not  less  than  three.  This  was  approved  by 
the  State  Legislature  of  Virginia.  The  subject  of  the  Government  was 
again  taken  up  by  Congress  in  1786,  and  discussed  throughout  that  year 
and  until  July,  1787,  when  the  famous  "Compact  of  1787"  was  passed, 
and  the  foundation  of  the  government  of  the  Northwest  laid.  This  com- 
pact is  fully  discussed  and  explained  in  the  history  of  Illinois  in  this  book, 
and  to  it  the  reader  is  referred. 

The  passage  of  this  act  and  the  grant  to  the  New  England  Company 
was  soon  followed  by  an  application  to  the  Government  by  John  Cleves 
Symmes,  of  New  Jersey,  for  a  grant  of  the  land  between  the  Miamis. 
This  gentleman  had  visited  these  lands  soon  after  the  treaty  of  1786,  and, 
being  greatly  pleased  with  them,  offered  similar  terms  to  those  given  to  the 
New  England  Company.  The  petition  was  referred  to  the  Treasury 
Board  with  power  to  act,  and  a  contract  was  concluded  the  following 
year.  During  the  Autumn  the  directors  of  the  New  England  Company 
were  preparing  to  occupy  their  grant  the  following  Spring,  and  upon  the 
23d  of  November  made  arrangements  for  a  party  of  forty-seven  men, 
under  the  superintendency  of  Gen.  Rufus  Putnam,  to  set  forward.  Six 
boat-builders  were  to  leave  at  once,  and  on  the  first  of  January  the  sur- 
veyors and  their  assistants,  twenty-six  in  number,  were  to  meet  at  Hart- 
ford and  proceed  on  their  journey  westward ;  the  remainder  to  follow  a& 
soon  as  possible.  Congress,  in  the  meantime,  upon  the  3d  of  October, 
had  ordered  seven  hundred  troops  for  defense  of  the  western  settlers,  and 
to  prevent  unauthorized  intrusions  ;  and  two  days  later  appointed  Arthur 
St.  Clair  Governor  of  the  Territory  of  the  Northwest. 

AMERICAN  SETTLEMENTS. 

The  civil  organization  of  the  Northwest  Territory  was  now  com- 
plete, and  notwithstanding  the  uncertainty  of  Indian  affairs,  settlers  from 
the  East  began  to  come  into  the  country  rapidly.  The  New  England 
Company  sent  their  men  during  the  Winter  of  1787-8  pressing  on  over 
the  Alleghenies  by  the  old  Indian  path  which  had  been  opened  into 
Braddock's  road,  and  which  has  since  been  made  a  national  turnpike 
from  Cumberland  westward.  Through  the  weary  winter  days  they  toiled 
on,  and  by  April  were  all  gathered  on  the  Yohiogany,  where  boats  had 
been  built,  and  at  once  started  for  the  Muskingum.  Here  they  arrived 
on  the  7th  of  that  month,  and  unless  the  Moravian  missionaries  be  regarded 
as  the  pioneers  of  Ohio,  this  little  band  can  justly  claim  that  honor. 


60 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


Gen.  St.  Clair,  the  appointed  Governor  of  the  Northwsst,  not  having 
yet  arrived,  a  set  of  laws  were  passed,  written  out,  and  published  by 
being  nailed  to  a  tree  in  the  embryo  town,  and  Jonathan  Meigs  appointed 
to  administer  them. 

Washington  in  writing  of  this,  the  first  American  settlement  in  the 
Northwest,  said :  "  No  colony  in  America  was  ever  settled  under 
such  favorable  auspices  as  that  which  has  just  commenced  at  Muskingum. 
Information,  property  and  strength  will  be  its  characteristics.  I  know 
many  of  its  settlers  personally,  and  there  never  were  men  better  calcu- 
lated to  promote  the  welfare  of  such  a  community.'5 


A    PIONEER    DWELLING. 


On  the  2d  of  July  a  meeting  of  the  directors  and  agents  was  held 
on  the  banks  of  the  Muskingum,  "  for  the  purpose  of  naming  the  new- 
born city  and  its  squares."  As  yet  the  settlement  was  known  as  the 
"Muskingum,"  but  that  was  now  changed  to  the  name  Marietta,  in  honor 
of  Marie  Antoinette.  The  square  upon  which  the  block -houses  stood 
was  called  "  Campus  Martins  ;"  square  number  19,  "  Capitolium  ;"  square 
number  61,  "  Cecilia  ;"  and  the  great  road  through  the  covert  way,  "  Sacra 
Via.''''  Two  days  after,  an  oration  was  delivered  by  James  M.  Varnum, 
who  with  S.  H.  Parsons  and  John  Armstrong  had  been  appointed  to  the 
judicial  bench  of  the  territory  on  the  16th  of  October,  1787.  On  July  9, 
Gov.  St.  Clair  arrived,  and  the  colony  began  to  assume  form.  The  act 
of  1787  provided  two  district  grades  of  government  for  the  Northwest, 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  61 

under  the  first  of  which  the  whole  power  was  invested  in  the  hands  of  a 
governor  and  three  district  judges.  This  was  immediately  formed  upon 
the  Governor's  arrival,  and  the  first  laws  of  the  colony  passed  on  the  25th 
of  July.  These  provided  for  the  organization  of  the  militia,  and  on  the 
next  day  appeared  the  Governor's  proclamation,  erecting  all  that  country 
that  had  been  ceded  by  the  Indians  east  of  the  Scioto  River  into  the 
County  of  Washington.  From  that  time  forward,  notwithstanding  the 
doubts  yet  existing  as  to  the  Indians,  all  Marietta  prospered,  and  on  the 
2d  of  September  the  first  court  of  the  territory  was  held  with  imposing 
ceremonies. 

The  emigration  westward  at  this  time  was  very  great.  The  com- 
mander at  Fort  Harmer,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum,  reported  four 
thousand  five  hundred  persons  as  having  passed  that  post  between  Feb- 
ruary and  June,  1788  —  many  of  whom  would  have  purchased  of  the 
•Associates,"  as  the  New  England  Company  was  called,  had  they  been 
jady  to  receive  them. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  1787,  Symmes  issued  a  pamphlet  stating 
the  terms  of  his  contract  and  the  plan  of  sale  he  intended  to  adopt.  In 
January,  1788,  Matthias  Denman,  of  New  Jersey,  took  an  active  interest 
in  Symmes'  purchase,  and  located  among  other  tracts  the  sections  upon 
which  Cincinnati  has  been  built.  Retaining  one-third  of  this  locality,  he 
sold  the  other  two-thirds  to  Robert  Patterson  and  John  Filson,  and  the 
three,  about  August,  commenced  to  lay  out  a  town  on  the  spot,  which 
was  designated  as  being  opposite  Licking  River,  to  the  mouth  of  which 
they  proposed  to  have  a  road  cut  from  Lexington.  The  naming  of  the 
town  is  thus  narrated  in  the  "Western  Annals  "  : — "  Mr.  Filson,  who  had 
been  a  schoolmaster,  was  appointed  to  name  the  town,  and,  in  respect  to 
its  situation,  and  as  if  with  a  prophetic  perception  of  the  mixed  race  that 
were  to  inhabit  it  in  after  days,  he  named  it  Losantiville,  which,  being 
interpreted,  means  :  ville,  the  town  ;  anti,  against  or  opposite  to  ;  o«,  the 
mouth  ;  L.  of  Licking." 

Meanwhile,  in  July,  Symmes  got  thirty  persons  and  eight  four-horse 
teams  under  way  for  the  West.  These  reached  Limestone  (now  Mays- 
ville)  in  September,  where  were  several  persons  from  Redstone.  Here 
Mr.  Symmes  tried  to  found  a  settlement,  but  the  great  freshet  of  1789 
caused  the  "  Point,"  as  it  was  and  is  yet  called,  to  be  fifteen  feet  under 
water,  and  the  settlement  to  be  abandoned.  The  little  band  of  settlers 
removed  to  the  mouth  of  the  Miami.  Before  Symmes  and  his  colony  left 
the  "  Point,"  two  settlements  had  been  made  on  his  purchase.  The  first 
was  by  Mr.  Stiltes,  the  original  projector  of  the  whole  plan,  who,  with  a 
colony  of  Redstone  people,  had  located  at  the  mouth  of  the  Miami, 
whither  Symmes  went  with  his  Maysville  colony.  Here  a  clearing  had 


62 


THE    NORTHWEST   TEREITORY. 


been  made  by  the  Indians  owing  to  the  great  fertility  of  the  soil.  Mr, 
Stiltes  with  his  colony  came  to  this  place  on  the  18th  of  November,  1788, 
with  twenty-six  persons,  and,  building  a  block-house,  prepared  to  remain 
through  the  Winter.  They  named  the  settlement  Columbia.  Here  they 
were  kindly  treated  by  the  Indians,  but  suffered  greatly  from  the  flood 
of  1789. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1789,  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
went  into  operation,  and  on  April  30,  George  Washington  was  inaug- 
urated President  of  the  American  people,  and  during  the  next  Summer, 
an  Indian  war  was  commenced  by  the  tribes  north  of  the  Ohio.  The 
President  at  first  used  pacific  means ;  but  these  failing,  he  sent  General 
Harmer  against  the  hostile  tribes.  He  destroyed  several  villages,  but 


LAKE  BLUFF. 

The  frontage  of  Lake  Bluff  Grounds  on  Lake  Michigan,  with  one  hundred  and  seventy  feet  of  gradual  ascent. 

was  defeated  in  two  battles,  near  the  present  City  of  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana.  From  this  time  till  the  close  of  1795,  the  principal  events  were 
the  wars  with  the  various  Indian  tribes.  In  1796,  General  St.  Clair 
was  appointed  in  command,  and  marched  against  the  Indians ;  but  while 
he  was  encamped  on  a  stream,  the  St.  Mary,  a  branch  of  the  Maumee, 
he  was  attacked  and  defeated  with  the  loss  of  six  hundred  men. 

General  Wayne  was  now  sent  against  the  savages.  In  August,  1794, 
he  met  them  near  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee,  and  gained  a  complete 
victory.  This  success,  followed  by  vigorous  measures,  compelled  the 
Indians  to  sue  for  peace,  and  on  the  30th  of  July,  the  following  year,  the 
treaty  of  Greenville  was  signed  by  the  principal  chiefs,  by  which  a  large 
tract  of  country  was  ceded  to  the  United  States. 

Before  proceeding  in  our  narrative,  we  will  pause  to  notice  Fort 
Washington,  erected  in  the  early  part  of  this  war  on  the  site  of  Cincinnati. 
Nearly  all  of  the  great  cities  of  the  Northwest,  and  indeed  of  the 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  63 

whole  country,  have  had  their  nuclei  in  those  rude  pioneer  structures, 
known  as  forts  or  stockades.  Thus  Forts  Dearborn,  Washington,  Pon- 
chartrain,  mark  the  original  sites  of  the  now  proud  Cities  of  Chicago, 
Cincinnati  and  Detroit.  So  of  most  of  the  flourishing  cities  east  and  west 
of  the  Mississippi.  Fort  Washington,  erected  by  Doughty  in  1790,  was  a 
rude  but  highly  interesting  structure.  It  was  composed  of  a  number  of 
strongly-built  hewed  log  cabins.  Those  designed  for  soldiers'  barracks 
were  a  story  and  a  half  high,  while  those  composing  the  officers  quarters 
were  more  imposing  and  more  conveniently  arranged  and  furnished. 
The  whole  were  so  placed  as  to  form  a  hollow  square,  enclosing  about  an 
acre  of  ground,  with  a  block  house  at  each  of  the  four  angles. 

The  logs  for  the  construction  of  this  fort  were  cut  from  the  ground 
upon  which  it  was  erected.  It  stood  between  Third  and  Fourth  Streets 
of  the  present  city  (Cincinnati)  extending  east  of  Eastern  Row,  now 
Broadway,  which  was  then  a  narrow  alley,  and  the  eastern  boundary  of 
of  the  town  as  it  was  originally  laid  out.  On  the  bank  of  the  river, 
immediately  in  front  of  the  fort,  was  an  appendage  of  the  fort,  called  the 
Artificer's  Yard.  It  contained  about  two  acres  of  ground,  enclosed  by 
small  contiguous  buildings,  occupied  by  workshops  and  quarters  of 
laborers.  Within  this  enclosure  there  was  a  large  two-story  frame  house, 
familiarly  called  the  "  Yellow  House,"  built  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  Quartermaster  General.  For  many  years  this  was  the  best  finished 
and  most  commodious  edifice  in  the  Queen  City.  Fort  Washington  was 
for  some  time  the  headquarters  of  both  the  civil  and  military  governments 
of  the  Northwestern  Territory. 

Following  the  consummation  of  the  treaty  various  gigantic  land  spec- 
ulations were  entered  into  by  different  perspns,  who  hoped  to  obtain 
from  the  Indians  in  Michigan  and  northern  Indiana,  large  tracts  of  lands. 
These  were  generally  discovered  in  time  to  prevent  the  outrageous 
schemes  from  being  carried  out,  and  from  involving  the  settlers  in  war. 
On  October  27,  1795,  the  treaty  between  the  United  States  and  Spain 
was  signed,  whereby  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  was  secured. 

No  sooner  had  the  treat}r  of  1795  been  ratified  than  settlements  began 
to  pour  rapidly  into  the  "West.  The  great  event  of  the  year  1796  was  the 
occupation  of  that  part  of  the  Northwest  including  Michigan,  which  was 
this  year,  under  the  provisions  of  the  treaty,  evacuated  by  the  British 
forces.  The  United  States,  owing  to  certain  conditions,  did  not  feel 
justified  in  addressing  the  authorities  in  Canada  in  relation  to  Detroit 
and  other  frontier  posts.  When  at  last  the  British  authorities  were 
called  to  give  them  up,  they  at  once  complied,  and  General  Wayne,  who 
had  done  so  much  to  preserve  the  frontier  settlements,  and  who,  before 
the  year's  close,  sickened  and  died  near  Erie,  transferred  his  head- 


61:  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

quarters  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  lakes,  where  a  county  named  after 
him  was  formed,  which  included  the  northwest  of  Ohio,  all  of  Michigan, 
and  the  northeast  of  Indiana.  During  this  same  year  settlements  were 
formed  at  the  present  City  of  Chillicothe,  along  the  Miami  from  Middle- 
town  to  Piqua,  while  in  the  more  distant  West,  settlers  and  speculators 
began  to  appear  in  great  numbers.  In  September,  the  City  of  Cleveland 
was  laid  out,  and  during  the  Summer  and  Autumn,  Samuel  Jackson  and 
Jonathan  Sharpless  erected  the  first  manufactory  of  paper — the  "  Red- 
stone Paper  Mill" — in  the  West.  St.  Louis  contained  some  seventy 
houses,  and  Detroit  over  three  hundred,  and.  along  the  river,  contiguous 
to  it,  were  more  than  three  thousand  inhabitants,  mostly  French  Canadians, 
Indians  and  half-breeds,  scarcely  any  Americans  venturing  yet  into  that 
part  of  the  Northwest. 

The  election  of  representatives  for  the  territory  had  taken  place* 
and  on  the  4th  of  February,  1799,  they  convened  at  Losantiville  —  now 
known  as  Cincinnati,  having  been  named  so  by  Gov.  St.  Clair^  and 
considered  the  capital  of  the  Territory — to  nominate  persons  from  whom 
the  members  of  the  Legislature  were  to  be  chosen  in  accordance  with 
a  previous  ordinance.  This  nomination  being  made,  the  Assembly 
adjourned  until  the  16th  of  the  following  September.  From  those  named 
the  President  selected  as  members  of  the  council,  Henry  Vandenburg, 
of  Vincennes,  Robert  Oliver,  of  Marietta,  James  Findlay  and  Jacob 
Burnett,  of  Cincinnati,  and  David  Vance,  of  Vanceville.  On  the  16th 
of  September  the  Territorial  Legislature  met,  and  on  the  24th  the  two 
houses  were  duly  organized,  Henry  Vandenburg  being  elected  President 
of  the  Council. 

The  message  of  Gov.  St.  Clair  was  addressed  to  the  Legislature 
September  20th,  and  on  October  13th  that  body  elected  as  a  delegate  to 
Congress  Gen.  Wm.  Henry  Harrison,  who  received  eleven  of  the  votes 
cast,  being  a  majority  of  one  over  his  opponent,  Arthur  St.  Clair,  son  of 
Gen.  St.  Clair. 

The  whole  number  of  acts  passed  at  this  session,  and  approved  by 
the  Governor,  were  thirty-seven  —  eleven  others  were  passed,  but  received 
his  veto.  The  most  important  of  those  passed  related  to  the  militia,  to 
the  administration,  and  to  taxation.  On  the  19th  of  December  this  pro- 
tracted session  of  the  first  Legislature  in  the  West  was  closed,  and  on  the 
30th  of  December  the  President  nominated  Charles  Willing  Bryd  to  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  the  Territory  vice  Wm.  Henry  Harrison,  elected  to 
Congress.  The  Senate  confirmed  his  nomination  the  next  day. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  65 


DIVISION   OF   THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

The  increased  emigration  to  the  Northwest,  the  extent  of  the  domain, 
and  the  inconvenient  modes  of  travel,  made  it  very  difficult  to  conduct 
the  ordinary  operations  of  government,  and  rendered  the  efficient  action 
of  courts  almost  impossible.  To  remedy  this,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to 
divide  the  territory  for  civil  purposes.  Congress,  in  1800,  appointed  a 
committee  to  examine  the  question  and  report  some  means  for  its  solution. 
This  committee,  on  the  3d  of  March,  reported  that : 

"  In  the  three  western  countries  there  has  been  but  one  court  having 
cognizance  of  crimes,  in  five  years,  and  the  immunity  which  offenders 
experience  attracts,  as  to  an  asylum,  the  most  vile  and  abandoned  crim- 
inals, and  at  the  same  time  deters  useful  citizens  from  making  settlements 
ill  such  society.  The  extreme  necessity  of  judiciary  attention  and  assist- 
ance is  experienced  in  civil  as  well  as  in  criminal  cases.  *  *  *  *  To 
minister  a  remedy  to  these  and  other  evils,  it  occurs  to  this  committee 
that  it  is  expedient  that  a  division  of  said  territory  into  two  distinct  and 
separate  governments  should  be  made ;  and  that  such  division  be  made 
by  a  line  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  River,  running 
directly  north  until  it  intersects  the  boundary  between  the  United  States 
and  Canada." 

The  report  was  accepted  by  Congress,  and,  in  accordance  with  its 
suggestions,  that  body  passed  an  Act  extinguishing  the  Northwest  Terri- 
tory, which  Act  was  approved  May  7.  Among  its  provisions  were  these  : 

"  That  from  and  after  July  4  next,  all  that  part  of  the  Territory  of 
the  United  States  northwest  of  the  Ohio  River,  which  lies  to  the  westward 
of  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  on  the  Ohio,  opposite  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Kentucky  River,  and  running  thence  to  Fort  Recovery,  and  thence  north 
until  it  shall  intersect  the  territorial  line  between  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  shall,  for  the  purpose  of  temporary  government,  constitute  a 
separate  territory,  and  be  called  the  Indiana  Territory." 

After  providing  for  the  exercise  of  the  civil  and  criminal  powers  of 
the  territories,  and  other  provisions,  the  Act  further  provides : 

"  That  until  it  shall  otherwise  be  ordered  by  the  Legislatures  of  the 
said  Territories,  respectively,  Chillicothe  on  the  Scioto  River  shall  be  the 
seat  of  government  of  the  Territory  of  the  United  States  northwest  of  the 
Ohio  River;  and  that  St.  Vincennes  on  the  Wabash  River  shall  be  the 
seat  of  government  for  the  Indiana  Territory." 

Gen.  Wm.  Henry  Harrison  was  appointed  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  entered  upon  his  duties  about  a  year  later.  Connecticut 
also  about  this  time  released  her  claims  to  the  reserve,  and  in  March  a  law 


<3G  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

was  passed  accepting  this  cession.  Settlements  had  been  made  upon 
thirty-five  of  the  townships  in  the  reserve,  mills  had  been  built,  and  seven 
hundred  miles  of  road  cut  in  various  directions.  On  the  3d  of  November 
the  General  Assembly  met  at  Chillicothe.  Near  the 'close  of  the  }rear, 
the  first  missionary  of  the  Connecticut  Reserve  came,  who  found  no 
township  containing  more  than  eleven  families.  It  was  upon  the  first  of 
October  that  the  secret  treaty  had  been  made  between  Napoleon  and  the 
King  of  Spain,  whereby  the  latter  agreed  to  cede  to  France  the  province 
of  Louisiana. 

In  January,  1802,  the  Assembly  of  the  Northwestern  Territory  char- 
tered the  college  at  Athens.  From  the  earliest  dawn  of  the  western 
colonies,  education  was  promptly  provided  for,  and  as  early  as  1787, 
newspapers  were  issued  from  Pittsburgh  and  Kentucky,  and  largely  read 
throughout  the  frontier  settlements.  Before  the  close  of  this  year,  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  granted  to  the  citizens  of  the  Northwestern 
territory  the  formation  of  a  State  government.  One  of  the  provisions  of 
the  "compact  of  1787"  provided  that  whenever  the  number  of  inhabit- 
ants within  prescribed  limits  exceeded  45,000,  they  should  be  entitled  to 
a  separate  government.  The  prescribed  limits  of  Ohio  contained,  from  a 
census  taken  to  ascertain  the  legality  of  the  act,  more  than  that  number, 
and  on  the  30th  of  April,  1802,  Congress  passed  the  act  defining  its  limits, 
and  on  the  29th  of  November  the  Constitution  of  the  new  State  of  Ohio, 
so  named  from  the  beautiful  river  forming  its  southern  boundary,  came 
into  existence.  The  exact  limits  of  Lake  Michigan  were  not  then  known, 
but  the  territory  now  included  within  the  State  of  Michigan  was  wholly 
within  the  territory  of  Indiana. 

Gen.  Harrison,  while  residing  at  Vincennes,  made  several  treaties 
•with  the  Indians,  thereby  gaining  large  tracts  of  lands.  The  next  year  is 
memorable  in  the  history  of  the  West  for  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  from 
France  by  the  United  States  for  $15,000,000.  Thus  by  a  peaceful  mode, 
the  domain  of  the  United  States  was  extended  over  a  large  tract  of 
country  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  was  for  a  time  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  Northwest  government,  and,  as  has  been  mentioned  in  the  early 
part  of  this  narrative,  was  called  the  "New  Northwest."  The  limits 
of  this  history  will  not  allow  a  description  of  its  territory.  The  same  year 
large  grants  of  land  were  obtained  from  the  Indians,  and  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  new  State  of  Ohio  signed  a  bill  respecting  the 
College  Township  in  the  district  of  Cincinnati. 

Before  the  close  of  the  year,  Gen.  Harrison  obtained  additional 
grants  of  lands  from  the  various  Indian  nations  in  Indiana  and  the  present 
limits  of  Illinois,  and  on  the  18th  of  August,  1804,  completed  a  treaty  at 
St.  Louis,  whereby  over  51,000,000  acres  of  lands  were  obtained  from  the 


THE   NORTHWEST   TEBKITOBY.  67 

aborigines.  Measures  were  also  taken  to  learn  the  condition  of  affairs  in 
and  about  Detroit. 

C.  Jouett,  the  Indian  agent  in  Michigan,  still  a  part  of  Indiana  Terri- 
tory, reported  as  follows  upon  the  condition  of  matters  at  that  post : 

"  The  Town  of  Detroit. — The  charter,  which  is  for  fifteen  miles 
square,  was  granted  in  the  time  of  Louis  XIV.  of  France,  and  is  now, 
from  the  best  information  I  have  been  able  to  get,  at  Quebec.  Of  those 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  only  four  are  occupied  by  the  town 
and  Fort  Lenault.  The  remainder  is  a  common,  except  twenty-four 
acres,  which  were  added  twenty  years  ago  to  a  farm  belonging  to  Wm. 
Macomb.  *  *  *  A  stockade  incloses  the  town,  fort  and  citadel.  The 
pickets,  as  well  as,  the  public  houses,  are  in  a  state  of  gradual  decay.  The 
streets  are  narrow,  straight  and  regular,  and  intersect  each  other  at  right 
angles.  The  houses  are,  for  the  most  part,  low  and  inelegant." 

During  this  year,  Congress  granted  a  township  of  land  for  the  sup- 
port of  a  college,  and  began  to  offer  inducements  for  settlers  in  these 
wilds,  and  the  country  now  comprising  the  State  of  Michigan  began  to 
fill  rapidly  with  settlers  along  its  southern  borders.  This  same  year,  also, 
a  law  was  passed  organizing  the  Southwest  Territory,  dividing  it  into  two 
portions,  the  Territory  of  New  Orleans,  which  city  was  made  the  seat  of 
government,  and  the  District  of  Louisiana,  which  was  annexed  to  the 
domain  of  Gen.  Harrison. 

On  the  llth  of  January,  1805,  the  Territory  of  Michigan  was  formed, 
Wm.  Hull  was  appointed  governor,  with  headquarters  at  Detroit,  the 
change  to  take  effect  on  June  30.  On  the  llth  of  that  month,  a  fire 
occurred  at  Detroit,  which  destroyed  almost  'every  building  in  the  place. 
When  the  officers  of  the  new  territory  reached  the  post,  they  found  it  in 
ruins,  and  the  inhabitants  scattered  throughout  the  country.  Rebuild- 
ing, however,  soon  commenced,  and  ere  long  the  town  contained  more 
houses  than  before  the  fire,  and  many  of  them  much  better  built. 

While  this  was  being  done,  Indiana  had  passed  to  the  second  grade 
of  government,  and  through  her  General  Assembly  had  obtained  large 
tracts  of  land  from  the  Indian  tribes.  To  all  this  the  celebrated  Indian, 
Tecumthe  or  Tecumseh,  vigorously  protested,  and  it  was  the  main  cause 
of  his  attempts  to  unite  the  various  Indian  tribes  in  a  conflict  with  the 
settlers.  To  obtain  a  full  account  of  these  attempts,  the  workings  of  the 
British,  and  the  signal  failure,  culminating  in  the  death  of  Tecumseh  at 
the  battle  of  the  Thames,  and  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812  in  the  Northwest, 
we  will  step  aside  in  our  story,  and  relate  the  principal  events  of  his  life, 
and  his  connection  with  this  conflict. 


68 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


TECUMSEH,  THE  SHAWANOE  CHIEFTAIN. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  69 


TECUMSEH,-  AND  THE  WAR  OF  1812. 

This  famous  Indian  chief  was  born  about  the  year  1768,  not  far  from 
the  site  of  the  present  City  of  Piqua,  Ohio.  His  father,  Puckeshinwa, 
was  a  member  of  the  Kisopok  tribe  of  the  Swanoese  nation,  and  his 
mother,  Methontaske,  was  a  member  of  the  Turtle  tribe  of  the  same 
people.  They  removed  from  Florida  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century 
to  the  birthplace  of  Tecumseh.  In  1774,  his  father,  who  had  risen  to  be 
chief,  was  slain  at  the  battle  of  Point  Pleasant,  and  not  long  after  Tecum- 
seh, by  his  bravery,  became  the  leader  of  his  tribe.  In  1795  he  was 
declared  chief,  and  then  lived  at  Deer  Creek,  near  the  site  of  the 
present  City  of  Urbana.  He  remained  here  about  one  year,  when  he 
returned  to  Piqua,  and  in  1798,  he  went  to  White  River,  Indiana.  In 
1805,  he  and  his  brother,  Laulewasikan  (Open  Door),  who  had  announced 
himself  as  a  prophet,  went  to  a  tract  of  land  on  the  Wabash  River,  given 
them  by  the  Pottawatomies  and  Kickapoos.  From  this  date  the  chief 
comes  into  prominence.  He  was  now  about  thirty-seven  years  of  age, 
was  five  feet  and  ten  inches  in  height,  was  stoutly  built,  and  possessed  of 
enormous  powers  of  endurance1.  His  countenance  was  naturally  pleas- 
ing, and  he  was,  in  general,  devoid  of  those  savage  attributes  possessed 
by  most  Indians.  It  is  stated  he  could  read  and  write,  and  had  a  confi- 
dential secretary  and  adviser,  named  Billy  Caldwell,  a  half-breed,  who 
afterward  became  chief  of  the  Pottawatomies.  He  occupied  the  first 
house  built  on  the  site  of  Chicago.  At  this  time,  Tecumseh  entered 
upon  the  great  work  of  his  life.  He  had  long  objected  to  the  grants  of 
land  made  by  the  Indians  to  the  whites,  and  determined  to  unite  all  the 
Indian  tribes  into  a  league,  in  order  that  no  treaties  or  grants  of  land 
could  be  made  save  by  the  consent  of  this  confederation. 

He  traveled  constantly,  going  from  north  to  south ;  fronnthe  south 
to  the  north,  everywhere  urging  the  Indians  to  this  step.  He  was  a 
matchless  orator,  and  his  burning  words  had  their  effect. 

Gen.  Harrison,  then  Governor  of  Indiana,  by  watching  the  move- 
ments of  the  Indians,  became  convinced  that  a  grand  conspiracy  was 
forming,  and  made  preparations  to  defend  the  settlements.  Tecumseh's 
plan  was  similar  to  Pontiac's,  elsewhere  described,  and  to  the  cunning 
artifice  of  that  chieftain  was  added  his  own  sagacity. 

During  the  year  1809,  Tecumseh  and  the  prophet  were  actively  pre- 
paring for  the  work.  In  that  year,  Gen.  Harrison  entered  into  a  treaty 
with  the  Delawares,  Kickapoos,'  Pottawatomies,  Miamis,  Eel  River  Indians 
and  Weas,  in  which  these  tribes  ceded  to  the  whites  certain  lands  upon 
the  Wabash,  to  all  of  which  Tecumseh  entered  a  bitter  protest,  averring 


70  THE    NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

as  one  principal  reason  that  he  did  not  want  the  Indians  to  give  up  any 
lands  north  and  west  of  the  Ohio  River. 

Tecumseh,  in  August,  1810,  visited  the  General  at  Vincennes  and 
held  a  council  relating  to  the  grievances  of  the  Indians.  Becoming  unduly 
angry  at  this  conference  he  was  dismissed  from  the  village,  and  soon  after 
departed  to  incite  the  southern  Indian  tribes  to  the  conflict. 

Gen.  Harrison  determined  to  move  upon  the  chief's  headquarters  at 
Tippecanoe,  and  for  this  purpose  went  about  sixty-five  miles  up  the 
Wabash,  where  he  built  Fort  Harrison.  From  this  place  he  went  to  the 
prophet's  town,  where  he  informed  the  Indians  he  had  no  hostile  inten- 
tions, provided  they  were  true  to  the  existing  treaties.  He  encamped 
near  the  village  early  in  October,  and  on  the  morning  of  November  7,  he 
was  attacked  by  a  large  force  of  the  Indians,  and  the  famous  battle  of 
Tippecanoe  occurred.  The  Indians  were  routed  and  their  town  broken 
up.  Tecumseh  returning  not  long  after,  was  greatly  exasperated  at  his 
brother,  the  prophet,  even  threatening  to  kill  him  for  rashly  precipitating 
the  war,  and  foiling  his  (Tecumseh's)  plans. 

Tecumseh  sent  word  to  Gen.  Harrison  that  he  was  now  returned 
from  the  South,  and  was  ready  to  visit  t-he  President  as  had  at  one  time 
previously  been  proposed.  Gen.  Harrison  informed  him  he  could  not  go 
as  a  chief,  ^  which  method  Tecumseh  desired,  and  the  visit  was  never 
made. 

In  June  of  the  following  year,  he  visited  the  Indian  agent  at 
Fort  Wayne.  Here  he  disavowed  any  intention  to  make  a  war  against 
the  United  States,  and  reproached  Gen.  Harrison  for  marching  against  his 
people.  The  agent  replied  to  this  ;  Tecumseh  listened  with  a  cold  indif- 
ference, and  after  making  a  few  general  remarks,  with  a  haughty  air  drew 
his  blanket  about  him,  left  the  council  house,  and  departed  for  Fort  Mai- 
den, in  Upper  Canada,  where  he  joined  the  British  standard. 

He  remained  under  this  Government,  doing  effective  work  for  the 
Crown  while  engaged  in  the  war  of  1812  which  now  opened.  He  was, 
however,  always  humane  in  his  treatment  of  the  prisoners,  never  allow- 
ing his  warriors  to  ruthlessly  mutilate  the  bodies  of  those  slain,  or  wan- 
tonly murder  the  captive. 

In  the  Summer  of  1813,  Perry's  victory  on  Lake  Erie  occurred,  and 
shortly  after  active  preparations  were  made  to  capture  Maiden.  On  the 
27th  of  September,  the  American  army,  under  Gen.  Harrison,  set  sail  for 
the  shores  of  Canada,  and  in  a  few  hours  stood  around  the  ruins  of  Mai- 
den, from  which  the  British  army,  under  Proctor,  had  retreated  to  Sand- 
wich, intending  to  make  its  way  to  the  heart  of  Canada  by  the  Valley  of 
the  Thames.  On  the  29th  Gen.  Harrison  was  at  Sandwich,  and  Gen. 
McArthur  took  possession  of  Detroit  and  the  territory  of  Michigan. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


71 


On  the  2d  of  October,  the  Americans  began  their  pursuit  of  Proctor, 
whom  they  overtook  on  the  5th,  and  the  battle  of  the  Thames  followed. 
Early  in  the  engagement,  Tecumseh  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  column 
of  Indians  was  slain,  and  they,  no  longer  hearing  the  voice  of  their  chief- 
tain, fled.  The  victory  was  decisive,  and  practically  closed  the  war  in 
the  Northwest. 


INDIANS   ATTACKING   A    STOCKADE. 

Just  who  killed  the  great  chief  has  been  a  matter  of  much  dispute  ; 
but  the  weight  of  opinion  awards  the  act  to  Col.  Richard  M.  Johnson, 
who  fired  at  him  with  a  pistol,  the  shot  proving  fatal. 

In  1805  occurred  Burr's  Insurrection.  He  took  possession  of  a 
beautiful  island  in  the  Ohio,  after  the  killing  of  Hamilton,  and  is  charged 
by  many  with  attempting  to  set  up  an  independent  government.  His 
plans  were  frustrated  by  the  general  government,  his  property  confiscated 
and  he  was  compelled  to  flee  the  country  for  safety. 


72  THE   NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 

In  January,  1807,  Governor  Hull,  of  Michigan  Territory,  made  a 
treaty  with  the  Indians,  whereby  all  that  peninsula  was  ceded  to  the 
United  States.  Before  the  close  of  the  year,  a  stockade  was  built  about 
Detroit.  It  was  also  during  this  year  that  Indiana  and  Illinois  endeavored 
to  obtain  the  repeal  of  that  section  of  the  compact  of  1787,  whereby 
slavery  was  excluded  from  the  Northwest  Territory.  These  attempts, 
however,  all  signally  failed. 

In  1809  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  divide  the  Indiana  Territory. 
This  was  done,  and  the  Territory  of  Illinois  was  formed  from  the  western, 
part,  the  seat  of  government  being  fixed  at  Kaskaskia.  The  next  year, 
the  intentions  of  Tecumseh  manifested  themselves  in  open  hostilities,  and 
then  began  the  events  already  narrated. 

While  this  war  was  in  progress,  emigration  to  the  West  went  on  with 
surprising  rapidity.  In  1811,  under  Mr.  Roosevelt  of  New  York,  the 
first  steamboat  trip  was  made  on  the  Ohio,  much  to  the  astonishment  of 
the  natives,  many  of  whom  fled  in  terror  at  the  appearance  of  the 
"  monster."  It  arrived  at  Louisville  on  the  10th  day  of  October.  At  the 
close  of  the  first  week  of  January,  1812,  it  arrived  at  Natchez,  after  being 
nearly  overwhelmed  in  the  great  earthquake  which  occurred  while  on  its 
downward  trip. 

The  battle  of  the  Thames  was  fought  on  October  6,  1813.  It 
effectually  closed  hostilities  in  the  Northwest,  although  peace  was  not 
fully  restored  until  July  22,  1814,  when  a  treaty  was  formed  at  Green- 
ville, under  the  direction  of  General  Harrison,  between  the  United  States 
and  the  Indian  tribes,  in  which  it  was  stipulated  that  the  Indians  should 
cease  hostilities  against  the  Americans  if  the  war  were  continued.  Such, 
happily,  was  not  the  case,  and  on  the  24th  of  December  the  treaty 
of  Ghent  was  signed  by  the  representatives  of  England  and  the  United 
States.  This  treaty  was  followed  the  next  year  by  treaties  with  various 
Indian  tribes  throughout  the  West  and  Northwest,  and  quiet  was  again 
restored  in  this  part  of  the  new  world. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  1816,  Pittsburgh  was  incorporated  as  a  city. 
It  then  had  a  population  of  8,000  people,  and  was  already  noted  for  its 
manufacturing  interests.  On  April  19,  Indiana  Territory  was  allowed 
to  form  a  state  government.  At  that  time  there  were  thirteen  counties 
organized,  containing  about  sixty-three  thousand  inhabitants.  The  first 
election  of  state  officers  was  held  in  August,  when  Jonathan  Jennings 
was  chosen  Governor.  The  officers  were  sworn  in  on  Noyember  7,  a.nd 
on  December  11,  the  State  was  formally  admitted  into  the  Union.  For 
some  time  the  seat  of  government  was  at  Corydon,  but  a  more  central 
location  being  desirable,  the  present  capital,  Indianapolis  (City  of  Indiana), 
was  laid  out  January  1,  1825. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


73 


On  the  28th  of  December  the  Bank  of  Illinois,  at  Shawneetown,  was 
chartered,  with  a  capital  of  $300,000.  At  this  period  all  banks  were 
under  the  control  of  the  States,  and  were  allowed  to  establish  branches 
at  different  convenient  points. 

Until  this  time  Chillicothe  and  Cincinnati  had  in  turn  enjoyed  the 
privileges  of  being  the  capital  of  Ohio.  But  the  rapid  settlement  of  the 
northern  and  eastern  portions  of  the  State  demanded,  as  in  Indiana,  a 
more  central  location,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year,  the  site  of  Col- 
umbus was  selected  and  surveyed  as  the  future  capital  of  the  State. 
Banking  had  begun  in  Ohio  as  early  as  1808,  when  the  first  bank  was 
chartered  at  Marietta,  but  here  as  elsewhere  it  did  not  bring  to  the  state 
the  hoped-for  assistance.  It  and  other  banks  were  subsequently  unable 
to  redeem  their  currency,  and  were  obliged /to  suspend. 

In  1818,  Illinois  was  made  a  state,  and  all  the  territory  north  of  her 
northern  limits  was  erected  into  a  separate  territory  and  joined  to  Mich- 
igan for  judicial  purposes.  By  the  following  year,  navigation  of  the  lakes 
was  increasing  with  great  rapidity  and  affording  an  immense  source  of 
revenue  to  the  dwellers  in  the  Northwest,  but  it  was  not  until  1826  that 
the  trade  was  extended  to  Lake  Michigan,  or  that  steamships  began  to 
navigate  the  bosom  of  that  inland  sea. 

Until  the  year  1832,  the  commencement  of  the  Black  Hawk  War, 
but  few  hostilities  were  experienced  with  the  Indians.  Roads  were 
•opened,  canals  were  dug,  cities  were  built,  common  schools  were  estab- 
lished, universities  were  founded,  many  of  which,  especially  the  Michigan 
University,  have  achieved  a  world  wide-reputation.  The  people  were 
becoming  wealthy.  The  domains  of  the  United  States  had  been  extended, 
and  had  the  sons  of  the  forest  been  treated  with  honesty  and  justice,  the 
record  of  many  years  would  have  been  that  of  peace  and  continuous  pros- 
perity. 

BLACK  HAWK  AND  THE  BLACK  HAWK  WAR. 

This  conflict,  though  confined  to  Illinois,  is  an  important  epoch  in 
the  Northwestern  history,  being  the  last  war  with  the  Indians  in  this  part 
of  the  United  States. 

Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah,  or  Black  Hawk,  was  born  in  the  principal 
Sac  village,  about  three  miles  from  the  junction  of  Rock  River  with  the 
Mississippi,  in  the  year  1767.  His  father's  name  was  Py-e-sa  or  Pahaes ; 
his  grandfather's,  Na-na-ma-kee,  or  the  Thunderer.  Black  Hawk  early 
distinguished  himself  as  a  warrior,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  was  permitted 
to  paint  and  was  ranked  among  the  braves.  About  the  year  1783,  he 
went  on  an  expedition  against  the  enemies  of  his  nation,  the  Osages,  one 


74 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


BLACK  HAWK,  THE  SAC  CHIEFTAIN. 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  75 

of  whom  he  killed  and  scalped,  and  for  this  deed  of  Indian  bravery  he  was 
permitted  to  join  in  the  scalp  dance.  Three  or  four  years  after  he,  at  the 
head  of  two  hundred  braves,  went  on  another  expedition  against  the 
Osages,  to  avenge  the  murder  of  some  women  and  children  belonging  to 
his  own  tribe.  Meeting  an  equal  number  of  Osage  warriors,  a  fierce 
battle  ensued,  in  which  the  latter  tribe  lost  one-half  their  number.  The 
Sacs  lost  only  about  nineteen  warriors.  He  next  attacked  the  Cherokees 
for  a  similar  cause.  In  a  severe  battle  with  them,  near  the  present  City 
of  St.  Louis,  his  father  was  slain,  and  Black  Hawk,  taking  possession  of 
the  "  Medicine  Bag,"  at  once  announced  himself  chief  of  the  Sac  nation. 
He  had  now  conquered  the  Cherokees,  and  about  the  year  1800,  at  the 
head  of  five  hundred  Sacs  and  Foxes,  and  a  hundred  lowas,  he  waged 
war  against  the  Osage  nation  and  subdued  it.  For  two  years  he  battled 
successfully  with  other  Indian  tribes,  all  of  whom  he  conquered. 

Black  Hawk  does  not  at  any  time  seem  to  have  been  friendly  to 
the  Americans.  When  on  a  visit  to  St.  Louis  to  see  his  "  Spanish 
Father,"  he  declined  to  see  any  of  the  Americans,  alleging,  as  a  reason, 
he  did  not  want  two  fathers. 

The  treaty  at  St.  Louis  was  consummated  in  1804.  The  next  year  the 
United  States  Government  erected  a  fort  near  the  head  of  the  Des  Moines 
Rapids,  called  Fort  Edwards.  This  seemed  to  enrage  Black  Hawk,  who 
at  once  determined  to  capture  Fort  Madison,  standing  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Mississippi  above  the  mouth  of  the  Des  Moines  River.  The  fort  was 
garrisoned  by  about  fifty  men.  Here  he  was  defeated.  The  difficulties 
with  the  British  Government  arose  about  this  time,  and  the  War  of  1812 
followed.  That  government,  extending  aid  to  the  Western  Indians,  by 
giving  them  arms  and  ammunition,  induced  them  to  remain  hostile  to  the 
Americans.  In  August,  1812,  Black  Hawk,  at  the  head  of  about  five 
hundred  braves,  started  to  join  the  British  forces  at  Detroit,  passing  on 
his  way  the  site  of  Chicago,  where  the  famous  Fort  Dearborn  Massacre 
hr.:\  a  few  days  before  occurred.  Of  his  connection  with  the  British 
u-cvernment  but  little  is  known.  In  1813  he  with  his  little  band  descended 
the  Mississippi,  and  attacking  some  United  States  troops  at  Fort  Howard 
was  defeated.  4 

In  the  early  part  of  1815,  the  Indian  tribes  west  of  the  Mississippi 
were  notified  that  peace  had  been  declared  between  the  United  States 
and  England,  and  nearly  all  hostilities  had  ceased.  Black  Hawk  did  not 
sign  any  treaty,  however,  until  May  of  the  following  year.  He  then  recog- 
nized the  validity  of  the  treaty  at  St.  Louis  in  1804.  From  the  time  of 
signing  this  treaty  in  1816,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1832,  he 
and  his  band  passed  their  time  in  the  common  pursuits  of  Indian  life. 

Ten  years  before  the  commencement  of  this  war,  the  Sac  and  Fox 


76  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

Indians  were  urged  to  join  the  lowas  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Father  of 
Waters.  All  were  agreed,  save  the  band  known  as  the  British  Band,  of 
which  Black  Hawk  was  leader.  He  strenuously  objected  to  the  removal, 
and  was  induced  to  comply  only  after  being  threatened  with  the  power  of 
the  Government.  This  and  various  actions  on  the  part  of  the  white  set- 
tlers provoked  Black  Hawk  and  his  band  to  attempt  the  capture  of  his 
native  village  now  occupied  by  the  whites.  The  war  followed.  He  and 
his  actions  were  undoubtedly  misunderstood,  and  had  his  wishes  been 
acquiesced  in  at  the  beginning  of  the  struggle,  much  bloodshed  would 
have  been  prevented. 

Black  Hawk  was  chief  now  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations,  and  a  noted 
warrior.  He  and  his  tribe  inhabited  a  village  on  Rock  River,  nearly  three 
miles  above  its  confluence  with  the  Mississippi,  where  the  tribe  had  lived 
many  generations.  When  that  portion  of  Illinois  was  reserved  to  them, 
they  remained  in  peaceable  possession  of  their  reservation,  spending  their 
time  in  the  enjoyment  of  Indian  life.  The  fine  situation  of  their  village 
and  the  quality  of  their  lands  incited  the  more  lawless  white  settlers,  who 
from  time  to  time  began  to  encroach  upon  the  red  men's  domain.  From 
one  pretext  to  another,  and  from  one  step  to  another,  the  crafty  white 
men  gained  a  foothold,  until  through  whisky  and  artifice  they  obtained 
deeds  from  many  of  the  Indians  for  their  possessions.  The  Indians  were 
finally  induced  to  cross  over  the  Father  of  Waters  and  locate  among  the 
lowas.  Black  Hawk  was  strenuously  opposed  to  all  this,  but  as  the 
authorities  of  Illinois  and  the  United  States  thought  this  the  best  move,  he 
was  forced  to  comply.  Moreover  other  tribes  joined  the  whites  and  urged 
the  removal.  Black  Hawk  would  not  agree  to  the  terms  of  the  treaty 
made  with  his  nation  for  their  lands,  and  as  soon  as  the  military,  called  to 
enforce  his  removal,  had  retired,  he  returned  to  the  Illinois  side  of  the 
river.  A  large  force  was  at  once  raised  and  marched  against  him.  On 
the  evening  of  May  14,  1832,  the  first  engagement  occurred  between  a 
band  from  this  army  and  Black  Hawk's  band,  in  which  the  former  were 
defeated. 

This  attack  and  its  result  aroused  the  whites.  A  large  force  of  men 
was  raised,  and  (Sen.  Scott'  hastened  from  the  seaboard,  by  way  of  the 
lakes,  with  United  States  troops  and  artillery  to  aid  in  the  subjugation  of 
the  Indians.  On  the  24th  of  June,  Black  Hawk,  with  200  warriors,  was 
repulsed  by  Major  Demont  between  Rock  River  and  Galena.  The  Ameri- 
can army  continued  to  move  up  Rock  River  toward  the  main  body  of 
the  Indians,  and  on  the  21st  of  July  came  upon  Black  Hawk  and  his  band, 
and  defeated  them  near  the  Blue  Mounds. 

Before  this  action,  Gen.  Henry,  in  command,  sent  word  to  the  main 
army  by  whom  he  was  immediately  rejoined,  and  the  whole  crossed  the 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  77 

Wisconsin  in  pursuit  of  Black  Hawk  and  his  band  who  were  fleeing  to  the 
Mississippi.  They  were  overtaken  on  the  2d  of  August,  and  in  the  battle 
which  followed  the  power  of  the  Indian  chief  was  completely  broken.  He 
fled,  but  was  seized  by  the  Winnebagoes  and  delivered  to  the  whites. 

On  the  21st  of  September,  1832,  Gen.  Scott  and  Gov.  Reynolds  con- 
cluded a  treaty  with  the  Winnebagoes,  Sacs  and  Foxes  by  which  they 
ceded  to  the  United  States  a  vast  tract  of  country,  and  agreed  to  remain 
peaceable  with  the  whites.  For  the  faithful  performance  of  the  provi- 
sions of  this  treaty  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  it  was  stipulated  that 
Black  Hawk,  his  two  sons,  the  prophet  Wabokieshiek,  and  six  other  chiefs 
of  the  hostile  bands  should  be  retained  as  hostages  during  the  pleasure 
of  the  President.  They  were  confined  at  Fort  Barracks  and  put  in  irons. 

The  next  Spring,  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  they  were  taken 
to  Washington.  From  there  they  were  removed  to  Fortress  Monroe, 
"there  to  remain  until  the  conduct  of  their  nation  was  such  as  to  justify 
their  being  set  at  liberty."  They  were  retained  here  until  the  4th  of 
June,  when  the  authorities  directed  them  to  be  taken  to  the  principal 
cities  so  that  they  might  see  the  folly  of  contending  against  the  white 
people.  Everywhere  they  were  observed  by  thousands,  the  name  of  the 
old  chief  being  extensively  known.  By  the  middle  of  August  they 
reached  Fort  Armstrong  on  Rock  Island,  where  Black  Hawk  was  soon 
after  released  to  go  to  his  countrymen.  As  he  passed  the  site  of  his  birth- 
place, now  the  home  of  the  white  man,  he  was  deeply  moved.  His  village 
where  he  was  born,  where  he  had  so  happily  lived,  and  where  he  had 
hoped  to  die,  was  now  another's  dwelling  place,  and  he  was  a  wanderer. 

On  the  next  day  after  his  release,  he  went  at  once  to  his  tribe  and 
his  lodge,  His  wife  was  yet  living,  and  with  her  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  days.  To  his  credit  it  may  be  said  that  Black  Hawk  always  re- 
mained true  to  his  wife,  and  served  her  with  a  devotion  uncommon  among 
the  Indians,  living  with  her  upward  of  forty  years. 

Black  Hawk  now  passed  his  time  hunting  and  fishing.  A  deep  mel- 
ancholy had  settled  over  him  from  which  he  could  not  be  freed.  At  all 
times  when  he  visited  the  whites  he  was  received  with  marked  atten- 
tion. He  was  an  honored  guest  at  the  old  settlers'  reunion  in  Lee  County, 
Illinois,  at  some  of  their  meetings,  and  received  many  tokens  of  esteem. 
In  September,  1838,  while  on  his  way  to  Rock  Island  to  receive  his 
annuity  from  the  Government,  he  contracted  a  severe  cold  which  resulted 
in  a  fatal  attack  of  bilious  fever  which  terminated  his  life  on  October  3. 
His  faithful  wife,  who  was  devotedly  attached  to  him,  mourned  deeply 
during  his  sickness.  After  his  death  he  was  dressed  in  the  uniform  pre- 
sented to  him  by  the  President  while  in  Washington.  He  was  buried  in 
a  grave  six  feet  in  depth,  situated  upon  a  beautiful  eminence.  "  The 


78  THE   NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 

body  was  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  grave,  in  a  sitting  posture,  upon  a 
seat  constructed  for  the  purpose.  On  his  left  side,  the  cane,  given  him 
by  Henry  Clay,  was  placed  upright,  with  his  right  hand  resting  upon  it. 
Many  of  the  old  warrior's  trophies  were  placed  in  the  grave,  and  some 
Indian  garments,  together  with  his  favorite  weapons." 

No  sooner  was  the  Black  Hawk  war  concluded  than  settlers  began 
rapidly  to  pour  into  the  northern  parts  of  Illinois,  and  into  Wisconsin, 
now  free  from  Indian  depredations.  Chicago,  from  a  trading  post,  had 
grown  to  a  commercial  center,  and  was  rapidly  coming  into  prominence. 
In  1835,  the  formation  of  a  State  Government  in  Michigan  was  discussed, 
but  did  'not  take  active  form  until  two  years  later,  when  the  State  became 
a  part  of  the  Federal  Union. 

The  main  attraction  to  that  portion  of  the  Northwest  lying  west  of 
Lake  Michigan,  now  included  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  was  its  alluvial 
wealth.  Copper  ore  was  found  about  Lake  Superior.  For  some  time  this 
region  was  attached  to  Michigan  for  judiciary  purposes,  but  in  183<J  was 
made  a  territory,  then  including  Minnesota  and  Iowa.  The  latter  State 
was  detached  two  years  later.  In  1848,  Wisconsin  was  admitted  as  a 
State,  Madison  being  made  the  capital.  We  have  now  traced  the  various 
divisions  of  the  Northwest  Territory  (save  a  little  in  Minnesota)  from 
the  time  it  was  a  unit  comprising  this  vast  territory,  until  circumstances 
compelled  its  present  division. 


THE   tfOBTITWEST   TERRITORY.  79 

PRESENT    CONDITION    OF    THE    NORTHWEST 

Preceding  chapters  have  brought  us  to  the  close  of  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  and  we  now  turn  to  the  contemplation  of  the  growth  and  prosperity 
of  the  Northwest  under  the  smile  of  peace  and  the  blessings  of  our  civili- 
zation. The  pioneers  of  this  region  date  events  back  to  the  deep  snow 


OLD    FOKT   DEARBORN,    1830. 


of  1831,  no  one  arriving  here  since  that  date  taking  first  honors.  The 
inciting  cause  of  the  immigration  which  overflowed  the  prairies  early  in 
the  '30s  was  the  reports  of  the  marvelous  beauty  and  fertility  of  the 
region  distributed  through  the  East  by  those  who  had  participated  in  the 
Black  Hawk  campaign  with  Gen.  Scott.  Chicago  and  Milwaukee  then 
had  a  few  hundred  inhabitants,  and  Gurdon  S.  Hubbard's  trail  from  the 
former  city  to  Kaskaskia  led  almost  through  a  wilderness.  Vegetables 
and  clothing  were  largely  distributed  through  the  regions  adjoining  the 


80 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


lakes  by  steamers  from  the  Ohio  towns.  There  are  men  now  living  in 
Illinois  who  came  to  the  state  when  barely  an  acre  was  in  cultivation, 
and  a  man  now  prominent  in  the  business  circles  of  Chicago  looked  over 
the  swampy,  cheerless  site  of  that  metropolis  in  1818  and  went  south- 
ward into  civilization.  Emigrants  from  Pennsylvania  in  1830  left  behind 


MONUMENT,    SPKINGFIELD,    ILLINOIS. 

them  but  one  small  railway  in  the  coal  regions,  thirty  miles  in  length, 
and  made  their  way  to  the  Northwest  mostly  with  ox  teams,  finding  in 
Northern  Illinois  petty  settlements  scores  of  miles  apart,  although  the 
southern  portion  of  the  state  was  fairly  dotted  with  farms.  The 
water  courses  of  the  lakes  and  rivers  furnished  transportation  to  the 
second  great  army  of  immigrants,  and  about  1850  railroads  were 
pushed  to  that  extent  that  the  crisis  of  1837  was  precipitated  upon  us, 


THE    NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 


81 


from  the  effects  of  which  the  Western  country  had  not  fully  recovered 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  Hostilities  found  the  colonists  of  the  prairies 
fully  alive  to  the  demands  of  the  occasion,  and  the  honor  of  recruiting 


i'ilr^^V-  •''!'    •:» 

I   :  • "  1-.YN 


the  vast  armies  of  the  Union  fell  largely  to  Gov.  Yates,  of  Illinois,  and 
Gov.  Morton,  of  Indiana.  To  recount  the  share  of  the  glories  of  the 
campaign  ivon  by  e^-  Western  troops  is  a  needless  task,  except  to 
mention  the  fact  that  Illinois  gave  co  tne  nation  the  President  who  saved 


82 


THE   NORTHWEST    TERRITORY. 


it,  and  sent  out  at  the  head  of  one  of  its  regiments  tne  general  who  led 
•'ts  armies  to  the  final  victory  at  Appomattox.      The  struggle,  on  the 


CO 

TO 


whole,  had  a  marked  effect  for  the  better  on  the  new  Northwest,  g;  ring 
it  an  impetus  which  twenty  years  of  peace  would  not  have  produced. 
In  a  large  degree  this  prosperity  was  an.  inflated  one,  and  with  the  rest 
of  the  Union  we  have  since  been  compelled  to  atone  therefor  by/  four 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY.  83 

years  of  depression  of  values,  of  scarcity  of  employment,  and  loss  of 
fortune.  To  a  less  degree,  however,  than  the  .manufacturing  or  mining 
regions  has  the  West  suffered  during  the  prolonged  panic  now  so  near  its 
end.  Agriculture,  still  the  leading  feature  in  our  industries,  has  been 
quite  prosperous  through  all  these  dark  years,  and  the  farmers  have 
cleared  away  many  incumbrances  resting  over  them  from  the  period  of 
fictitious  values.  The  population  has  steadily  increased,  the  arts  and 
sciences  are  gaining  a  stronger  foothold,  the  trade  area  of  the  region  is 
becoming  daily  more  extended,  and  we  have  been  largely  exempt  from 
the  financial  calamities  which  have  nearly  wrecked  communities  on  the 
seaboard  dependent  wholly  on  foreign  commerce  or  domestic  manufacture. 

At  the  present  period  there  are  no  great  schemes  broached  for  the 
Northwest,  no  propositions  for  government  subsidies  or  national  works 
of  improvement,  but  the  capital  of  the  world  is  attracted  hither  for  the 
purchase  of  our  products  or  the  expansion  of  our  capacity  for  serving  the 
nation  at  large.  A  new  era  is  dawning  as  to  transportation,  and  we  bid 
fair  to  deal  almost  exclusively  with  the  increasing  and  expanding  lines 
of  steel  rail  running  through  every  few  miles  of  territory  on  the  prairies. 
The  lake  marine  will  no  doubt  continue  to  be  useful  in  the  warmer 
season,  and  to  serve  as  a  regulator  of  freight  rates ;  but  experienced 
navigators  forecast  the  decay  of  the  system  in  moving  to  the  seaboard 
the  enormous  crops  of  the  West.  Within  the  past  five  years  it  has 
become  quite  common  to  see  direct  shipments  to  Europe  and  the  West 
Indies  going  through  from  the  second-class  towns  along  the  Mississippi 
and  Missouri. 

As  to  popular  education,  the  standard  has  of  late  risen  very  greatly, 
and  our  schools  would  be  creditable  to  any  section  of  the  Union. 

More  and  more  as  the  events  of  the  war  pass  into  obscurity  will  the 
fate  of  the  Northwest  be  linked  with  that  of  the  Southwest,  and  the 
next  Congressional  apportionment  will  give  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi 
absolute  control  of  the  legislation  of  the  nation,  and  do  much  toward 
securing  the  removal  of  the  Federal  capitol  to  some  more  central  location. 

Our  public  men  continue  to  wield  the  full  share  of  influence  pertain- 
ing to  their  rank  in  the  national  autonomy,  and  seem  not  to  forget  that 
for  the  past  sixteen  years  they  and  their  constituents  have  dictated  the 
principles  which  should  govern  the  country. 

In  a  work  like  this,  destined  to  lie  on  the  shelves  of  the  library  for 
generations,  and  not  doomed  to  daily  destruction  like  a  newspaper,  one 
can  not  indulge  in  the  same  glowing  predictions,  the  sanguine  statements 
of  actualities  that  fill  tne  columns  of  ephemeral  publications.  Time  may 
bring  grief  to  the  pet  projects  of  a  writer,  and  explode  castles  erected  on 
a  pedestal  of  facts.  Yet  there  are  unmistakable  indications  before  us  of 


84  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

the  same  radical  change  in  our  great  Northwest  which  characterizes  its- 
history  for  the  past  thirty  years.  Our  domain  has  a  sort  of  natural 
geographical  border,  save  where  it  melts  away  to  the  southward  in  the 
cattle  raising  districts  of  the  southwest. 

Our  prime  interest  will  for  some  years  doubtless  be  the  growth  of 
the  food  of  the  world,  in  which  branch  it  has  already  outstripped  all 
competitors,  and  our  great  rival  in  this  duty  will  naturally  be  the  fertile 
plains  of  Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Colorado,  to  say  nothing  of  the  new 
empire  so  rapidly  growing  up  in  Texas.  Over  these  regions  there  is  a 
continued  progress  in  agriculture  and  in  railway  building,  and  we  must 
look  to  our  laurels.  Intelligent  observers  of  events  are  fully  aware  of 
the  strides  made  in  the  way  of  shipments  of  fresh  meats  to  Europe, 
many  of  these  ocean  cargoes  being  actually  slaughtered  in  the  West  and 
transported  on  ice  to  the  wharves  of  the  seaboard  cities.  That  this  new 
enterprise  will  continue  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt.  There  are  in 
Chicago  several  factories  for  the  canning  of  prepared  meats  for  European 
consumption,  and  the  orders  for  this  class  of  goods  are  already  immense^ 
English  capital  is  becoming  daily  more  and  more  dissatisfied  with  railway 
loans  and  investments,  and  is  gradually  seeking  mammoth  outlays  in 
lands  and  live  stock.  The  stock  yards  in  Chicago,  Indianapolis  and  East 
St.  Louis  are  yearly  increasing  their  facilities,  and  their  plant  steadily 
grows  more  valuable.  Importations  of  blooded  animals  from  the  pro- 
gressive countries  of  Europe  are  destined  to  greatly  improve  the  quality 
of  our  beef  and  mutton.  Nowhere  is  there  to  be  seen  a  more  enticing 
display  in  this  line  than  at  our  state  and  county  fairs,  and  the  interest 
in  the  matter  is  on  the  increase. 

To  attempt  to  give  statistics  of  our  grain  production  for  1877  would 
be  useless,  so  far  have  we  surpassed  ourselves  in  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  our  product.  We  are  too  liable  to  forget  that  we  are  giving 
the  world  its  first  article  of  necessity  —  its  food  supply.  An  opportunity 
to  learn  this  fact  so  it  never  can  be  forgotten  was  afforded  at  Chicago  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  great  panic  of  1873,  when  Canadian  purchasers, 
fearing  the  prostration  of  business  might  bring  about  an  anarchical  condition 
of  affairs,  went  to  that  city  with  coin  in  bulk  and  foreign  drafts  to  secure 
their  supplies  in  their  own  currency  at  first  hands.  It  may  be  justly 
claimed  by  the  agricultural  community  that  their  combined  efforts  gave 
the  nation  its  first  impetus  toward  a  restoration  of  its  crippled  industries, 
and  their  labor  brought  the  gold  premium  to  a  lower  depth  than  the 
government  was  able  to  reach  by  its  most  intense  efforts  of  legislation 
and  compulsion.  The  hundreds  of  millions  about  to  be  disbursed  for 
farm  products  have  already,  by  the  anticipation  common  to  all  commercial 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


85 


nations,  set  the  wheels  in  motion,  and  will  relieve  us  from  the  perils  so 
long  shadowing  our  efforts  to  return  to  a  healthy  tone. 

Manufacturing  has  attained  in  the  chief  cities  a  foothold  which  bids 
fair  to  render  the  Northwest  independent  of  the  outside  world.     Nearly 


HTTXTIXO    PKAIB1E    WOLVES    IX    AX    EARLY    DAY. 


our  whole  region  has  a  distribution  of  coal  measures  which  will  in  time 
support  the  manufactures  necessary  to  our  comfort  and  prosperity.  As 
to  transportation,  the  chief  factor  in  the  production  of  all  articles  excej,*" 
food,  no  section  is  so  magnificently  endowed,  and  our  facilities  are  yearly 
increasing  beyond  those  of  any  other  region. 


86  THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 

The  period  from  a  central  point  of  the  war  to  the  outbreak  of  the 
panic  was  marked  by  a  tremendous  growth  in  our  railway  lines,  but  the 
depression  of  the  times  caused  almost  a  total  suspension  of  operations. 
Now  that  prosperity  is  returning  to  our  stricken  country  we  witness  its 
anticipation  by  the  railroad  interest  in  a  series  of  projects,  extensions, 
and  leases  which  bid  fair  to  largely  increase  our  transportation  facilities. 
The  process  of  foreclosure  and  sale  of  incumbered  lines  is  another  matter 
to  be  considered.  In  the  case  of  the  Illinois  Central  road,  which  formerly 
transferred  to  other  lines  at  Cairo  the  vast  burden  of  freight  destined  for 
the  Gulf  region,  we  now  see  the  incorporation  of  the  tracks  connecting 
through  to  New  Orleans,  every  mile  co-operating  in  turning  toward  the 
northwestern  metropolis  the  weight  of  the  inter-state  commerce  of  a 
thousand  miles  or  more  of  fertile  plantations.  Three  competing  routes 
to  Texas  have  established  in  Chicago  their  general  freight  and  passenger 
agencies.  Four  or  five  lines  compete  for  all  Pacific  freights  to  a  point  as 
as  far  as  the  interior  of  Nebraska.  Half  a  dozen  or  more  splendid  bridge 
structures  have  been  thrown  across  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  Rivers  by 
the  railways.  The  Chicago  and  Northwestern  line  has  become  an  aggre- 
gation of  over  two  thousand  miles  of  rail,  and  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
and  St.  Paul  is  its  close  rival  in  extent  and  importance.  The  three  lines 
running  to  Cairo  via  Vincennes  form  a  through  route  for  all  traffic  with 
the  states  to  the  southward.  The  chief  projects  now  under  discussion 
are  the  Chicago  and  Atlantic,  which  is  to  unite  with  lines  now  built  to 
Charleston,  and' the  Chicago  and  Canada  Southern,  which  line  will  con- 
nect with  all  the  various  branches  of  that  Canadian  enterprise.  Our 
latest  new  road  is  the  Chicago  and  Lake  Huron,  formed  of  three  lines, 
and  entering  the  city  from  Valparaiso  on  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne 
and  Chicago  track.  The  trunk  lines  being  mainly  in  operation,  the 
progress  made  in  the  way  of  shortening  tracks,  making  air-line  branches, 
and  running  extensions  does  not  show  to  the  advantage  it  deserves,  as 
this  process  is  constantly  adding  new  facilities  to  the  established  order 
of  things.  The  panic  reduced  the  price  of  steel  to  a  point  where  the 
railways  could  hardly  afford  to  use  iron  rails,  and  all  our  northwestern 
lines  report  large  relays  of  Bessemer  track.  The  immense  crops  now 
being  moved  have  given  a  great  rise  to  the  value  of  railway  stocks,  and 
their  transportation  must  result  in  heavy  pecuniary  advantages. 

Few  are  aware  of  the  importance  of  the  wholesale  and  jobbing  trade 
of  Chicago.  One  leading  firm  has  since  the  panic  sold  $24,000,000  of 
dry  goods  in  one  year,  and  they  now  expect  most  confidently  to  add 
seventy  per  cent,  to  the  figures  of  their  last  year's  business.  In  boots 
and  shoes  and  in  clothing,  twenty  or  more  great  firms  from  the  east  have 
placed  here  their  distributing  agents  or  their  factories  ;  and  in  groceries 


THE   NORTHWEST   TERRITORY. 


87 


Chicago  supplies  the  entire  Northwest  at  rates  presenting  advantages 
over  New  York. 

Chicago  has  stepped  in  between  New  York  and  the  rural  banks  as  a 
financial  center,  and  scarcely  a  banking  institution  in  the  grain  or  cattle 
regions  but  keeps  its  reserve  funds  in  the  vaults  of  our  commercial  insti- 
tutions. Accumulating  here  throughout  the  spring  and  summer  months, 
they  are  summoned  home  at  pleasure  to  move  the  products  of  the 
prairies.  This  process  greatly  strengthens  the  northwest  in  its  financial 
operations,  leaving  home  capital  to  supplement  local  operations  on 
behalf  of  home  interests. 

It  is  impossible  to  forecast  the  destiny  of  this  grand  and  growing 
section  of  the  Union.  Figures  and  predictions  made  at  this  date  might 
seem  ten  years  hence  so  ludicrously  small  as  to  excite  only  derision. 


KFNZIE    IK)tTS-E. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


The  name  of  this  beautiful  Prairie  State  is  derived  from  Illim,  a 
Delaware  word  signifying  Superior  Men.  It  lias  a  French  termination, 
and  is  a  symbol  of  how  the  two  races — the  French  and  the  Indians — 
were  intermixed  during  the  early  history  of  the  country. 

The  appellation  was  no  doubt  well  applied  to  the  primitive  inhabit- 
ants of  the  soil  whose  prowess  in  savage  warfare  long  withstood  the 
combined  attacks  of  the  fierce  Iroquois  on  the  one  side,  and  the  no  less 
savage  and  relentless  Sacs  and  Foxes  on  the  other.  The  Illinois  were 
once  a  powerful  confederacy,  occupying  the  most  beautiful  and  fertile 
region  in  the  great  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  which  their  enemies  coveted 
and  struggled  long  and  hard  to  wrest  from  them.  By  the  fortunes  of 
war  they  were  diminished  in  numbers,  and  finally  destroyed.  "  Starved 
Rock,"  on  the  Illinois  River,  according  to  tradition,  commemorates  their 
last  tragedy,  where,  it  is  said,  the  entire  tribe  starved  rather  than  sur- 
render. 

EARLY   DISCOVERIES. 

The  first  European  discoveries  in  Illinois  date  back  over  two  hun- 
dred years.  They  are  a  part  of  that  movement  which,  from  the  begin- 
ning to  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  brought  the  French 
Canadian  missionaries  and  fur  traders  into  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  which,  at  a  later  period,  established  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
authority  of  France  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  from  the  foot-hills  of  the  Alleghanies  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

The  great  river  of  the  West  had  been  discovered  by  DeSoto,  the 
Spanish  conqueror  of  Florida,  three  .quarters  of  a  century  before  the 
French  founded  Quebec  in  1608,  but  the  Spanish  left  the  country  a  wil- 
derness, without  further  exploration  or  settlement  within  its  borders,  ii 
which  condition  it  remained  until  the  Mississippi  was  discovered  by  the 
agents  of  the  French  Canadian  government,  Jolietand  Marquette,  in  1673. 
These  renowned  explorers  were  not  the  first  white  visitors  to  Illinois. 
In  1671 — two  years  in  advance  of  them — came  Nicholas  Perrot  to  Chicago. 
He  had  been  sent  by  Talon  as  an  agent  of  the  Canadian  government  tc 

88 


HISTORY   OF    THE    STATE    OF    ILLINOIS. 


89 


•        •••  (•; 

&K\  V';;'  :: 


90  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 

call  a  great  peace  convention  of  "Western  Indians  at  Green  Bay,  prepara- 
tory to  the  movement  for  the  discovery  of  the  Mississippi.  It  was 
deemed  a  good  stroke  of  policy  to  secure,  as  far  as  possible,  the  friend- 
ship and  co-operation  of  the  Indians,  far  and  near,  before  venturing  upon 
an  enterprise  which  their  hostility  might  render  disastrous,  and  which 
their  friendship  and  assistance  would  do  so  much  to  make  successful ; 
and  to  this  end  Perrot  was  sent  to  call  together  in  council  the  tribes 
throughout  the  Northwest,  and  to  promise  them  the  commerce  and  pro- 
tection of  the  French  government.  He  accordingly  arrived  at  Green 
Bay  in  1671,  and  procuring  an  escort  of  Pottawattamies,  proceeded  in  a 
bark  canoe  upon  a  visit  to  the  Miamis,  at  Chicago.  Perrot  was  there- 
fore the  first  European  to  set  foot  upon  the  soil  of  Illinois. 

Still  there  were  others  before  Marquette.  In  1672,  the  Jesuit  mis- 
sionaries, Fathers  Claude  Allouez  and  Claude  Dablon,  bore  the  standard 
of  the  Cross  from  their  mission  at  Green  Bay  through  western  Wisconsin 
and  northern  Illinois,  visiting  the  Foxes  on  Fox  River,  and  the  Masquo- 
tines  and  Kickapoos  at  the  mouth  of  the  Milwaukee.  These  missionaries 
penetrated  on  the  route  afterwards  followed  by  Marquette  as  far  as  the 
Kickapoo  village  at  the  head  of  Lake  Winnebago,  where  Marquette,  in 
his  journey,  secured  guides  across  the  portage  to  the  Wisconsin. 

The  oft-repeated  story  of  Marquette  and  Joliet  is  well  known. 
They  were  the  agents  employed  by  the  Canadian  government  to  discover 
the  Mississippi.  Marquette  was  a'  native  of  France,  born  in  1637,  a 
Jesuit  priest  by  education,  and  a  man  of  simple  faith  and  of  great  zeal  and 
devotion  in  extending  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  among  the  Indians. 
Arriving  in  Canada  in  1666,  he  was  sent  as  a  missionary  to  the  far 
Northwest,  and,  in  1668,  founded  a  mission  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  The 
following  year  he  moved  to  La  Pointe,  in  Lake  Superior,  where  he 
instructed  a  branch  of  the  Hurons  till  1670,  when  he  removed  south,  and 
founded  the  mission  at  St.  Ignace,  on  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw.  Here 
he  remained,  devoting  a  portion  of  his  time  to  the  study  of  the  Illinois 
language  under  a  native  teacher  who  had  accompanied  him  to  the  mission 
from  La  Pointe,  till  he  was  joined  by  Joliet  in  the  Spring  of  1673.  By 
the  way  of  Green  Bay  and  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin  Rivers,  they  entered 
the  Mississippi,  which  they  explored  to  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas,  and 
returned  by  the  way  of  the  Illinois  and  Chicago  Rivers  to  Lake  Michigan. 

On  his  way  up  the  Illinois,  Marquette  visited  the  great  village  of 
the  Kaskaskias,  near  what  is  now  Utica,  in  the  county  of  LaSalle.  The 
following  year  he  returned  and  established  among  them  the  mission  of 
the  Immaculate  Virgin  Mary,  which  was  the  first  Jesuit  mission  founded 
in  Illinois  and  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  The  intervening  winter  he 
had  spent  in  a  hut  which  his  companions  erected  on  the  Chicago  River,  a 
few  leagues  from  its  mouth.  The  founding  of  this  mission  was  the  last 


HISTORIC    OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.  91 

act  of  Marquette's  life.     He  died  in  Michigan,  on  his  way  back  to  Green 
Bay,  May  18,  1675. 

FIRST  FRENCH  OCCUPATION. 

The  first  French  occupation  of  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Illi- 
nois was  effected  by  LaSalle  in  1680,  seven  years  after  the  time  of  Mar- 
quette  and  Joliet.  LaSalle,  having  constructed  a  vessel,  the  "  Griffin," 
above  the  falls  of  Niagara,  which  he  sailed  to  Green  Bay,  and  having 
passed  thence  in  canoes  to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph  River,  by  which 
and  the  Kankakee  he  reached  the  Illinois,  in  January,  1680,  erected  Fort 
Crevecoeur,  at  the  lower  end  of  Peoria  Lake,  where  the  city  of  Peoria  is 
now  situated.  The  place  where  this  ancient  fort  stood  may  still  be  seen 
just  below  the  outlet  of  Peoria  Lake.  It  was  destined,  however,  to  a 
temporary  existence.  From  this  point,  LaSalle  determined  to  descend 
the  Mississippi  to  its  mouth,  but  did  not  accomplish  this  purpose  till  two 
years  later — in  1682.  Returning  to  Fort  Frontenac  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  materials  with  which  to  rig  his  vessel,  he  left  the  fort  in  charge  of 
Touti,  his  lieutenant,  who  during  his  absence  was  driven  off  by  the  Iro- 
quois  Indians.  These  savages  had  made  a  raid  upon  the  settlement  of 
the  Illinois,  and  had  left  nothing  in  their  track  but  ruin  and  desolation. 
Mr.  Davidson,  in  his  History  of  Illinois,  gives  the  following  graphic 
account  of  the  picture  that  met  the  eyes  of  LaSalle  and  his  companions 
on  their  return  : 

"  At  the  great  town  of  the  Illinois  they  were  appalled  at  the  scene 
which  opened  to  their  view.  No  hunter  appeared  to  break  its  death-like 
silence  with  a  salutatory  whoop  ot  welcome.  The  plain  on  which  the 
town  had  stood  was  now  strewn  with  charred  fragments  of  lodges,  which 
had  so  recently  swarmed  with  savage  life  and  hilarity.  To  render  more 
hideous  the  picture  of  desolation,  large  numbers  of  skulls  had  been 
placed  on  the  upper  extremities  of  lodge-poles  which  had  escaped  the 
devouring  flames.  In  the  midst  of  these  horrors  was  the  rude  fort  of 
the  spoilers,  rendered  frightful  by  the  same  ghastly  relics.  A  near 
approach  showed  that  the  graves  had  been  robbed  of  their  bodies,  and 
swarms  of  buzzards  were  discovered  glutting  their  loathsome  stomachs 
on  the  reeking  corruption.  To  complete  the  work  of  destruction,  the 
growing  corn  of  the  village  had  been  cut  down  and  burned,  while  the 
pits  containing  the  products  of  previous  years,  had  been  rifled  and  their 
contents  scattered  with  wanton  waste.  It  was  evident  the  suspected 
blow  of  the  Iroquois  had  fallen  with  relentless  fury." 

Tonti  had  escaped  LaSalle  knew  not  whither.  Passing  down  the 
lake  in  search  of  him  and  his  men,  LaSalle  discovered  that  the  fort  had 
been  destroyed,  but  the  vessel  which  he  had  partly  constructed  was  still 


92  HISTORY    OF   THE   STATE    OF   ILLINOIS. 

on  the  stocks,  and  but  slightly  injured.  After  further  fruitless  search, 
failing  to  find  Tonti,  he  fastened  to  a  tree  a  painting  representing  himself 
and  party  sitting  in  a  canoe  and  bearing  a  pipe  of  peace,  and  to  the  paint- 
ing attached  a  letter  addressed  to  Tonti. 

Tonti  had  escaped,  and,  after  untold  privations,  taken  shelter  among 
the  Pottawattamies  near  Green  Bay.  These  were  friendly  to  the  French. 
One  of  their  old  chiefs  used  to  say,  "  There  were  but  three  great  cap- 
tains in  the  world,  himself,  Tonti  and  LaSalle." 

GENIUS  OF  LASALLE. 

We  must  now  return  to  LaSalle,  whose  exploits  stand  out  in  such 
bold  relief.  He  was  born  in  Rouen,  France,  in  1643.  His  father  was 
wealthy,  but  he  renounced  his  patrimony  on  entering  a  college  of  the 
Jesuits,  from  which  he  separated  and  came  to  Canada  a  poor  man  in  1666. 
The  priests  of  St.  Sulpice,  among  whom  he  had  a  brother,  were  then  the 
proprietors  of  Montreal,  the  nucleus  of  which  was  a  seminary  or  con- 
vent founded  by  that  order.  The  Superior  granted  to  LaSalle  a  large 
tract  of  land  at  LaChine,  where  he  established  himself  in  the  fur  trade. 
He  was  a  man  of  daring  genius,  and  outstripped  all  his  competitors  in 
exploits  of  travel  and  commerce  with  the  Indians.  In  1669,  he  visited 
the  headquarters  of  the  great  Iroquois  Confederacy,  at  Onondaga,  in  the 
heart  of  New  York,  and,  obtaining  guides,  explored  the  Ohio  River  to 
the  falls  at  Louisville. 

In  order  to  understand  the  genius  of  LaSalle,  it  must  be  remembered 
that  for  many  years  prior  to  his  time  the  missionaries  and  traders  were 
obliged  to  make  their  way  to  the  Northwest  by  the  Ottawa  River  (of 
Canada)  on  account  of  the  fierce  hostility  of  the  Iroquois  along  the  lower 
lakes  and  Niagara  River,  which  entirely  closed  this  latter  route  to  the 
Upper  Lakes.  They  carried  on  their  commerce  chiefly  by  canoes,  pad- 
dling them  through  the  Ottawa  to  Lake  Nipissing,  carrying  them  across 
the  portage  to  French  River,  and  descending  that  to  Lake  Huron.  This 
being  the  route  by  which  they  reached  the  Northwest,  accounts  for  the 
fact  that  all  the  earliest  Jesuit  missions  were  established  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  Upper  Lakes.  LaSalle  conceived  the  grand  idea  of  opening 
the  route  by  Niagara  River  and  the  Lower  Lakes  to  Canadian  commerce 
by  sail  vessels,  connecting  it  with  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
thus  opening  a  magnificent  water  communication  from  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  This  truly  grand  and  comprehensive 
purpose  seems  to  have  animated  him  in  all  his  wonderful  achievements 
and  the  matchless  difficulties  and  hardships  he  surmounted.  As  the  first 
step  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  object  he  established  himself  on  Lake 
Ontario,  and  huilt  and  garrisoned  Fort  Frontenac,  the  site  of  the  present 


HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF   ILLINOIS.  93 

city  of  Kingston,  Canada.  Here  he  obtained  a  grant  of  land  from  the 
French  crown  and  a  body  of  troops  by  which  he  beat  back  the  invading 
Iroquois  and  cleared  the  passage  to  Niagara  Falls.  Having  by  this  mas- 
terly stroke  made  it  safe  to  attempt  a  hitherto  untried  expedition,  his 
next  step,  as  we  have  seen,  was  to  advance  to  the  Falls  with  all  his 
outfit  for  building  a  ship  with  which  to  sail  the  lakes.  He  was  success- 
ful in  this  undertaking,  though  his  ultimate  purpose  was  defeated  by  a 
strange  combination  of  untoward  circumstances.  The  Jesuits  evidently 
hated  LaSalle  and  plotted  against  him,  because  he  had  abandoned  them 
and  co-operated  with  a  rival  order.  The  fur  traders  were  also  jealous  of 
his  superior  success  in  opening  new  channels  of  commerce.  At  LaCliine 
he  had  taken  the  trade  of  Lake  Ontario,  which  but  for  his  presence  there 
-would  have  gone  to  Quebec.  While  they  were  plodding  with  their  barK 
canoes  through  the  Ottawa  he  was  constructing  sailing  vessels  to  corn- 
land  the  trade  of  the  lakes  and  the  Mississippi.  These  great  plans 
excited  the  jealousy  and  envy  of  the  small  traders,  introduced  treason  and 
revolt  into  the  ranks  of  his  own  companions,  and  finally  led  to  the  foul 
jsassination  by  which  his  great  achievements  were  prematurely  ended. 
In  1682,  LaSalle,  having  completed  his  vessel  at  Peoria,  descended 
the  Mississippi  to  its  confluence  with  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Erecting  a 
standard  on  which  he  inscribed  the  arms  of  France,  he  took  formal  pos- 
session of  the  whole  valley  of  the  mighty  river,  in  the  name  of  Louis 
XIV.,  then  reigning,  in  honor  of  whom  he  named  the  country  LOUISIANA. 
LaSalle  then  went  to  France,  was  appointed  Governor,  and  returned 
with  a  fleet  and  immigrants,  for  the  purpose  of  planting  a  colony  in  Illi- 
nois. They  arrived  in  due  time  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  but  failing  to 
find  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  up  which  LaSalle  intended  to  sail,  his 
supply  ship,  with  the  immigrants,  was  driven  ashore  and  wrecked  on 
Matagorda  Bay.  With  the  fragments  of  the  vessel  he  constructed  a 
stockade  and  rude  huts  on  the  shore  for  the  protection  of  the  immigrants, 
calling  the  post  Fort  St.  Louis.  He  then  made  a  trip  into  New  Mexico, 
in  search  of  silver  mines,  but,  meeting  with  disappointment,  returned  to 
find  his  little  colony  reduced  to  forty  souls.  He  then  resolved  to  travel 
on  foot  to  Illinois,  and,  starting  with  his  companions,  had  reached  the 
valley  of  the  Colorado,  near  the  mouth  of  Trinity  river,  when  he  was 
shot  by  one  of  his  men.  This  occurred  on  the  19th  of  March,  1687. 

§Dr.  J.  W.  Foster  remarks  of  him  :  "  Thus  fell,  not  far  from  the  banks 
of  the  Trinity,  Robert  Cavalier  de  la  Salle,  one  of  the  grandest  charac- 
ters that  ever  figured  in  American  history — a  man  capable  of  originating 
the  vastest  schemes,  and  endowed  with  a  will  and  a  judgment  capable  of 
carrying  them  to  successful  results.  Had  ample  facilities  been  placed  by 
the  King  of  France  at  his  disposal,  the  result  of  the  colonization  of  this 
continent  might  have  been  far  different  from  what  we  now  behold." 


94  HISTORY   OF   THE    STATE    OF    ILLINOIS. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

A  temporary  settlement  was  made  at  Fort  St.  Louis,  or  the  old  Kas- 
kaskia  village,  on  the  Illinois  River,  in  what  is  now  LaSalle  County,  in 
1682.  In  1690,  this  was  removed,  with  the  mission  connected  with  it,  to 
Kaskaskia,  on  the  river  of  that  name,  emptying  into  the  lower  Mississippi 
in  St.  Glair  County.  Cahokia  was  settled  about  the  same  time,  or  at 
least,  both  of  these  settlements  began  in  the  year  1690,  though  it  is  now 
pretty  well  settled  that  Cahokia  is  the  older  place,  and  ranks  as  the  oldest 
permanent  settlement  in  Illinois,  as  well  as  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
The  reason  for  the  removal  of  the  old  Kaskaskia  settlement  and  mission, 
was  probably  because  the  dangerous  and  difficult  route  by  Lake  Michigan 
and  the  Chicago  portage  had  been  almost  abandoned,  and  travelers  and 
traders  passed  down  and  up  the  Mississippi  by  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin 
River  route.  They  removed  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Mississippi  in  order 
to  be  in  the  line  of  travel  from  Canada  to  Louisiana,  that  is,  the  lower 
part  of  it,  for  it  was  all  Louisiana  then  south  of  the  lakes. 

During  the  period  of  French  rule  in  Louisiana,  the  population  prob- 
ably never  exceeded  ten  thousand,  including  whites  and  blacks.  Within 
that  portion  of  it  now  included  in  Indiana,  trading  posts  were  established 
at  the  principal  Miami  villages  which  stood  on  the  head  waters  of  the 
Maumee,  the  Wea  villages  situated  at  Ouiatenon,  on  the  Wabash,  and 
the  Piankeshaw  villages  at  Post  Vincennes  ;  all  of  which  were  probably 
visited  by  French  traders  and  missionaries  before  the  close  of  the  seven- 
teenth century. 

In  the  vast  territory  claimed  by  the  French,  many  settlements  of 
considerable  importance  had  sprung  up.  Biloxi,  on  Mobile  Bay,  had 
been  founded  by  D'Iberville,  in  1699 ;  Antoine  de  Lamotte  Cadillac  had 
founded  Detroit  in  1701 ;  and  New  Orleans  had  been  founded  by  Bien- 
ville,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Mississippi  Company,  in  1718.  In  Illi- 
nois also,  considerable  settlements  had  been  made,  so  that  in  1730  they 
embraced  one  hundred  and  forty  French  families,  about  six  hundred  "  con^ 
verted  Indians,"  and  many  traders  and  voyageurs.  In  that  portion  of  the 
country,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  there  were  five  distinct  set- 
tlements, with  their  respective  villages,  viz. :  Cahokia,  near  the  mouth 
of  Cahokia  Creek  and  about  five  miles  below  the  present  city  of  St. 
Louis  ;  St.  -Philip,  about  forty -five  njiles  below  Cahokia,  and  four  miles 
above  Fort  Chartres ;  Fort  Chartres,  twelve  miles  above  Kaskaskia ;. 
Kaskaskia,  situated  on  the  Kaskaskia  River,  five  miles  above  its  conflu- 
ence with  the  Mississippi ;  and  Prairie  du  Rocher,  near  Fort  Chartres. 
To  these  must  be  added  St.  Genevieve  and  St.  Louis,  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Mississippi.  These,  with  the  exception  of  St.  Louis,  are  among 


HISTORY  OF  THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS.  95 

the  oldest  French  towns  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Kaskaskia,  in  its  best 
days,  was  a  town  of  some  two  or  three  thousand  inhabitants.  After  it 
passed  from  the  crown  of  France  its  population  for  many  years  did  not 
exceed  fifteen  hundred.  Under  British  rule,  in  1773,  the  population  had 
decreased  to  four  hundred  and  fifty.  As  early  as  1721,  the  Jesuits  had 
established  a  college  and  a  monastery  in  Kaskaskia. 

Fort  Chartres  was  first  built  under  the  direction  of  the  Mississippi 
Company,  in  1718,  by  M.  de  Boisbraint,  a  military  officer,  under  command 
of  Bienville.  It  stood  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  about  eighteen 
miles  below  Kaskaskia,  and  was  for  some  time  the  headquarters  of  the 
military  commandants  of  the  district  of  Illinois. 

In  the  Centennial  Oration  .of  Dr.  Fowler,  delivered  at  Philadelphia, 
by  appointment  of  Gov.  Beveridge,  we  find  some  interesting  facts  with 
regard  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  which  we  appropriate  in  this  history : 

In  1682  Illinois  became  a  possession  of  the  French  crown,  a  depend- 
ency of  Canada,  and  a  part  of  Louisiana.  In  1765  the  English  flag  was 
run  up  on  old  Fort  Chartres,  and  Illinois  was  counted  among  the  treas- 
ures of  Great  Britain. 

In  1779  it  was  taken  from  the  English  by  Col.  George  Rogers  Clark. 
This  man  was  resolute  in  nature,  wise  in  council,  prudent  in  policy,  bold 
in  action,  and  heroic  in  danger.  Few  men  who  have  figured  in  the  his- 
tory of  America  are  more  deserving  than  this  colonel.  Nothing  short  of 
first-class  ability  could  have  rescued  Vincens  and  all  Illinois  from  the 
English.  And  it  is  not  possible  to  over-estimate  the  influence  of  this 
achievement  upon  the  republic.  In  1779  Illinois  became  a  part  of  Vir- 
ginia. It  was  soon  known  as  Illinois  County.  In  1784  Virginia  ceded 
all  this  territory  to  the  general  government,  to  be  cut  into  States,  to  be 
republican  in  form,  with  "  the  same  right  of  sovereignty,  freedom,  and 
independence  as  the  other  States." 

In  1787  it  was  the  object  of  the  wisest  and  ablest  legislation  found 
in  any  merely  human  records.  No  man  can  study  the  secret  history  of 

THE  "COMPACT  OF  1787," 

and  not  feel  that  Providence  was  guiding  with  sleepless  eye  these  unborn 
States.  The  ordinance  that  on  July  13,  1787,  finally  became  the  incor- 
porating act,  has  a  most  marvelous  history.  Jefferson  had  vainly  tried 
to  secure  a  system  of  government  for  the  northwestern  territory.  He 
was  an  emancipationist  of  that  day,  and  favored  the  exclusion  of  slavery 
from  the  territory  Virginia  had  ceded  to  the  general  government ;  but 
the  South  voted  him  down  as  often  as  it  came  up.  In  1787,  as  late  as 
July  10,  an  organizing  act  without  the  anti-slavery  clause  was  pending. 
This  concession  to  the  South  was  expected  to  carry  it.  Congress  was  in 


96  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

session  in  New  York  City.  On  July  5,  Rev.  Dr.  Manasseh  Cutler,  of 
Massachusetts,  came  into  New  York  to  lobby  on  the  northwestern  terri- 
tory. Everything  seemed  to  fall  into  his  hands.  Events  were  ripe. 

The  state  of  the  public  credit,  the  growing  of  Southern  prejudice, 
the  basis  of  his  mission,  his  personal  character,  all  combined  to  complete 
one  of  those  sudden  and  marvelous  revolutions  of  public  sentiment  that 
once  in  five  or  ten  centuries  are  seen  to  sweep  over  a  country  like  the 
breath  of  the  Almighty.  Cutler  was  a  graduate  of  Yale — received  his 
A.M.  from  Harvard,  and  his  D.D.  from  Yale.  He  had  studied  and  taken 
degrees  in  the  three  learned  professions,  medicine,  law,  and  divinity.  He 
had  thus  America's  best  indorsement.  He  had  published  a  scientific 
examination  of  the  plants  of  New  England.  His  name  stood  second  only 
to  that  of  Franklin  as  a  scientist  in  America.  He  was  a  courtly  gentle- 
man of  the  old  style,  a  man  of  commanding  presence,  and  of  inviting 
face.  The  Southern  members  said  they  had  never  seen  such  a  gentleman 
in  the  North.  He  came  representing  a  company  that  desired  to  purchase 
a  tract  of  land  now  included  in  Ohio,  for  the  purpose  of  planting  a  colony. 
It  was  a  speculation.  Government  money  was  worth  eighteen  cents  on 
the  dollar.  This  Massachusetts  company  had  collected  enough  to  pur- 
chase 1,500,000  acres  of  land.  Other  speculators  in  New  York  made 
Dr.  Cutler  their  agent  (lobbyist).  On  the  12th  lie  represented  a  demand 
for  5,500,000  acres.  This  would  reduce  the  national  debt.  Jefferson 
and  Virginia  were  regarded  as  authority  concerning  the  land  Virginia 
had  just  ceded.  Jefferson's  policy  wanted  to  provide  for  the  public  credit, 
and  this  was  a  good  opportunity  to  do  something. 

Massachusetts  then  owned  the  territory  of  Maine,  which  she  was 
crowding  on  the  market.  She  was  opposed  to  opening  the  northwestern 
region.  This  fired  the  zeal  of  Virginia.  The  South  caught  the  inspira- 
tion, and  all  exalted  Dr.  Cutler.  The  English  minister  invited  him  to 
dine  with  some  of  the  Southern  gentlemen.  He  was  the  center  of  interest. 

The  entire  South  rallied  round  him.  Massachusetts  could  not  vote 
against  him,  because  many  of  the  constituents  of  her  members  were 
interested  personally  in  the  western  speculation.  Thus  Cutler,  making 
friends  with  the  South,  and,  doubtless,  using  all  the  arts  of  the  lobby, 
was  enabled  to  command  the  situation.  True  to  deeper  convictions,  he 
dictated  one  of  the  most  compact  and  finished  documents  of  wise  states- 
manship that  has  ever  adorned  any  human  law  book.  He  borrowed  from 
Jefferson  the  term  "  Articles  of  Compact,"  which,  preceding  the  federal 
constitution,  rose  into  the  most  sacred  character.  He  then  followed  very 
closely  the  constitution  of  Massachusetts,  adopted  three  years  before. 
Its  most  marked  points  were  : 

1.  The  exclusion  of  slavery  from  the  territory  forever. 

2.  Provision  for  public  schools,  giving  one  township  for  a  seminaryr 


HISTORY   OF  THE   STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.  97 

and  every  section  numbered  16  in  each  township  ;  that  is,  one-thirty-sixth 
of  all  the  land,  for  public  schools. 

3.  A  provision  prohibiting  the  adoption  of  any  constitution  or  the 
enactment  of  any  law  that  should  nullify  pre-existing  contracts. 

Be  it  forever  remembered  that  this  compact  declared  that  "  Religion, 
morality,  and  knowledge  being  necessary  to  good  government  and  the 
happiness  of  mankind,  schools  and  the  means  of  education  shall  always 
be  encouraged." 

Dr.  Cutler  planted  himself  on  this  platform  and  would  not  yield. 
Giving  his  unqualified  declaration  that  it  was  that  or  nothing — that  unless 
they  could  make  the  land  desirable  they  did  not  want  it — he  took  his 
horse  and  buggy,  and  started  for  the  constitutional  convention  in  Phila- 
delphia. On  July  13,  1787,  the  bill  was  put  upon  its  passage,  and  was 
unanimously  adopted,  every  Southern  member  voting  for  it,  and  only  one 
man,  Mr.  Yates,  of  New  York,  voting  against  it.  But  as  the  States  voted 
as  States,  Yates  lost  his  vote,  and  the  compact  was  put  beyond  repeal. 

Thus  the  great  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan  and  Wis- 
consin— a  vast  empire,  the  heart  of  the  great  valley — were  consecrated 
to  freedom,  intelligence,  and  honesty.  Thus  the  great  heart  of  the  nation 
was  prepared  for  a  year  and  a  day  and  an  hour.  In  the  light  of  these  eighty- 
nine  years  I  affirm  that  this  act  was  the  salvation  of  the  republic  and  the 
destruction  of  slavery.  Soon  the  South  saw  their  great  blunder,  and 
tried  to  repeal  the  compact.  In  1803  Congress  referred  it  to  a  committee 
of  which  John  Randolph  was  chairman.  He  reported  that  this  ordinance 
was  a  compact,  and  opposed  repeal.  Thus  it  stood  a  rock,  in  the  way 
of  the  on-rushing  sea,  of  slavery. 

With  all  this  timely  aid  it  was,  after  all,  a  most  desperate  and  pro- 
tracted struggle  to  keep  the  soil  of  Illinois  sacred  to  freedom.  It  was 
the  natural  battle-field  for  the  irrepressible  conflict.  In  the  southern  end 
of  the  State  slavery  preceded  the  compact.  It  existed  among  the  old 
French  settlers,  and  was  hard  to  eradicate.  The  southern  part  of  the 
State  was  settled  from  the  slave  States,  and  this  population  brought  their 
laws,  customs,  and  institutions  with  them.  A  stream  of  population  from 
the  North  poured  into  the  northern  part  of  the  State.  These  sections 
misunderstood  and  hated  each  other  perfectly.  The  Southerners  regarded 
the  Yankees  as  a  skinning,  tricky,  penurious  race  of  peddlers,  filling  the 
country  with  tinware,  brass  clocks,  and  wooden  nutmegs.  The  North- 
erner thought  of  the  Southerner  as  a  lean,  lank,  lazy  creature,  burrowing 
in  a  hut,  and  rioting  in  whisky,  dirt  and  ignorance.  These  causes  aided 
in  making  the  struggle  long  and  bitter.  So  strong  was  the  sympathy 
with  slavery  that,  in  spite  of  the  ordinance  of  1787,  and  in  spite  of  the 
deed  of  cession,  it  was  determined  to  allow  the  old  French  settlers  to 
retain  their  slaves.  Planters  from  the  slave  States  mi^ht  bring  their 


98  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

/ 

slaves,  if  they  would  give  them  a  chance  to  choose  freedom  or  years 
of  service  and  bondage  for  their  children  till  they  should  become 
thirty  years  of  age.  If  they  chose  freedom  they  must  leave  the  State 
in  sixty  days  or  be  sold  as  fugitives.  Servants  were  whipped  for  offenses 
for  which  white  men  are  fined.  Each  lash  paid  forty  cents  of  the  fine.  A 
negro  ten  miles  from  home  without  a  pass  was  whipped.  These  famous 
laws  were  imported  from  the  slave  States  just  as  they  imported  laws  for 
the  inspection  of  flax  and  wool  when  there  was  neither  in  the  State. 

These  Black  Laws  are  now  wiped  out.  A  vigorous  effort  was  made 
to  protect  slavery  in  the  State  Constitution  of  1817.  It  barely  failed. 
It  was  renewed  in  1825,  when  a  convention  was  asked  to  make  a  new 
constitution.  After  a  hard  fight  the  convention  was  defeated.  But 
slaves  did  not  disappear  from  the  census  of  the  State  until  1850.  There 
were  mobs  and  murders  in  the  interest  of  slavery.  Lovejoy  was  added 
to  the  list  of  martyrs — a  sort  of  first-fruits  of  that  long  life  of  immortal 
heroes  who  saw  freedom  as  the  one  supreme  desire  of  their  souls,  and 
were  so  enamored  of  her  that  they  preferred  to  die  rather  than  survive  her. 

The  population  of  12,282  that  occupied  the  territory  in»A.D.  1800, 
increased  to  45,000  in  A.D.  1818,  when  the  State  Constitution  was 
adopted,  and  Illinois  took  her  place  in  the  Union,  with  a  star  on  the  flag 
and  two  votes  in  the  Senate. 

Shadrach  Bond  was  the  first  Governor,  and  x in  his  first  message  he 
recommended  the  construction  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal. 

The  simple  economy  in  those  days  is  seen  in  the  fact  that  the  entire 
bill  for  stationery  for  the  first  Legislature  was  only  $13.50.  Yet  this 
simple  body  actually  enacted  a  very  superior  code. 

There  was  no  money  in  the  territory  before  the  war  of  1812.  Deer 
skins  and  coon  skins  were  the  circulating  medium.  In  1821,  the  Legis- 
lature ordained  a  State  Bank  on  the  credit  of  the  State.  It  issued  notes 
in  the  likeness  of  bank  bills.  These  notes  were  made  a  legal  tender  for 
every  thing,  and  the  bank  was  ordered  to  loan  to  the  people  $100  on  per- 
sonal security,  and  more  on  mortgages.  They  actually  passed  a  resolu- 
tion requesting  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  to 
receive  these  notes  for  land.  The  old  French  Lieutenant  Governor,  Col. 
Menard,  put  the  resolution  as  follows :  "  Gentlemen  of  the  Senate  :  It  is 
moved  and  seconded  dat  de  notes  of  dis  bank  be  made  land-office  money. 
All  in  favor  of  dat  motion  say  aye  ;  all  against  it  say  no.  It  is  decided 
in  de  affirmative.  Now,  gentlemen,  I  bet  you  one  hundred  dollar  he 
never  be  land-office  money ! "  Hard  sense,  like  hard  money,  is  always 
above  par. 

This  old  Frenchman  presents  a  fine  figure  up  against  the  dark  back- 
ground of  most  of  his  nation.  They  made  no  progress.  They  clung  to 
their  earliest  and  simplest  implements.  They  never  wore  hats  or  cap? 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE    OF   ILLINOIS.  99 

They  pulled  their  blankets  over  their  heads  in  the  winter  like  the  Indians, 
with  whom  they  freely  intermingled. 

Demagogism  had  an  early  development.  One  John  Grammar  (only 
in  name),  elected  to  the  Territorial  and  State  Legislatures  of  1816  and 
1836,  invented  the  policy  of  opposing  every  new  thing,  saying,  "  If  it 
succeeds,  no  one  will  ask  who  voted  against  it.  If  it  proves  a  failure,  he 
could  quote  its  record."  In  sharp  contrast  with  Grammar  was  the  char- 
acter of  D.  P.  Cook,  after  whom  the  county  containing  Chicago  was 
named.  Such  was  hi§  transparent  integrity  and  remarkable  ability  that 
his  will  was  almost  the  law  of  the  State.  In  Congress,  a  young  man, 
and  from  a  poor  State,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Ways  and  Means 
Committee.  He  was  pre-eminent  for  standing  by  his  committee,  regard- 
less of  consequences.  It  was  his  integrity  that  elected  John  Quincy 
Adams  to  the  Presidency.  There  were  four  candidates  in  1824,  Jackson, 
Clay,  Crawford,  and  John  Quincy  Adams.  There  being  no  choice  by  the 
people,  the  election  was  thrown  into  the  House.  It  was  so  balanced  that 
it  turned  on  his  vote,  and  that  he  cast  for  Adams,  electing  him ;  then 
went  home-  to  face  the  wrath  of  the  Jackson  party  in  Illinois.  It  cost 
him  all  but  character  and  greatness.  It  is  a  suggestive  comment  on  the 
times,  that  there  was  no  legal  interest  till  1830.  It  often  reached  150 
per  cent.,  usually  50  per  cent.  Then  it  was  reduced  to  12,  and  now  to 
10  per  cent. 

PHYSICAL  FEATURES  OF  THE    PRAIRIE  STATE. 

In  area  the  State  has  55,410  square  miles  of  territory.  It  is  about 
150  miles  wide  and  400  miles  long,  stretching  in  latitude  from  Maine  to 
North  Carolina.  It  embraces  wide  variety  of  climate.  It  is  tempered 
on  the  north  by  the  great  inland,  saltless,  tideless  sea,  which  keeps  the 
thermometer  from  either  extreme.  Being  a  table  land,  from  600  to  1,600 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  one  is  prepared  to  find  on  the  health 
maps,  prepared  by  the  general  government,  an  almost  clean  and  perfect 
record.  In  freedom  from  fever  and  malarial  diseases  and  consumptions, 
the  three  deadly  enemies  of  the  American  Saxon,  Illinois,  as  a  State, 
stands  without  a  superior.  She  furnishes  one  of  the  essential  conditions 
of  a  great  people — sound  bodies.  I  suspect  that  this  fact  lies  back  of 
that  old  Delaware  word,  Illini,  superior  men. 

The  great  battles  of  history  that  have  been  determinative  of  dynas- 
ties and  destinies  have  been  strategical  battles,  chiefly  the  question  of 
position.  Thermopylae  has  been  the  war-cry  of  freemen  for  twenty-four 
centuries.  It  only  tells  how  much  there  may  be  in  position.  All  this 
advantage  belongs  to  Illinois.  It  is  in  the  heart  of  the  greatest  valley  in 
the  world,  the  vast  region  between  the  mountains — a  valley  that  could 


100  HISTOEY   OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 

feed  mankind  for  one  thousand  years.  It  is  well  on  toward  the  center  of 
the  continent.  It  is  in  the  great  temperate  belt,  in  which  have  been 
found  nearly  all  the  aggressive  civilizations  of  history.  It  has  sixty-five 
miles  of  frontage  on  the  head  of  the  lake.  With  the  Mississippi  forming 
the  western  and  southern  boundary,  with  the  Ohio  running  along  the 
southeastern  line,  with  the  Illinois  River  and  Canal  dividing  the  State 
diagonally  from  the  lake  to  the  Lower  Mississippi,  and  with  the  Rock  and 
Wabash  Rivers  furnishing  altogether  2,000  miles  of  water-front,  con- 
necting with,  and  running  through,  in  all  about  12,000  miles  of  navi- 
gable water. 

But  this  is  not  all.  These  waters  are  made  most  available  by  the 
fact  that  the  lake  and  the  State  lie  on  the  ridge  running  into  the  great 
valley  from  the  east.  Within  cannon-sho.t  of  the  lake  the  water  runs 
away  from  the  lake  to  the  Gulf.  The  lake  now  empties  at  both  ends, 
one  into  the  Atlantic  and  one  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  lake  thus 
seems  to  hang  over  the  land.  This  makes  the  dockage  most  serviceable  ; 
there  are  no  steep  banks  to  olamage  it.  Both  lake  and  river  are  made 
for  use. 

The  climate  varies  from  Portland  to  Richmond ;  it  favors  every  pro- 
duct of  the  continent,  including  the  tropics,  with  less  than  half  a  dozen 
exceptions.  It  produces  every  great  nutriment  of  the  world  except  ban- 
anas and  rice.  It  is  hardly  too  much  to  say  that  it  is  the  most  productive 
spot  known  to  civilization.  With  the  soil  full  of  bread  and  the  earth  full 
of  minerals ;  with  an  upper  surface  of  food  and  an  under  layer  of  fuel ; 
with  perfect  natural  drainage,  and  abundant  springs  and  streams  and 
navigable  rivers  ;  half  way  between  the  forests  of  the  North  and  the  fruits 
of  the  South  ;  within  a  day's  ride  of  the  great  deposits  of  iron,  coal,  cop- 
per, lead,  and  zinc;  containing  and  controlling  the  great  grain,  cattle, 
pork,  and  lumber  markets  of  the  world,  it  is  not  strange  that  Illinois  has 
the  advantage  of  position. 

This  advantage  has  been  supplemented  by  the  character  of  the  popu- 
lation. In  the  early  days  when  Illinois  was  first  admitted  to  the  Union, 
her  population  were  chiefly  from  Kentucky  and  Virginia.  But,  in  the 
conflict  of  ideas  concerning  slavery,  a  strong  tide  of  emigration  came  in 
from  the  East,  and  soon  changed  this  composition.  In  1870  her  non- 
native  population  were  from  colder  soils.  New  York  furnished  133,290 ; 
Ohio  gave  162,623;  Pennsylvania  sent  on  98,352;  the  entire  South  gave 
us  only  206,734.  In  all  her  cities,  and  in  all  her  German  and  Scandina- 
vian and  other  foreign  colonies,  Illinois  has  only  about  one-fifth  of  her 
people  of  foreign  birth. 


HISTORY   OF   THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.  1Q1 


PROGRESS  OF  DEVELOPMENT. 

One  of  the  greatest  elements  in  the  early  development  of  Illinois  is 
the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal,  connecting  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi 
Rivers  with  the  lakes.  It  was  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  State. 
It  was  recommended  by  Gov.  Bond,  the  first  governor,  in  his  first  message. 
In  1821,  the  Legislature  appropriated  $10,000  for  surveying  the  route. 
Two  bright  young  engineers  surveyed  it,  and  estimated  the  cost  at 
$600,000  or  $700,000.  It  finally  cost  $8,000,000.  In  1825,  a  law  was 
passed  to  incorporate  the  Canal  Company,  but  no  stock  was  sold.  In 
1826,  upon  the  solicitation  of  Cook,  Congress  gave  800,000  acres  of  land 
on  the  line  of  the  work.  In  1828,  another  law — commissioners  appointed, 
and  work  commenced  with  new  survey  and  new  estimates.  In  1834-35, 
George  Farquhar  made  an  able  report  on  the  whole  matter.  This  was, 
doubtless,  the  ablest  report  ever  made  to  a  western  legislature,  and  it 
became  the  model  for  subsequent  reports  and  action.  From  this  the 
work  went  on  till  it  was  finished  in  1848.  It  cost  the  State  a  large 
amount  of  money ;  but  it  gave  to  the  industries  of  the  State  an  impetus 
that  pushed  it  up  into  the  first  rank  of  greatness.  It  was  not  built  as  a 
speculation  any  more  than  a  doctor  is  employed  on  a  speculation.  But 
it  has  paid  into  the  Treasary  of  the  State  an  average  annual  net  sum  of 
over  $111,000. 

Pending  the  construction  of  the  canal,  the  land  and  town-lot  fever 
broke  out  in  the  State,  in  1834—35.  It  took  on  the  malignant  type  in 
Chicago,  lifting  the  town  up  into  a  city.  The  disease  spread  over  the 
entire  State  and  adjoining  States.  It  was  epidemic.  It  cut  up  men's 
farms  without  regard  to  locality,  aiid  jut  up  the  purses  of  the  purchasers 
without  regard  to  consequences.  It  is  estimated  that  building  lots  enough 
were  sold  in  Indiana  alone  to  accommodate  every  citizen  then  in  the 
United  States. 

Towns  and  cities  were  exported  to  die  Eastern  market  by  the  ship- 
load. There  was  no  lack  of  buyers.  Every  up-ship  came  freighted  with 
speculators  and  their  money. 

This  distemper  seized  upon  the  Legislature  in  1836-37,  and  left  not 
one  to  tell  the  tale.  They  enacted  a  system  of  internal  improvement 
without  a  parallel  in  the  grandeur  of  its  conception.  They  ordered  the 
construction  of  1,300  miles  of  railroad,  crossing  the  State  in  all  direc- 
tions. This  was  surpassed  by  the  river  and  canal  improvements. 
There  were  a  few  counties  not  touched  by  either  railroad  or  river  or 
canal,  and  those  were  to  be  comforted  and  compensated  by  the  free  dis- 
tribution of  $200,000  among  them.  To  inflate  this  balloon  beyond  cre- 
dence it  was  ordered  that  work  should  be  commenced  on  both  ejids  of 


102  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

each  of  these  railroads  and  rivers,  and  at  each  river-crossing,  all  at  the 
same  time.  The  appropriations  for  these  vast  improvements  were  over 
$12,000,000,  and  commissioners  were  appointed  to  borrow  the  money  on 
the  credit  of  the  State.  Remember  that  all  this  was  in  the  early  days  of 
railroading,  when  railroads  were  luxuries ;  that  the  State  had  whole 
counties  with  scarcely  a  cabin ;  and  that  the  population  of  the  State  was 
less  than  400,000,  and  you  can  form  some  idea  of  the  vigor  with  which 
these  brave  men  undertook  the  work  of  making  a  great  State.  In  the 
light  of  history  I  am  compelled  to  say  that  this  was  only  a  premature 
throb  of  the  power  that  actually  slumbered  in  the  soil  of  the  State.  It 
was  Hercules  in  the  cradle. 

At  this  juncture  the  State  Bank  loaned  its  funds  largely  to  Godfrey 
Oilman  &  Co.,  and  to  other  leading  houses,  for  the  purpose  of  drawing 
trade  from  Sfc.  Louis  to  Alton.  Soon  they  failed,  and  took  down  the 
bank  with  them. 

In  1840,  all  hope  seemed  gone.  A  population  of  480,000  were  loaded 
with  a  debt  of  $14,000,000.  It  had  only  six  small  cities,  really  only 
towns,  namely :  Chicago,  Alton,  Springfield,  Quincy,  Galena,  Nauvoo. 
This  debt  was  to  be  cared  for  when  there  was  not  a  dollar  in  the  treas- 
ury, and  when  the  State  had  borrowed  itself  out  of  all  credit,  and  when 
there  was  not  good  money  enough  in  the  hands  of  all  the  people  to  pay 
the  interest  of  the  debt  for  a  single  year.  Yet,  in  the  presence  of  all 
these  difficulties,  the  young  State  steadily  refused  to  repudiate.  Gov. 
Ford  took  hold  of  the  problem  and  solved  it,  bringing  the  State  through 
in  triumph. 

Having  touched  lightly  upon  some  of  the  more  distinctive  points  in 
the  history  of  the  development  of  Illinois,  let  us  next  briefly  consider  the 

MATERIAL  RESOURCES  OF  THE  STATE. 

It  is  a  garden  four  hundred  miles  long  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  wide.  Its  soil  is  chiefly  a  black  sandy  loam,  from  six  inches  to 
sixty  feet  thick.  On  the  American  bottoms  it  has  been  cultivated  for 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years  without  renewal.  About  the  old  French 
towns  it  has  yielded  corn  for  a  century  and  a  half  without  rest  or  help. 
It  produces  nearly  everything  green  in  the  temperate  and  tropical  zones. 
She  leads  all  other  States  in  the  number  of  acres  actually  under  plow. 
Her  products  from  25,000,000  of  acres  are  incalculable.  Her  mineral 
wealth  is  scarcely  second  to  her  agricultural  power.  She  has  coal,  iron, 
lead,  copper,  zinc,  many  varieties  of  building  stone,  fire  clay,  cuma  clay, 
common  brick  clay,  sand  of  all  kinds,  gravel,  mineral  paint — every  thing 
needed  for  a  high  civilization.  Left  to  herself,  she  has  the  elements  of 
all  greatness.  The  single  item  of  coal  is  too  vast  for  an  appreciative 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS.  103 

handling  in  figures.  We  can  handle  it  in  general  terms  like  algebraical 
signs,  but  long  before  we  get  up  into  the  millions  and  billions  the  human 
mind  drops  down  from  comprehension  to  mere  symbolic  apprehension. 

When  I  tell  you  that  nearly  four-fifths  of  the  entire  State  is  under- 
laid with  a  deposit  of  coal  more  than  forty  feet  thick  on  the  average  (now 
estimated,  by  recent  surveys,  at  seventy  feet  thick),  you  can  get  some 
idea  of  its  amount,  as  you  do  of  the  amount  of  the  national  debt.  There 
it  is !  41,000  square  miles — one  vast  mine  into  which  you  could  put 
any  of  the  States  ;  in  which  you  could  bury  scores  of  European  and 
ancient  empires,  and  have  room  enough  all  round  to  work  without  know- 
ing that  they  had  been  sepulchered  there. 

Put  this  vast  coal-bed  down  by  the  other  great  coal  deposits  of  the 
world,  and  its  importance  becomes  manifest.  Great  Britain  has  12,000 
square  miles  of  coal;  Spain,  3,000;  France,  1,719;  Belgium,  578;  Illinois 
about  twice  as  many  square  miles  as  all  combined.  Virginia  has  20,000 
square  miles ;  Pennsylvania,  16,000 ;  Ohio,  12,000.  Illinois  has  41,000 
square  miles.  One-seventh  of  all  the  known  coal  on  this  continent  is  in 
Illinois. 

Could  we  sell  the  coal  in  this  single  State  for  one-seventh  of  one  cent 
a  ton  it  would  pay  the  national  debt.  Converted  into  power,  even  with 
the  wastage  in  our  common  engines,  it  would  do  more  work  than  could 
be  done  by  the  entire  race,  beginning  at  Adam's  wedding  and  working 
ten  hours  a  day  through  all  the  centuries  till  the  present  time,  and  right 
on  into  the  future  at  the  same  rate  for  the  next  600,000  years. 

Great  Britain  uses  enough  mechanical  power  to-day  to  give  to  each 
man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  kingdom  the  help  and  service  of  nineteen 
untiring  servants.  No  wonder  she  has  leisure  and  luxuries.  No  wonder 
the  home  of  the  common  artisan  has  in  it  more  luxuries  than  could  be 
found  in  the  palace  of  good  old  King  Arthur.  Think,  if  you  can  conceive 
of  it,  of  the  vast  army  of  servants  that  slumber  in  the  soil  of  Illinois, 
impatiently  awaiting  the  call  of  Genius  to  come  forth  to  minister  to  our 
comfort. 

At  the  present  rate  of  consumption  England's  coal  supply  will  be 
exhausted  in  250  years.  When  this  is  gone  she  must  transfer  her  dominion 
either  to  the  Indies,  or  to  British  America,  which  I  would  not  resist ;  or 
to  some  other  people,  which  I  would  regret  as  a  loss  to  civilization. 

COAL  IS    KING. 

At  the  same  rate  of  consumption  (which  far  exceeds  our  own)  the 
deposit  of  coal  in  Illinois  will  last  120,000  years.  And  her  kingdom  shall 
be  an  everlasting  kingdom. 

Let  us  turn  now  from  this  reserve  power  to  the  annual  products  of 


104:  HISTORY   OF  THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

the  State.  We  shall  not  be  humiliated  in  this  field.  Here  we  strike  the 
secret  of  our  national  credit.  Nature  provides  a  market  in  the  constant 
appetite  of  the  race.  Men  must  eat,  and  if  we  can  furnish  the  provisions 
we  can  command  the  treasure.  All  that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for  his 
life. 

According  to  the  last  census  Illinois  produced  30,000,000  of  bushels 
of  wheat.  That  is  more  wheat  than  was  raised  by  any  other  State  in  the 
Union.  She  raised  In  1875,  130,000,000  of  bushels  of  corn — twice  as 
much  as  any  other  State,  and  one-sixth  of  all  the  corn  raised  in  the  United 
States.  She  harvested  2,747,000  tons  of  hay,  nearly  one-tenth  of  all  the 
hay  in  the  Republic.  It  is  not  generally  appreciated,  but  it  is  true,  that 
the  hay  crop  of  the  country  is  worth  more  than  the  cotton  crop.  The 
hay  of  Illinois  equals  the  cotton  of  Louisiana.  Go  to  Charleston,  S.  C., 
and  see  them  peddling  handfuls  of  hay  or  grass,  almost  as  a  curiosity, 
as  we  regard  Chinese  gods  or  the  cryolite  of  Greenland ;  drink  your 
coffee  and  condensed  milk;  and  walk  back  from  the  coast  for  many  a 
league  through  the  sand  and  burs  till  you  get  up  into  the  better  atmos- 
phere of  the  mountain^,  without  seeing  a  waving  meadow  or  a  grazing 
herd  ;  then  you  will  begin  to  appreciate  the  meadows  of  the  Prairie  State, 
where  the  grass  often  grows  sixteen  feet  high. 

The  value  of  her  farm  implements  is  $211,000,000,  and  the  value  of 
her  live  stock  is  only  second  to  the  great  State  of  New  York.  in  1875 
she  had  25,000,000  hogs,  and  packed  2,113,845,  about  one-half  of  all  that 
were  packed  in  the  United  States.  This  is  no  insignificant  item.  Pork 
is  a  growing  demand  of  the  old  world.  Since  the  laborers  of  Europe 
have  gotten  a  taste  of  our  bacon,  and  we  have  learned  how  to  pack  it  dry 
in  boxes,  like  dry  goods,  the  world  has  become  the  market. 

The  hog  is  on  the  march  into  the  future.  His  nose  is  ordained  to 
uncover  the  secrets  of  dominion,  and  his  feet  shall  be  guided  by  the  star 
of  empire. 

Illinois  marketed  $57,000,000  worth  of  slaughtered  animals — more 
than  any  other  State,  and  a  seventh  of  all  the  States. 

Be  patient  with  me,  and  pardon  my  pride,  and  I  will  give  you  a  list 
of  some  of  the  things  in  which  Illinois  excels  all  other  States. 

Depth  and  richness  of  soil ;  per  cent,  of  good  ground  ;  acres  of 
improved  land ;  large  farms — some  farms  contain  from  40,000  to  60,000 
acres  of  cultivated  land,  40,000  acres  of  corn  on  a  single  farm  ;  number  of 
farmers ;  amount  of  wheat,  corn,  oats  and  honey  produced ;  value  of  ani- 
mals for  slaughter ;  number  of  hogs  ;  amount  of  pork  ;  number  of  horses 
— three  times  as  many  as  Kentucky,  the  horse  State. 

Illinois  excels  all  other  States  in  miles  of  railroads  and  in  miles  of 
postal  service,  and  in  money  orders  sold  per  annum,  and  in  the  amount  of 
lumber  sold  in  her  markets. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE   OF  ILLINOIS.  105 

Illinois  is  only  second  in  many  iniportant  matters.  This  sample  list 
comprises  a  few  of  the  more  important :  Permanent  school  fund  (good 
for  a  young  state)  ;  total  income  for  educational  purposes  ;  number  of  pub- 
lishers of  books,  maps,  papers,  etc.;  value  of  farm  products  and  imple- 
ments, and  of  live  stock  ;  in  tons  of  coal  mined. 

The  shipping  of  Illinois  is  only  second  to  New  York.  Out  of  one 
port  during  the  business  hours  of  the  season  of  navigation  she  sends  forth 
a  vessel  every  ten  minutes.  This  does  not  include  canal  boats,  which  go 
one  every  five  minutes.  No  wonder  she  is  only  second  in  number  of 
bankers  and  brokers  or  in  physicians  and  surgeons. 

She  is  third  in  colleges,  teachers  and  schools ;  cattle,  lead,  hay, 
flax,  sorghum  and  beeswax. 

She  is  fourth  in  population,  ?n  children  enrolled  in  public  schools,  in 
law  schools,  in  butter,  potatoes  and  carriages. 

She  is  fifth  in  value  of  real  and  personal  property,  in  theological 
seminaries  and  colleges  exclusively  for  women,  in  milk  sold,  and  in  boots 
and  shoes  manufactured,  and  in  book-binding. 

She  is  only  seventh  in  the  production  of  wood,  while  she  is  the 
twelfth  in  area.  Surely  that  is  well  done  for  the  Prairie  State.  She  now 
has  much  more  wood  and  growing  timber  than  she  had  thirty  years  ago. 

A  few  leading  industries  will  justify  emphasis.  She  manufactures 
$205,000,000  worth  of  goods,  which  places  her  well  up  toward  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania.  The  number  of  her  manufacturing  establishments 
increased  from  1860  to  1870,  300  per  cent.;  capital  employed  increased  350 
per  cent.,  and  the  amount  of  product  increased  400  per  cent.  She  issued 
5,500,000  copies  of  commercial  and  financial  newspapers — only  second  to 
New  York.  She  has  6,759  miles  of  railroad,  thus  leading  all  other  States, 
worth  $636,458,000,  using  3,245  engines,  and  67,712  cars,  making  a  train 
long  enough  to  cover  one-tenth  of  the  entire  roads  of  the  State.  Her 
stations  are  only  five  miles  apart.  She  carried  last  year  15,795,000  passen- 
gers, an  average  of  36^  miles,  or  equal  to  taking  her  entire  population  twice 
across  the  State.  More  than  two-thirds  of  her  land  is  within  five  miles  of 
a  railroad,  and  less  than  two  per  cent,  is  more  than  fifteen  miles  away. 

The  State  has  a  large  financial  interest  in  the  Illinois  Central  railroad. 
The  road  was  incorporated  in  1850,  and  the  State  gave  each  alternate  sec- 
tion for  six  miles  on  each  side,  and  doubled  the  price  of  the  remaining 
land,  so  keeping  herself  good.  The  road  received  2,595,000  acres  of  land, 
and  pays  to  the  State  one-seventh  of  the  gross  receipts.  The  State 
receives  this  year  $350,000,  and  has  received  in  all  about  $7,000,000.  It 
is  practically  the  people's  road,  and  it  has  a  most  able  and  gentlemanly 
management.  Add  to  this  the  annual  receipts  from  the  canal,  $111,000, 
and  a  large  per  cent,  of  the  State  tax  is  provided  for. 


106  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 


THE   RELIGION  AND  MORALS 

of  the  State  keep  step  with  her  productions  and  growth.  She  was  born 
of  the  missionary  spirit.  It  was  a  minister  who  secured  for  her  the  ordi- 
nance of  1787,  by  which  she  has  been  saved  from  slavery,  ignorance,  and 
dishonesty.  Rev.  Mr.  Wiley,  pastor  of  a  Scotch  congregation  in  Randolph 
County,  petitioned  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1818  to  recognize 
Jesus  Christ  as  king,  and  the  Scriptures  as  the  only  necessary  guide  and 
book  of  law.  The  convention  did  not  act  in  the  case,  and  the  old  Cove- 
nanters refused  to  accept  citizenship.  They  never  voted  until  1824,  when 
the  slavery  question  was  submitted  to  the  people ;  then  they  all  voted 
against  it  and  cast  the  determining  votes.  Conscience  has  predominated 
whenever  a  great  moral  question  has  been  submitted  to  the -people. 

But  little  mob  violence  has  ever  been  felt  in  the  State.  In  1817 
regulators  disposed  of  a  band  of  horse-thieves  that  infested  the  territory. 
The  Mormon  indignities  finally  awoke  the  same  spirit.  Alton  was  also 
the  scene  of  a  pro-slavery  mob,  in  which  Lovejoy  was  added  to  the  list  of 
martyrs.  The  moral  sense  of  the  people  makes  the  law  supreme,  and  gives 
to  the  State  unruffled  peace. 

With  $22,300,000  in  church  property,  and  4,298  church  organizations, 
the  State  has  that  divine  police,  the  sleepless  patrol  of  moral  ideas,  that 
alone  is  able  to  secure  perfect  safety.  Conscience  takes  the  knife  from 
the  assassin's  hand  and  the  bludgeon  from  the  grasp  of  the  highwayman. 
We  sleep  in  safety,  not  because  we  are  behind  bolts  and  bars — these  only 
fence  against  the  innocent ;  not  because  a  lone  officer  drowses  on  a  distant 
corner  of  a  street;  not  because  a  sheriff  may  call  his  posse  from  a  remote 
part  of  the  county ;  but  because  conscience  guards  the  very  portals  of  the 
air  and  stirs  in  the  deepest  recesses  of  the  public  mind.  This  spirit  issues 
within  the  State  9,500,000  copies  of  religious  papers  annually,  and  receives 
still  more  from  without.  Thus  the  crime  of  the  State  is  only  one-fourth 
that  of  New  York  and  one-half  that  of  Pennsylvania. 

Illinois  never  had  but  one  duel  between  her  own  citizens.  In  Belle- 
ville, in  1820,  Alphonso  Stewart  and  William  Bennett  arranged  to  vindi- 
cate injured  honor.  The  seconds  agreed  to  make  it  a  sham,  and  make 
them  shoot  blanks.  Stewart  was  in  the  secret.  Bennett  mistrusted  some- 
thing, and,  unobserved,  slipped  a  bullet  into  his  gun  and  killed  Stewart. 
He  then  fled  the  State.  After  two  years  he  was  caught,  tried,  convicted, 
and,  in  spite  of  friends  and  political  aid,  was  hung.  This  fixed  the  code 
of  honor  on  a  Christian  basis,  and  terminated  its  use  in  Illinois. 

The  early  preachers  were  ignorant  men,  who  were  accounted  eloquent 
according  to  the  strength  of  their  voices.  But  they  set  the  style  for  all 
public  speakers.  Lawyers  and  political  speakers  followed  this  rule.  Gov, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.  107 

Ford  says:  "Nevertheless,  these  first  preachers  were  of  incalculable 
benefit  to  the  country.  They  inculcated  justice  and  morality.  To  them 
are  we  indebted  for  the  first  Christian  character  of  the  Protestant  portion 
of  the  people." 

In  education  Illinois  surpasses  her  material  resources.  The  ordinance 
of  1787  consecrated  one  thirty -sixth  of  her  soil  to  common  schools,  and 
the  law  of  1818,  the  first  law  that  went  upon  her  statutes,  gave  three  per 
cent,  of  all  the  rest  to 

EDUCATION. 

The  old  compact  secures  this  interest  forever,  and  by  its  yoking 
morality  and  intelligence  it  precludes  the  legal  interference  with  the  Bible 
in  the  public  schools.  With  such  a  start  it  is  natural  that  we  should  have 
11,050  schools,  and  that  our  illiteracy  should  be  less  than  New  York  or 
Pennsylvania,  and  only  about  one-half  of  Massachusetts.  We  are  not  to 
blame  for  not  having  more  than  one-half  as  many  idiots  as  the  great 
States.  These  public  schools  soon  made  colleges  inevitable.  The  first 
college,  still  flourishing,  was  started  in  Lebanon  in  1828,  by  the  M.  E. 
church,  and  named  after  Bishop  McKendree.  Illinois  College,  at  Jackson- 
ville, supported  by  the  Presbyterians,  followed  in  1830.  In  1832  the  Bap- 
tists built  Shurtleff  College,  at  Alton.  Then  the  Presbyterians  built  Knox 
College,  at  Galesburg,  in  1838,  and  the  Episcopalians  built  Jubilee  College, 
at  Peoria,  in  1847.  After  these  early  years  colleges  have  rained  down. 
A  settler  could  hardly  encamp  on  the  prairie  but  a  college  would  spring 
up  by  his  wagon.  The  State  now  has  one  very  well  endowed  and  equipped 
university,  namely,  the  Northwestern  University,  at  Evanston,  with  six 
colleges,  ninety  instructors,  over  1,000  students,  and  $1,500,000  endow- 
ment. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Peck  was  the  first  educated  Protestant  minister  in  tne 
State.  He  settled  at  Rock  Spring,  in  St.  Clair  County,  1820,  and  left  his 
impress  on  the  State.  Before  1837  only  party  papers  were  published,  but 
Mr.  Peck  published  a  Gazetteer  of  Illinois.  Soon  after  John  Russell,  of 
Bluffdale,  published  essays  and  tales  showing  genius.  Judge  James  Hall 
published  The  Illinois  Monthly  Magazine  with  great  ability,  and  an  annual 
called  The  Western  Souvenir,  which  gave  him  an  enviable  fame  all  over  the 
United  States.  From  these  beginnings  Illinois  has  gone  on  till  she  has 
move  volumes  in  public  libaaries  even  than  Massachusetts,  and  of  the 
44,500,000  volumes  in  all  the  public  libraries  of  the  United  States,  she 
has  one-thirteenth.  In  newspapers  she  stands  fourth.  Her  increase  is 
marvelous.  In  1850  she  issued  5,000,000  copies ;  in  1860,  27,590,000  ;  in 
1870,  113,140,000.  In  1860  she  had  eighteen  colleges  and  seminaries ;  in 
1870  she  had  eighty.  That  is  a  grand  advance  for  the  war  decade. 

This  brings  us  to  a  record  unsurpassed  in  the  history  of  any  age, 


108  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 


THE  WAR    RECORD  OF  ILLINOIS. 

I  hardly  know  where  to  begin,  or  how  to  advance,  or  what  to  say.  I 
can  at  best  give  you  only  a  broken  synopsis  of  her  deeds,  and  you  must 
put  them  in  the  order  of  glory  for  yourself.  Her  sons  have  always  been 
foremost  on  fields  of  danger.  In  1832-33,  at  the  call  of  Gov.  Reynolds, 
her  sons  drove  Blackhawk  over  the  Mississippi. 

When  the  Mexican  war  came,  in  May,  1846,  8,370  men  offered  them- 
selves when  only  3,720  could  be  accepted.  The  fields  of  Buena  Vista  and 
Vera  Cruz,  and  the  storming  of  Cerro  Gordo,  will  carry  the  glory  of  Illinois 
soldiers  along  after  the  infamy  of  the  cause  they  served  has  been  forgotten. 
But  it  was  reserved  till  our  day  for  her  sons  to  find  a  field  and  cause  and 
foemen  that  could  fitly  illustrate  their  spirit  and  heroism.  Illinois  put 
into  her  own  regiments  for  the  United  States  government  256,000  men, 
and  into  the  army  through  other  States  enough  to  swell  the  number  to 
290,000.  This  far  exceeds  all  the  soldiers  of  the  federal  government  in 
all  the  war  of  the  revolution.  Her  total  years  of  service  were  over  600,000. 
She  enrolled  men  from  eighteen  to  forty -five  years  of  age  when  the  law 
of  Congress  in  1864 — the  test  time— only  asked  for  those  from  twenty  to 
forty-five.  Her  enrollment  was  otherwise  excessive.  Her  people  wanted 
to  go,  and  did  not  take  the  pains  to  correct  the  enrollment.  Thus  the 
basis  of  fixing  the  quota  was  too  great,  and  then  the  quota  itself,  at  least 
in  the  trying  time,  was  far  above  any  other  State. 

Thus  the  demand  on  some  counties,  as  Monroe,  for  example,  took  every 
able-bodied  man  in  the  county,  and  then  did  not  have  enough  to  fill  the 
quota.  Moreover,  Illinois  sent  20,844  men  for  ninety  or  one  hundred  days, 
for  whom  no  credit  was  asked.  When  Mr.  Lincoln's  attention  was  called 
to  the  inequality  of  the  quota  compared  with  other  States,  he  replied, 
"  The  country  needs  the  sacrifice.  We  must  put  the  whip  on  the  free 
horse."  In  spite  of  all  these  disadvantages  Illinois  gave  to  the  country 
73,000  years  of  service  above  all  calls.  With  one-thirteenth  of  the  popu- 
lation of  the  loyal  States,  she  sent  regularly  one-tenth  of  all  the  soldiers, 
and  in  the  peril  of  the  closing  calls,  when  patriots  were  few  and  weary, 
she  then  sent  one-eighth  of  all  that  were  called  for  by  her  loved  and  hon- 
ored son  in  the  white  house.  Her  mothers  and  daughters  went  into  the 
fields  to  raise  the  grain  and  keep  the  children  together,  while  the  fathers 
and  older  sons  went  to  the  harvest  fields  of  the  world.  I  knew  a  father 
and  four  sons  who  agreed  that  one  of  them  must  stay  at  home  ;  and  they 
pulled  straws  from  a  stack  to  see  who  might  go.  The  father  was  left. 
The  next  day  he  came  into  the  camp,  saying :  "  Mother  says  she  can  get 
the  crops  in,  and  I  am  going,  too."  I  know  large  Methodist  churches 
from  which  every  male  member  went  to  the  army.  Do  you  want  to  know 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS.  109 

what  these  heroes  from  Illinois  did  in  the  field  ?  Ask  any  soldier  with  a 
good  record  of  his  own,  who  is  thus  able  to  judge,  and  he  will  tell  you 
that  the  Illinois  men  went  in  to  win.  It  is  common  history  that  the  greater 
victories  were  won  in  the  West.  When  everything  else  looked  dark  Illi- 
nois was  gaining  victories  all  down  the  river,  and  dividing  the  confederacy. 
Sherman  took  with  him  on  his  great  march  forty-five  regiments  of  Illinois 
infantry,  three  companies  of  artillery,  and  one  company  of  cavalry.  He 
could  not  avoid 

GOING  TO  THE  SEA. 

If  he  had  been  killed,  I  doubt  not  the  men  would  have  gone  right  on. 
Lincoln  answered  all  rumors  of  Sherman's  defeat  with,  "  It  is  impossible  ; 
there  is  a  mighty  sight  of  fight  in  100,000  Western  men."  Illinois  soldiers 
brought  home  300  battle-flags.  The  first  United  States  flag  that  floated 
over  Richmond  was  an  Illinois  flag.  She  sent  messengers  and  nurses  to 
every  field  and  hospital,  to  care  for  her  sick  and  wounded  sons.  She  said, 
i;  These  suffering  ones  are  my  sons,  and  I  will  care  for  them." 

When  individuals  had  given  all,  then  cities  and  towns  came  forward 
with  their  credit  to  the  extent  of  many  millions,  to  aid  these  men  and 
their  families. 

Illinois  gave  the  country  the  great  general  of  the  war — Ulysses  S. 
Grant — since  honored  with  two  terms  of  the  Presidency  of  the  United 
States. 

One  other  name  from  Illinois  comes  up  in  all  minds,  embalmed  in  all 
hearts,  that  must  have  the  supreme  place  in  this  story  of  our  glory  and 
of  our  nation's  honor ;  that  name  is  Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois. 

The  analysis  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  character  is  difficult  on  account  of  its 
symmetry. 

In  this  age  we  look  with  admiration  at  his  uncompromising  honesty. 
And  well  we  may,  for  this  saved  us.  Thousands  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  our  country  who  knew  him  only  as  "  Honest  Old  Abe," 
voted  for  him  on  that  account ;  and  wisely  did  they  choose,  for  no  other 
man  could  have  carried  us  through  the  fearful  night  of  the  war.  When 
his  plans  were  too  vast  for  our  comprehension,  and  his  faith  in  the  cause 
too  sublime  for  our  participation ;  when  it  was  all  night  about  us,  and  all 
dread  before  us,  and  all  sad  and  desolate  behind  us ;  when  not  one  ray 
shone  upon  our  cause ;  when  traitors  were  haughty  and  exultant  at  the 
South,  and  fierce  and  blasphemous  at  the  North  ;  when  the  loyal  men  here 
seemed  almost  in  the  minority  ;  when  the  stoutest  heart  quailed,  the  bravest 
cheek  paled  ;  when  generals  were  defeating  each  other  for  place,  and 
contractors  were  leeching  out  the  very  heart's  blood  of  the  prostrate 
republic :  when  every  thing  else  had  failed  us,  we  looked  at  this  calm, 
patient  man  standing  like  a  rock  in  the  storm,  and  said  :  "  Mr.  Lincoln 


110  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF    ILLINOIS. 

is  honest,  and  we  can  trust  him  still."  Holding  to  this  single  point  with 
the  energy  of  faith  and  despair  we  held  together,  and,  under  God,  he 
brought  us  through  to  victory. 

His  practical  wisdom  made  him  the  wonder  of  all  lands.  With  such 
certainty  did  Mr.  Lincoln  follow  causes  to  their  ultimate  effects,  that  his 
foresight  of  contingencies  seemed  almost  prophetic. 

He  is  radiant  with  all  the  great  virtues,  and  his  memory  shall  shed  a 
glory  upon  this  age  that  shall  fill  the  eyes  of  men  as  they  look  into  his- 
tory. Other  men  have  excelled  him  in  some  point,  but,  taken  at  all 
points,  all  in  all,  he  stands  head  and  shoulders  above  every  other  man  of 
6,000  years.  An  administrator,  he  saved  the  nation  in  the  perils  of 
unparalleled  civil  war.  A  statesman,  he  justified  his  measures  by  their 
success.  A  philanthropist,  he  gave  liberty  to  one  race  and  salvation  to 
another.  A  moralist,  he  bowed  from  the  summit  of  human  power  to  the 
foot  of  the  Cross,  and  became  a  Christian.  A  mediator,  he  exercised  mercy 
under  the  most  absolute  abeyance  to  law.  A  leader,  he  was  no  partisan. 
A  commander,  he  was  untainted  with  blood.  A  ruler  in  desperate  times, 
he  was  unsullied  with  crime.  A  man,  he  has  left  no  word  of  passion,  no 
thought  of  malice,  no  trick  of  craft,  no  act  of  jealousy,  no  purpose  of 
selfish  ambition.  Thus  perfected,  without  a  model,  and  without  a  peer, 
he  was  dropped  into  these  troubled  years  to  adorn  and  embellish  all  that 
is  good  and  all  that  is  great  in  our  humanity,  and  to  present  to  all  coming 
time  the  representative  of  the  divine  idea  of  free  government. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  away  down  in  the  future,  when  the 
republic  has  fallen  from  its  niche  in  the  wall  of  time  ;  when  the  great 
war  itself  shall  have  faded  out  in  the  distance  like  a  mist  on  the  horizon ; 
when  the  Anglo-Saxon  language  shall  be  spoken*  only  by  the  tongue  of 
the  stranger ;  then  the  generations  looking  this  way  shall  see  the  great 
president  as  the  supreme  figure  in  this  vortex  of  history 

CHICAGO. 

It  is  impossible  in  our  brief  space  to  give  more  than  a  meager  sketch 
of  such  a  city  as  Chicago,  which  is  in  itself  the  greatest  marvel  of  the 
Prairie  State.  This  mysterious,  majestic,  mighty  city,  born  first  of  water, 
and  next  of  fire ;  sown  in  weakness,  and  raised  in  power ;  planted  among 
the  willows  of  the  marsh,  and  crowned  with  the  glory  of  the  mountains ; 
sleeping  on  the  bosom  of  the  prairie,  and  rocked  on  the  bosom  of  the  sea , 
the  youngest  city  of  the  world,  and  still  the  eye  of  the  prairie,  as  Damas- 
cus, the  oldest  city  of  the  world,  is  the  eye  of  the  desert.  With  a  com- 
merce far  exceeding  that  of  Corinth  on  her  isthmus,  in  the  highway  to 
the  East ;  with  the  defenses  of  a  continent  piled  around  her  by  the  thou- 
sand miles,  making  her  far  safer  than  Rome  on  the  banks  of  the  Tiber ; 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS.  Ill 

with  schools  eclipsing  Alexandria  and  Athens ;  with  liberties  more  con- 
spicuous than  those  of  the  old  republics  ;  with  a  heroism  equal  to  the  first 
Carthage,  and  with  a  sanctity  scarcely  second  to  that  of  Jerusalem — set 
your  thoughts  on  all  this,  lifted  into  the  eyes  of  all  men  by  the  miracle  of 
its  growth,  illuminated  by  the  flame  of  its  fall,  and  transfigured  by  the 
divinity  of  its  resurrection,  and  you  will  feel,  as  I  do,  the  utter  impossi- 
bility of  compassing  this  subject  as  it  deserves.  Some  impression  of  her 
importance  is  received  from  the  shock  her  burning  gave  to  the  civilized 
world. 

When  the  doubt  of  her  calamity  was  removed,  and  the  horrid  fact 
was  accepted,  there  went  a  shudder  over  all  cities,  and  a  quiver  over  all 
lands.  There  was  scarcely  a  town  in  the  civilized  world  that  did  not 
shake  on  the  brink  of  this  opening  chasm.  The  flames  of  our  homes  red- 
dened all  skies.  The  city  was  set  upon  a  hill,  and  could  not  be  hid.  Alt 
eyes  were  turned  upon  it.  To  have  struggled  and  suffered  amid  the 
scenes  of  its  fall  is  as  distinguishing  as  to  have  fought  at  Thermopylae,  or 
Salamis,  or  Hastings,  or  Waterloo,  or  Bunker  Hill. 

Its  calamity  amazed  the  world,  because  it  was  felt  to  be  the  common 
property  of  mankind. 

The  early  history  of  the  city  is  full  of  interest,  just  as  the  early  his- 
tory of  such  a  man  as  Washington  or  Lincoln  becomes  public  property, 
and  is  cherished  by  every  patriot. 

Starting  with  560  acres  in  1833,  it  embraced  and  occupied  23,000 
acres  in  1869,  and,  having  now  a  population  of  more  than  500,000,  it  com- 
mands general  attention. 

The  first  settler — Jean  Baptiste  Pointe  au  Sable,  a  mulatto  from  the 
West  Indies — came  and  began  trade  with  the  Indians  in  1796.  John 
Kinzie  became  his  successor  in  1804,  in  which  year  Fort  Dearborn  was 
erected. 

A  mere  trading-post  was  kept  here  from  that  time  till  about  the  time 
of  the  Blackhawk  war,  in  1832.  It  was  not  the  city.  It  was  merely  a 
cock  crowing  at  midnight.  The  morning  was  not  yet.  In  1833  the  set- 
tlement about  the  fort  was  incorporated  as  a  town.  The  voters  were 
divided  on  the  propriety  of  such  corporation,  twelve  voting  for  it  and  one 
against  it.  Four  years  later  it  was  incorporated  as  a  city,  and  embraced 
660  acres. 

The  produce  handled  in  this  city  is  an  indication  of  its  power.  Grain 
and  flour  were  imported  from  the  East  till  as  late  as  1837.  The  first 
exportation  by  way  of  experiment  was  in  1839.  Exports  exceeded  imports 
first  in  1842.  The  Board  of  Trade  was  organized  in  1848,  but  it  was  so 
weak  that  it  needed  nursing  till  1855.  Grain  was  purchased  by  the 
wagon-load  in  the  street. 

I  remember  sitting  with  my  father  on  a  load  of  wheat,  in  the  long 


112  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

line  of  wagons  along  Lake  street,  while  the  buyers  came  and  untied  the 
bags,  and  examined  the  grain,  and  made  their  bids.  That  manner  of 
business  had  to  cease  with  the  day  of  small  things.  Now  our  elevators 
will  hold  15,000,000  bushels  of  grain.  The  cash  value  of  the  produce 
handled  in  a  year  is  1215,000,000,  and  the  produce  weighs  7,000,000 
tons  or  700,000  car  loads.  This  handles  thirteen  and  a  half  ton  each 
minute,  all  the  year  round.  One  tenth  of  all  the  wheat  in  the  United 
States  is  handled  in  Chicago.  Even  as  long  ago  as  1853  the  receipts  of 
grain  in  Chicago  exceeded  those  of  the  goodly  city  of  St.  Louis,  and  in 
1854  the  exports  of  grain  from  Chicago  exceeded  those  of  New  York  and 
doubled  those  of  St.  Petersburg,  Archangel,  or  Odessa,  the  largest  grain 
markets  in  Europe. 

The  manufacturing  interests  of  the  city  are  not  contemptible.  In 
1873  manufactories  employed  45,000  operatives ;  in  1876,60,000.  The 
manufactured  product  in  1875  was  worth  $177,000,000. 

No  estimate  of  the  size  and  power  of  Chicago  would  be  adequate 
that  did  not  put  large  emphasis  on  the  railroads.  Before  they  came 
thundering  along  our  streets  canals  were  the  hope  of  our  country.  But 
who  ever  thinks  now  of  traveling  by  canal  packets  ?  In  June,  1852, 
there  were  only  forty  miles  of  railroad  connected  with  the  city.  The 
old  Galena  division  of  the  Northwestern  ran  out  to  Elgin.  But  now, 
who  can  count  the  trains  and  measure  the  roads  that  seek  a  terminus  or 
connection  in  this  city  ?  The  lake  stretches  away  to  the  north,  gathering 
in  to  this  center  all  the  harvests  that  might  otherwise  pass  to  the  north 
of  us.  If  you  will  take  a  map  and  look  at  the  adjustment  of  railroads, 
you  will  see,  first,  that  Chicago  is  the  great  railroad  center  of  the  world, 
as  New  York  is  the  commercial  city  of  this  continent ;  and,  second,  that 
the  railroad  lines  form  the  iron  spokes  of  a  great  wheel  whose  hub  is 
this  city.  The  lake  furnishes  the  only  break  in  the  spokes,  and  this 
seems  simply  to  have  pushed  a  few  spokes  together  on  each  shore.  See 
the  eighteen  trunk  lines,  exclusive  of  eastern  connections. 

Pass  round  the  circle,  and  view  their  numbers  and  extent.  There 
is  the  great  Northwestern,  with  all  its  branches,  one  branch  creeping 
along  the  lake  shore,  and  so  reaching  to  the  north,  into  the  Lake  Superior 
regions,  away  to  the  right,  and  on  to  the  Northern  Pacific  on  the  left, 
swinging  around  Green  Bay  for  iron  and  copper  and  silver,  twelve  months 
in  the  year,  and  reaching  out  for  the  wealth  of  the  great  agricultural 
belt  and  isothermal  line  traversed  by  the  Northern  Pacific.  Another 
branch,  not  so  far  north,  feeling  for  the  heart  of  the  Badger  State. 
Another  pushing  lower  down  the  Mississippi — all  these  make  many  con- 
nections, and  tapping  all  the  vast  wheat  regions  of  Minnesota,  Wisconsin, 
Iowa,  and  all  the  regions  this  side  of  sunset.  There  is  that  elegant  road, 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy,  running  out  a  goodly  number  of 


HISTORY  OP  THE   STATE   OP  ILLINOIS.  113 

branches,  and  reaping  the  great  fields  this  side  of  the  Missouri  River. 
I  can  only  mention  the  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis,  our  Illinois  Central, 
described  elsewhere,  and  the  Chicago  &  Rock  Island.  Further  around 
we  come  to  the  lines  connecting  us  with  all  the  eastern  cities.  The 
Chicago,  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis,  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  & 
Chicago,  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern,  and  the  Michigan  Cen- 
tral and  Great  Western,  give  us  many  highways  to  the  seaboard.  Thus  we 
reach  the  Mississippi  at  five  points,  from  St.  Paul  to  Cairo  and  the  Gulf 
itself  by  two  routes.  We  also  reach  Cincinnati  and  Baltimore,  and  Pitts- 
burgh and  Philadelphia,  and  New  York.  North  and  south  run  the  water 
courses  of  the  lakes  and  the  rivers,  broken  just  enough  at  this  point  to 
make  a  pass.  Through  this,  from  east  to  west,  run  the  long  lines  that 
stretch  from  ocean  to  ocean. 

This  is  the  neck  of  the  glass,  and  the  golden  sands  of  commerce 
must  pass  into  our  hands.  Altogether  we  have  more  than  10,000  miles 
of  railroad,  directly  tributary  to  this  city,  seeking  to  unload  their  wealth 
in  our  coffers.  All  these  roads  have  come  themselves  by  the  infallible 
instinct  of  capital.  Not  a  dollar  was  ever  given  by  the  city  to  secure 
one  of  them,  and  only  a  small  per  cent,  of  stock  taken  originally  by  her 
citizens,  and  that  taken  simply  as  an  investment.  Coming  in  the  natural 
order  of  events,  they  will  not  be  easily  diverted. 

There  is  still  another  showing  to  all  this.  The  connection  between 
New  York  and  San  Francisco  is  by  the  middle  route.  This  passes  inevit- 
ably through  Chicago.  St.  Louis  wants  the  Southern  Pacific  or  Kansas 
Pacific,  and  pushes  it  out  through  Denver,  and  so  on  up  to  Cheyenne. 
But  before  the  road  is  fairly  under  way,  the  Chicago  roads  shove  out  to 
Kansas  City,  making  even  the  Kansas  Pacific  a  feeder,  and  actually  leav- 
ing St.  Louis  out  in  the  cold.  It  is  not  too  much  to  expect  that  Dakota, 
Montana,  and  Washington  Territory  will  find  their  great  market  in  Chi- 
cago. 

But  these  are  not  all.  Perhaps  I  had  better  notice  here  the  ten  or 
fifteen  new  roads  that  have  just  entered,  or  are  just  entering,  our  city. 
Their  names  are  all  that  is  necessary  to  give.  Chicago  &  St.  Paul,  look- 
ing up  the  Red  River  country  to  the  British  possessions ;  the  Chicago, 
Atlantic  &  Pacific ;  the  Chicago,  Decatur  &  State  Line ;  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio;  the  Chicago,  Danville  &  Vincennes;  the  Chicago  &  LaSalle  Rail- 
road ;  the  Chicago,  Pittsburgh  &  Cincinnati ;  the  Chicago  and  Canada 
Southern ;  the  Chicago  and  Illinois  River  Railroad.  These,  with  their 
connections,  and  with  the  new  connections  of  the  old  roads,  already  in 
process  of  erection,  give  to  Chicago  not  less  than  10,000  miles  of  new 
tributaries  from  the  richest  land  on  the  continent.  Thus  there  will  be 
added  to  the  reserve  power,  to  the  capital  within  reach  of  this  city,  not 
less  than  $1,000,000,000. 


114  '    HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

Add  to  all  this  transporting  power  the  ships  that  sail  one  every  nine 
minutes  of  the  business  hours  of  the  season  of  navigation ;  add,  also,  the 
canal  boats  that  leave  one  every  five  minutes  during  the  same  time — and 
you  will  see  something  of  the  business  of  the  city. 

THE  COMMERCE  OF  THIS  CITY 

• 

has  been  leaping  along  to  keep  pace  with  the  growth  of  the  country 
around  us.  In  1852,  our  commerce  reached  the  hopeful  sum  of 
120,000,000.  In  1870  it  reached  $400,000,000.  In  1871  it  was  pushed 
up  above  $450,000,000.  And  in  1875  it  touched  nearly  double  that. 

One-half  of  our  imported  goods  come  directly  to  Chicago.  Grain 
enough  is  exported  directly  from  our  docks  to  the  old  world  to  employ  a 
semi-weekly  line  of  steamers  of  3,000  tons  capacity.  This  branch  is 
not  likely  to  be  greatly  developed.  Even  after  the  great  Welland  Canal 
is  completed  we  shall  have  only  fourteen  feet  of  water.  The  great  ocean 
vessels  will  continue  to  control  the  trade. 

The  banking  capital  of  Chicago  is  824,431,000.  Total  exchange  in 
1875,  $659,000,000.  Her  wholesale  business  in  1875  was  $294,000,000. 
The  rate  of  taxes  is  less  than  in  any  other  great  city. 

The  schools  of  Chicago  are  unsurpassed  in  America.  Out  of  a  popu- 
lation of  300,000  there  were  only  186  persons  between  the  ages  of  six 
and  twenty-one  unable  to  read.  This  is  the  best  known  record. 

In  1831  the  mail  system  was  condensed  into  a  half-breed,  who  went 
on  foot  to  Niles,  Mich.,  once  in  two  weeks,  and  brought  back  what  papers 
and  news  he  could  find.  As  late  as  1846  there  was  often  only  one  mail 
a  week.  A  post-office  was  established  in  Chicago  in  1833,  and  the  post- 
master nailed  up  old  boot-legs  on  one  side  of  his  shop  to  serve  as  boxes 
for  the  nabobs  and  literary  men. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  in  the  growth  of  the  young  city  that  in  the 
active  life  of  the  business  men  of  that  day  the  mail  matter  has  grown  to 
a  daily  average  of  over  6,500  pounds.  It  speaks  equally  well  for  the 
intelligence  of  the  people  and  the  commercial  importance  of  the  place, 
that  the  mail  matter  distributed  to  the  territory  immediately  tributary  to 
Chicago  is  seven  times  greater  than  that  distributed  to  the  territory 
immediately  tributary  to  St.  Louis. 

The  improvements  that  have  characterized  the  city  are  as  startling 
as  the  city  itself.  In  1831,  Mark  Beaubien  established  a  ferry  over  the 
river,  and  put  himself  under  bonds  to  carry  all  the  citizens  free  for  the 
privilege  of  charging  strangers.  Now  there  are  twenty-four  large  bridges 
and  two  tunnels. 

In  1833  the  government  expended  $30,000  on  the  harbor.  Then 
commenced  that  series  of  maneuvers  with  the  river  that  has  made  it  one 


HISTORY  OF  THE  STATK  OF   ILLINOIS.  115 

of  the  world's  curiosities.  It  used  to  wind  around  in  the  low,er  end  of 
the  town,  and  make  its  way  rippling  over  the  sand  into  the  lake  at  the 
foot  of  Madison  street.  They  took  it  up  and  put  it  down  where  it  now 
is.  It  was  a  narrow  stream,  so  narrow  that  even  moderately  small  crafts 
had  to  go  up  through  the  willows  and  cat's  tails  to  the  point  near  Lake 
street  bridge,  and  back  up  one  of  the  branches  to  get  room  enough  in 
which  to  turn  around. 

In  1844  the  quagmires  in  the  streets  were  first  pontooned  by  plank 
roads,  which  acted  in  wet  weather  as  public  squirt-guns.  Keeping  you 
out  of  the  mud,  they  compromised  by  squirting  the  mud  over  you.  The 
wooden-block  pavements  came  to  Chicago  in  1857.  In  1840  water  was 
delivered  by  peddlers  in  carts  or  by  hand.  Then  a  twenty-five  horse- 
power engine  pushed  it  through  hollow  or  bored  logs  along  the  streets 
till  1854,  when  it  was  introduced  into  the  houses  by  new  works.  The 
first  fire-engine  was  used  in  1835,  and  the  first  steam  fire-engine  in  1859. 
Gas  was  utilized  for  lighting  the  city  in  1850.  The  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  was  organized  in  1858,  and  horse  railroads  carried  them 
to  their  work  in  1859.  The  museum  was  opened  in  1863.  The  alarm 
telegraph  adopted  in  1864.  The  opera-house  built  in  1865.  The  city 
grew  from  560  acres  in  1833  to  23,000  in  1869.  In  1834,  the  taxes 
amounted  to  $48.90,  and  the  trustees  of  the  town  borrowed  $60  more  for 
opening  and  improving  streets.  In  1835,  the  legislature  authorized  a  loan 
of  $2,000,  and  the  treasurer  and  street  commissioners  resigned  rather  than 
plunge  the  town  into  such  a  gulf. 

Now  the  city  embraces  36  square  miles  of  territory,  and  has  30  miles 
of  water  front,  besides  the  outside  harbor  of  refuge,  of  400  acres,  inclosed 
by  a  crib  sea-wall.  One-third  of  the  city  has  been  raised  up  an  average 
of  eight  feet,  giving  good  pitch  to  the  263  miles  of  sewerage.  The  water 
of  the  city  is  above  all  competition.  It  is  received  through  two  tunnels 
extending  to  a  crib  in  the  lake  two  miles  from  shore.  The  closest  analy- 
sis fails  to  detect  any  impurities,  and,  received  35  feet  below  the  surface, 
it  is  always  clear  and  cold.  The  first  tunnel  is  five  feet  two  inches  in 
diameter  and  two  miles  long,  and  can  deliver  50,000,000  of  gallons  per 
day.  The  second  tunnel  is  seven  feet  in  diameter  and  six  miles  long, 
running  four  miles  under  the  city,  and  can  deliver  100,000,000  of  gal- 
lons per  day.  This  water  is  distributed  through  410  miles  of  water- 
mains. 

The  three  grand  engineering  exploits  of  the  city  are :  First,  lifting 
the  city  up  on  jack-screws,  whole  squares  at  a  time,  without  interrupting 
the  business,  thus  giving  us  good  drainage  ;  second,  running  the  tunnels 
under  the  lake,  giving  us  the  best  water  in  the  world ;  and  third,  the 
turning  the  current  of  the  river  in  its  own  channel,  delivering  us  from  the 
old  abominations,  and  making  decency  possible.  They  redound  about 


116  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

equally  to  the  credit  of  the  engineering,  to  the  energy  of  the  people,  and 
to  the  health  of  the  city. 

That  which  really  constitutes  the  city,  its  indescribable  spirit,  its  soul, 
the  way  it  lights  up  in  every  feature  in  the  hour  of  action,  has  not  been 
touched.  In  meeting  strangers,  one  is  often  surprised  how  some  homely 
women  marry  so  well.  Their  forms  are  bad,  their  gait  uneven  and  awk- 
ward, their  complexion  is  dull,  their  features  are  misshapen  and  mismatch- 
ed, and  when  we  see  them  there  is  no  beauty  that  we  should  desire  them. 
But  when  once  they  are  aroused  on  some  subject,  they  put  on  new  pro- 
portions. They  light  up  into  great  power.  The  real  person  comes  out 
from  its  unseemly  ambush,  and  captures  us  at  will.  They  have  power. 
They  have  ability  to  cause  things  to  come  to  pass.  We  no  longer  wonder 
why  they  are  in  such  high  demand.  So  it  is  with  our  city. 

There  is  no  grand  scenery  except  the  two  seas,  one  of  water,  the 
other  of  prairie.  Nevertheless,  there  is  a  spirit  about  it,  a  push,  a  breadth, 
a  power,  that  soon  makes  it  a  place  never  to  be  forsaken.  One  soon 
ceases  to  believe  in  impossibilities.  Balaams  are  the  only  prophets  that  are 
disappointed.  The  bottom  that  has  been  on  the  point  of  falling  out  has 
been  there  so  long  that  it  has  grown  fast.  It  can  not  fall  out.  It  has  all 
the  capital  of  the  world  itching  to  get  inside  the  corporation. 

The  two  great  laws  that  govern  the  growth  and  size  of  cities  are, 
first,  the  amount  of  territory  for  which  they  are  the  distributing  and 
receiving  points  ;  second,  the  number  of  medium  or  moderate  dealers  that 
do  this  distributing.  Monopolists  build  up  themselves,  not  the  cities. 
They  neither  eat,  wear,  nor  live  in  proportion  to  their  business.  Both 
these  laws  help  Chicago. 

The  tide  of  trade  is  eastward — not  up  or  down  the  map,  but  across 
the  map.  The  lake  runs  up  a  wingdam  for  500  miles  to  gather  in  the 
business.  Commerce  can  not  ferry  up  there  for  seven  months  in  the  year, 
and  the  facilities  for  seven  months  can  do  the  work  for  twelve.  Then  the 
great  region  west  of  us  is  nearly  all  good,  productive  land.  Dropping 
south  into  the  trail  of  St.  Louis,  you  fall  into  vast  deserts  and  rocky  dis- 
tricts, useful  in  holding  the  world  together.  St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati, 
instead  of  rivaling  and  hurting  Chicago,  are  her  greatest  sureties  of 
dominion.  They  are  far  enough  away  to  give  sea-room, — farther  off  than 
Paris  is  from  London, — and  yet  they  are  near  enough  to  prevent  the 
springing  up  of  any  other  great  city  between  them. 

St.  Louis  will  be  helped  by  the  opening  of  the  Mississippi,  but  also 
hurt.  That  will  put  New  Orleans  on  her  feet,  and  with  a  railroad  running 
over  into  Texas  and  so  West,  she  will  tap  the  streams  that  now  crawl  up 
the  Texas  and  Missouri  road.  The  current  is  East,  not  North,  and  a  sea- 
port at  New  Orleans  can  not  permanently  help  St.  Louis. 

Chicago  is  in  the  field  almost  alone,  to  handle  the  wealth  of  one- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS.  117 

fourth  of  the  territory  of  this  great  republic.  This  strip  of  seacoast 
divides  its  margins  between  Portland,  Boston,  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
Baltimore  and  Savannah,  or  some  other  great  port  to  be  created  for  the 
South  in  the  next  decade.  But  Chicago  has  a  dozen  empires  casting  their 
treasures  into  her  lap.  On  a  bed  of  coal  that  can  run  all  the  machinery 
of  the  world  for  500  centuries ;  in  a  garden  that  can  feed  the  race  by  the 
thousand  years ;  at  the  head  of  the  lakes  that  give  her  a  temperature  as  a 
summer  resort  equaled  by  no  great  city  in  the  land  ;  with  a  climate  that 
insures  the  health  of  her  citizens ;  surrounded  by  all  the  great  deposits 
of  natural  wealth  in  mines  and  forests  and  herds,  Chicago  is  the  wonder 
of  to-day,  and  will  be  the  city  of  the  future. 

MASSACRE  AT  FORT  DEARBORN. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  Fort  Dearborn  became  the  theater  of  stirring 
events.  The  garrison  consisted  of  fifty-four  men  under  command  of 
Captain  Nathan  Heald,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Helm  (son-in-law  of  Mrs. 
Kinzie)  and  Ensign  Ronan.  Dr.  Voorhees  was  surgeon.  The  only  resi- 
dents at  the  post  at  that  time  were  the  wives  of  Captain  Heald  and  Lieu- 
tenant Helm,  and  a  few  of  the  soldiers,  Mr.  Kinzie  and  his  family,  and 
a  few  Canadian  voyageurs,  with  their  wives  and  children.  The  soldiers 
and  Mr.  Kinzie  were  on  most  friendly  terms  with  the  Pottawattamies 
and  Winnebagos,  the  principal  tribes  around  them,  but  they  could  not 
win  them  from  their  attachment  to  the  British. 

One  evening  in  April,  1812,  Mr.  Kinzie  sat  playing  on  his  violin  and 
his  children  were  dancing  to  the  music,  when  Mrs.  Kinzie  came  rushing 
into  the  house,  pale  with  terror,  and  exclaiming:  "The  Indians!  the 
Indians!"  "What?  Where?"  eagerly  inquired  Mr.  Kinzie.  "Up 
at  Lee's,  killing  and  scalping,"  answered  the  frightened  mother,  who, 
when  the  alarm  was  given,  was  attending  Mrs.  Barnes  (just  confined) 
living  not  far  off.  Mr.  Kinzie  and  his  family  crossed  the  river  and  took 
refuge  in  the  fort,  to  which  place  Mrs.  Barnes  and  her  infant  not  a  day 
old  were  safely  conveyed.  The  rest  of  the  inhabitants  took  shelter  in  the 
fort.  This  alarm  was  caused  by  a  scalping  party  of  Winnebagos,  who 
hovered  about  the  fort  several  days,  when  they  disappeared,  and  for  several 
weeks  the  inhabitants  were  undisturbed. 

On  the  7th  of  August,  1812,  General  Hull,  at  Detroit,  sent  orders  to 
Captain  Heald  to  evacuate  Fort  Dearborn,  and  to  distribute  all  the  United 
States  property  to  the  Indians  in  the  neighborhood — a  most  insane  order. 
The  Pottawattamie  chief,  who  brought  the  dispatch,  had  more  wisdom 
than  the  commanding  general.  He  advised  Captain  Heald  not  to  make 
the  distribution.  Said  he  :  "  Leave  the  fort  and  stores  as  they  are,  and 
let  the  Indians  make  distribution  for  themselves ;  and  while  they  are 
engaged  in  the  business,  the  white  people  may  escape  to  Fort  Wayne." 


118  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF    ILLINOIS. 

Captain  Heald  held  a  council  with  the  Indians  on  the  afternoon  or 
the  12th,  in  which  his  officers  refused  to  join,  for  they  had  been  informed 
that  treachery  was  designed — that  the  Indians  intended  to  murder  the 
white  people  in  the  council,  and  then  destroy  those  in  the  fort.  Captain 
Heald,  however,  took  the  precaution  to  open  a  port-hole  displaying  a 
cannon  pointing  directly  upon  the  council,  and  by  that  means  saved 
his  life. 

Mr.  Kinzie,  who  knew  the  Indians  well,  begged  Captain  Heald  not 
to  confide  in  their  promises,  nor  distribute  the  arms  and  munitions  among 
them,  for  it  would  only  put  power  into  their  hands  to  destroy  the  whites. 
Acting  upon  this  advice,  Heald  resolved  to  withhold  the  munitions  of 
war ;  and  on  the  night  of  the  13th,  after  the  distribution  of  the  other 
property  had  been  made,  the  powder,  ball  and  liquors  were  thrown  into 
the  river,  the  muskets  broken  up  and  destroyed. 

Black  Partridge,  a  friendly  chief,  came  to  Captain  Heald,  and  said : 
"  Linden  birds  have  been  singing  in  my  ears  to-day:  be  careful  on  the 
march  you  are  going  to  take."  On  that  dark  night  vigilant  Indians  had 
crept  near  the  fort  and  discovered  the  destruction  of  their  promised  booty 
going  on  within.  The  next  morning  the  powder  was  seen  floating  on  the 
surface  of  the  river.  The  savages  were  exasperated  and  made  loud  com- 
plaints and  threats. 

On  the  following  day  when  preparations  were  making  to  leave  the 
fort,  and  all  the  inmates  were  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  impend- 
ing danger,  Capt.  Wells,  an  uncle  of  Mrs.  Heald,  was  discovered  upon 
the  Indian  trail  among  the  sand-hills  on  the  borders  of  the  lake,  not  far 
distant,  with  a  ba'nd  of  mounted  Miamis,  of  whose  tribe  he  was  chief, 
having  been  adopted  by  the  famous  Miami  warrior,  Little  Turtle.  When 
news  of  Hull's  surrender  reached  Fort  Wayne,  he  had  started  with  this 
force  to  assist  Heald  in  defending  Fort  Dearborn.  He  was  too  late. 
Every  means  for  its  defense  had  been  destroyed  the  night  before,  and 
arrangements  were  made  for  leaving  the  fort  on  the  morning  of  the  15th. 

It  was  a  warm  bright  morning  in  the  middle  of  August.  Indications 
were  positive  that  the  savages  intended  to  murder  the  white  people ;  and 
when  they  moved  out  of  the  southern  gate  of  the  fort,  the  march  was 
like  a  funeral  procession.  The  band,  feeling  the  solemnity  of  the  occa- 
sion, struck  up  the  Dead  March  in  Saul. 

Capt.  Wells,  who  had  blackened  his  face  with  gun-powder  in  token 
of  his  fate,  took  the  lead  with  his  band  of  Miamis,  followed  by  Capt. 
Heald,  with  his  wife  by  his  side  on  horseback.  Mr.  Kinzie  hoped  by  his 
personal  influence  to  avert  the  impending  blow,  and  therefore  accompanied 
them,  leaving  his  family  in  a  boat  in  charge  of  a  friendly  Indian,  to  be 
taken  to  his  trading  station  at  the  site  of  Niles,  Michigan,  in  the  event  OL 
his  death. 


: 


HISTORY  OF  THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS.  119 

The  procession  moved  slowly  along  the  lake  shore  till  they  reached 
the  sand-hills  between  the  prairie  and  the  beach,  when  the  Pottawattamie 
escort,  under  the  leadership  of  Blackbird,  filed  to  the  right,  placing  those 
hills  between  them  and  the  white  people.  Wells,  with  his  Miamis,  had 
kept  in  the  advance.  They  suddenly  came  rushing  ba'ck,  Wells  exclaim- 
ing, "  They  are  about  to  attack  us ;  form  instantly."  These  words  were 
quickly  followed  by  a  storm  of  bullets,  which  came  whistling  over  the 
little  hills  which  the  treacherous  savages  had  made  the  covert  for  their 
murderous  attack.  The  white  troops  charged  upon  the  Indians,  drove 
them  back  to  the  prairie,  and  then  the  battle  was  waged  between  fifty- 
four  soldiers,  twelve  civilians  and  three  or  four  women  (the  cowardly 
Miamis  having  fled  at  the  outset)  against  five  hundred  Indian  warriors. 
The  white  people,  hopeless,  resolved  to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible. 
Ensign  Ronan  wielded  his  weapon  vigorously,  even  after  falling  upon  his 
knees  weak  from  the  loss  of  blood.  Capt.  Wells,  who  was  by  the  side  of 
his  niece,  Mrs.  Heald,  when  the  conflict  began,  behaved  with  the  greatest 
coolness  and  courage.  He  said  to  her,  "  We  have  not  the  slightest  chance 
for  life.  We  must  part  to  meet  no  more  in  this  world.  God  bless  you." 
And  then  he  dashed  forward.  Seeing  a  young  warrior,  painted  like  a 
demon,  climb  into  a  wagon  in  which  were  twelve  children,  and  tomahawk 
them  all,  he  cried  out,  unmindful  of  his  personal  danger,  "  If  that  is  your 
game,  butchering  women  and  children,  I  will  kill  too."  He  spurred  his 
horse  towards  the  Indian  camp,  where  they  had  left,  their  squaws  and 
papooses,  hotly  pursued  by  swift-footed  young  warriors,  who  sent  bullets 
whistling  after  him.  One  of  these  killed  his  horse  and  wounded  him 
severely  in  the  leg.  With  a  yell  the  young  braves  rushed  to  make  him 
their  prisoner  and  reserve  him  for  torture.  He  resolved  not  to  be  made 
a  captive,  and  by  the  use  of  the  most  provoking  epithets  tried  to  induce 
them  to  kill  him  instantly.  He  called  a  fiery  young  chief  a  squaw,  when 
the  enraged  warrior  killed  Wells  instantly  with  his  tomahawk,  jumped 
upon  his  body,  cut  out  his  heart,  and  ate  a  portion  of  the  warm  morsel 
with  savage  delight ! 

In  this  fearful  combat  women  bore  a  conspicuous  part.  Mrs.  Heald 
was  an  excellent  equestrian  and  an  expert  in  the  use  of  the  rifle.  She 
fought  the  savages  bravely,  receiving  several  severe  wounds.  Though 
faint  from  the  loss  of  blood,  she  managed  to  keep  her  saddle.  A  savage 
raised  his  tomahawk  to  kill  her,  when  she  looked  him  full  in  the  face, 
and  with  a  sweet  smile  and  in  a  gentle  voice  said,  in  his  own  language, 
"Surely  you  will  not  kill  a  squaw!  "  The  arm  of  the  savage  fell,  and 
the  life  of  the  heroic  woman  was  saved. 

Mrs.  Helm,  the  step-daughter  of  Mr.  Kinzie,  had  an  encounter  with 
a  stout  Indian,  who  attempted  to  tomahawk  her.  Springing  to  one  side, 
she  received  the  glancing  blow  on  her  shoulder,  and  at  the  same  instant 


120  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

seized  the  savage  round  the  neck  with  her  arms  and  endeavored  to  get 
hold  of  his  scalping  knife,  which  hung  in  a  sheath  at  his  breast.  While 
she  was  thus  struggling  she  was  dragged  from  her  antagonist  by  another 
powerful  Indian,  who  bore  her,  in  spite  of  her  struggles,  to  the  margin 
of  the  lake  and  plunged  her  in.  To  her  astonishment  she  was  held  by 
him  so  that  she  would  not  drown,  and  she  soon  perceived  that  she  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  friendly  Black  Partridge,  who  had  saved  her  life^ 

The  wife  of  Sergeant  Holt,  a  large  and  powerful  woman,  behaved  as 
bravely  as  an  Amazon.  She  rode  a  fine,  high-spirited  horse,  which  the 
Indians  coveted,  and  several  of  them  attacked  her  with  the  butts  of  their 
guns,  for  the  purpose  of  dismounting  her ;  but  she  used  the  sword  which 
she  had  snatched  from  her  disabled  husband  so  skillfully  that  she  foiled 
them ;  and,  suddenly  wheeling  her  horse,  she  dashed  over  the  prairie, 
followed  by  the  savages  shouting,  "  The  brave  woman  !  the  brave  woman  ! 
Don't  hurt  her !  "  They  finally  overtook  her,  and  while  she  was  fighting 
them  in  front,  a  powerful  savage  came  up  behind  her,  seized  her  by  the 
neck  and  dragged  her  to  the  ground.  Horse  and  woman  were  made 
captives.  Mrs.  Holt  was  a  long  time  a  captive  among  the  Indians,  but 
was  afterwards  ransomed. 

In  this  sharp  conflict  two-thirds  of  the  white  people  were  slain  and 
wounded,  and  all  their  horses,  baggage  and  provision  were  lost.  Only 
twenty-eight  straggling  men  now  remained  to  fight  five  hundred  Indians 
rendered  furious  by  the  sight  of  blood.  They  succeeded  in  breaking 
through  the  ranks  of  the  murderers  and  gaining  a  slight  eminence  on  the 
prairie  near  the  Oak  Woods.  The  Indians  did  not  pursue,  but  gathered 
on  their  flanks,  while  the  chiefs  held  a  consultation  on  the  sand-hills,  and 
showed  signs  of  willingness  to  parley.  It  would  have  been  madness  on 
the  part  of  the  whites  to  renew  the  fight ;  and  so  Capt.  Heald  went  for- 
ward and  met  Blackbird  on  the  open  prairie,  where  terms  of  surrender 
were  soon  agreed  upon.  It  was  arranged  that  the  white  people  should 
give  up  their  arms  to  Blackbird,  and  that  the  survivors  should  become 
prisoners  of  war,  to  be  exchanged  for  ransoms  as  soon  as  practicable! 
With  this  understanding  captives  and  captors  started  for  the  Indian 
camp  near  the  fort,  to  which  Mrs.  Helm  had  been  taken  bleeding  and 
suffering  by  Black  Partridge,  and  had  met  her  step-father  and  learned 
that  her  husband  was  safe. 

A  new  scene  of  horror  was  now  opened  at  the  Indian  camp.  The 
wounded,  not  being  included  in  the  terms  of  surrender,  as  it  was  inter- 
preted by  the  Indians,  and  the  British  general,  Proctor,  having  offered  a 
liberal  bounty  for  American  scalps,  delivered  at  Maiden,  nearly  all  the 
wounded  men  were  killed  and  scalped,  and  the  price  of  the  trophies  was 
afterwards  paid  by  the  British  government. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 


121 


SHABBONA. 


[This  was  engraved  from  a  daguerreotype,  taken  when  Shabbona  was  83  years  old.] 


This  celebrated  Indian  chief,  whose  portrait  appears  in  this  work,  deserves 
more  than  a  passing  notice.  Although  Shabbona  was  not'  so  conspicuous  as 
Tecumseh  or  Black  Hawk,  yet  in  point  of  merit  he  was  superior  to  either 
of  them. 

Shabbona  was  born  at  an  Indian  village  on  the  Kankakee  River,  now  in 
Will  County,  about  the  year  1775.  While  young  he  was  made  chief  of  the 
band,  and  went  to  Shabbona  Grove,  now  DeKalb  County,  where  they  were 
found  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  county. 

In  the  war  of  1812,  Shabbona,  with  his  warriors,  joined  Tecumseh,  was 


122  HISTORY    OF   THE    STATE   OF    ILLINOIS. 

aid  to  that  great  chief,  and  stood  by  his  side  when  he  fell  at  the  battle  of 
the  Thames.  At  the  time  of  the  Winnebago  war,  in  1827,  he  visited  almost 
every  village  among  the  Pottawatomies,  and  by  his  persuasive  arguments 
prevented  them  from  taking  part  in  the  Avar.  By  request  of  the  citizens 
of  Chicago,  Shabbona,  accompanied  by  Billy  Caldwell  (Sauganash),  visited 
Big  Foot's  village  at  Geneva  Lake,  in  order  to  pacify  the  warriors,  as  fears 
were  entertained  that  they  were  about  to  raise  the  tomahawk  against  the 
whites.  Here  Shabbona  was  taken  prisoner  by  Big  Foot,  and  his  life 
threatened,  but  on  the  following  day  was  set  at  liberty.  From  that  time 
the  Indians  (through  reproach)  styled  him  "  the  white  man's  friend," 
and  many  times  his  life  was  endangered. 

Before  the  Black  Hawk  war,  Shabbona  met  in  council  at  two  differ- 
ent times,  and  by  his  influence  prevented  his  people  from  taking  part  with 
the  Sacs  and  Foxes.  After  the  death  of  Black  Partridge  and  Senachwine, 
no  <;hief  among  the  Pottawatomies  exerted  so  much  influence  as  Shabbona. 
Black  Hawk,  aware  of  this  influence,  visited  him  at  two  different  times,  in 
order  to  enlist  him  in  his  cause,  but  was  unsuccessful.  While  Black  Hawk 
was  a  prisoner  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  he  said,  had  it  not  been  for  Shabbona 
the  whole  Pottawatomie  nation  would  have  joined  his  standard,  and  he 
could  have  continued  the  war  for  years. 

To  Shabbona  many  of  the  early  settlers  of  Illinois  owe  the  pres- 
ervation of  their  lives,  for  it  is  a  well-known  fact,  had  he  not  notified  the 
people  of  their  danger,  a  large  portion  of  them  would  have  fallen  victims 
to  the  tomahawk  of  savages.  By  saving  the  lives  of  whites  he  endangered 
his  own,  for  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  threatened  to  kill  him,  and  made  two 
attempts  to  execute  their  threats.  They  killed  Pypeogee,  his  son,  and 
Pyps,  his  nephew,  and  hunted  him  down  as  though  he  was  a  wild  beast. 

Shabbona  had  a  reservation  of  two  sections  of  land  at  his  Grove,  but 
by  leaving  it  and  going  west  for  a  short  time,  the  Government  declared 
the  reservation  forfeited,  and  sold  it  the  same  as  other  vacant  land.  On 
Shabbona's  return,  and  finding  his  possessions  gone,  he  was  very  sad  and 
broken  down  in  spirit,  and  left  the  Grove  for  ever.  The  citizens  of  Ottawa 
raised  money  and  bought  him  a  tract  of  land  on  the  Illinois  River,  above 
Seneca,  in  Grundy  County,  on  which  they  built  a  house,  and  supplied 
him  with  means  to  live  on.  He  lived  here  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
on  the  17th  of  July,  1859,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  and  was 
buried  with  great  pomp  in  the  cemetery  at  Morris.  His  squaw,  Pokanoka, 
was  drowned  in  Mazen  Creek,  Grundy  County,  on  the  30th  of  November, 
1864,  and  was  buried  by  his  side. 

In  1861  subscriptions  were  taken  up  in  many  of  the  river  towns,  to 
erect  a  monument  over  the  remains  of  Shabbona,  but  the  war  breaking 
out,  the  enterprise  was  abandoned.  Only  a  plain  marble  slab  marks  the 
resting-place  of  this  friend  of  the  white  man. 


ABSTRACT  OF    ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 


BILLS  OF  EXCHANGE  AND  PROMISSORY  NOTES. 

No  promissory  note,  check,  draft,  bill  of  exchange,  order,  or  note,  nego- 
tiable instrument  payable  at  sight,  or  on  demand,  or  on  presentment,  shall 
be  entitled  to  days  of  grace.  All  other  bills  of  exchange,  drafts  or  notes  are 
entitled  to  three  days  of  grace.  All  the  above  mentioned  paper  falling 
due  on  Sunday,  New  Years'  Day,  the  Fourth  of  July,  Christmas,  or  any 
day  appointed  or  recommended  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  or 
the  Governor  of  the  State  as  a  day  of  fast  or  thanksgiving,  shall  be  deemed 
as  due  on  the  day  previous,  and  should  two  or  more  of  these  days  come 
together,  then  such  instrument  shall  be  treated  as  due  on  the  day  previous 
to  the  first  of  said  days.  No  defense  can  be  made  against  a  negotiable 
instrument  (assigned  before  due)  in  the  hands  of  the  assignee  without 
notice,  except  fraud  was  used  in  obtaining  the  same.  To  hold  an  indorser, 
due  diligence  must  be  used  by  suit,  in  collecting  of  the  maker,  unless  suit 
would  have  been  unavailing.  Notes  payable  to  person  named  or  to  order, 
in  order  to  absolutely  transfer  title,  must  be  indorsed  by  the  payee.  Notes 
payable  to  bearer  may  be  transferred  by  delivery,  and  when  so  payable 
every  indorser  thereon  is  held  as  a  guarantor  of  payment  unless  otherwise 
expressed. 

In  computing  interest  or  discount  on  negotiable  instruments,  a  month 
shall  be  considered  a  calendar  month  or  twelfth  of  a  year,  and  for  less 
than  a  month,  a  day  shall  be  figured  a  thirtieth  part  of  a  month.  Notes 
only  bear  interest  when  so  expressed,  but  after  due  they  draw  the  legal 
interest,  even  if  not  stated. 

*    INTEREST. 

The  legal  rate  of  interest  is  six  per  cent.  Parties  may  agree  in  writing 
on  a  rate  not  exceeding  eight  per  cent.  If  a  rate  of  interest  greater  than 
eight  per  cent  is  contracted  for,  it  works  a  forfeiture  of  the  whole  of  said 
interest,  and  only  the  principal  can  be  recovered. 

DESCENT. 

When  no  will  is  made,  the  property  of  a  deceased  person  is  distrib- 
uted as  follows : 

123 


124  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS. 

First.  To  his  or  her  children  and  their  descendants  in  equal  parts  ; 
the  descendants  of  the  deceased  child  or  grandchild  taking  the  share  of 
their  deceased  parents  in  equal  parts  among  them. 

Second.  Where  there  is  no  child,  nor  descendant  of  such  child,  and 
no  widow  or  surviving  husband,  then  to  the  parents,  brothers  and  sisters 
of  the  deceased,  and  their  descendants,  in  equal  parts,  the  surviving 
parent,  if  either  be  dead,  taking  a  double  portion  ;  and  if  there  is  no 
parent  living,  then  to  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  intestate  and  their 
descendants. 

Third.  When  there  is  a  widow  or  surviving  husband,  and  no  child  or 
children,  or  descendants  of  the  same,  then  one-half  of  the  real  estate  and 
the  whole  of  the  personal  estate  shall  descend  to  such  widow  or  surviving 
husband,  absolutely,  and  the  other  half  of  the  real  estate  shall  descend  as 
in  other  cases  where  there  is  no  child  or  children  or  descendants  of  the 
same. 

Fourth.  When  there  is  a  widow  or  surviving  husband  and  also  a  child 
or  children,  or  descendants  of  the  latter,  then  one  third  of  all  the  personal 
estate  to  the  widow  or  surviving  husband  absolutely. 

Fifth.  If  there  is  no  child,  parent,  brother  or  sister,  or  descendants  of 
either  of  them,  and  no  widow  or  surviving  husband,  then  in  equal  parts 
to  the  next  of  kin  to  the  intestate  in  equal  degree.  Collaterals  shall  not 
be  represented  except  with  the  descendants  of  brothers  and  sisters  of  the 
intestate,  and  there  shall  be  no  distinction  between  kindred  of  the  whole 
and  the  half  blood. 

Sixth.  If  any  intestate  leaves  a  widow  or  surviving  husband  and  no 
kindred,  then  to  such  widow  or  surviving  husband  ;  and  if  there  is  no  such 
widow  or  surviving  husband,  it  shall  escheat  to  and  vest  in  the  county 
where  the  same,  or  the  greater  portion  thereof,  is  situated. 

WILLS  AND  ESTATES  OF  DECEASED  PERSONS. 

No  exact  form  of  words  are  necessary  in  order  to  make  a  will  good  at 
law.  Every  male  person  of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  every  female 
of  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  of  sound  mind  and  memory,  can  make  a  valid 
will ;  it  must  be  in  writing,  signed  by  the  testator  or  by  some  one  in  his 
or  her  presence  and  by  his  or  her  direction,  and  attested  by  two  or  more 
credible  witnesses.  Care  should  be  taken  that  the  witnesses  are  not  inter- 
ested in  the  will.  Persons  knowing  themselves  to  have  been  named  in  the 
will  or  appointed  executor,  must  within  thirty  days  of  the  death  of 
deceased  cause  the  will  to  be  proved  and  recorded  in  the  proper  county, 
or  present  it,  and  refuse  to  accept ;  on  failure  to  do  so  are  liable  to  forfeit 
the  sum  of  twenty  dollars  per  month.  Inventory  to  be  made  by  executor 
or  administrator  within  three  months  from  date  of  letters  testamentary  or 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS.  125 

of  administration.  Executors'  and  administrators'  compensation  not  ta 
exceed  six  per  cent,  on  amount  of  personal  estate,  and  three  per  cent, 
on  money  realized  from  real  estate,  with  such  additional  allowance  as 
shall  be  reasonable  for  extra  services.  Appraisers'  compensation  $2  pel 
day. 

Notice  requiring  all  claims  to  be  presented  against  the  estate  shall  btf 
given  by  the  executor  or  administrator  within  six  months  of  being  quali- 
fied. Any  person  having  a  claim  and  not  presenting  it  at  the  time  fixed 
by  said  notice  is  required  to  have  summons  issued  notifying  the  executor 
or  administrator  of  his  having  filed  his  claim  in  court ;  in  such  cases  the 
costs  have  to  be  paid  by  the  claimant.  Claims  should  be  filed  within  two 
years  from  the  time  administration  is  granted  on  an  estate,  as  after  that 
time  they  are  forever  barred,  unless  other  estate  is  found  that  was  not  in- 
ventoried. Married  women,  infants,  persons  insane,  imprisoned  or  without 
the  United  States,  in  the  employment  of  the  United  States,  or  of  this 
State,  have  two  years  after  their  disabilities  are  removed  to  file  claims. 

Claims  are  classified  and  paid  out  of  the  estate  in  the  folio  wing  manner: 

First.     Funeral  expenses. 

Second.  The  widow's  award,  if  there  is  a  widow  ;  or  children  if  there 
are  children,  and  no  widow. 

Third.  Expenses  attending  the  last  illness,  not  including  physician's 
bill. 

Fourth.     Debts  due  the  common  school  or  township  fund . 

Fifth.  All  expenses  of  proving  the  will  and  taking  out  letters  testa- 
mentary or  administration,  and  settlement  of  the  estate,  and  the  physi- 
cian's bill  in  the  last  illness  of  deceased. 

Sixth.  Where  the  deceased  has  received  money  in  trust  for  any  pur- 
pose, his  executor  or  administrator  shall  pay  out  of  his  estate  the  amount 
received  and  not  accounted  for. 

/Seventh.  All  other  debts  and  demands  of  whatsoever  kind,  without 
regard  to  quality  or  dignity,  which  shall  be  exhibited  to  the  court  within 
two  years  from  the  granting  of  letters. 

Award  to  Widow  and  Children,  exclusive  of  debts  and  legacies  or  be- 
quests, except  funeral  expenses : 

First.  The  family  pictures  and  wearing  apparel,  jewels  and  ornaments 
of  herself  and  minor  children. 

Second.     School  books  and  the  family  library  of  the  value  of  $100. 

Third.      One  sewing  machine. 

Fourth.     Necessary  beds,  bedsteads  and  bedding  for  herself  and  family. 

Fifth.  The  stoves  and  pipe  used  in  the  family,  with  the  necessary 
cooking  utensils,  or  in  case  they  have  none,  $50  in  money. 

Sixth.     Household  and  kitchen  furniture  to  the  value  of  $100. 

Seventh.      One  milch  cow  and  calf  for  every  four  members  of  her  family. 


126  ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS. 

Eighth.  .  Two  sheep  for  each  member  of  her  family,  and  the  fleeces 
taken  from  the  same,  and  one  horse,  saddle  and  bridle. 

Ninth.     Provisions  for  herself  and  family  for  one  year. 

Tenth.     Food  for  the  stock  above  specified  for  six  months. 

Eleventh.     Fuel  for  herself  and  family  for  three  months. 

Twelfth.  One  hundred  dollars  worth  of  other  property  suited  to  her 
condition  in  life,  to  be  selected  by  the  widow. 

The  widow  if  she  elects  may  have  in  lieu  of  the  said  award,  the  same 
personal  property  or  money  in  place  thereof  as  is  or  may  be  exempt  from 
execution  or  attachment  against  the  head  of  a  family. 

TAXES. 

The  owners  of  real  and  personal  property,  on  the  first  day  of  May  in 
each  year,  are  liable  for  the  taxes  thereon. 

Assessments  should  be  completed  before  the  fourth  Monday  in  June, 
at  which  time  the  town  board  of  review  meets  to  examine  assessments, 
hear  objections,  and  make  such  changes  as  ought  to  be  made.  The  county 
board  have  also  power  to  correct  or  change  assessments. 

The  tax  books  are  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  town  collector  on  or 
before  the  tenth  day  of  December,  who  retains  them  until  the  tenth  day 
of  March  following,  when  he  is  required  to  return  them  to  the  county 
treasurer,  who  then  collects  all  delinquent  taxes. 

No  costs  accrue  on  real  estate  taxes  till  advertised,  which  takes  place 
the  first  day  of  April,  when  three  weeks'  notice  is  required  before  judg- 
ment. Cost  of  advertising,  twenty  cents  each  tract  of  land,  and  ten  cents 
each  lot. 

Judgment  is  usually  obtained  at  May  term  of  County  Court.  Costs 
six  cents  each  tract  of  land,  and  five  cents  each  lot.  Sale  takes  place  in 
June.  Costs  in  addition  to  those  before  mentioned,  twenty-eight  cents 
each  tract  of  land,  and  twenty-seven  cents  each  town  lot. 

Real  estate  sold  for  taxes  may  be  redeemed  any  time  before  the  expi- 
ration of  two  years  from  the  date  of  sale,  by  payment  to  the  County  Clerk 
of  the  amount  for  which  it  was  sold  and  twenty-five  per  cent,  thereon  if 
redeemed  within  six  months,  fifty  per  cent,  if  between  six  and  twelve 
months,  if  between  twelve  and  eighteen  months  seventy-five  per  cent., 
and  if  between  eighteen  months  and  two  years  one  hundred  per  cent., 
and  in  addition,  all  subsequent  taxes  paid  by  the  purchaser,  with  ten  per 
cent,  interest  thereon,  also  one  dollar  each  tract  if  notice  is  given  by  the 
purchaser  of  the  sale,  and  a  fee  of  twenty-five  cents  to  the  clerk  for  his 
certificate. 

JURISDICTION  OF  COURTS. 

Justices  have  jurisdiction  in  all  civil  cases  on  contracts  for  the  recovery 
of  moneys  for  damages  for  injury  to  real  property,  or  taking,  detaining,  or 


ABSTRACT   OF  ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS.  127 

injuring  personal  property ;  for  rent;  for  all  cases  to  recover  damages  done 
real  or  personal  property  by  railroad  companies,  in  actions  of  replevin,  and 
in  actions  for  damages  for  fraud  in  the  sale,  purchase,  or  exchange  of  per- 
sonal property,  when  the  amount  claimed  as  due  is  not  over  $200.  They 
have  also  jurisdiction  in  all  cases  for  violation  of  the  ordinances  of  cities, 
towns  or  villages.  A  justice  of  the  peace  may  orally  order  an  officer  or  a 
private  person  to  arrest  any  one  committing  or  attempting  to  commit  a 
criminal  offense.  He  also  upon  complaint  can  issue  his  warrant  for  the 
arrest  of  any  person  accused  of  having  committed  a  crime,  and  have  him 
brought  before  him  for  examination. 

COUNTY  COURTS 

Have  jurisdiction  in  all  matters  of  probate  (except  in  counties  having  a 
population  of  one  hundred  thousand  or  over),  settlement  of  estates  of 
deceased  persons,  appointment  of  guardians  and  conservators,  and  settle- 
ment of  their  accounts ;  all  matters  relating  to  apprentices ;  proceedings 
for  the  collection  of  taxes  and  assessments,  and  in  proceedings  of  executors, 
administrators,  guardians  and  conservators  for  the  sale  of  real  estate.  In 
law  cases  they  have  concurrent  jurisdiction  with  Circuit  Courts  in  all 
cases  where  justices  of  the  peace  now  have,  or  hereafter  .may  have, 
jurisdiction  when  the  amount  claimed  shall  not  exceed  $1,000,  and  in  all 
criminal  offenses  where  the  punishment  is  not  imprisonment  in  the  peni- 
tentiary, or  death,  and  in  all  cases  of  appeals  from  justices  of  the  peace 
and  police  magistrates ;  excepting  when  the  county  judge  is  sitting  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace.  Circuit  Courts  have  unlimited  jurisdiction. 

LIMITATION  OF  ACTION. 

Accounts  five  years.  Notes  and  written  contracts  ten  years.  Judg- 
ments twenty  years.  Partial  payments  or  new  promise  in  writing,  within 
or  after  said  period,  will  revive  the  debt.  Absence  from  the  State  deducted, 
and  when  the  cause  of  action  is  barred  by  the  law  of  another  State,  it  has 
the  same  effect  here.  Slander  and  libel,  one  year.  Personal  injuries,  two 
years.  To  recover  land  or  make  entry  thereon,  tiventy  years.  Action  to 
foreclose  mortgage  or  trust  deed,  or  make  a  sale,  within  ten  years. 

All  persons  in  possession  of  land,  and  paying  taxes  for  seven  consecu- 
tive years,  with  color  of  title,  and  all  persons  paying  taxes  for  seven  con- 
secutive years,  with  color  of  title,  on  vacant  land,  shall  be  held  to  be  the 
legal  owners  to  the  extent  of  their  paper  title. 

MARRIED  WOMEN 

May  sue  and  be  sued.  Husband  and  wife  not  liable  for  each  other's  debts, 
either  before  or  after  marriage,  but  both  are  liable  for  expenses  and  edu- 
cation of  the  family.  * 


128  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 

She  may  contract  the  same  as  if  unmarried,  except  that  in  a  partner- 
ship business  she  can  not,  without  consent  of  her  husband,  unless  he  has 
abandoned  or  deserted  her,  or  is  idiotic  or  insane,  or  confined  in  peniten- 
tiary ;  she  is  entitled  and  can  recover  her  own  earnings,  but  neither  hus- 
band nor  wife  is  entitled  to  compensation  for  any  services  rendered  for  the 
other.  At  the  death  of  the  husband,  in  addition  to  widow's  award,  a 
married  woman  has  a  dower  interest  (one-third)  in  all  real  estate  owned 
by  her  husband  after  their  marriage,  and  which  has  not  been  released  by 
her,  and  the  husband  has  the  same  interest  in  the  real  estate  of  the  wife 
at  her  death. 

EXEMPTIONS  FROM  FORCED  SALE. 

Home  worth  $1,000,  and  the  following  Personal  Property  :  Lot  of  ground 
and  buildings  thereon,  occupied  as  a  residence  by  the  debtor,  being  a  house- 
holder and  having  a  family,  to  the  value  of  $1,000.  Exemption  continues- 
after  the  death  of  the  householder  for  the  benefit  of  widow  and  family,  some 
one  of  them  occupying  the  homestead  until  youngest  child  shall  become 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  until  death  of  widow.  There  is  no  exemption 
from  sale  for  taxes,  assessments,  debt  or  liability  incurred  for  the  purchase 
or  improvement  of  said  homestead.  No  release  or  waiver  of  exemption  is 
valid,  unless  in  writing,  and  subscribed  by  such  householder  and  wife  (if 
he  have  one),  and  acknowledged  as  conveyances  of  real  estate  are  required 
to  be  acknowledged.  The  following  articles  of  personal  property  owned 
by  the  debtor,  are  exempt  from  execution,  writ  of  attachment,  and  distress 
for  rent :  The  necessary  wearing  apparel,  Bibles,  school  books  and  family 
pictures  of  every  person  ;  and,  2d,  one  hundred  dollars  worth  of  other 
property  to  be  selected  by  the  debtor,  and,  in  addition,  when  the  debtor 
is  the  head  of  a  family  and  resides  with  the  same,  three  hundred  dollars 
worth  of  other  property  to  be  selected  by  the  debtor ;  provided  that  such 
selection  and  exemption  shall  not  be  made  by  the  debtor  or  allowed  to 
him  or  her  from  any  money,  salary  or  wages  'due  him  or  her  from  any 
person  or  persons  or  corporations  whatever. 

When  the  head  of  a  family  shall  die,  desert  or  not  reside  with  the 
same,  the  family  shall  be  entitled  to  and  receive  all  the  benefit  and  priv- 
ileges which  are  by  this  act  conferred  upon  the  head  of  a  family  residing 
with  the  same.  No  personal  property  is  exempt  from  execution  when 
judgment  is  obtained  for  the  wages  of  laborers  or  servants.  Wages  of  a 
laborer  who  is  the  head  of  a  family  can  not  be  garnisheed,  except  the  sum 
due  him  be  in  excess  of  $25. 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  129 

DEEDS  AND  MORTGAGES. 

To  be  valid  there  must  be  a  valid  consideration.  Special  care  should 
be  taken  to  have  them  signed,  sealed,  delivered,  and  properly  acknowl- 
edged, with  the  proper  seal  attached.  Witnesses  are  not  required.  The 
acknowledgement  must  be  made  in  this  state,  before  Master  in  Chancery, 
Notary  Public,  United  States  Commissioner,  Circuit  or  County  Clerk,  Justice 
of  Peace,  or  any  Court  of  Record  having  a  seal,  or  any  Judge,  Justice,  or 
Clerk  of  any  such  Court.  When  taken  before  a  Notary  Public,  or  United 
States  Commissioner,  the  same  shall  be  attested  by  his  official  seal,  when 
taken  before  a  Court  or  the  Clerk  thereof,  the  same  shall  be  attested  by 
the  seal  of  such  Court,  and  when  taken  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  .resid- 
ing out  of  the  county  where  the  real  estate  to  be  conveyed  lies,  there  shall 
be  added  a  certificate  of  the  County  Clerk  under  his  seal  of  office,  that  he 
was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  county  at  the  time  of  taking  the  same. 
A  deed  is  good  without  such  certificate  attached,  but  can  not  be  used  in 
evidence  unless  such  a  certificate  is  produced  or  other  competent  evidence 
introduced.  Acknowledgements  made  out  of  the  state  must  either  be 
executed  according  to  the  laws  of  this  state,  or  there  should  be  attached 
a  certificate  that  it  is-  in  conformity  with  the  laws  of  the  state  or  country 
where  executed.  Where  this  is  not  done  the  same  may  be  proved  by  any 
other  legal  way.  Acknowledgments  where  the  Homestead  rights  are  to 
be  waived  must  state  as  follows :  "  Including  the  release  and  waiver  of 
the  right  of  homestead." 

Notaries  Public  can  take  acknowledgements  any  where  in  the  state. 

Sheriffs,  if  authorized  by  the  mortgagor  of  real  or  personal  property 
in  his  mortgage,  may  sell  the  property  mortgaged. 

In  the  case  of  the  death  of  grantor  or  holder  of  the  equity  of  redemp- 
tion of  real  estate  mortgaged,  or  conveyed  by  deed  of  trust  where  equity 
of  redemption  is  waived,  and  it  contains  power  of  sale,  must  be  foreclosed 
in  the  same  manner  as  a  common  mortgage  in  court. 

ESTRAYS. 

Jlorses,  mules,  asses,  neat  cattle,  swine,  sheep,  or  goats  found  straying 
at  any  time  during  the  year,  in  counties  where  such  animals  are  not  allowed 
to  run  at  large,  or  between  the  last  day  of  October  and  the  15th  day  of 
pril  in  other  counties,  the  owner  thereof  being  unknown,  may  be  taken  up 
estrays. 

No  person  not  a  householder  in  the  county  where  estray  is  found  can 
lawfully  take  up  an  estray,  and  then  only  upon  or  about  his  farm  or  place 
of  residence.  Estrays  should  not  be  used  before  advertised,  except  animals 
giving  milk,  which  may  be  milked  for  their  benefit. 


130  ABSTRACT    OF    ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

Notices  must  be  posted  up  within  five  (5)  days  in  three  (3)  of  the 
most  public  places  in  the  town  or  precinct  in  which  estray  was  found,  giv- 
ing the  residence  of  the  taker  up,  and  a  particular  description  of  the 
estray,  its  age,  color,  and  marks  natural  and  artificial,  and  stating  before 
what  justice  of  the  peace  in  such  town  or  precinct,  and  at  what  time,  not 
less  than  ten  (10)  nor  more  than  fifteen  (15)  days  from  the  time  of  post- 
ing such  notices,  he  will  apply  to  have  the  estray  appraised. 

A  copy  of  such  notice  should  be  filed  by  the  taker  up  with  the  town 
clerk,  whose  duty  it  is  to  enter  the  same  at  large,  in  a  book  kept  by  him 
for  that  purpose. 

If  the  owner  of  estray  shall  not  have  appeared  and  proved  ownership, 
and  taken  the  same  away,  first  paying  the  taker  up  his  reasonable  charges 
for  taking  up,  keeping,  and  advertising  the  same,  the  taker  up  shall  appear 
before  the  justice  of  the  peace  mentioned  in  above  mentioned  notice,  and 
make  an  affidavit  as  required  by  law. 

As  the  affidavit  has  to  be  made  before  the  justice,  and  all  other  steps  as 
to  appraisement,  etc.,  are  before  him,  who  is  familiar  therewith,  they  are 
therefore  omitted  here. 

Any  person  taking  up  an  estray  at  any  other  place  than  about  or 
upon  his  farm  or  residence,  or  without  complying  with  the  law,  shall  forfeit 
and  pay  a  fine  of  ten  dollars  with  costs. 

Ordinary  diligence  is  required  in  taking  care  of  estrays,  but  in  case 
they  die  or  get  away  the  taker  is  not  liable  for  the  same. 

GAME. 

It  is  unlawful  for  any  person  to  kill,  or  attempt  to  kill  or  destroy,  in 
any  manner,  any  prairie  hen  or  chicken  or  woodcock  between  the  15th  day 
of  January  and  the  1st  day  of  September ;  or  any  deer,  fawn,  wild-turkey, 
partridge  or  pheasant  between  the  1st  day  of  February  and  the  1st  day 
of  October ;  or  any  quail  between  the  1st  day  of  February  and  1st  day  of 
November ;  or  any  wild  goose,  duck,  snipe,  brant  or  other  water  fowl 
between  the  1st  day  of  May  and  15th  day  of  August  in  each  year. 
Penalty :  Fine  not  less  than  $5  nor  more  than  $25,  for  each  bird  or 
animal,  and  costs  of  suit,  and  stand  committed  to  county  jail  until  fine  is 
paid,  but  not  exceeding  ten  days.  It  is  unlawful  to  hunt  with  gun,  dog 
or  net  within  the  inclosed  grounds  or  lands  of  another  without  permission. 
Penalty:  Fine  not  less  than  $3  nor  more  than  $100,  to  be  paid  into 
school  fund. 

WEIGHTS  AND  MEASURES. 

Whenever  any  of  the  following  articles  shall  be  contracted  for,  or 
sold  or  delivered,  and  no  special  contract  or  agreement  shall  be  made  to 
the  contrary,  the  weight  per  bushel  shall  be  as  follows,  to-wit : 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  131 


Pounds. 

Stone  Coal,     -  -  80 

Unslacked  Lime,  -       80 

Corn  in  the  ear,       -  -  70 

Wheat,  -       60 

Irish  Potatoes,  -  60 

White  Beans,       -  -       60 

Clover  Seed,   -  -  60 

Onions,  -       57 

Shelled  Corn,  -  56 

Rye,    -                  -  -       56 

Flax  Seed,       -  -  56 

Sweet  Potatoes,  -  -       55 

Turnips,  -  55 

Fine  Salt,  55 


Pounds. 

Buckwheat,     -  -  52 

Coarse  Salt,  50 

Barley,    -  -  48 

Corn  Meal,  -       48 

Castor  Beans,  -  46 

Timothy  Seed,     -  -       45 

Hemp  Seed,    -  -  44 

Malt,  -  -      38 

Dried  Peaches,  -  33 

Oats,  -  -       32 

Dried  Apples,  -  24 

Bran,  -  -       20 

Blue  Grass  Seed,     -  -  14 

Hair  (plastering),  8 


Penalty  for  giving  less  than  the  above  standard  is  double  the  amount 
of  property  wrongfully  not  given,  and  ten  dollars  addition  thereto. 

MILLERS. 

The  owner  or  occupant  of  every  public  grist  mill  in  this  state  shall 
grind  all  grain  brought  to  his  mill  in  its  turn.  The  toll  for  both  steam 
and  water  mills,  is,  for  grinding  and  bolting  wheat,  rye,  or  other  grain,  one 
eighth  part;  for  grinding  Indian  corn,  oats,  barley  and  buckwheat  not 
required  to  be  bolted,  one  seventh  part;  for  grinding  malt,  and  chopping  all 
kinds  of  grain,  one  eighth  part.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  miller  when  his 
mill  is  in  repair,  to  aid  and  assist  in  loading  and  unloading  all  grain  brought 
to  him  to  be  ground,  and  he  is  also  required  to  keep  an  accurate  half 
bushel  measure,  and  an  accurate  set  of  toll  dishes  or  scales  for  weighing 
the  grain.  The  penalty  for  neglect  or  refusal  to  comply  with  the  law  is 
$5,  to  the  use  of  any  person  to  sue  for  the  same,  to  be  recovered  before 
any  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  county  where  penalty  is  incurred.  Millers 
are  accountable  for  the  safe  keeping  of  all  grain  left  in  his  mill  for  the 
purpose  of  being  ground,  with  bags  or  casks  containing  same  (except  it 
results  from  unavoidable  accidents),  provided  that  such  bags  or  casks  are 
distinctly  marked  with  the  initial  letters  of  the  owner's  name. 

MARKS  AND  BRANDS. 

Owners  of  cattle,  horses,  hogs,  sheep  or  goats  may  have  one  ear  mark 
and  one  brand,  but  which  shall  be  different  from  his  neighbor's,  and  may 
be  recorded  by  the  county  clerk  of  the  county  in  which  such  property  is 
kept.  The  fee  for  such  record  is  fifteen  cents.  The  record  of  such  shall 
be  open  to  examination  free  of  charge.  In  cases  of  disputes  as  to  marks 
or  brands,  such  record  is  vrima  facie  evidence.  Owners  of  cattle,  horses, 
hogs,  sheep  or  goats  that  may  have  been  branded  by  the  former  owner, 

' 


132  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE    LAWS. 

may  be  re-branded  in  presence  of  one  or  more  of  his  neighbors,  who  shall 
certify  to  the  facts  of  the  marking  or  branding  being  done,  when  done, 
and  in  what  brand  or  mark  they  were  re-branded  or  re-marked,  which 
certificate  may  also  be  recorded  as  before  stated. 

ADOPTION  OF  CHILDREN. 

Children  may  be  adopted  by  any  resident  of  this  state,  by  filing  a 
petition  in  the  Circuit  or  County  Court  of  the  county  in  which  he  resides, 
asking  leave  to  do  so,  and  if  desired  may  ask  that  the  name  of  the  child 
be  changed.  Such  petition,  if  made  by  a  person  having  a  husband  or 
wife,  will  not  be  granted,  unless  the  husband  or  wife  joins  therein,  as  the 
adoption  must  be  by  them  jointly. 

The  petition  shall  state  name,  sex,  and  age  of  the  child,  and  the  new 
name,  if  it  is  desired  to  change  the  name.  Also  the  name  and  residence 
of  the  parents  of  the  child,  if  known,  and  of  the  guardian,  if  any,  and 
whether  the  parents  or  guardians  consent  to  the  adoption. 

The  court  must  find,  before  granting  decree,  that  the  parents  of  the 
child,  or  the  survivors  of  them,  have  deserted  his  or  her  family  or  such 
child  for  one  year  next  preceding  the  application,  or  if  neither  are  living, 
the  guardian ;  if  no  guardian,  the  next  of  kin  in  this  state  capable  of  giving 
consent,  has  had  notice  of  the  presentation  of  the  petition  and  consents 
to  such  adoption.  If  the  child  is  of  the  age  of  fourteen  years  or  upwards, 
the  adoption  can  not  be  made  without  its  consent. 

SURVEYORS  AND  SURVEYS. 

There  is  in  every  county  elected  a  surveyor  known  as  county  sur- 
veyor, who  has  power  to  appoint  deputies,  for  whose  official  acts  he  is 
responsible.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  county  surveyor,  either  by  himself  or 
his  deputy,  to  make  all  surveys  that  he  may  be  called  upon  to  make  within 
his  county  as  soon  as  may  be  after  application  is  made.  The  necessary 
chainmen  and  other  assistance  must  be  employed  by  the  person  requiring 
the  same  to  be  done,  and  to  be  by  him  paid,  unless  otherwise  agreed ;  but 
the  chainmen  must  be  disinterested  persons  and  approved  by  the  surveyor 
and  sworn  by  him  to  measure  justly  and  impartially. 

The  County  Board  in  each  county  is  required  by  law  to  provide  a  cop] 
of  the  United  States  field  notes  and  plats  of  their  surveys  of  the  lane 
in  the  county  to  be  kept  in  the  recorder's  office  subject  to  examination 
by  the  public,  and  the  county  surveyor  is  required  to  make  his  surveys 
in  conformity  to  said  notes,  plats  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  gov- 
erning such  matters.  The  surveyor  is  also  required  to  keep  a  record 
of  all  surveys  made  by  him,  which  shall  be  subject  to  inspection  by  any 
one  interested,  and  shall  be  delivered  up  to  his  successor  in  office.  A. 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS.  133 

certified  copy  of  the  said  surveyor's  record  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence 
of  its  contents. 

The  fees  of  county  surveyors  are  six  dollars  per  day.  The  county 
surveyor  is  also  ex  officio  inspector  of  mines,  and  as  such,  assisted  by  some 
practical  miner  selected  by  him,  shall  once  each  year  inspect  all  the 
mines  in  the  county,  for  which  they  shall  each  receive  such  compensa- 
tion as  may  be  fixed  by  the  County  Board,  not  exceeding  f  5  a  day,  to 
be  paid  out  of  the  county  treasury. 

ROADS  AND  BRIDGES. 

Where  practicable  from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  persons  traveling 
in  any  kind  of  vehicle,  must  turn  to  the  right  of  the  center  of  the  road,  so 
as  to  permit  each  carriage  to  pass  without  interfering  with  each  other. 
The  penalty  for  a  violation  of  this  provision  is  $5  for  every  offense,  to 
be  recovered  by  the  party  injured;  but  to  recover,  there  must  have 
occurred  some  injury  to  person  or  property  resulting  from  the  violation. 
The  owners  of  any  carriage  traveling  upon  any  road  in  this  State  for  the 
conveyance  of  passengers  who  shall  employ  or  continue  in  his  employment 
as  driver  any  person  who  is  addicted  to  drunkenness,  or  the  excessive  use  of 
spiritous  liquors,  after  he  has  had  notice  of  the  same,  shall  forfeit,  at  the 
rate  of  $5  per  day,  and  if  any  driver  while  actually  engaged  in  driving 
any  such  carriage,  shall  be  guilty  of  intoxication  to  such  a  degree  as  to 
endanger  the  safety  of  passengers,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  owner,  on 
receiving  written  notice  of  the  fact,  signed  by  one  of  the  passengers,  and 
certified  by  him  on  oath,  forthwith  to  discharge  such  driver.  If  such  owner 
shall  have  such  driver  in  his  employ  within  three  months  after  such  notice, 
he  is  liable  for  $5  per  day  for  the  time  he  shall  keep  said  driver  in  his 
employment  after  receiving  such  notice. 

Persons  driving  any  carriage  on  any  public  highway  are  prohibited 
from  running  their  horses  upon  any  occasion  under  a  penalty  of  a  fine  not 
exceeding  $10,  or  imprisonment  not  exceeding  sixty  days,  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  court.  Horses  attached  to  any  carriage  used  to  convey  passen- 
for  hire  must  be  properly  hitched  or  the  lines  placed  in  the  hands  of 
mxe  other  person  before  the  driver  leaves  them  for  any  purpose.  For 
violation  of  this  provision '  each  driver  shall  forfeit  twenty  dollars,  to  be 
recovered  by  action,  to  be  commenced  within  six  months.  It  is  under- 
stood by  the  term  carriage  herein  to  mean  any  carriage  or  vehicle  used 
for  the  transportation  of  passengers  or  goods  or  either  of  them. 

The  commissioners  of  highways  in  the  different  towns  have  the  care 
and  superintendence  of  highways  and  bridges  therein.  They  have  all 
the  powers  necessary  to  lay  out,  vacate,  regulate  and  repair  all  roads? 
build  and  repair  bridges.  In  addition  to  the  above,  it  is  their  duty  to 
erect  and  keep  in  repair  at  the  forks  or  crossing-place  of  the  most 


134  ABSTRACT   OF  ILLINOIS  STATE  LAWS. 

important  roads  post  and  guide  boards  with  plain  inscriptions,  giving 
directions  and  distances  to  the  most  noted  places  to  which  such  road  may 
lead ;  also  to  make  *  provisions  to  prevent  thistles,  burdock,  and  cockle 
burrs,  mustard,  yellow  dock,  Indian  mallow  and  jimson  weed  from 
seeding,  and  to  extirpate  the  same  as  far  as  practicable,  and  to  prevent 
all  rank  growth  of  vegetation  on  the  public  highways  so  far  as  the  same 
may  obstruct  public  travel,  and  it  is  in  their  discretion  to  erect  watering 
places  for  public  use  for  watering  teams  at  such  points  as  may  be  deemed 
advisable. 

The  Commissioners,  on  or  before  the  1st  day  of  May  of  each  year, 
shall  make  out  and  deliver  to  their  treasurer  a  list  of  all  able-bodied  men 
in  their  town,  excepting  paupers,  idiots,  lunatics,  and  such  others  as  are 
exempt  by  law,  and  assess  against  each  the  sum  of  two  dollars  as  a  poll 
tax  for  highway  purposes.  Within  thirty  days  after  such  list  is  delivered 
they  shall  cause  a  written  or  printed  notice  to  be  given  to  each  person  so 
assessed,  notifying  him  of  the  time  when  and  place  where  such  tax  must 
be  paid,  or  its  equivalent  in  labor  performed  ;  they  may  contract  with 
persons  owing  such  poll  tax  to  perform  a  certain  amount  of  labor  on  any 
road  or  bridge  in  payment  of  the  same,  and  if  such  tax  is  not  paid  nor 
labor  performed  by  the  first  Monday  of  July  of  such  year,  or  within  ten 
days  after  notice  is  given  after  that  time,  they  shall  bring  suit  therefor 
against  such  person  before  a  justice  of  the  peace,  who  shall  hear  and 
determine  the  case  according  to  law  for  the  offense  complained  of,  and 
shall  forthwith  issue  an  execution,  directed  to  any  constable  of  the  county 
where  the  delinquent  shall  reside,  who  shall  forthwith  collect  the  moneys 
therein  mentioned. 

The  Commissioners  of  Highways  of  each  town  shall  annually  ascer- 
tain, as  near  as  practicable,  how  much  money  must  be  raised  by  tax  on  real 
and  personal  property  for  the  making  and  repairing  of  roads,  only,  to  any 
amount  they  may  deem  necessary,  not  exceeding  forty  cents  on  each  one 
hundred  dollars' "worth,  as  valued  on  the  assessment  roll  of  the  previous 
year.  The  tax  so  levied  on  property  lying  within  an  incorporated  village, 
town  or  city,  shall  be  paid  over  to  the  corporate  authorities  of  such  town, 
village  or  city.  Commissioners  shall  receive  $1.50  for  each  day  neces- 
sarily employed  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty.' 

Overseers.  At  the  first  meeting  the  Commissioners  shall  choose  one 
of  their  number  to  act  General  Overseer  of  Highways  in  their  township, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  take  charge  of  and  safely  keep  all  tools,  imple- 
ments and  machinery  belonging  to  said  town,  and  shall,  by  the  direction 
of  the  Board,  have  general  supervision  of  all  roads  and  bridges  in  their 
town. 


ABSTRACT  OF  ILLINOIS  STATE  LAWS.  135 

As  all  township  and  county  officers  are  familiar  with  their  duties,  it 
is  only  intended  to  give  the  points  of  the  law  that  the  public  should  be 
familiar  with.  The  manner  of  laying  out,  altering  or  vacating  roads,  etc., 
will  not  be  here  stated,  as  it  would  require  more  space  than  is  contem- 
plated in  a  work  of  this  kind.  It  is  sufficient  to  state  that,  the  first  step 
is  by  petition,  addressed  to  the  Commissioners,  setting  out  what  is  prayed 
for,  giving  the  names  of  the  owners  of  lands  if  known,  if  not  known  so 
state,  over  which  the  road  is  to  pass,  giving  the  general  course,  its  place 
of  beginning,  and  where  it  terminates.  It  requires  not  less  than  twelve 
freeholders  residing  within  three  miles  of  the  road  who  shall  sign  the 
petition.  Public  roads  must  not  be  less  than  fifty  feet  wide,  nor  more 
than  sixty  feet  wide.  Roads  not  exceeding  two  miles  in  length,  if  peti- 
tioned for,  may  be  laid  out,  not  less  than  forty  feet.  Private  roads 
for  private  and  public  use,  may  be  laid  out  of  the  width  of  three  rods,  on 
petition  of  the  person  directly  interested  ;  the  damage  occasioned  thereby 
shall  be  paid  by  the  premises  benefited  thereby,  and  before  the  road  is 
opened.  If  not  opened  in  two  years,  the  order  shall  be  considered 
rescinded.  Commissioners  in  their  discretion  may  permit  persons  who 
live  on  or  have  private  roads,  to  work  out  their  road  tax  thereon.  Public 
roads  must  be  opened  in  five  days  from  date  of  filing  order  of  location, 
or  be  deemed  vacated. 

DRAINAGE. 

Whenever  one  or  more  owners  or  occupants  of  land  desire  to  construct 
i  drain  or  ditch  across  the  land  of  others  for  agricultural,  sanitary  or 
mining  purposes,  the  proceedings  are  as  follows : 

File  a  petition  in  the  Circuit  or  County  Court  of  the  county  in  which 
the  proposed  ditch  or  drain  is  to  be  constructed,  setting  forth  the  neces- 
sity for  the  same,  with  a  description  of  its  proposed  starting  point,  route 
and  terminus,  and  if  it  shall  be  necessary  for  the  drainage  of  the  land  or 
coal  mines  or  for  sanitary  purposes,  that  a  drain,  ditch,  levee  or  similar 
work  be  constructed,  a  description  of  the  same.  It  shall  also  set  forth 
the  names  of  all  persons  owning  the  land  over  which  such  drain  or  ditch 
shall  be  constructed,  or  if  unknown  stating  that  fact. 

No  private  property  shall  be  taken  or  damaged  for  the  purpose  of 
constructing  a  ditch,  drain  or  levee,  without  compensation,  if  claimed  by 
the  owner,  the  same  to  be  ascertained  by  a  jury ;  but  if  the  construction 
of  such  ditch,  drain  or  levee  shall  be  a  benefit  to  the  owner,  the  same 
shall  be  a  set  off  against  such  compensation. 

If  the  proceedings  seek  to  affect  the  property  of  a  minor,  lunatic  or 
married  woman,  the  guardian,  conservator  or  husband  of  the  same  shall 
be  made  party  defendant.  The  petition  may  be  amended  and  parties 
made  defendants  at  any  time  when  it  is  necessary  to  a  fair  trial. 


136  ABSTBACT   OP   ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS. 

When  the  petition  is  presented  to  the  judge,  he  shall  note  therein 
when  he  will  hear  the  same,  and  order  the  issuance  of  summonses  and 
the  publication  of  notice  to  each  non-resident  or  unknown  defendant. 

The  petition  may  be  heard  by  such  judge  in  vacation  as  well  as  in 
term  time.  Upon  the  trial,  the  jury  shall  ascertain  the  just  compensation 
to  each  owner  of  the  property  sought  to  be  damaged  by  the  construction 
of  such  ditch,  drain  or  levee,  and  truly  report  the  same. 

As  it  is  only  contemplated  in  a  work  of  this  kind  to  give  an  abstract 
of  the  laws,  and  as  the  parties  who  have  in  charge  the  execution  of  the 
further  proceedings  are  likely  to  be  familiar  with  the  requirements  of  the 
statute,  the  necessary  details  are  not  here  inserted. 

WOLF  SCALPS. 

The  County  Board  of  any  county  in  this  State  may  hereafter  allww 
such  bounty  on  wolf  scalps  as  the  board  may  deem  reasonable. 

Any  person  claiming  a  bounty  shall  produce  the  scalp  or  scalps  with 
the  ears  thereon,  within  sixty  days  after  the  wolf  or  wolves  shall  have 
been  caught,  to  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Board,  who  shall  administer  to 
said  person  the  following  oath  or  affirmation,  to- wit :  "  You  do  solemnly 
swear  (or  affirm,  as  the  case  may  be),  that  the  scalp  or  scalps  here  pro- 
duced by  you  was  taken  from  a  wolf  or  wolves  killed  and  first  captured 
by  yourself  within  the  limits  of  this  county,  and  within  the  sixty  days 
last  past." 

CONVEYANCES. 

When  the  reversion  expectant  on  a  lease  of  any  tenements  or  here- 
ditaments of  any  tenure  shall  be  surrendered  or  merged,  the  estate  which 
shall  for  the  time  being  confer  as  against  the  tenant  under  the  same  lease 
the  next  vested  right  to  the  same  tenements  or  hereditaments,  shall,  to 
the  extent  and  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  such  incidents  to  and  obli- 
gations on  the  same  reversion,  as  but  for  the  surrender  or  merger  thereof, 
would  have  subsisted,  be  deemed  the  reversion  expectant  on  the  same 
lease. 

PAUPERS. 

Every  poor  person  who  shall  be  unable  to  earn  a  livelihood  in  conse- 
quence of  any  bodily  infirmity,  idiocy,  lunacy  or  unavoidable  cause,  shall 
be  supported  by  the  father,  grand-father,  mother,  grand-mother,  children, 
grand-children,  brothers  or  sisters  of  such  poor  person,  if  they  or  either 
of  them  be  of  sufficient  ability ;  but  if  any  of  such  dependent  class  shall 
have  become  so  from  intemperance  or  other  bad  conduct,  they  shall  not  be 
entitled  to  support  from  any  relation  except  parent  or  child. 


ABSTRACT   OF  ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  137 

The  children  shall  first  be  called  on  to  support  their  parents,  if  they 
are  able  ;  but  if  not,  the  parents  of  such  poor  person  shall  then  be  called 
on,  if  of  sufficient  ability ;  and  if  there  be  no  parents  or  children  ableT 
then  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  such  dependent  person  shall  be  called 
upon  ;  and  if  there  be  no  brothers  or  sisters  of  sufficient  ability,  the 
grand-children  of  such  person  shall  next  be  called  on ;  and  if  they  are 
not  able,  then  the  grand-parents.  Married  females,  while  their  husbands 
live,  shall  not  be  liable  to  contribute  for  the  support  of  their  poor  relations 
except  out  of  their  separate  property.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  state's 
(county)  attorney,  to  make  complaint  to  the  County  Court  of  his  county 
against  all  the  relatives  of  such  paupers  in  this  state  liable  to  his  support 
and  prosecute  the  same.  In  case  the  state's  attorney  neglects,  or  refuses,  to 
complain  in  such  cases,  then  it  is  the  duty  of  the  overseer  of  the  poor  to 
do  so.  The  person  called  upon  to  contribute  shall  have  at  least  ten  days' 
notice  of  such  application  by  summons.  The  court  has  the  power  to 
determine  the  kind  of  support,  depending  upon  the  circumstances  of  the 
parties,  and  may  also  order  two  or  more  of  the  different  degrees  to  main- 
tain such  poor  person,  and  prescribe  the  proportion  of  each,  according  to 
their  ability.  The  court  may  specify  the  time  for  which  the  relative  shall 
contribute — in  fact  has  control  over  the  entire  subject  matter,  with  power 
to  enforce  its  orders.  Every  county  (except  those  in  which  the  poor  are 
supported  by  the  towns,  and  in  such  cases  the  towns  are  liable)  is  required 
to  relieve  and  support  all  poor  and  indigent  persons  lawfully  resident 
therein.  Residence  means  the  actual  residence  of  the  party,  or  the  place 
where  he  was  employed ;  or  in  case  he  was  in  no  employment,  then  it 
shall  be  the  place  where  he  made  his  home.  When  any  person  becomes 
chargeable  as  a  pauper  in  any  county  or  town  who  did  not  reside  at  the 
commencement  of  six  months  immediately  preceding  his  becoming  so, 
but  did  at  that  time  reside  in  some  other  county  or  town  in  this  state, 
then  the  county  or  town,  as  the  case  may  be,  becomes  liable  for  the  expense 
of  taking  care  of  such  person  until  removed,  and  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
overseer  to  notify  the  proper  authorities  of  the  fact.  If  any  person  shall 
bring  and  leave  any  pauper  in  any  county  in  this  state  where  such  pauper 
had  no  legal  residence,  knowing  him  to  be  such,  he  is  liable  to  a  fine  of 
1100.  In  counties  under  township  organization,  the  supervisors  in  each 
town  are  ex-oflficio  overseers  of  the  poor.  The  overseers  of  the  poor  act 
under  the  directions  of  the  County  Board  in  taking  care  of  the  poor  and 
granting  of  temporary  relief ;  also,  providing  for  non-resident  persons  not 
paupers  who  may  be  taken  sick  and  not  able  to  pay  their  way,  and  in  case 
of  death  cause  such  person  to  be  decently  buried. 

The  residence  of  the  inmates  of  poorhouses  and  other  charitable 
institutions  for  voting  purposes  is  their  former  place  of  abode. 


138  ABSTRACT   OF  ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS. 

FENCES. 

In  counties  under  township  organization,  the  town  assessor  and  com- 
missioner of  highways  are  the  fence-viewers  in  their  respective  towns. 
In  other  counties  the  County  Board  appoints  three  in  each  precinct  annu- 
ally. A  lawful  fence  is  four  and  one-half  feet  high,  in  good  repair,  con- 
sisting of  rails,  timber,  boards,  stone,  hedges,  or  whatever  the  fence- 
viewers  of  the  town  or  precinct  where  the  same  shall  lie,  shall  consider 
equivalent  thereto,  but  in  counties  under  township  organization  the  annual 
town  meeting  may  establish  any  other  kind  of  fence  as  such,  or  the  County 
Board  in  other  counties  may  do  the  same.  Division  fences  shall  be  made 
and  maintained  in  just  proportion  by  the  adjoining  owners,  except  when 
the  owner  shall  choose  to  let  his  land  lie  open,  but  after  a  division  fence  is 
built  by  agreement  or  otherwise,  neither  party  can  remove  his  part  of  such 
fence  so  long  as  he  may  crop  or  use  such  land  for  farm  purposes,  or  without 
giving  the  other  party  one  year's  notice  in  writing  of  his  intention  to  remove 
his  portion.  When  any  person  shall  enclose  his  land  upon  the  enclosure 
of  another,  he  shall  refund  the  owner  of  the  adjoining  lands  a  just  pro- 
portion of  the  value  at  that  time  of  such  fence.  The  value  of  fence  and 
the  just  proportion  to  be  paid  or  built  and  maintained  by  each  is  to  be 
ascertained  by  two  fence-viewers  in  the  town  or  precinct.  Such  fence- 
viewers  have  power  to  settle  all  disputes  between  different  owners  as  to 
fences  built  or  to  be  built,  as  well  as  to  repairs  to  be  made.  Each  party 
chooses  one  of  the  viewers,  but  if  the  other  party  neglects,  after  eight 
days'  notice  in  writing,  to  make  his  choice,  then  the  other  party  may 
select  both.  It  is  sufficient  to  notify  the  tenant  or  party  in  possession, 
when  the  owner  is  not  a  resident  of  the  town  or  precinct.  The  two 
fence-viewers  chosen,  after  viewing  the  premises,  shall  hear  the  state- 
ments of  the  parties ,  in  case  they  can't  agree,  they  shall  select  another 
fence-viewer  to  act  with  them,  and  the  decision  of  any  two  of  them  is 
final.  The  decision  must  be  reduced  to  writing,  and  should  plainly  set 
out  description  of  fence  and  all  matters  settled  by  them,  and  must  be 
filed  in  the  office  of  the  town  clerk  in  counties  under  township  organiza- 
tion, and  in  other  counties  with  the  county  clerk. 

Where  any  person  is  liable  to  'contribute  to  the  erection  or  the 
repairing  of  a  division  fence,  neglects  or  refuses  so  to  do,  the  party 
injured,  after  giving  sixty  days  notice  in  writing  when  a  fence  is  to  be 
erected,  or  ten  days  when  it  is  only  repairs,  may  proceed  to  have  the 
work  done  at  the  expense  of  the  party  whose  duty  it  is  to  do  it,  to  be 
recovered  from  him  with  costs  of  suit,  and  the  party  so  neglecting  shall 
also  be  liable  to  the  party  injured  for  all  damages  accruing  from  such 
neglect  or  refusal,  to  be  determined  by  any  two  fence-viewers  selected 
as  before  provided,  the  appraisement  to  be  reduced  to  writing  and  signed, 


i: 

; 


ABSTRACT   OF  ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS.  139 

Where  a  person  shall  conclude  to  remove  his  part  of  a  division  fence, 
and  let  his  land  lie  open,  and  having  given  the  year's  notice  required,  the 
adjoining  owner  may  cause  the  value  of  said  fence  to  be  ascertained  by 
fence-viewers  as  before  provided,  and  on  payment  or  tender  of  the 
amount  of  such  valuation  to  the  owner,  it  shall  prevent  the  removal.  A 
party  removing  a  division  fence  without  notice  is  liable  for  the  damages 
accruing  thereby. 

Where  a  fence  has  been  built  on  the  land  of  another  through  mis- 
take, the  owner  may  enter  upon  such  premises  and  remove  his  fence  and 
material  within  oix  months  after  the  division  line  has  been  ascertained. 
Where  the  material  to  build  such  a  fence  has  been  taken  from  the  land 
on  which  it  was  built,  then  before  it  can  be  removed,  the  person  claiming 
must  first  pay  for  such  material  to  the  owner  of  the  land  from  which  it 
was  taken,  nor  shall  tmch  a  fence  be  removed  at  a  time  when  the  removal 
will  throw  open  or  expose  the  crops  of  the  other  party ;  a  reasonable 
time  must  be  given  beyond  the  .six  months  to  remove  crops. 

The  compensation  of  fence-viewers  is  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a 
day  each,  to  be  paid  in  the  first  instance  by  the  party  calling  them,  but 
in  the  end  all  expenses,  including  amount  charged  by  the  fence-viewers, 
must  be  paid  equally  by  the  parties,  except  in  cases  where  a  party  neglects 
or  refuses  to  make  or  maintain  a  just  proportion  of  a  division  fence,  when 
,he  party  in  default  shall  pay  them. 

DAMAGES  FROM  TRESPASS. 


Where  stock  of  any  kind  breaks  into  any  person's  enclosure,  the 
fence  being  good  and  sufficient,  the  owner  is  liable  for  the  damage  done  ; 
but  where  the  damage  is  done  by  stock  running  at  large,  contrary  to  law, 
the  owner  is  liable  where  there  is  not  such  a  fence.  Where  stock  is 
found  trespassing  on  the  enclosure  of  another  as  aforesaid,  the  owner  01 
occupier  of  the  premises  may  take  possession  of  such  stock  and  keep  the 
same  until  damages,  with  reasonable  charges  for  keeping  and  feeding  and 
all  costs  of  suit,  are  paid.  Any  person  taking  or  rescuing  such  stock  so 
held  without  his  consent,  shall  be  liable  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than  three 
nor  more  than  five  dollars  for  each  animal  rescued,  to  be  recovered  by 
suit  before  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  use  of  the  school  fund.  Within 
twenty-four  hours  after  taking  such  animal  into  his  possession,  the  per- 
son taking  it  up  must  give  notice  of  the  fact  to  the  owner,  if  known,  or 
if  unknown,  notices  must  be  posted  in  some  public  place  near  the  premises. 

LANDLORD  AND  TENANT. 

The  owner  of  lands,  or  his  legal  representatives,  can  sue  for  and 
recover  rent  therefor,  in  any  of  the  following  cases  : 

First.     When  rent  is  due  and  in  arrears  on  a  lease  for  life  or  lives. 


140  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 

/ 

Second.  When  lands  are  held  and  occupied  by  any  person  without 
any  special  agreement  for  rent. 

Third.  When  possession  is  obtained  under  an  agreement,  written 
or  verbal,  for  the  purchase  of  the  premises  and  before  deed  given,  the 
right  to  possession  is  terminated  by  forfeiture  on  con-compliance  with  the 
agreement,  and  possession  is  wrongfully  refused  or  neglected  to  be  giver, 
upon  demand  made  in  writing  by  the  party  entitled  thereto.  Provided 
that  all  payments  made  by  the  vendee  or  his  representatives  or  assigns, 
may  be  set  off  against  the  rent. 

Fourth.  When  land  has.  been  sold  upon  a  judgment  or  a  decree  of 
court,  when  the  party  to  such  judgment  or  decree,  or  person  holding  under 
him,  wrongfully  refuses,  or  neglects,  to  surrender  possession  of  the  same, 
after  demand  in  writing  by  the  person  entitled  to  the  possession. 

Fifth.  When  the  lands  have  been  sold  upon  a  mortgage  or  trust 
deed,  and  the  mortgagor  or  grantor  or  person  holding  under  him,  wrong- 
fully refuses  or  neglects  to  surrender  possession  of  the  same,  after  demand 
in  writing  by  the  person  entitled  to  the  possession. 

If  any  tenant,  or  any  person  who  shall  come  into  possession  from  or 
under  or  by  collusion  with  such  tenant,  shall  willfully  hold  over  any  lands, 
etc.,  after  the  expiration  the  term  of  their  lease,  and  after  demand  made 
in  writing  for  the  possession  thereof,  is  liable  to  pay  double  rent.  A 
tenancy  from  year  to  year  requires  sixty  days  notice  in  writing,  to  termi- 
nate the  same  at  the  end  of  the  year ;  such  notice  can  be  given  at  any 
time  within  four  months  preceding  the  last  sixty  days  of  the  year. 

A  tenancy  by  the  month,  or  less  than  a  year,  where  the  tenant  holds 
over  without  any  special  agreement,  the  landlord  may  terminate  the 
tenancy,  by  thirty  days  notice  in  writing. 

When  rent  is  due,  the  landlord  may  serve  a  notice  upon  the  tenant, 
stating  that  unless  the  rent  is  paid  within  not  less  than  five  days,  his  lease 
will  be  terminated  ;  if  the  rent  is  not  paid,  the  landlord  may  consider  the 
lease  ended.  When  default  is  made  in  any  of  the  terms  of  a  lease,  it 
shall  not  be  necessary  to  give  more  than  ten  days  notice  to  quit  or  of  the 
termination  of  such  tenancy ;  and  the  same  may  be  terminated  on  giving 
such  notice  to  quit,  at  any  time  after  such  default  in  any  of  the  terms  of 
such  lease  ;  which  notice  may  be  substantially  in  the  following  form,  viz: 

To ,  You  are  hereby  notified  that,  in  consequence  of  your  default 

in  (here  insert  the  character  of  the  default),  of  the  premises  now  occupied 
by  you,  being  etc.  (here  describe  the  premises),  I  have  elected  to  deter- 
mine your  lease,  and  you  are  hereby  notified  to  quit  and  deliver  up  pos- 
session of  the  same  to  me  within  ten  days  of  this  date  (dated,  etc.) 

The  above  to  be  signed  by  the  lessor  or  his  agent,  and  no  other  notice 
or  demand  of  possession  or  termination  of  such  tenancy  is  necessary. 

Demand  may  be  made,  or  notice  served,  by  delivering  a  written  or 


ABSTRACT  OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  141 

pnnted,  or  partly  either,  copy  thereof  to  the  tenant,  or  leaving  the  same 
with  some  person  above  the  age  of  twelve  years  residing  on  or  in  posses- 
sion of  the  premises  ;  and  in  case  no  one  is  in  the  actual  possession  of  the 
said  premises,  then  by  posting  the  same  on  the  premises.  When  the 
tenancy  is  for  a  certain  time,  and  the  term  expires  by  the  terms  of  the 
lease,  the  tenant  is  then  bound  to  surrender  possession,  and  no  notice 
to  quit  or  demand  of  possession  is  necessary. 

Distress  for  rent. — In  all  cases  of  distress  for  rent,  the  landlord,  by 
himself,  his  agent  or  attorney,  may  seize  for  rent  any  personal  property  of 
his  tenant  that  may  be  found  in  the  county  where  the  tenant  resides ;  the 
property  of  any  other  person,  even  if  found  on  the  premises,  is  not 
liable. 

An  inventory  of  the  property  levied  upon,  with  a  statement  of  the 
amount  of  rent  claimed,  should  be  at  once  filed  with  some  justice  of  the 
peace,  if  not  over  $200 ;  and  if  above  that  sum,  with  the  clerk  of  a  court 
of  record  of  competent  jurisdiction.  Property  may  be  released,  by  the 
party  executing  a  satisfactory  bond  for  double  the  amount. 

The  landlord  may  distrain  for  rent,  any  time  within  six  months  after 
the  expiration  of  the  term  of  the  lease,  or  when  terminated. 

In  all  cases  where  the  premises  rented  shall  be  sub-let,  or  the  lease 
assigned,  the  landlord  shall  have  the  same  right  to  enforce  lien  against 
such  lessee  or  assignee,  that  he  has  against  the  tenant  to  whom  the  pre- 
mises were  rented. 

When  a  tenant  abandons  or  removes  from  the  premises  or  any  part 
thereof,  the  landlord,  or  his  agent  or  attorney,  may  seize  upon  any  grain 
or  other  crops  grown  or  growing  upon  the  premises,  or  part  thereof  so 
abandoned,  whether  the  rent  is  due  or  not.  If  such  grain,  or  other  crops, 
or  any  part  thereof,  is  not  fully  grown  or  matured,  the  landlord,  or  his 
agent  or  attorney,  shall  cause  the  same  to  be  properly  cultivated,  harvested 
or  gathered,  and  may  sell  the  same,  and  from  the  proceeds  pay  all  his 
labor,  expenses  and  rent.  The  tenant  may,  before  the  sale  of  such  pro- 
perty, redeem  the  same  by  tendering  the  rent  and  reasonable  compensation 
for  work  done,  or  he  may  replevy  the  same. 

Exemption. — The  same  articles  of  personal  property  which  are  bylaw 
exempt  from  execution,  except  the  crops  as  above  stated,  is  also  exempt 
from  distress  for  rent. 

If  any  tenant  is  about  to  or  shall  permit  or  attempt  to  sell  and 
remove  from  the  premises,  without  the  consent  of  his  landlord,  such 
portion  of  the  crops  raised  thereon  as  will  endanger  the  lien  of  the  land- 
lord upon  such  crops,  for  the  rent,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  landlord  to 
distress  before  rent  is  due. 


142  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 


LIENS. 

Any  person  who  shall  by  contract,  express  or  implied,  or  partly  bothr 
with  the  owner  of  any  lot  or  tract  of  land,  furnish  labor  or  material,  or 
services  as  an  architect  or  superintendent,  in  building,  altering,  repairing 
or  ornamenting  any  house  or  other  building  or  appurtenance  thereto  on 
such  lot,  or  upon  any  street  or  alley,  and  connected  with  such  improve' 
ments,  shall  have  a  lien  upon  the  whole  of  such  lot  or  tract  of  land,  and 
upon  such  house  or  building  and  appurtenances,  for  the  amount  due  to 
him  for  such  labor,  material  or  services.  If  the  contract  is  expressed,  and 
the  time  for  the  completion  of  the  work  is  beyond  three  years  from  the  com- 
mencement thereof ;  or,  if  the  time  of  payment  is  beyond  one  year  from 
the  time  stipulated  for  the  completion  of  the  work,  then  no  lien  exists. 
If  the  contract  is  implied,  then  no  lien  exists,  unless  the  work  be  done  or 
material  is  furnished  within  one  year  from  the  commencement  of  the  work 
or  delivery  of  the  materials.  As  between  different  creditors  having  liensr 
no  preference  is  given  to  the  one  whose  contract  was  first  made  ;  but  each 
shares  pro-rata.  Incumbrances  existing  on  the  lot  or  tract  of  the  land  at 
the  time  the  contract  is  made,  do  not  operate  on  the  improvements,  and 
are  only  preferred  to  the  extent  of  the  value  of  the  land  at  the  time  of 
making  the  contract.  The  above  lien  can  not  be  enforced  unless  suit  is 
commenced  within  six  months  after  the  last  payment  for  labor  or  materials 
shall  have  become  due  and  payable.  Sub-contractors,  mechanics,  workmen 
and  other  persons  furnishing  any  material,  or  performing  any  labor  for  & 
contractor  as  before  specified,  have  a  lien  to  the  extent  of  the  amount  due 
the  contractor  at  the  time  the  following  notice  is  served  upon  the  owner 
of  the  land  who  mtide  the  contract: 

To ,  You  are  hereby  notified,  that  I  have  been  employed  by 

(here  state  whether  to  labor  or  furnish  material,  and  substantially  the 
nature  of  the  demand)  upon  your  (here  state  in  general  terms  description 
and  situation  of  building),  and  that  I  shall  hold  the  (building,  or  as  the 
case  may  be),  and  your  interest  in  the  ground,  liable  for  the  amount  that 

may  (is  or  may  become)  due  me  on  account  thereof.     Signature, 

Date, 

If  there  is  a  contract  in  writing  between  contractor  and  sub-contractor, 
a  copy  of  it  should  be  served  with  above  notice,  and  said  notice  must  be 
served  within  forty  days  from  the  completion  of  such  sub-contract,  if  there 
is  one  ;  if  not,  then  from  the  time  payment  should  have  been  made  to  the 
person  performing  the  labor  or  furnishing  the  material.  If  the  owner  is 
not  a  resident  of  the  county,  or  can  not  be  found  therein,  then  the  above 
notice  must  be  filed  with  the  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  with  his  fee,  fifty 
cents,  and  a  copy  of  said  notice  must  be  published  in  a  newspaper  pub- 
lished in  the  county,  for  four  successive  weeks. 


ABSTRACT   OF  ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  143 

When  the  owner  or  agent  is  notified  as  above,  he  can  retain  any 
money  due  the  contractor  sufficient  to  pay  such  claim  ;  if  more  than  one 
claim,  and  not  enough  to  pay  all,  they  are  to  be  paid  pro  rata. 

The  owner  has  the  right  to  demand  in  writing,  a  statement  of  the 
contractor,  of  what  he  owes  for  labor,  etc.,  from  time  to  time  as  the  work 
progresses,  and  on  his  failure  to  comply,  forfeits  to  the  owner  $50  for 
every  offense. 

The  liens  referred  to  cover  any  and  all  estates,  whether  in  fee  for 
life,  for  years,  or  any  other  interest  which  the  owner  may  have. 

To  enforce  the  lien  of  sub-contractors,  suit  must  be  commenced  within 
three  months  from  the  time  of  the  performance  of  the  sub-contract,  or 
during  the  work  or  furnishing  materials. 

Hotel,  inn  and  boarding-house  keepers,  have  a  lien  upon  the  baggage 
and  other  valuables  of  their  guests  or  boarders,  brought  into  such  hotel, 
inn  or  boarding-house,  by  their  guests  or  boarders,  for  the  proper  charges 
due  from  such  guests  or  boarders  for  their  accommodation,  board  and 
lodgings,  and  such  extras  as  are  furnished  at  their  request. 

Stable-keepers  and  other  persons  have  a  lien  upon  the  horses,  car- 
riages and  harness  kept  by  them,  for  the  proper  charges  due  for  the  keep- 
ing thereof  and  expenses  bestowed  thereon  at  the  request  of  the  owner 
or  the  person  having  the  possession  of  the  same. 

Agisters  (persons  who  take  care  of  cattle  belonging  to  others),  and 
persons  keeping,  yarding,  feeding  or  pasturing  domestic  animals,  shall 
have  a  lien  upon  the  animals  agistered,  kept,  yarded  or  fed,  for  the  proper 
charges  due  for  such  service. 

All  persons  who  may  furnish  any  railroad  corporation  in  this  state 
with  fuel,  ties,  material,  supplies  or  any  other  article  or  thing  necessary 
for  the  construction,  maintenance,  operation  or  repair  of  its  road  by  con- 
tract, or  may  perform  work  or  labor  on  the  same,  is  entitled  to  be  paid  as 
part  of  the  current  expenses  of  the  road,  and  have  a  lien  upon  all  its  pro- 
perty. Sub-contractors  or  laborers  have  also  a  lien.  The  conditions  and 
limitations  both  as  to  contractors  and  sub-contractors,  are  about  the  same 
as  herein  stated  as  to  general  liens. 

DEFINITION   OF  COMMERCIAL  TERMS. 

$ means  dollars,  being  a  contraction  of  U.  S.,  which  was  formerly 

placed  before  any  denomination  of  money,  and  meant,  as  it  means  now, 
United  States  Currency. 

<£ means  pounds,  English  money. 

@  stands  for  at  or  to.  R>  for  pound,  and  bbl.  for  barrel;  fJ  for  per  or 
by  the.  Thus,  Butter  sells  at  20@30c  ^  Ib,  and  Flour  at  $8@12  ^  bbl. 

%  for  per  cent  and  #  for  number. 

May  1. — Wheat  sells  at  $1.20@1.25,  "seller  June."      Seller  June 


144  ABSTRACT   OF    ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

means  that  the  person  who  sells  the  wheat  has  the  privilege  of  delivering 
it  at  any  time  during  the  month  of  June. 

Selling  short,  is  contracting  to  deliver  a  certain  amount  of  grain  or 
stock,  at  a  fixed  price,  within  a  certain  length  of  time,  when  the  seller 
has  not  the  stock  on  hand.  It  is  for  the  interest  of  the  person  selling 
"short,"  to  depress  the  market  as  much  as  possible,  in  order  that  he  may 
buy  and  fill  his  contract  at  a  profit.  Hence  the  "  shorts  "  are  termed 
"  bears." 

Buying  long,  is  to  contract  to  purchase  a  certain  amount  of  grain  or 
shares  of  stock  at  a  fixed  price,  deliverable  within  a  stipulated  time, 
expecting  to  make  a  profit  by  the  rise  of  prices.  The  "  longs  "  are 
termed  "bulls,"  as  it  is  for  their  interest  to  "  operate  "  so  as  to  "  toss  " 
the  prices  upward  as  much  as  possible. 

NOTES. 

Form  of  note  is  legal,  worded  in  the  simplest  way,  so  that  the 
amount  and  time  of  payment  are  mentioned. 

$100.  Chicago,  111.,  Sept.  15,  1876. 

Sixty  days  from  date  I  promise  to  pay  to  E.  F.  Brown,, 
or  order,  One  Hundred  dollars,  for  value  received. 

L.  D.  LOWRY. 

A  note  to  be  payable  in  any  thing  else  than  money  needs  only  the- 
facts  substituted  for  money  in  the  above  form. 

ORDERS. 

Orders  should  be  worded  simply,  thus : 

'Mr.  F.  H.  COATS:  Chicago,  Sept.  15,  1876. 

Please  pay  to  H.  Birdsall,  Twenty-five  dollars,  and  charge  to 

F.  D.  SILVA. 

RECEIPTS. 

Receipts  should  always  state  when  received  and  what  for,  thus : 

Chicago,  Sept.  15,  1876. 


Received  of  J.  W.  Davis,  One  Hundred  dollars,  for  services 
rendered  in  grading  his  lot  in  Fort  Madison,  on  account. 

THOMAS  BRADY. 
If  receipt  is  in  full  it  should  be  so  stated. 

BILLS  OF  PURCHASE. 

W.  N.  MASON,  Salem,  Illinois,  Sept.  15,  1876. 

Bought  of  A.  A.  GRAHAM. 

4  Bushels  of  Seed  Wheat,  at  $1.50      -  $6.00' 

2  Seamless  Sacks  "        .30  -  -  .60 


Received  payment,  $6.60- 

A.  A.  GRAHAM. 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS.  145 

ARTICLES  OF  AGREEMENT. 

An  agreement  is  where  one  party  promises  to  another  to  do  a  certain 
thing  in  a  certain  time  for  a  stipulated  sum.  Good  business  men  always 
reduce  an  agreement  to  writing,  which  nearly  always  saves  misunder- 
standings and  trouble.  No  particular  form  is  necessary,  but  the  facts  must 
be  clearly  and  explicitly  stated,  and  there  must,  to  make  it  valid,  be  a 
reasonable  consideration. 

GENERAL  FORM  OF  AGREEMENT. 

THIS  AGREEMENT,  made  the  Second  day  of  October,  1876,  between 
John  Jones,  of  Aurora,  County  of  Kane,  State  of  Illinois,  of  the  first  part, 
and  Thomas  Whiteside,  of  the  same  place,  of  the  second  part  — 

WITNESSETH,  that  the  said  John  Jones,  in  consideration  of  the  agree- 
ment of  the  party  of  the  second  part,  hereinafter  contained,  contracts  and 
agrees  to  and  with  the  said  Thomas  Whiteside,  that  he  will  deliver,  in 
good  and  marketable  condition,  at  the  Village  of  Batavia,  111.,  during  the 
month  of  November,  of  this  year,  One  Hundred  Tons  of  Prairie  Hay,  in 
the  following  lots,  and  at  the  following  specified  times ;  namely,  twenty- 
five  tons  by  the  seventh  of  November,  twenty-five  tons  additional  by  the 
fourteenth  of  the  month,  twenty-five  tons  more  by  the  twenty-first,  and 
the  entire  one  hundred  tons  to  be  all  delivered  by  the  thirtieth  of 
November. 

And  the  said  Thomas  Whiteside,  in  consideration  of  the  prompt 
fulfillment  of  this  contract,  on  the  part  of  the  party  of  the  first  part, 
contracts  to  and  agrees  with  the  said  John  Jones,  to  pay  for  said  hay  five 
dollars  per  ton,  for  each  ton  as  soon  as  delivered. 

In  case  of  failure  of  agreement  by  either  of  the  parties  hereto,  it  is 
hereby  stipulated  and  agreed  that  the  party  so  failing  shall  pay  to  the 
other,  One  Hundred  Dollars,  as  fixed  and  settled  damages. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  the  day  and 
year  first  above  written.  JOHN  JONES, 

THOMAS  WHITESIDE. 

AGREEMENT  WITH  CLERK  FOR  SERVICES. 

THIS  AGREEMENT,  made  the  first  day  of  May,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  seventy-six,  between  Reuben  Stone,  of  Chicago,  County 
of  Cook,  State  of  Illinois,  party  of  the  first  part,  and  George  Barclay,  of 
Englewood,  County  of  Cook,  State  of  Illinois,  party  of  the  second  part  — 

WITNESSETH,  that  said  George  Barclay  agrees  faithfully  and  dili- 
gently to  work  as  clerk  and  salesman  for  the  said  Reuben  Stone,  for 
and  during  the  space  of  one  year  from  the  date  hereof,  should  both 
live  such  length  of  time,  without  absenting  himself  from  his  occupation ; 


146  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

during  which  time  he,  the  said  Barclay,  in  the  store  of  said  Stone,  of 
Chicago,  will  carefully  and  honestly  attend,  doing  and  performing  all 
duties  as  clerk  and  salesman  aforesaid,  in  accordance  and  in  all  respects 
as  directed  and  desired  by  the  said  Stone. 

In  consideration  of  which  services,  so  to  be  rendered  by  the  said 
Barclay,  the  said  Stone  agrees  to  pay  to  said  Barclay  the  annual  sum  of 
one  thousand  dollars,  payable  in  twelve  equal  monthly  payments,  each 
upon  the  last  day  of  each  month  ;  provided  that  all  dues  for  days  of 
absence  from  business  by  said  Barclay,  shall  be  deducted  from  the  sum 
otherwise  by  the  agreement  due  and  payable  by  the  said  Stone  to  the  said 
Barclay. 

Witness  our  hands.  REUBEN  STONE. 

GEORGE  BARCLAY. 

BILLS  OF  SALE. 

A  bill  of  sale  is  a  written  agreement  to  another  party,  for  a  consider- 
ation to  convey  his  right  and  interest  in  the  personal  property.  The 
purchaser  must  take  actual  possession  of  the  property.  Juries  have 
power  to  determine  upon  the  fairness  or  unfairness  of  a  bill  of  sale. 

COMMON  FORM  OF  BILL  OF  SALE. 

KNOW  ALL  MEN  by  this  instrument,  that  I,  Louis  Clay,  of  Princeton, 
Illinois,  of  the  first  part,  for  and  in  consideration  of  Five  Hundred 
and  Ten  dollars,  to  me  paid  by  John  Floyd,  of  the  same  place,  of  the 
second  part,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  have  sold,  and 
by  this  instrument  do  convey  unto  the  said  Floyd,  party  of  the  second 
part,  his  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  my  undivided  half  of 
ten  acres  of  corn,  now  growing  on  the  farm  of  Thomas  Tyrrell,  in  the 
town  above  mentioned ;  one  pair  of  horses,  sixteen  sheep,  and  five  cows, 
belonging  to  me,  and  in  my  possession  at  the  farm  aforesaid ;  to  have  and 
to  hold  the  same  unto  the  party  of  the  second  part,  his  executors  and 
assigns,  forever.  And  I  do,  for  myself  and  legal  representatives,  agree 
with  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  and  his  legal  representatives,  to 
warrant  and  defend  the  sale  of  the  afore-mentioned  property  and  chattels 
unto  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  and  his  legal  representatives, 
against  all  and  every  person  whatsoever. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  hand,  this  tenth  day 
of  October,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-six. 

,     Louis  CLAY. 

BONDS. 

A  bond  is  a  written  admission  on  the  part  of  the  maker  in  which  he 
pledges  a  certain  sum  to  another,  at  a  certain  time. 


ABSTRACT    OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS.  147 

COMMON  FORM  OF  BOND. 

KNOW  ALL  MEN  by  this  instrument,  that  I,  George  Edgerton,  of 
Watseka,  Iroquois  County,  State  of  Illinois,  am  firmly  bound  unto  Peter 
Kirchoff,  of  the  place  aforesaid,  in  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  to  be 
paid  to  the  said  Peter  Kirchoff,  or  his  legal  representatives ;  to  which 
payment,  to  be  made,  I  bind  myself,  or  my  legal  representatives,  by  this 
instrument. 

Sealed  with  my  seal,  and  dated  this  second  day  of  November,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-four. 

The  condition  of  this  bond  is  such  that  if  I,  George  Edgerton,  my 
heirs,  administrators,  or  executors,  shall  promptly  pay  the  sum  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  in  three  equal  annual  payments  from  the  date 
hereof,  with  annual  interest,  then  the  above  obligation  to  be  of  no  effect ; 
otherwise  to  be  in  full  force  and  valid. 
Sealed  and  delivered  in 

presence  of  GEORGE  EDGERTON.     [L.S.] 

WILLIAM  TURNER. 

CHATTEL   MORTGAGES. 

A  chattel  mortgage  is  a  mortgage  on  personal  property  for  payment 
of  a  certain  sum  of  money,  to  hold  the  property  against  debts  of  other 
creditors.  The  mortgage  must  describe  the  property,  and  must  be 
acknowledged  before  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  township  or  precinct 
where  the  mortgagee  resides,  and  entered  upon  his  docket,  and  must  be 
recorded  in  the  recorder's  office  of  the  county. 

GENERAL  FORM  OF  CHATTEL  MORTGAGE. 

THIS  INDENTURE,  made  and  entered  into  this  first  day  of  January, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five, 
between  Theodore  Lottinville,  of  the  town  of  Geneseo  in  the  County 
of  Henry,  and  State  of  Illinois,  party  of  the  first  part,  and  Paul  Hen&haw, 
of  the  same  town,  county,  and  State,  party  of  the  second  part. 

Witnesseth,  that  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  for  and  in  consider- 
ation of  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  in  hand  paid,  the  receipt  whereof 
is  hereby  acknowledged,  does  hereby  grant,  sell,  convey,  and  confirm  unto 
the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  all  and 
singular  the  following  described  goods  and  chattels,  to  wit : 

Two  three-year  old  roan-colored  horses,  one  Burdett  organ,  No.  987, 
one  Brussels  carpet,  15x20  feet  in  size,  one  marble-top  center  table,  one 
Home  Comfort  cooking  stove,  No.  8,  one  black  walnut  bureau  with  mirror 
attached,  one  set  of  parlor  chairs  (six  in  number),  upholstered  in  green 
rep,  with  lounge  corresponding  with  same  in  style  and  color  of  upholstery, 
now  in  possession  of  said  Lottinville,  at  No.  4  Prairie  Ave.,  Geueseo,  111. ; 


148  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

Together  with  all  and  singular,  the  appurtenances  thereunto  "belong- 
ing,  or  in  any  wise  appertaining ;  to  have  and  to  hold  the  above  described 
goods  and  chattels,  unto  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs  and 
assigns,  forever. 

Provided,  always,  and  these  presents  are  upon  this  express  condition, 
that  if  the  said  Theodore  Lottinville,  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators, 
or  assigns,  shall,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  January,  A.D.,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  seventy-six,  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid,  to  the  said  Paul 
Ranslow,  or  his  lawful  attorney  or  attorneys,  heirs,  executors,  adminis- 
trators, or  assigns,  the  sum  of  One  Thousand  dollars,  together  with  the 
interest  that  may  accrue  thereon,  at  the  rate  of  ten  per  cent,  per  annum, 
from  the  first  day  of  January,  A.D.  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
seventy-five,  until  paid,  according  to  the  tenor  of  one  promissory  note 
bearing  even  date  herewith  for  the  payment  of  said  sum  of  money,  that 
then  and  from  thenceforth,  these  presents,  and  everything  herein  con- 
tained, shall  cease,  and  be  null  and  void,  anything  herein  contained  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding. 

Provided,  also,  that  the  said  Theodore  Lottinville  may  retain  the 
possession  of  and  have  the  use  of  said  goods  and  chattels  until  the  day 
of  payment  aforesaid  ;  and  also,  at  his  own  expense,  shall  keep  said  goods 
and  chattels ;  and  also  at  the  expiration  of  said  time  of  payment,  if  said 
sum  of  money,  together  with  the  interest  as  aforesaid,  shall  not  be  paid, 
shall  deliver  up  said  goods  and  chattels,  in  good  condition,  to  said  Paul 
Ranslow,  or  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  or  assigns. 

And  provided,  also,  that  if  default  in  payment  as  aforesaid,  by  said 
party  of  the  first  part,  shall  be  made,  or  if  said  party  of  the  second  part 
shall  at  any  time  before  said  promissory  note  becomes  due,  feel  himself 
unsafe  or  insecure,  that  then  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  or  his 
attorney,  agent,  assigns,  or  heirs,  executors,  or  administrators,  shall  have 
the  right  to  take  possession  of  said  goods  and  chattels,  wherever  they 
may  or  can  be  found,  and  sell  the  same  at  public  or  private  sale,  to  the 
highest  bidder  for  cash  in  hand,  after  giving  ten  days'  notice  of  the  time 
and  place  of  said  sale,  together  with  a  description  of  the  goods  and  chat- 
tels to  be  sold,  by  at  least  four  advertisements,  posted  up  in  public  places 
in  the  vicinity  where  said  sale  is  to  take  place,  and  proceed  to  make  the 
sum  of  money  and  interest  promised  as  aforesaid,  together  with  all  reason- 
able costs,  charges,  and  expenses  in  so  doing  ;  and  if  there  shall  be  any 
overplus,  shall  pay  the  same  without  delay  to  the  said  party  of  the  first 
part,  or  his  legal  representatives. 

In  testimony  whereof,  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  has  hereunto 
set  his  hand  and  affixed  his  seal,  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in 

presence  of  THEODORE  LOTTINVILLE.     [L.S.] 

SAMUEL  J.  TILDEN. 


ABSTRACT   OP   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  149 


LEASE  OF  FARM  AND   BUILDINGS  THEREON. 

THIS  INDENTURE,  made  this  second  day  of  June,  1875,  between  David 
Patton  of  the  Town  of  Bisbee,  State  of  Illinois,  of  the  first  part,  and  John 
Doyle  of  the  same  place,  of  the  second  part, 

Witnesseth,  that  the  said  David  Patton,  for  and  in  consideration  of 
the  covenants  hereinafter  mentioned  and  reserved,  on  the  part  of  the  said 
John  Doyle,  his  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  to  be  paid,  kept, 
and  performed,  hath  let,  and  by  these  presents  doth  grant,  demise,  and 
let,  unto  the  said  John  Doyle,  his  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns, 
all  that  parcel  of  land  situate  in  Bisbee  aforesaid,  bounded  and  described 
as  follows,  to  wit : 

[Here  describe  the  land.] 

Together  with  all  the  appurtenances  appertaining  thereto.  To  have 
and  to  hold  the  said  premises,  with  appurtenances  thereto  belonging,  unto 
the  said  Doyle,  his  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  for  the  term  of 
five  years,  from  the  first  day  of  October  next  following,  at  a  yearly  rent 
of  Six  Hundred  dollars,  to  be  paid  in  equal  payments,  semi-annually,  as 
long  as  said  buildings  are  in  good  tenahtable  condition. 

And  the  said  Doyle,  by  these  presents,  covenants  and  agrees  to  pay 
all  taxes  and  assessments,  and  keep  in  repair  all  hedges,  ditches,  rail,  and 
other  fences ;  (the  said  David  Patton,  his  heirs,  assigns  and  administra- 
tors, to  furnish  all  timber,  brick,  tile,  and  other  materials  necessary  for 
such  repairs.) 

Said  Doyle  further  covenants  and  agrees  to  apply  to  said  land,  in  a 
farmer-like  manner,  all  manure  and  compost  accumulating  upon  said 
farm,  and  cultivate  all  the  arable  land  in  a  husbandlike  manner,  accord- 
ing to  the  usual  custom  among  farmers  in  the  neighborhood ;  he  also 
agrees  to  trim  the  hedges  at  a  seasonable  time,  preventing  injury  from 
cattle  to  such  hedges,  and  to  all  fruit  and  other  trees  on  the  said  premises. 
That  he  will  seed  down  with  clover  and  timothy  seed  twenty  acres  yearly 
of  arable  land,  ploughing  the  same  number  of  acres  each  Spring  of  land 
now  in  grass,  and  hitherto  unbroken. 

It  is  further  agreed,  that  if  the  said  Doyle  shall  fail  to  perform  the 
whole  or  any  one  of  the  above  mentioned  covenants,  then  and  in  that 
case  the  said  David  Patton  may  declare  this  lease  terminated,  by  giving 
three  months'  notice  of  the  same,  prior  to  the  first  of  October  of  any 
year,  and  may  distrain  any  part  of  the  stock,  goods,  or  chattels,  or  other 
property  in  possession  of  said  Doyle,  for  sufficient  to  compensate  for  the 
non-performance  of  the  above  written  covenants,  the  same  to  be  deter- 
mined, and  amounts  so  to  be  paid  to  be  determined,  by  three  arbitrators, 
chosen  as  follows :  Each  of  the  parties  to  this  instrument  to  choose  one, 


150  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS  STATE  LAWS. 

and  the  two  so  chosen  to  select  a  third  ;    the  decision  of  said  arbitrators 
to  be  final. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereto  set  our  hands  and  seals. 
Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered 

in  presence  of  DAVID  PATTON.     [L.S.] 

JAMES  WALDEON.  JOHN  DOYLE.         [L.S.] 

FORM  OF  LEASE  OF  A  HOUSE. 

THIS  INSTRUMENT,  made  the  first  day  of  October,  1875,  witnesseth 
that  Amos  Griest  of  Yorkville,  County  of  Kendall,  State  of  Illinois,  hath 
rented  from  Aaron  Young  of  Logansport  aforesaid,  the  dwelling  and  lot 
No.  13  Ohio  Street,  situated  in  said  City  of  Yorkville,  for  five  years 
from  the  above  date,  at  the  yearly  rental  of  Three  Hundred  dollars,  pay- 
able monthly,  on  the  first  day  of  each  month,  in  advance,  at  the  residence 
of  said  Aaron  Young. 

At  the  expiration  of  said  above  mentioned  term,  the  said  Griest 
agrees  to  give  the  said  Young  peaceable  possession  of  the  said  dwelling, 
in  as  good  condition  as  when  taken,  ordinary  wear  and  casualties  excepted, 

In  witness  whereof,  we  place  our  hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year 
aforesaid. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  AMOS  GRIEST.     [L.S.] 

in  presence  of 

NlCKOLAS   SCHUTZ,  AARON  YOUNG.    [L.S.] 

Notary  Public. 

LANDLORD'S  AGREEMENT. 

THIS  certifies  that  I  have  let  and  rented,  this  first  day  of  January, 
1876,  unto  Jacob  Schmidt,  my  house  and  lot,  No.  15  Erie  Street,  in  the 
City  of  Chicago,  State  of  Illinois,  and  its  appurtenances ;  he  to  have  the 
free  and  uninterrupted  occupation  thereof  for  one  year  from  this  date,  at 
the  yearly  rental  of  Two  Hundred  dollars,  to  be  paid  monthly  in  advance  ; 
rent  to  cease  if  destroyed  by  fire,  or  otherwise  made  untenantable. 

PETER  FUNK. 
TENANT'S  AGREEMENT. 

THIS  certifies  that  I  have  hired  and  taken  from  Peter  Funk,  his 
house  and  lot,  No.  15  Erie  Street,  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  State  of  Illi- 
nois, with  appurtenances  thereto  belonging,  for  one  year,  to  commence 
this  day,  at  a  yearly  rental  of  Two  Hundred  dollars,  to  be  paid  monthly 
in  advance ;  unless  said  house  becomes  untenantable  from  fire  or  other 
causes,  in  which  case  rent  ceases  ;  and  I  further  agree  to  give  and  yield 
said  premises  one  year  from  this  first  day  of  January  1876,  in  as  good 
condition  as  now,  ordinary  wear  and  damage  by  the  elements  excepted. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  day.  JACOB  SCHMIDT. 


ABSTRACT  OF  ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS.  151 

NOTICE  TO  QUIT. 

To  F.  W.  ARLEN, 

/Sir :  Please  observe  that  the  term  of  one  year,  for  which  the  house 
and  land,  situated  at  No.  6  Indiana  Street,  and  now  occupied  by  you, 
were  rented  to  you,  expired  on  the  first  day  of  October,  1875,  and  as  I 
desire  to  repossess  said  premises,  you  are  hereby  requested  and  required 

to  vacate  the  same.  Respectfully  Yours, 

P.  T.  BARNUM. 
LINCOLN,  NEB.,  October  4,  1875. 

TENANT'S  NOTICE  OF  LEAVING. 

DEAR  SIR: 

The  premises  I  now  occupy  as  your  tenant,  at  No.  6  Indiana  Street, 
I  shall  vacate  on  the  first  day  of  November,  1875.  You  will  please  take 
notice  accordingly. 

Dated  this  tenth  day  of  October,  1875.  F.  W.  ARLEN. 

To  P.  T.  BARNUM,  ESQ. 

REAL  ESTATE  MORTGAGE  TO  SECURE  PAYMENT  OF  MONEY. 

THIS  INDENTURE,  made  this  sixteenth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-two,  between  William 
Stocker,  of  Peoria,  County  of  Peoria,  and  State  of  Illinois,  and  Olla,  his 
wife,  party  of  the  first  part,  and  Edward  Singer,  party  of  the  second  part. 

Whereas,  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  is  justly  indebted  to  the  said 
party  of  the  second  part,  in  the  sum  of  Two  Thousand  dollars,  secured 
to  be  paid  by  two  certain  promissory  notes  (bearing  even  date  herewith) 
the  one  due  and  payable  at  the  Second  National  Bank  in  Peoria,  Illinois, 
with  interest,  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  seventy-three  ;  the  other  due  and  payable  at  the  Second 
National  Bank  at  Peoria,  111.,  with  interest,  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  May, 
in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-four. 

Now,  therefore,  this  indenture  witnesseth,  that  the  said  party  of  the 
first  part,  for  the  better  securing  the  payment  of  the  money  aforesaid, 
with  interest  thereon,  according  to  the  tenor  and  effect  of  the  said  two 
promissory  notes  above  mentioned  ;  and,  also  in  consideration  of  the  fur- 
ther sum  of  one  dollar  to  them  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  party  of  the  sec- 
ond part,  at  the  delivery  of  these  presents,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby 
acknowledged,  have  granted,  bargained,  sold,  and  conveyed,  and  by  these 
presents  do  grant,  bargain,  sell,  and  convey,  unto  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  forever,  all  that  certain  parcel  of  land, 
situate,  etc. 

[Describing  the  premises.] 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  same,  together  with  all  and  singular  the 
Tenements,  Hereditaments,  Privileges  and  Appurtenances  thereunto 


152  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

belonging  or  in  any  wise  appertaining.  And  also,  all  the  estate,  interest, 
and  claim  whatsoever,  in  law  as  well  as  in  equity  which  the  party  of 
the  first  part  have  in  and  to  the  premises  hereby  conveyed  unto  the  said 
party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  and  to  their  only  proper 
use,  benefit  and  behoof.  And  the  said  William  Stocker,  and  Olla,  his 
wife,  party  of  the  first  part,  hereby  expressly  waive,  relinquish,  release, 
and  convey  unto  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs,  executors, 
administrators,  and  assigns,  all  right,  title,  claim,  interest,  and  benefit 
whatever,  in  and  to  the  above  described  premises,  and  each  and  every 
part  thereof,  which  is  given  by  or  results  from  all  laws  of  this  state  per- 
taining to  the  exemption  of  homesteads. 

Provided  always,  and  these  presents  are  upon  this  express  condition, 
that  if  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  their  heirs,  executors,  or  adminis- 
trators, shall  well  and  truly  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid,  to  the  said  party  of 
the  second  part,  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  or  assigns,  the  afore- 
said sums  of  money,  with  such  interest  thereon,  at  the  time  and  in  the 
manner  specified  in  the  above  mentioned  promissory  notes,  according  to 
the  true  intent  and  meaning  thereof,  then  in  that  case,  these  presents  and 
every  thing  herein  expressed,  shall  be  absolutely  null  and  void. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  hereunto  set  their 
hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of 

JAMES  WHITEHEAD,  WILLIAM  STOCKER.     [L.S.] 

FRED.  SAMUELS.  OLLA  STOCKER.  [L.S.] 

WARRANTY  DEED  WITH  COVENANTS. 

THIS  INDENTURE,  made  this  sixth  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-two,  between  Henry  Best 
of  Lawrence,  County  of  Lawrence,  State  of  Illinois,  and  Belle,  his  wife, 
of  the  first  part,  and  Charles  Pearson  of  the  same  place,  of  the  second  part, 

Witnesseth,  that  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  for  and  in  consideration 
of  the  sum  of  Six  Thousand  dollars  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  have  granted, 
bargained,  and  sold,  and  by  these  presents  do  grant,  bargain,  and  sell, 
unto  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  all  the  fol- 
lowing described  lot,  piece,  or  parcel  of  land,  situated  in  the  City  of  Law- 
rence, in  the  County  of  Lawrence,  and  State  of  Illinois,  to  wit : 
[Here  describe  the  property.] 

Together  with  all  and  singular  the  hereditaments  and  appurtenances 
thereunto  belonging  or  in  any  wise  appertaining,  and  the  reversion  and 
reversions,  remainder  and  remainders,  rents,  issues,  and  profits  thereof; 
and  all  the  estate,  rignt,  title,  interest,  claim,  and  demand  whatsoever,  of 
the  said  party  of  the  nrst  part,  either  in  law  or  equity,  of,  in,  and  to  tht» 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS.  153 

above  bargained  premises,  with  the  hereditaments  and  appurtenances. 
To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  premises  above  bargained  and  described, 
with  the  appurtenances,  unto  the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs 
and  assigns,  forever.  And  the  said  Henry  Best,  and  Belle,  his  wife,  par- 
ties of  the  first  part,  hereby  expressly  waive,  release,  and  relinquish  unto 
the  said  party  of  the  second  part,  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and 
assigns,  all  right,  title,  claim,  interest,  and  benefit  whatever,  in  and  to  the 
above  described  premises,  and  each  and  every  part  thereof,  which  is  given 
by  or  results  from  all  laws  of  this  state  pertaining  to  the  exemption  of 
homesteads. 

And  the  said  Henry  Best,  and  Belle,  his  wife,  party  of  the  first 
part,  for  themselves  and  their  heirs,  executors,  and  administrators,  do 
covenant,  grant,  bargain,  and  agree,  to  and  with  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  that  at  the  time  of  the  ensealing  and 
delivery  of  these  presents  they  were  well  seized  of  the  premises  above 
conveyed,  as  of  a  good,  sure,  perfect,  absolute,  and  indefeasible  estate  of 
inheritance  in  law,  and  in  fee  simple,  and  have  good  right,  full  power, 
and  lawful  authority  to  grant,  bargain,  sell,  and.  convey  the  same,  in 
manner  and  form  aforesaid,  and  that  the  same  are  free  and  clear  from  all 
former  and  other  grants,  bargains,  sales,  liens,  taxes,  assessments,  and 
encumbrances  of  what  kind  or  nature  soever ;  and  the  above  bargained 
premises  in  the  quiet  and  peaceable  possession  of  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  against  all  and  every  person  or  persons 
lawfully  claiming  or  to  claim  the  whole  or  any  part  thereof,  the  said  party 
of  the  first  part  shall  and  will  warrant  and  forever  defend. 

In  testimony  whereof,  the  said  parties  of  the  first  part  have  hereunto 
set  their  hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered 

in  presence  of  HENRY  BEST,     [L.S.] 

JERRY  LINKLATER.  BELLE  BEST.      [L.S.] 

QUIT-CLAIM  DEED. 

THIS  INDENTURE,  made  the  eighth  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-four,  between  David  Tour, 
of  Piano,  County  of  >Kendall,  State  of  Illinois,  party  of  the  first  part, 
and  Larry  O'Brien,  of  the  same  place,  party  of  the  second  part, 

Witnesseth,  that  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  for  and  in  considera- 
tion of  Nine  Hundred  dollars  in  hand  paid  by  the  said  party  of  the  sec- 
ond part,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  and  the  said  party 
of  the  second  part  forever  released  and  discharged  therefrom,  has  remised, 
released,  sold,  conveyed,  and  quit-claimed,  and  by  these  presents  does 
remise,  release,  sell,  convey,  and  quit-claim,  unto  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  forever,  all  the  right,  title,  interest, 


154  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE   LAWS. 

claim,  and  demand,  which  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  has  in  and  to 
the  following  described  lot,  piece,  or  parcel  of  land,  to  wit : 

\Here  describe,  the  land.] 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  same,  together  with  all  and  singular  the 
appurtenances  and  privileges  thereunto  belonging,  or  in  any  wise  there- 
unto appertaining,  and  all  the  estate,  right,  title,  interest,  and  claim 
whatever,  of  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  either  in  law  or  equity,  to 
the  only  proper  use,  benefit,  and  behoof  of  the  said  party  of  the  second 
part,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

In  witness  whereof  the  said  party  of  the  first  part  hereunto  set  his 
hand  and  seal  the  day  and  year  above  written. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  DAVID  TOUR.     [L.S.] 

in  presence  of 
THOMAS  ASHLEY. 

The  above  forms  of  Deeds  and  Mortgage  are  such  as  have  heretofore 
been  generally  used,  but  the  following  are  much  shorter,  and  are  made 
equally  valid  by  the  laws  of  this  state. 

WARRANTY  DEED. 

The  grantor  (here  insert  name  or  names  and  place  of  residence),  for 
and  in  consideration  of  (here  insert  consideration)  in  hand  paid,  conveys 
and  warrants  to  (here  insert  the  grantee's  name  or  names)  the  following 
described  real  estate  (here  insert  description),  situated  in  the  County  of 
in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Dated  this day  of  A.  D.  18 . 

QUIT  CLAIM  DEED. 

The  grantor  (here  insert  grantor's  name  or  names  and  place  of  resi- 
dence), for  the  consideration  of  (here  insert  consideration)  convey  and 
quit-claim  to  (here  insert  grantee's  name  or  names)  all  interest  in  the 
following  described  real  estate  (here  insert  description),  situated  in  the 
County  of  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Dated  this day  of  A.  D.  18 . 

MORTGAGE. 

The  mortgagor  (here  insert  name  or  names)  mortgages  and  warrants 
to  (here  insert  name  or  names  of  mortgagee  or  mortgagees),  to  secure  the 
payment  of  (here  recite  the  nature  and  amount  of  indebtedness,  showing 
when  due  and  the  rate  of  interest,  and  whether  secured  by  note  or  other- 
wise), the  following  described  real  estate  (here  insert  description  thereof), 
situated  in  the  County  of  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Dated  this day  of A.  D.  18 . 

RELEASE. 

KNOW  ALL  MEN  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Peter  Ahlund,  of  Chicago, 
of  the  County  of  Cook,  and  State  of  Illinois,  for  and  in  consideration  of 
One  dollar,  to  me  in  hand  paid,  and  for  other  good  and  valuable  considera- 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS.  155 

tions,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  confessed,  do  hereby  grant,  bargain, 
remise,  convey,  release,  and  quit-claim  unto  Joseph  Carlin  of  Chicago, 
of  the  County  of  Cook,  and  State  of  Illinois,  all  the  right,  title,  interest, 
claim,  or  demand  whatsoever,  I  may  have  acquired  in,  through,  or  by  a 
certain  Indenture  or  Mortgage  Deed,  bearing  date  the  second  day  of  Jan- 
uary, A.  D.  1871,  and  recorded  in  the  Recorder's  office  of  said  county, 
in  book  A  of  Deeds,  page  46,  to  the  premises  therein  described,  and  which 
said  Deed  was  made  to  secure  one  certain  promissory  note,  bearing  even 
date  with  said  deed,  for  the  sum  of  Three  Hundred  dollars. 

Witness  my  hand  and  seal,  this  second  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1874. 

PETER  AHLUND.     [L.S.] 
State  of  Illinois, 


iQQ 
I,   George  Saxton,  a  Notary  Public  in 

and  for  said  county,  in  the  state  aforesaid,  do  hereby 
certify  that  Peter  Ahlund,  personally  known  to  me 
as  the  same  person  whose  name  is  subscribed  to  the 
foregoing  Release,  appeared  before  me  this  day  in 
person,  and  acknowledged  that  he  signed,  sealed,  and 
delivered  the  said  instrument  of  writing  as  his  free 
ajd  voluntary  act,  for  the  uses  and  purposes  therein 
set  forth. 

Giv^n  under  my  hand  and  seal,  this  second  day  of 
November,  A.  D.  1874. 

GEORGE  SAXTON,  N.  P. 

GENERAL  FOkM  OF  WILL  FOR  REAL  AND  PERSONAL  PROPERTY. 

I,  Charles  Mansfield,  of  the  lown  of  Salem,  County  of  Jackson, 
Scate  of  Illinois,  being  aware  of  the  uncertainty  of  life,  and  in  failing 
health,  but  of  sound  mind  and  memory,  do  make  and  declare  this  to  be 
my  last  will  and  testament,  in  manner  following,  £o  wit: 

First.  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  unto  my  oldest  son,  Sidney  H. 
Mansfield,  the  sum  of  Two  Thousand  Dollars,  cf  bank  stock,  now  in  the 
Third  National  Bank  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  the  farm  owned  by  myself 
iu  the  Town  of  Buskirk,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  with 
all  the  houses,  tenements,  and  improvements  thereunto  belonging ;  to 
have  and  to  hold  unto  my  said  son,  his  heirs  and  assign^,  forever. 

Second.  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  to  each  of  my  daughters,  Anna 
Louise  Mansfield  and  Ida  Clara  Mansfield,  each  Two  Thousand  dollars  in 
bank  stock,  in  the  Third  National  Bank  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  also  each 
one  quarter  section  of  land,  owned  by  myself,  situated  in  tht  Town  of 
Lake,  Illinois,  and  recorded  in  my  name  in  the  Recorder's  office  in  the 
county  where  such  land  is  located.  The  north  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  said  half  section  is  devised  to  my  eldest  daughter,  Anna  Louise. 
6 


156 


ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 


Third.  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  to  my  son,  Frank  Alfred  Mans- 
field, Five  shares  of  Railroad  stock  in  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad, 
and  my  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  and  saw  mill  thereon,  situ- 
ated in  Manistee,  Michigan,  with  all  the  improvements  and  appurtenances 
thereunto  belonging,  which  said  real  estate  is  recorded  in  my  name  in  the 
county  where  situated. 

Fourth.  I  give  to  my  wife,  Victoria  Elizabeth  Mansfield,  all  my 
household  furniture,  goods,  chattels,  and  personal  property,  about  my 
home,  not  hitherto  disposed  of,  including  Eight  Thousand  dollars  of  bank 
stock  in  the  Third  National  Bank  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Fifteen  shares  in 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  the  free  and  unrestricted  use,  pos- 
session, and  benefit  of  the  home  farm,  so  long  as  she  may  live,  in  lieu  of 
dower,  to  which  she  is  entitled  by  law ;  said  farm  being  my  present  place 
of  residence. 

Fifth.  I  bequeath  to  my  invalid  father,  Elijah  H.  Mansfield,  the 
income  from  rents  of  my  store  building  at  145  Jackson  Street,  Chicago, 
Illinois,  during  the  term  of  his  natural  life.  Said  building  and  land  there- 
with to  revert  to  my  said  sons  and  daughters  in  equal  proportion,  upon 
the  demise  of  my  said  father. 

Sixth.  It  is  also  my  will  and  desire  that,  at  the  death  of  my  wife, 
Victoria  Elizabeth  Mansfield,  or  at  any  time  when  she  may  arrange  to 
relinquish  her  life  interest  in  the  above  mentioned  homestead,  the  same 
may  revert  to  my  above  named  children,  or  to  the  lawful  heirs  of  each. 

And  lastly.  I  nominate  and  appoint  as  executors  of  this  my  last  will 
and  testament,  my  wife,  Victoria  Elizabeth  Mansfield,  and  my  eldest  son, 
Sidney  EL  Mansfield. 

I  further  direct  that  my  debts  and  necessary  funeral  expenses  shaJ 
be  paid  from  moneys  now  on  deposit  in  the  Savings  Bank  of  Salem,  the 
residue  of  such  moneys  to  revert  to  my  wife,  Victoria  Elizabeth  Mansfield, 
for  her  use  forever. 

In  witness  whereof,  I,  Charles  Mansfield,  to  this  my  last  will  and 
testament,  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  this  fourth  day  of  April, 
eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-two. 


Signed,  sealed, -and  declared  by  Charles 
Mansfield,  as  and  for  his  last  will  and 
testament,  in  the  presence  of  us,  who, 
at  his  request,  and  in  his  presence,  and 
in  the  presence  of  each  other,  hafe  sub- 
scribed our  names  hereunto  as  witnesses 
thereof. 

PETER  A.  SCHENCK,  Sycamore,  Ills. 

FRANK  E.  DENT,  Salem,  Ills. 


CHARLES  MANSFIELD.  [L.S.] 


ABSTRACT   OF  ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS.  157 

CODICIL 

Whereas  I,  Charles  Mansfield,  did,  on  the  fourth  day  of  April,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-two,  make  my  last  will  and  testa- 
ment, I  do  now,  by  this  writing,  add  this  codicil  to  my  said  will,  to  be 
taken  as  a  part  thereof. 

Whereas,  by  the  dispensation  of  Providence,  my  daughter,  Anna 
Louise,  has  deceased  November  fifth,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-three, 
and  whereas,  a  son  has  been  born  to  me,  which  son  is  now  christened 
Richard  Albert  Mansfield,  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  him  my  gold  watch, 
and  all  right,  interest,  and  title  in  lands  and  bank  stock  and  chattels 
bequeathed  to  my  deceased  daughter,  Anna  Louise,  in  the  body  of  this  witt. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  hereunto  place  my  hand  and  seal,  this  tenth 
day  of  March,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

Signed,  sealed,  published,  and  declared  to' 

us  by  the  testator,  Charles  Mansfield,  as     CHARLES  MANSFIELD.  [L.S.] 

and  for  a  codicil  to  be  annexed  to  his 

last  will  and  testament.      And  we,  at 

his  request,  and  in  his  presence,  and  in 

the  presence  of  each  other,  have  sub- 
scribed our  names  as  witnesses  thereto, 

at  the  date  hereof. 
FRANK  E.  DENT,  Salem,  Ills. 
JOHN  C.  SHAY,  Salem,  Ills. 

CHURCH    ORGANIZATIONS 

May  be  legally  made  by  electing  or  appointing,  according  to  the  usages 
or  customs  of  the  body  of  which  it  is  a  part,  at  any  meeting  held  for  that 
purpose,  two  or  more  of  its  members  as  trustees,  wardens  or  vestrymen,  and 
may  adopt  a  corporate  name.  The  chairman  or  secretary  of  such  meeting 
shall,  as  soon  as  possible,  make  and  file  in  the  office  of  the  recorder  of 
deeds  of  the  county,  an  affidavit  substantially  in  the  following  form : 
STATE  OF  ILLINOIS, 


r<  t  SS. 

County. 


I, ,   do    solemnly   swear    (or  affirm,   as   the    case   may  be), 

that  at  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  (here  insert  the  name  of  the 
church,  society  or  congregation  as  known  before  organization),  held  at 

(here  insert  place  of  meeting),   in  the   County  of ,  and  State  of 

Illinois,  on  the day  of ,  A.D.  18 — ,  for  that  purpose,  the  fol- 
lowing persons  were  elected  (or  appointed)  [here  insert  their  names] 
trustees,  wardens,  vestrymen,  (or  officers  by  whatever  name  they  may 
choose  to  adopt,  with  powers  similar  to  trustees)  according  to  the  rules 
and  usages  of  such  (church,  society  or  congregation),  and  said 


158  ABSTRACT   OF   ILLINOIS    STATE   LAWS. 

adopted  as  its  corporate  name  (here  insert  name),  and  at  said  meeting 
this  affiant  acted  as  (chairman  or  secretary,  as  the  case  may  be). 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this day  of ,  A.D. 

18—.  Name  of  Affiant  — 

which  affidavit  must  be  recorded  by  the  recorder,  and  shall  be,  or  a  certi- 
fied copy  made  by  the  recorder,  received  as  evidence  of  such  an  incorpo- 
ration. 

No  certificate  of  election  after  the  first  need  be  filed  for  record. 

The  term  of  office  of  the  trustees  and  the  general  government  of  the 
society  can  be  determined  by  the  rules  or  by-laws  adopted.  Failure  to 
elect  trustees  at  the  time  provided  does  not  work  a  dissolution,  but  the 
old  trustees  hold  over.  A  trustee  or  trustees  may  be  removed,  in  the 
same  manner  by  the  society  as  elections  are  held  by  a  meeting  called  for 
that  purpose.  The  property  of  the  society  vests  in  the  corporation.  The 
corporation  may  hold,  or  acquire  by  purchase  or  otherwise,  land  not 
exceeding  ten  acres,  for  the  purpose  of  the  society.  The  trustees  have 
the  care,  custody  and  control  of  the  property  of  the  corporation,  and  can, 
when  directed  by  the  society,  erect  houses  or  improvements,  and  repair 
and  alter  the  same,  and  may  also  when  so  directed  by  the  society, 
mortgage,  encumber,  sell  and  convey  any  real  or  personal  estate  belonging 
to  the  corporation,  and  make  all  proper  contracts  in  the  name  of  such 
corporation.  But  they  are  prohibited  by  law  from  encumbering  or  inter- 
fering with  any  property  so  as  to  destroy  the  effect  of  any  gift,  grant, 
devise  or  bequest  to  the  corporation ;  but  such  gifts,  grants,  devises  or 
bequests,  must  in  all  cases  be  used  so  as  to  carry  out  the  object  intended 
by  the  persons  making  the  same.  Existing  societies  may  organize  in  the 
manner  herein  set  forth,  and  have  all  the  advantages  thereof. 

SUGGESTIONS  TO  THOSE  PURCHASING  BOOKS  BY  SUBSCRIPTION. 

The  business  of  publishing  books  by  subscription  having  so  often  been 
brought  into  disrepute  by  agents  making  representations  and  declarations 
not  authorized  by  the  publisher  ;  in  order  to  prevent  that  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, and  that  there  may  be  more  general  knowledge  of  the  relation  such 
agents  bear  to  their  principal,  and  the  law  governing  such  cases,  the  fol- 
lowing statement  is  made  : 

A  subscription  is  in  the  nature  of  a  contract  of  mutual  promises,  by 
which  the  subscriber  agrees  to  pay  a  certain  sum  for  the  work  described ; 
the  consideration  is  concurrent  that  the  publisher  shall  publish  the  book 
named,  and  deliver  the  same,  for  which  the  subscriber  is  to  pay  the  price 
named.  The  nature  and  character  of  the  work  is  described  in  the  prospectus 
and  by  the  sample  shown.  These  should  be  carefully  examined  before  sub- 
scribing, as  they  are  the  basis  and  consideration  of  the  promise  to  pay, 


ABSTRACT    OF    ILLINOIS   STATE  LAWS.  159 

and  not  the  too  often  exaggerated  statements  of  the  agent,  who  is  merely 
employed  to  solicit  subscriptions,  for  which  he  is  usually  paid  a  commission 
for  each  subscriber,  and  has  no  authority  to  change  or  alter  the  conditions 
upon  which  the  subscriptions  are  authorized  to  be  made  by  the  publisher. 
Should  the  agent  assume  to  agree  to  make  the  subscription  conditional  or 
modify  or  change  the  agreement  of  the  publisher,  as  set  out  by  prospectus 
and  sample,  in  order  to  bind  the  principal,  the  subscriber  should  see  that 
such  conditions  or  changes  are  stated  over  or  in  connection  with  his  signa- 
ture, so  that  the  publisher  may  have  notice  of  the  same. 

All  persons  making  contracts  in  reference  to  matters  of  this  kind,  or 
any  other  business,  should  remember  that  the  law  as  to  written  contracts  is, 
that  they  can  not  be  varied,  altered  or  rescinded  verbally,  but  if  done  at  all, 
must  be  done  in  writing.  It  is  therefore  important  that  all  persons  contem- 
plating subscribing  should  distinctly  understand  that  all  talk  before  or  after 
the  subscription  is  made,  is  not  admissible  as  evidence,  and  is  no  part  of  the 
contract. 

Persons  employed  to  solicit  subscriptions  are  known  to  the  trade  as 
canvassers.  They  are  agents  appointed  to  do  a  particular  business  in  a 
prescribed  mode,  and  have  no  authority  to  do  it  in  any  other  way  to  the 
prejudice  of  their  principal,  nor  can  they  bind  their  principal  in  any  other 
matter.  They  can  not  collect  money,  or  agree  that  payment  may  be  made 
in  anything  else  but  money.  They  can  not  extend  the  time  of  payment 
beyond  the  time  of  delivery,  nor  bind  their  principal  for  the  payment  of 
expenses  incurred  in  their  buisness. 

It  would  save  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  and  often  serious  loss,  if  persons, 
before  signing  their  names  to  any  subscription  book,  or  any  written  instru- 
ment, would  examine  carefully  what  it  is  ;  if  they  can  not  read  themselves, 
should  call  on  some  one  disinterested  who  can. 

6 


160  CONSTITUTION   OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


CONSTITUTION    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES    OF   AMERICA 
AND  ITS  AMENDMENTS. 

We,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  union, 
establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common 
defense,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty 
to  ourselves  and  our  posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish  this  Constitution 
for  the  United  States  of  America. 

ARTICLE  I. 

SECTION  1.  All  legislative  powers  herein  granted  shall  be  vested  in 
a  Congress  of  the  United  States,  which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives. 

SEC.  2.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  composed  of  mem- 
bers chosen  every  second  year  by  the  people  of  the  several  states,  and  the 
electors  in  each  state  shall  have  the  qualifications  requisite  for  electors  of 
the  most  numerous  branch  of  the  State  Legislature. 

No  person  shall  be  a  representative  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the 
age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  been  seven  years  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant  of  that  state  in 
which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

Representatives  and  direct  taxes  shall  be  apportioned  among  the  sev- 
eral states  which  may  be  included  within  this  Union,  according  to  their 
respective  numbers,  which  shall  be  determined  by  adding  to  the  whole 
number  of  free  persons,  including  those  bound  to  service  for  a  term  of 
years,  and  excluding  Indians  not  taxed,  three-fifths  of  all  other  persons. 
The  actual  enumeration  shall  be  made  within  three  years  after  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  within  every  subse- 
quent term  of  ten  years,  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  by  law  direct.  The 
number  of  Representatives  shall  not  exceed  one  for  every  thirty  thousand, 
but  each  state  shall  have  at  least  one  Representative  ;  and  until  such 
enumeration  shall  be  made  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  shall  be  entitled 
to  choose  three,  Massachusetts  eight,  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plan- 
tations one,  Connecticut  five,  New  York  six,  New  Jersey  four,  Pennsylva- 
nia eight,  Delaware  one,  Maryland  six,  Virginia  ten,  North  Carolina  five, 
and  Georgia  three. 

When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation  from  any  state,  the 
Executive  authority  thereof  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to  fill  such 
vacancies. 

The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  their  Speaker  and  other 
officers,  and  shall  have  the  sole  power  of  impeachment. 

SEC.  3.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States  shall  be  composed  of  two 
Senators  from  each  state,  chosen  by  the  Legislature  thereof  for  six  years ; 
and  each  Senator  shall  have  one  vote. 

Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled  in  consequence  of  the  first 
election,  they  shall  be  divided  as  equally  as  may  be  into  three  classes. 
The  seats  of  the  Senators  of  the  first  class  shall  be  vacated  at  the  expira- 


AND  ITS  AMENDMENTS.  161 

tion  of  the  second  year,  of  the  second  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  fourth 
year,  and  of  the  third  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  sixth  year,  so  that 
one-third  may  be  chosen  every  second  year;  and  if  vacancies  happen  by 
resignation  or  otherwise,  during  the  recess  of  the  Legislature  of  any  state, 
the  Executive  thereof  may  make  temporary  appointments  until  the  next 
meeting  of  the  Legislature,  which  shall  then  fill  such  vacancies. 

No  person  shall  be  a  Senator  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the  age 
of  thirty  years  and  been  nine  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and 
who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant  of  that  state  for  which  he 
shall  be  chosen. 

The  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  shall  be  President  of  the 
Senate,  but  shall  have  no  vote  unless  they  be  equally  divided. 

The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers,  and  also  a  President  pro 
tempore,  in  the  absence  of  the  Vice-President,  or  when  he  shall  exercise 
the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States. 

The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  power  to  try  all  impeachments.  When 
sitting  for  that  purpose  they  shall  be  on  oath  or  affirmation.  When  the 
President  of  the  United  States  is  tried  the  Chief  Justice  shall  preside. 
And  no  person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds 
of  the  members  present. 

Judgment,  in  cases  of  impeachment,  shall  not  extend  further  than  to 
removal  from  office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  and  enjoy  any  office  of 
honor,  trust,  or  profit  under  the  United  States ;  but  the  party  convicted 
shall  nevertheless  be  liable  and  subject  to  indictment,  trial,  judgment, 
and  punishment  according  to  law. 

SEC.  4.  The  times,  places  and  manner  of  holding  elections  for  Sen- 
ators and  Representatives  shall  be  prescribed  in  each  state  by  the  Legis- 
lature thereof ;  but  the  Congress  may  at  any  time  by  law  make  or  alter 
such  regulations,  except  as  to  the  places  of  choosing  Senators. 

The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in  every  year,  and  such 
meeting  shall  be  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  unless  they  shall  by 
law  appoint  a  different  day. 

SEC.  5.  Each  house  shall  be  the  judge  of  the  election,  returns,  and 
qualifications  of  its  own  members,  and  a  majority  of  each  shall  constitute 
a  quorum  to  do  business ;  but  a  smaller  number  may  adjourn  from  day  to 
day,  and  may  be  authorized  to  compel  the  attendance  of  absent  members 
in  such  manner  and  under  such  penalties  as  each  house  may  provide. 

Each  house  may  determine  the  rules  of  its  proceedings,  punish  its 
members  for  disorderly  behavior,  and,  with  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds, 
expel  a  member. 

Each  house  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  and  from  time  to 
time  publish  the  same,  excepting  such  parts  as  may,  in  their  judgment, 
require  secrecy  ;  and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the  members  of  either  house 
on  any  question  shall,  at  the  desire  of  one-fifth  of  those  present,  be  entered 
on  the  journal. 

Neither  house,  during  the  session  of  Congress,  shall,  without  the 
consent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to  any  other 
place  than  that  in  which  the  two  houses  shall  be  sitting. 

SEC.  6.  The  Senators  and  Representatives  shall  receive  a  compen- 
sation for  their  services,  to  be  ascertained  by  law,  and  paid  out  of  the 
treasury  of  the  United  States.  They  shall  in  all  cases,  except  treason, 


162  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

felony,  and  breach  of  the  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest  during  their 
attendance  at  the  session  of  their  respective  houses,  and  in  going  to  and 
returning  from  the  same ;  and  for  any  speech  or  debate  in  either  house 
they  shall  not  be  questioned  in  any  other  place. 

No  Senator  or  Representative  shall,  during  the  time  for  which  he  was 
elected,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  office  under  the  authority  of  the  United 
States,  which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  emoluments  whereof  shall 
have  been  increased  during  such  time  ;  and  no  person  holding  any  office 
under  the  United  States,  shall  be  a  member  of  either  house  during  his 
continuance  in  office. 

SEC.  7.  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall  originate  in  the  House  of 
Representatives ;  but  the  Senate  may  propose  or  concur  with  amendments 
as  on  other  bills. 

Every  bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  House  of  Representatives  and 
the  Senate,  shall,  before  it  becomes  a  law,  be  presented  to  the  President 
.  the  United  States ;  if  he  approve  he  shall  sign  it ;  but  if  not  he  shall 
return  it,  with  his  objections,  to  that  house  in  which  it  shall  have  origi- 
nated, who  shall  enter  the  objections  at  large  on  their  journal,  and 
proceed  to  reconsider  it.  If,  after  such  reconsideration  two-thirds  of  that 
house  shall  agree  to  pass  the  bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  objec- 
tions, to  the  other  house,  by  which  it  shall  likewise  be  reconsidered,  and  if 
approved  by  two-thirds  of  that  house,  it  shall  become  a  law.  But  in  all 
such  cases  the  votes  of  both  houses  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays, 
and  the  names  of  the  persons  voting  for  and  against  the  bill  shall  be  entered 
on  the  journal  of  each  house  respectively.  If  any  bill  shall  not  be  returned 
by  the  President  within  ten  days  (Sundays  excepted),  after  it  shall  have 
been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a  law,  in  like  manner  as  if  he 
had  signed  it,  unless  the  Congress,  by  their  adjournment,  prevent  its 
return,  in  which  case  it  shall  not  be  a  law. 

Every  order,  resolution,  or  vote  to  which  the  concurrence  of  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  may  be  necessary  (except  on  a 
question  of  adjournment),  shall  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  before  the  same  shall  take  effect  shall  be  approved  by 
him,  or,  being  disapproved  by  him,  shall  be  re-passed  by  two-thirds  of 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  according  to  the  rules  and  lim- 
itations prescribed  in  the  case  of  a  bill. 

SEC.  8.     The  Congress  shall  have  power — 

To  lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts  and  excises,  to  pay  the  debts, 
and  provide  for  the  common  defense  and  general  welfare  of  the  United 
States ;  but  all  duties,  imposts,  and  excises  shall  be  uniform  throughout 
the  United  States ; 

To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States ; 

To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  among  the  several 
States,  and  with  the  Indian  tribes  ; 

To  establish  a  uniform  rule  of  naturalization,  and  uniform  laws  on 
the  subject  of  bankruptcies  throughout  the  United  States  ; 

To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and  of  foreign  coin,  and 
fix  the  standard  of  weights  and  measures ; 

To  provide  for  the  punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  securities  and 
current  coin  of  the  United  States ; 

To  establish  post  offices  and  post  roads ; 


AND   ITS   AMENDMENTS.  163 

To  promote  the  progress  of  sciences  and  useful  arts,  by  securing, 
for  limited  times,  to  authors  and  inventors,  the  exclusive  right  to  their 
respective  writings  and  discoveries  ; 

To  constitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  Supreme  Court ; 

To  define  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies  committed  on  the  high 
seas,  and  offenses  against  the  law  of  nations ; 

To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal,  and  make  rules 
concerning  captures  on  land  and  water ; 

To  raise  and  support  armies,  but  no  appropriation  of  money  to  that 
use  shall  be  for  a  longer  term  than  two  years ; 

To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy ; 

To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regulation  of  the  land  and 
naval  forces ; 

To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the  laws  of  the 
Union,  suppress  insurrections,  and  repel  invasions  ; 

To  provide  for  organizing,  arming  and  disciplining  the  militia,  and 
for  governing  such  part  of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  reserving  to  the  states  respectively  the  appointment  of  the 
officers,  and  the  authority  of  training  the  militia  according  to  the  disci- 
pline prescribed  by  Congress ; 

To  exercise  legislation  in  all  cases  whatsoever  over  such  district  (not 
exceeding  ten  miles  square)  as  may,  by  cession  of  particular  states,  and  the 
acceptance  of  Congress,  become  the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  and  to  exercise  like  authority  over  all  places  purchased  by  the 
consent  of  the  Legislature  of  the  state  in  which  the  same  shall  be,  for 
the  erection  of  forts,  magazines,  arsenals,  dock  yards,  and  other  needful 
buildings ;  and 

To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for  carrying 
into  execution  the  foregoing  powers,  and  all  other  powers  vested  by  this 
Constitution  in  the  government  of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  depart- 
lent  or  officer  thereof. 

SEC.  9.  The  migration  or  importation  of  such  persons  as  any  of  the 
states  now  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be  prohibited 
by  the  Congress  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight, 
but  a  tax  or  duty  may  be  imposed  on  such  importation,  not  exceeding  ten 
dollars  for  each  person. 

The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall  not  be  suspended, 
unless  when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion  the  public  safety  may 
require  it. 

No  bill  of  attainder  or  ex  post  facto  law  shall  be  passed. 

No  capitation  or  other  direct  tax  shall  be  laid,  unless  in  proportion 
to  the  census  or  enumeration  hereinbefore  directed  to  be  taken. 

No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on  articles  exported  from  any  state. 

No  preference  shall  be  given  by  any  regulation  of  commerce  or  rev- 
enue to  the  ports  of  one  state  over  those  of  another;  nor  shall  vessels 
bound  to  or  from  one  state  be  obliged  to  enter,  clear,  or  pay  duties  in 
another. 

No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  Treasury,  but  in  consequence  of 
appropriations  made  by  law ;  and  a  regular  statement  and  account  of 
the  receipts  and  expeditures  of  all  public  money  shall  be  published  from 
time  to  time. 


164  CONSTITUTION   OF   THE  UNITED   STATES 

No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United  States :  and  no 
person  holding  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  under  them,  shall,  without  the 
consent  of  the  Congress,  accept  of  any  present,  emolument,  office,  or  title 
of  any  kind  whatever,  from  any  king,  prince,  or  foreign  state. 

SEC.  10.  No  state  shall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or  confeder- 
ation ;  grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal ;  coin  money ;  emit  bills  of 
credit ;  make  anything  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender  in  payment  of 
debts ;  pass  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex  post  facto  law,  or  law  impairing  the 
obligation  of  contracts,  or  grant  any  title  of  nobility. 

No  state  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  lay  any  imposts 
or  duties  on  imports  or  exports,  except  what  may  be  absolutely  necessary 
for  executing  its  inspection  laws,  and  the  net  produce  of  all  duties  and 
imposts  laid  by  any  state  on  imports  or  exports,  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the 
Treasury  of  the  United  States ;  and  all  such  laws  shall  be  subject  to  the 
revision  and  control  of  the  Congress. 

No  state  shall,  without  the  consent  of  Congress,  lay  any  duty  on 
tonnage,  keep  troops  or  ships  of  war  in  time  of  peace,  enter  into  any 
agreement  or  compact  with  another  state,  or  with  a  foreign  power,  or 
engage  in  war,  unless  actually  invaded,  or  in  such  imminent  danger  as  will 
not  admit  of  delay. 

ARTICLE  II. 

SECTION  1.  The  Executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  President  of 
the  United  States  of  America.  He  shall  hold  his  office  during  the  term 
of  four  years,  and,  together  with  the  Vice-President  chosen  for  the  same 
term,  be  elected  as  follows : 

Each  state  shall  appoint,  in  such  manner  as  the  Legislature  thereof 
may  direct,  a  number  of  Electors,  equal  to  the  whole  number  of  Senators 
and  Representatives  to  which  the  state  may  be  entitled  in  the  Congress ; 
but  no  Senator  or  Representative,  or  person  holding  an  office  of  trust  or 
profit  under  the  United  States,  shall  be  appointed  an  Elector. 

[  *  The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  states,  and  vote  by 
ballot  for  two  persons,  of  whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be  an  inhabitant  of 
the  same  state  with  themselves.  And  they  shall  make  a  list  of  all  the 
persons  voted  for,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each  ;  which  list  the}7 
shall  sign  and  certify,  and  transmit,  sealed,  to  the  seat  of  the  government 
of  the  United  States,  directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate.  The  Pres- 
ident of  the  Senate  shall,  in  the  presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, open  all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted. 
The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  shall  be  the  President, 
if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  Electors  appointed ; 
and  if  there  be  more  than  one  who  have  such  majority,  and  have  an  equal 
number  of  votes,  then  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  immediately 
choose  by  ballot  one  of  them  for  President ;  and  if  no  person  have  a  ma- 
jority, then  from  the  five  highest  on  the  list  the  said  House  shall  in  like 
manner  choose  the  President.  But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  vote 
shall  be  taken  by  states,  the  representation  from  each  state  having  one 
vote  ;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a  member  or  members 
from  two-thirds  of  the  states,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  states  shall  be 
necessary  to  a  choice.  In  every  case,  after  the  choice  of  the  President, 

*  This  clause  between,brackets  has  been  superseded  and  annulled  by  the  Twelfth.amendment, 


AND    ITS   AMENDMENTS.  165 

the  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  of  the  Electors  shall  be 
the  Vice-President.  But  if  there  should  remain  two  or  more  who  have 
equal  votes,  the  Senate  shall  choose  from  them  by  ballot  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent.] 

The  Congress  may  determine  the  time  of  choosing  the  Electors,  and 
the  day  on  which  they  shall  give  their  votes ;  which  day  shall  be  the  same 
throughout  the  United  States. 

No  person  except  a  natural  born  citizen,  or  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  eligible 
to  the  office  of  President ;  neither  shall  any  person  be  eligible  to  that 
office  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  thirty-five  years,  and  been 
fourteen  years  a  resident  within  the  United  States. 

In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from  office,  or  of  his  death, 
resignation,  or  inability  to  discharge  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  said 
office,  the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice-President,  and  the  Congress 
may  by  law  provide  for  the  case  of  removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inabil- 
ity, both  of  the  President  and  Vice-President,  declaring  what  officer  shall 
then  act  as  President,  and  such  officer  shall  act  accordingly,  until  the  dis- 
ability be  removed,  or  a  President  shall  be  elected. 

The  President  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for  his  services  a  com- 
pensation which  shall  neither  be  increased  nor  diminished  during  the 
period  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected,  and  he  shall  not  receive 
within  that  period  any  other  emolument  from  the  United  States  or  any  of 
them. 

Before  he  enters  on  the  execution  of  his  office,  he  shall  take  the  fol- 
lowing oath  or  affirmation : 

"  I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully  execute  the 
office  of  President  of  the  United  States,  and  will,  to  the  best  of  my  ability, 
preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States." 

SEC.  2.  The  President  shall  be  commander  in  chief  of  the  army  and 
navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  militia  of  the  several  states,  when 
called  into  the  actual  service  of  the  United  States ;  he  may  require  the 
opinion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal  officer  in  each  of  the  executive 
departments,  upon  any  subject  relating  to  the  duties  of  their  respective 
offices,  and  he  shall  have  power  to  grant  reprieves  and  pardon  for  offenses 
against  the  United  States,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment. 

He  shall  have  power,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
Senate,  to  make  treaties,  provided  two-thirds  of  the  Senators  present  con- 
cur; and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  Senate, 
shall  appoint  ambassadors,  other  public  'ministers  and  consuls,  judges  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  and  all  other  officers  of  the  United  States  whose 
appointments  are  not  herein  otherwise  provided  for,  and  which  shall  be 
established  by  law ;  but  the  Congress  may  by  law  vest  the  appointment 
of  such  inferior  officers  as  they  think  proper  in  the  President  alone,  in 
the  courts  of  law,  or  in  the  heads  of  departments. 

The  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  up  all  vacancies  that  may 
happen  during  the  recess  of  the  Senate,  by  granting  commissions  which 
shall  expire  at  the  end  of  their  next  session. 

SEC.  3.  He  shall  from  time  to  time  give  to  the  Congress  information 
of  the  state  of  the  Union,  and  recommend  to  their  consideration  such  mea- 
sures as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient ;  he  may  on  extraordinary 


166  CONSTITUTION  OF   THE  UNITED   STATES 

occasions  convene  both  houses,  or  either  of  them,  and  in  case  of  disagree- 
ment between  them,  with  respect  to  the  time  of  adjournment,  he  may 
adjourn  them  to  such  time  as  he  shall  think  proper ;  he  shall  receive 
ambassadors  and  other  public  ministers ;  he  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be 
faithfully  executed,  and  shall  commission  all  the  officers  of  the  United 
States. 

SEC.  4.  The  President,  Vice-President,  and  all  civil  officers  of  the 
United  States,  shall  be  removed  from  office  on  impeachment  for,  and  con- 
viction of,  treason,  bribery,  or  other  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE  III. 

SECTION  I.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  be  vested 
in  one  Supreme  Court,  and  such  inferior  courts  as  the  Congress  may  from 
time  to  time  ordain  and  establish.  The  Judges,  both  of  the  Supreme  and 
inferior  courts,  shall  hold  their  offices  during  good  behavior,  and  shall,  at 
stated  times,  receive  for  their  services  a  compensation,  which  shall  not  be 
diminished  during  their  continuance  in  office. 

SEC.  2.  The  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all  cases,  in  law  and 
equity,  arising  under  this  Constitution,  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and 
treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  their  authority ;  to  all  cases 
affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers,  and  consuls ;  to  all  cases  of 
admiralty  and  maritime  jurisdiction  ;  to  controversies  to  which  the  United 
States  shall  be  a  party ;  to  controversies  between  two  or  more  states ; 
between  a  state  and  citizens  of  another  state  ;  between  citizens  of  differ- 
ent states ;  between  citizens  of  the  same  state  claiming  lands  under  grants 
of  different  states,  and  between  a  state  or  the  citizens  thereof,  and  foreign 
states,  citizens,  or  subjects. 

In  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers,  and  consuls, 
and  those  in  which  a  state  shall  be  a  party,  the  Supreme  Court  shall  have 
original  jurisdiction. 

In  all  the  other  cases  before  mentioned,  the  Supreme  Court  shall 
have  appellate  jurisdiction,  both  as  to  law  and  fact,  with  such  exceptions 
and  under  such  regulations  as  the  Congress  shall  make. 

The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment,  shall  be  by 
jury ;  and  such  trial  shall  be  held  in  the  state  where  the  said  crimes  shall 
have  been  committed ;  but  when  not  committed  within  any  state,  the 
trial  shall  be  at  such  place  or  places  as  the  Congress  may  by  law  have 
directed. 

SEC.  3.  Treason  against  the  United  States  shall  consist  only  in  levy- 
ing war  against  them,  or  in  adhering  to  their  enemies,  giving  them  aid 
and  comfort.  No  person  shall  be  convicted  of  treason  unless  on  the  tes- 
timony of  two  witnesses  to  the  same  overt  act,  or  on  confession  in  open 
court. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  declare  the  punishment  of  treason, 
but  no  attainder  of  treason  shall  work  corruption  of  blood,  or  forfeiture, 
except  during  the  life  of  the  person  attainted. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

SECTION  1.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in  each  state  to  the 
public  acts,  records,  and  judicial  proceedings  of  every  other  state.  And 


AND    ITS    AMENDMENTS.  167 

the  Congress  may,  by  general  laws,  prescribe  the  manner  in  which  such 
acts,  records,  and  proceedings  shall  be  proved,  and  the  effect  thereof. 

SEC.  2.  The  citizens  of  each  state  shall  be  entitled  to  all  privileges 
and  immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several  states. 

A  person  charged  in  any  state  with  treason,  felony,  or  other  crime, 
who  shall  flee  from  justice  and  be  found  in  another  state,  shall,  on  demand 
of  the  executive  authority  of  the  state  from  which  he  fled,  be  delivered 
up,  to  be  removed  to  the  state  having  jurisdiction  of  the  crime. 

No  person  held  to  service  or  labor  in  one  state,  under  the  laws  thereof 
escaping  into  another,  shall,  in  consequence  of  any  law  or  regulation 
therein,  be  discharged  from  such  service  or  labor,  but  shall  be  delivered 
up  on  the  claim  of  the  party  to  whom  such  service  or  labor  may  be  due. 

SEC.  3.  New  states  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congress  into  this  Union ; 
but  no  new  state  shall  be  formed  or  erected  within  the  jurisdiction  of  any 
other  state  ;  nor  any  state  be  formed  by  the  junction  of  two  or  more  states, 
or  parts  of  states,  without  the  consent  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  states 
concerned,  as  well  as  of  the  Congress. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  and  make  all  needful 
rules  and  regulations  respecting  the  territory  or  other  property  belonging 
to  the  United  States ;  and  nothing  in  this  Constitution  shall  be  so  construed 
as  to  prejudice  any  claims  of  the  United  States  or  of  any  particular  state. 

SEC.  4.  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  state  in  this 
Union  a  republican  form  of  government,  and  shall  protect  each  of  them 
against  invasion,  and  on  application  of  the  Legislature,  or  of  the  Execu- 
tive (when  the  Legislature  can  not  be  convened),  against  domestic  vio- 
lence. 

ARTICLE  V. 

The  Congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of  both  houses  shall  deem  it 
necessary,  shall  propose  amendments  to  this  Constitution,  or,  on  the  ap- 
plication of  the  Legislatures  of  two-thirds  of  the  several  states,  shall  call 
a  convention  for  proposing  amendments,  which,  in  either  case,  shall  be 
valid  to  all  intents  and  purposes  as  part  of  this  Constitution,  when  rati- 
fied by  the  Legislatures  of  three  fourths  of  the  several  states,  or  by  con- 
ventions in  three-fourths  thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other  mode  of  ratifi- 
cation may  be  proposed  by  the  Congress.  Provided  that  no  amendment 
which  may  be  made  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eight  shall  in  any  manner  affect  the  first  and  fourth  clauses  in  the  ninth 
section  of  the  first  article ;  and  that  no  state,  without  its  consent,  shall 
be  deprived  of  its  equal  suffrage  in  the  Senate. 

ABTICLE  VI. 

All  debts  contracted  and  engagements  entered  into  before  the  adop- 
tion of  this  Constitution  shall  be  as  valid  against  the  United  States  under 
this  Constitution  as  under  the  Confederation. 

This  Constitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  which  shall  be 
made  in  pursuance  thereof,  and  all  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made, 
under  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the 
land ;  and  the  Judges  in  every  state  shall  be  bound  thereby,  anything  in 
the  Constitution  or  laws  of  any  state  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

The  Senators  and  Representatives  before  mentioned,  and  the  mem- 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE    UNITED    STATES 


bers  of  the  several  state  Legislatures,  and  all  executive  and  judicial  offi- 
cers, both  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  several  states,  shall  be  bound 
by  oath  or  affirmation  to  support  this  Constitution  ;  but  no  religious  test 
shall  ever  be  required  as  a  qualification  to  any  office  or  public  trust  under 
the  United  States. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

The  ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  nine  states  shall  be  sufficient 
for  the  establishment  of  this  Constitution  between  the  states  so  ratifying 
the  same. 

Done  in  convention  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  states  present,  the 
seventeenth  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  and  of  the  independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America  the  twelfth.  In  witness  whereof  we  have 
hereunto  subscribed  our  names. 

GEO.  WASHINGTON, 
President  and  Deputy  from  Virginia. 


New  Hampshire. 
JOHN  LANGDON, 
NICHOLAS  GILMAN. 

Massachusetts. 
NATHANIEL  GORHAM, 
RUFUS  KING. 

Connecticut. 
WM.  SAM'L  JOHNSON, 
ROGER  SHERMAN. 

New  York. 
ALEXANDER  HAMILTON. 

New  Jersey. 
WIL.  LIVINGSTON, 
WM.  PATERSON, 
DAVID  BREARLEY, 
JONA.  DAYTON. 

Pennsylv  ania. 
B.  FRANKLIN, 
ROBT.  MORRIS, 
THOS.  FITZSIMONS, 
JAMES  WILSON, 
THOS.  MIFFLIN, 
GEO.  CLYMER, 
JARED  INGERSOLL, 
Gouv.  MORRIS. 


Delaware. 
GEO.  READ, 
JOHN  DICKINSON, 
JACO.  BROOM, 
GUNNING  BEDFORD,  JR., 
RICHARD  BASSETT. 

Maryland. 
JAMES  M' HENRY, 
DANL.  CARROLL, 
DAN.  OF  ST.  THOS.  JENIFER. 

Virginia. 
JOHN  BLAIR, 
JAMES  MADISON,  JR. 

North  Carolina. 
WM.  BLOUNT, 
Hu.  WILLIAMSON, 
RICH'D  DOBBS  SPAIGHT. 

South  Carolina. 
J.  RUTLEDGE, 
CHARLES  PINCKNEY, 
CHAS.  COTESWORTH  PINCKNEY, 
PIERCE  BUTLER. 

G-eorgia. 

WILLIAM  FEW, 
ABR.  BALDWIN. 

WILLIAM  JACKSON,  Secretary. 


AND  ITS    AMENDMENTS.  169 


ARTICLES  IN  ADDITION  TO  AND  AMENDATORY  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION 
OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA* 

Proposed  by  Congress  and  ratified  by  the  Legislatures  of  the  several  states, 
pursuant  to  the  fifth  article  of  the  original  Constitution. 

ARTICLE  I. 

Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establishment  of  religion, 
or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof;  or  abridging  the  freedom  of 
speech,  or  of  the  press;  or  the  right  of  the  people  peaceably  to  assemble, 
and  to  petition  the  Government  for  a  redress  of  grievances. 

ARTICLE  II. 

A  well  regulated  militia  being  necessary  to  the  security  of  a  free 
state,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  arms  shall  not  be  infringed. 

ARTICLE  III. 

No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any  house  without 
the  consent  of  the  owner,  nor  in  time  of  war  but  in  a  manner  to  be  pre- 
scribed by  law. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses,  papers* 
and  effects  against  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be  vio- 
lated ;  and  no  warrants  shall  issue  but  upon  probable  cause,  supported  by 
oath  or  affirmation,  and  particularly  describing  the  place  to  be  searched 
and  the  persons  or  things  to  be  seized. 

ARTICLE  V. 

No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital  or  otherwise  infamous 
crime,  unless  on  a  presentment  or  indictment  of  a  Grand  Jury,  except  in 
cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the  militia  when  in  actual 
service  in  time  of  war  or  public  danger ;  nor  shall  any  person  be  subject 
for  the  same  offense  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of  life  or  limb  ;  nor  shall 
be  compelled  in  any  criminal  case  to  be  a  witness  against  himself,  nor  be 
deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due  process  of  law ;  nor 
shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public  use,  without  just  compensation. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  enjoy  the  right  to  a 
speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  state  and  district 
wherein  the  crime  shall  have  been  committed,  which  district  shall  have 
been  previously  ascertained  by  law,  and  to  be  informed  of  the  nature  and 
cause  of  the  accusation  ;  to  be  confronted  with  the  witnesses  against  him ; 
to  have  compulsory  process  for  obtaining  witnesses  in  his  favor ;  and  to 
have  the  assistance  of  counsel  for  his  defense. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  controversy  shall  exceed 
twenty  Hollars,  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  preserved,  and  no  fact 


170  CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   UNITED    STATES 

tried  by  a  jury  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined  in  any  court  of  the  United 
States  than  according  to  the  rules  of  the  common  law. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive  fines  imposed, 
nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

The  enumeration,  in  the  Constitution,  of  certain  rights,  shall  not  be 
construed  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by  the  people. 

ARTICLE  X. 

The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by  the  Constitution, 
nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  states,  are  reserved  to  the  states  respectively, 
or  to  the  people. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  not  be  construed  to 
extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity  commenced  or  prosecuted  against  one 
of  the  United  States  by  citizens  of  another  state,  or  by  citizens  or  sub- 
jects of  any  foreign  state. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  states  and  vote  by  ballot 
for  President  and  Vice-President,  one  of  whom,  at  least,  shall  not  be  an 
inhabitant  of  the  same  state  with  themselves ;  they  shall  name  in  their 
ballots  the  person  to  be  voted  for  as  president,  and  in  distinct  ballots  the 
person  voted  for  as  Vice-President,  and  they  shall  make  distinct  lists  of 
all  persons  voted  for  as  President,  and  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  Vice- 
President,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each,  which  list  they  shall  sign 
and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate.  The  President  of  the 
Senate  shall,  in  presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives, 
open  all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted.  The  person 
having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  for  President  shall  be  the  President, 
if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  Electors  appointed ; 
and  if  no  person  have  such  majority,  then  from  the  persons  having  the 
highest  number  not  exceeding  three  on  the  list  of  those  voted  for  as 
President,  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  immediately,  by 
ballot,  the  President.  But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  votes  shall  be 
taken  by  States,  the  representation  from  each  state  having  one  vote;  a 
quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a  member  or  members  from  two- 
thirds  of  the  states,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  states  shall  be  necessary  to 
a  choice.  And  if  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  not  choose  a  Presi- 
dent whenever  the  right  of  choice  shall  devolve  upon  them,  before  the 
fourth  day  of  March  next  following,  then  the  Vice-President  shall  act  as 
President,  as  in  the  case  of  the  death  or  other  constitutional  disability  of 
the  President.  The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  as  Vice- 
President,  shall  be  the  Vice-President,  if  such  number  be  the  majority 
of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed,  and  if  no  person  have  a  major- 


AND  ITS  AMENDMENTS.  171 

ity,  then  from  the  two  highest  numbers  on  the  list,  the  Senate  shall  choose 
the  Vice-President ;  a  quorum  for  the  purpose  shall  consist  of  two-thirds 
of  the  whole  number  of  Senators,  and  a  majority  of  the  whole  number 
shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  But  no  person  constitutionally  ineligible 
to  the  office  of  President  shall  be  eligible  to  that  of  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States. 

ARTICLE  XIII. 

SECTION  1.  Neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude,  except  as  a 
punishment  for  crime,  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted, 
shall  exist  within  the  United  States,  or  any  place  subject  to  their  juris- 
diction. 

SEC.  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  article  by  appro- 
priate legislation. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 

SECTION  1.  All  persons  born  or  naturalized  in  the  United  States  and 
subject  to  the  jurisdiction  thereof,  are  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and 
of  the  state  wherein  they  reside.  No  state  shall  make  or  enforce  any  law 
which  shall  abridge  the  privileges  or  immunities  of  citizens  of  the  United 
States;  nor  shall  any  state  deprive  any  person  of  life,  liberty,  or  property, 
without  due  process  of  law,  nor  deny  to  any  person  within  its  jurisdiction 
the  equal  protection  of  the  laws. 

SEC.  2.  Representatives  shall  be  appointed  among  the  several  states 
according  to  their  respective  numbers,  counting  the  whole  number  of  per- 
sons in  each  state,  excluding  Indians  not  taxed;  but  when  the  right  to 
vote  at  any  election  for  the  choice  of  Electors  for  President  and  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States,  Representatives  in  Congress,  the  execu- 
tive and  judicial  officers  of  a  state,  or  the  members  of  the  Legislature 
thereof,  is  denied  to  any  of  the  male  inhabitants  of  such  state,  being 
twenty-one  years  of  age  and  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  way 
abridged  except  for  participation  in  rebellion  or  other  crimes,  the  basis  of 
representation  therein  shall  be  reduced  in  the  proportion  which  the  num- 
ber of  such  male  citizens  shall  bear  to  the  whole  number  of  male  citizens 
twenty-one  years  of  age  in  such  state. 

SEC.  3.  No  person  shall  be  a  Senator  or  Representative  in  Congress, 
or  Elector  of  President  and  Vice-President,  or  hold  any  office,  civil  or 
military,  under  the  United  States,  or  under  any  state,  who,  having  previ- 
ously taken  an  oath  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  or  as  an  officer  of  the 
United  States,  or  as  a  member  of  any  state  Legislature,  or  as  an  execu- 
tive or  judicial  officer  of  any  state  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  shall  have  engaged  in  insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the 
same,  or  given  aid  or  comfort  to  the  enemies  thereof.  But  Congress  mav 
by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  each  house,  remove  such  disability. 

SEC.  4.  The  validity  of  the  public  debt  of  the  United  States  author- 
ized by  law,  including  debts  incurred  for  payment  of  pensions  and  boun- 
ties for  services  in  suppressing  insurrection  or  rebellion,  shall  not  be  ques- 
tioned. But  neither  the  United  States  nor  any  state  shall  pay  any  debt 
or  obligation  incurred  in  the  aid  of  insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the 
United  States,  or  any  loss  or  emancipation  of  any  slave,  but  such  debts, 
obligations,  and  claims  shall  be  held  illegal  and  void. 


172 


CONSTITUTION   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES. 


SEC.  5.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce,  by  appropriate 
legislation,  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

ARTICLE  XV. 

SECTION  1.  The  right  of  citizens  of  the  United  States  to  vote  shall 
not  be  denied  or  abridged  by  the  United  States,  or  by  any  state,  on 
account  of  race,  color,  or  previous  condition  of  servitude. 

SEC.  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  article  by  appro- 
priate legislation. 


ELECTORS  OF  PRESIDENT  AND  VICE-PRESIDENT. 
NOVEMBER  7,  1876. 


COUNTIES. 

Hayes  and 
Wheeler, 
Republican. 

Tilden  and 
Hendricks, 
Democrat. 

PeterCooper 
Greenback. 

Smith, 
Prohibition 

Anti-Secret  1 
Societies. 

COUNTIES. 

Hayes  and 
Wheeler, 
Republican. 

Tilden  and 
Hendricks, 
Democrat. 

PeterCooper 
Greenback. 

Smith, 
Prohibition. 

Anti-Secret 
Societies.li 

Adams  

4953 

6308 

41 

17 

Livingston  

355(J 

2134 

117CJ 

3 

Alexander  

1219 

1280 

Logan  

2788 

2595 

37 

Bond  

1520 

1142 

17 

Macon  

3120 

2782 

268 

16 

Ill  10  111-  

1965 

363 

43 

•> 

Macoupin  

3567 

4076 

114 

944 

1495 

183 

I 

4554 

4730 

39 

j 

Bureau  

3719 

2218 

145 

2 

11 

Marion  

2009 

2444 

209 

Calhoun  

4'41 

900 

Marshall  

1553 

1430 

135 

1 

Carroll  

2231 

918 

111 

1 

3 

Mason  

1566 

1939 

86 

3 

1209 

1618 

74 

7 

1231 

793 

20 

Champaign  

4530 

3103 

604 

1 

McDonough  

2952 

2811 

347 

Christian  .. 

2501 

3287 

207 

1 

6 

McHenry  

3465 

1874 

34 

3 

Clark  ... 

1814 

2197 

236 

9 

6363 

4410 

518 

g 

•j 

Clay  

1416 

1541 

112 

Menard  

1115 

1657 

10 

Clinton  

1329 

1989 

132 

2209 

1428 

90 

3 

2957 

2822 

102 

845 

1651 

7 

Cook  

36548 

39240 

277 

Montgomery  '. 

2486 

3013 

201 

1355 

1643 

38 

3069 

3174 

109 

3 

Cumberland  .  .  . 

1145 

1407 

129 

Moultrie  

1245 

1672 

28 

DeKalb  .. 

3679 

1413 

65 

3 

Ogle  

3833 

1921 

104 

g 

DeWltt  

1928 

1174 

746 

10 

3 

Peoria  

4665 

5443 

95 

Douglas  

1631 

1357 

94 

Pope  

1319 

800 

5 

2129 

1276 

25 

3 

1541 

1383 

48 

Edgar  

2715 

2883 

161 

piatt  

1807 

1316 

117 

Edwards  

970 

466 

61 

Pike...,      

3055 

4040 

35 

1 

4 

1145 

2265 

43 

Pulaski   

1043 

772 

Fayette  

1881 

2421 

57 

Putnam  

646 

459 

14 

Ford 

1601 

742 

204 

2357 

2589 

2 

Franklin  

966 

1302 

391 

Richland  

1410 

1552 

55 

Fulton  .. 

4187 

4669 

89 

1 

3912 

2838 

27 

Gallatin  

703 

1140 

282 

<} 

Saline  

980 

1081 

fill 

Greene  

1695 

3160 

1 

9 

4851 

5847 

29 

Grundy  

1996 

1142 

108 

Schuyler  

1522 

1804 

115 

Hamilton  

627 

1433 

770 

4 

Scott.  .  .  . 

910 

1269 

182 

Hancock 

3496 

4207 

Shelby   

2069 

3553 

341 

Hardin  

330 

611 

134 

Stark  

1140 

786 

96 

Henderson  

1315 

1015 

St.  Clair  

4708 

5891 

99 

1 

Henry  

4177 

1928 

340 

.1 

6 

Stephenson  

3198 

2758 

26 

3 

Iroquois  

3768 

2578 

249 

M 

1 

Tazewell  

2850 

3171 

44 

V 

i 

Jackson  

2040 

2071 

106 

978 

2155 

3 

Jasper  

Vermilion  

4372 

3031 

288 

9 

1346 

1667 

647 

650 

936 

207 

Jersey  

1345 

2166 

1° 

Warren  

2795 

1984 

138 

1 

2907 

2276 

140 

<> 

3 

1911 

1671 

39 

Johnson  

1367 

893 

61 

1570 

1751 

482 

Kane  

5398 

2850 

172 

5 

White  

1297 

2066 

469 

4 

Kankakee  

2627 

1363 

26 

2 

Whiteside  

3851 

2131 

133 

R 

1 

Kendall 

1869 

524 

309 

Will 

4770 

3999 

677 

Knox  

5235 

2632 

141 

1 

Williamson  

1672 

1644 

41 

Lake  

2619 

1647 

55 

1 

Winnel>ago  

4505 

1568 

70 

13 

9 

LaSalle  

6277 

6001 

514 

15 

Woodf  ord  

1733 

2105 

237 

1 

4 

•  H98 

1329 

27 

Lee  ... 

3087 

2080 

100 

2 

6 

Total... 

275958 

257099 

16951 

130 

157 

PRACTICAL  RULES  FOR  EVERY  DAY  USE. 


Sow  to  find  the  gain  or  loss  per  cent,  when  the  cost  and  selling  price 
art  given. 

RULE. — Find  the  difference  between  the  cost  and  selling  price,  which 
will  be  the  gain  or  loss. 

Annex  two  ciphers  to   the  gain  or  loss,  and  divide  it  by  the  cost 

price  ;  the  result  will  be  the  gain  or  loss  per  cent. 

i 
How  to  change  gold  into  currency. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  given  sum  of  gold  by  the  price  of  gold. 

How  to  change  currency  into  gold. 

Divide  the  amount  in  currency  by  the  price  of  gold. 

How  to  find  each  partner's  share  of  the  gain  or  loss  in  a  copartnership 
business. 

RULE. — Divide  the  whole  gain  or  loss  by  the  entire  stock,  the  quo- 
tient will  be  the  gain  or  loss  per  cent. 

«  Multiply  each  partner's  stock  by  this  per  cent.,  the  result  will  be 
each  one's  share  of  the  gain  or  loss. 

How  to  find  gross  and  net  weight  and  price  of  hogs. 

A  short  and  simple  method  for  finding  the  net  weight,  or  price  of  hogs, 
when  the  gross  weight  or  price  is  given,  and  vice  versa. 

NOTE.— It  Is  generally  assumed  that  the  gross  weight  of  Hogs  diminished  by  1-5  or  20  per  cent, 
of  itself  gives  the  net  weight,  and  the  net  weight  increased  l>y  K  or  25  per  cent,  of  itself  equals  the 
gross  weight. 

To  find  the  net  weight  or  gross  price. 

Multiply  the  given  number  by  .8  (tenths.) 

To  find  the  gross  weight  or  net  price. 

Divide  the  given  number  by  .8  (tenths.) 

How  to  find  the  capacity  of  a  granary,  bin,  or  wagon-bed. 

RULE. — Multiply  (by  short  method)  the  number  of  cubic  feet  by 
6308,  and  point  off  ONE  decimal  place — the  result  will  be  the  correct 
answer  in  bushels  and  tenths  of  a  bushel. 

For  only  an  approximate  answer,  multiply  the  cubic  feet  by  8,  and 
point  off  one  decimal  place. 

How  to  find  the  contents  of  a  corn-crib. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  number  of  cubic  feet  by  54,  short  method,  or 


174  MISCELLANEOUS    INFORMATION. 

by  4£  ordinary  method,  and  point  off  ONE  decimal  place — the  result  wili 
be  the  answer  in  bushels. 

NOTE.— In  estimating  corn  in  the  ear,  the  quality  and  the  time  it  lias  been  cribbed  must  be  taken 
into  consideration,  since  corn  will  shrink  considerably  during  the  Winter  and  Spring.  This  rule  generally  lioldi 
good  for  corn  measured  at  the  time  it  is  cribbed,  provided  it  is  sound  and  clean. 

How  to  find  the  contents  of  a  cistern  or  tank. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  square  of  the  mean  diameter  by  the  depth  (all 
in  feet)  and  this  product   by  5681   (short  method),  and  point  off  ONE* 
decimal  place — the  result  will  be  the  contents  in  barrels  of  31£  gallons. 

How  to  find  the  contents  of  a  barrel  or  cask. 

RULE. — Under  the  square  of  the  mean  diameter,  write  the  length 
(all  in  inches)  in  REVERSED  order,  so  that  its  UNITS  will  fall  under  the 
TENS  ;  multiply  by  short  method,  and  this  product  again  by  430  ;  point 
off  one  decimal  place,  and  the  result  will  be  the  answer  in  wine  gallons. 

How  to  measure  boards. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  length  (in  feet)  by  the  width  (in  inches)  and 
divide  the  product  by  12 — the  result  will  be  the  contents  in  square  feet. 

How  to  measure  scantlings,  joists,  planks,  sills,  etc. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  width,  the  thickness,  and  the  length  together 
(the  width  and  thickness  in  inches,  and  the  length  in  feet),  and  divide 
the  product  by  12 — the  result  will  be  square  feet. 

How  to  find  the  number  of  acres  in  a  body  of  land. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  length  by  the  width  (in  rods),  and  divide  the 
product  by  160  (carrying  the  division  to  2  decimal  places  if  there  is  a 
remainder)  ;  the  result  will  be  the  answer  in  acres  and  hundredths. 

When  the  opposite  sides  of  a  piece  of  land  are  of  unequal  length, 
add  them  together  and  take  one-half  for  the  mean  length  or  width. 

How  to  find  the  number  of  square  yards  in  a  floor  or  wall. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  length  by  the  width  or  height  (in  feet),  and 
divide  the  product  by  9,  the  result  will  be  square  yards. 

How  to  find  the  number  of  bricks  required  in  a  building. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  number  of  cubic  feet  by  22£. 

The  number  of  cubic  feet  is  found  by  multiplying  the  length,  height 
and  thickness  (in  feet)  together. 

Bricks  are  usually  made  8  inches  long,  4  inches  wide,  and  two  inches 
thick  ;  hence,  it  requires  27  bricks  to  make  a  cubic  foot  without  mortar, 
but  it  is  generally  assumed  that  the  mortar  fills  1-6  of  the  space. 

How  to  find  the  number  of  shingles  required  in  a  roof. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  number  of  square  feet  in  the  roof  by  8,  if  the 
shingles  are  exposed  4£  inches,  or  by  7  1-5  if  exposed  5  inches. 

To  find  the  number  of  square  feet,  multiply  the  length  of  the  roof  by 
twice  the  length  of  the  rafters. 


MISCELLANEOUS    INFORMATION.  175 

To  find  the  length  of  the  rafters,  at  ONE-FOURTH  pitch,  multiply  the 
width  of  the  building  by  .56  (hundredths) ;  at  ONE-THIRD  pitch,  by  .6 
(tenths)  ;  at  TWO-FIFTHS  pitch,  by  .64  (hundredths)  ;  at  ONE-HALF 
pitch,  by  .71  (hundredths).  This  gives  the  length  of  the  rafters  from 
the  apex  to  the  end  of  the  wall,  and  whatever  they  are  to  project  must  be 
taken  into  consideration. 

NOTK.— By  K  or  J£  pitch  fc  meant  that  the  apex  or  comb  of  the  roof  is  to  be  K  or  M  the  width  of  the 
building  higher  than  the  walls  or  base  of  the  rafters. 

How  to  reckon  the  cost  of  hay, 

RULE. — Multiply  the  number  of  pounds  by  half  the  price  per  ton, 
and  remove  the  decimal  point  three  places  to  the  left. 

How  to  measure  grain. 

RULE. — Level  the  grain ;  ascertain  the  space  it  occupies  in  cubic 
feet ;  multiply  the  number  of  cubic  feet  by  8,  and  point  off  one  place  to 
the  left. 

NOTE.— Exactness  requires  the  addition  to  every  three  hundred  bushels  of  one  extra  bushel. 

The  foregoing  rule  may  be  used  for  finding  the  number  of  gallons,  by 
multiplying  the  number  of  bushels  by  8. 

If  the  corn  in  the  box  is  in  the  ear,  divide  the  answer  by  2,  to  find 
the  number  of  bushels  of  shelled  corn,  because  it  requires  2  bushels  of  eai 
corn  to  make  1  of  shelled  corn. 

Rapid  rules  for  measuring  land  without  instruments. 

In  measuring  land,  the  first  thing  to  ascertain  is  the  contents  of  any 
given  plot  in  square  yards  ;  then,  given  the  number  of  yards,  find  out  the 
number  of  rods  and  acres. 

The  most  ancient  and  simplest  measure  of  distance  is  a  step.  Now, 
an  ordinary-sized  man  can  train  himself  to  cover  one  yard  at  a;  stride,  on 
the  average,  with  sufficient  accuracy  for  ordinary  purposes. 

To  make  use  of  this  means  of  measuring  distances,  it  is  essential  to 
walk  in  a  straight  line  ;  to  do  this,  fix  the  eye  on  two  objects  in  a  line 
straight  ahead,  one  comparatively  near,  the  other  remote  ;  and,  in  walk- 
ing, keep  these  objects  constantly  in  line. 

Farmers  and  others  by  adopting  the  following  simple  and  ingenious  con- 
trivance, may  always  carry  with  them  the  scale  to  construct  a  correct  yard 
•measure. 

Take  a  foot  rule,  and  commencing  at  the  base  of  the  little  finger  of 
the  left  hand,  mark  the  quarters  of  the  foot  on  the  outer  borders  of  the 
left  arm,  pricking  in  the  marks  with  indelible  ink. 

To  find  how  many  rods  in  length  will  make  an  acre,  the  width  being  given. 
RULE. — Divide  160  by  the  width,  and  the  quotient  will  be  the  answer. 


176  MISCELLANEOUS    INFORMATION. 

How  to  find  the  number  of  acres  in  any  plot  of  land,  the  number  of  rods 
being  given. 

RULE. — Divide  the  number  of  rods  by  8,  multiply  the  quotient  by  5r 
and  remove  the  decimal  point  two  places  to  the  left. 

The. diameter  being  given,  to  find  the  circumference. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  diameter  by  3  1-7. 

How  to  find  the  diameter,  when  the  circumference  is  given. 

RULE. — Divide  the  circumference  by  3  1-7. 

To  find  hotv  many  solid  feet  a  round  stick  of  timber  of  the  same  thick- 
ness throughout  will  contain  when  squared. 

RULE. — Square  half  the  diameter  in  inches,  multiply  by  2,  multiply 
by  the  length  in  feet,  and  divide  the  product  by  144. 

Greneral  rule  for  measuring  timber,  to  find  the  solid  contents  in  feet. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  depth  in  inches  by  the  breadth  in  inches,  and 
then  multiply  by  the  length  in  feet,  and  divide  by  144. 

To  find  the  number  of  feet  of  timber  in  trees  with  the  bark  on. 

RULE. — Multiply  the  square  of  one-fifth  of  the  circumference  in 
inches,  by  twice  the  length,  in  feet,  and  divide  by  !*.44.  Deduct  1-10  to 
1-15  according  to  the  thickness  of  the  bark. 

Howard  s  new  rule  for  computing  interest. 

RULE. — The  reciprocal  of  the  rate  is  the  time  for  which  the  interest 
on  any  sum  of  money  will  be  shown  by  simply  removing  the  decimal 
point  two  places  to  the  left ;  for  ten  times  that  time,  remove  the  point 
one  place  to  the  left;  foi;  1-10  of  the  same  time,  remove  the  point  three 
places  to  the  left. 

Increase  or  diminish  the  results  to  suit  the  time  given. 

NOTE.— The  reciprocal  of  the  rate  is  found  l>y  inverting:  the  rate  ;  thus  3  per  cent.  IM-V  month,  in- 
verted, becomes  %  of  a  month,  or  10  days. 

When  the  rate  is  expressed  by  one  figure,  always  write  it  thus :  3-1, 
three  ones. 

Rule  for  converting  English  into  American  currency. 

Multiply  the  pounds,  with  the  shillings  and  pence  stated  in  decimals, 
by  400  plus  the  premium  in  fourths,  and  divide  the  product  by  90. 

U.  S.  GOVERNMENT  LAND  MEASURE. 

A  township — 36  sections  each  a  mile  square. 
A  section — 640  acres. 

A  quarter  section,  half  a  mile  square — 160  acres. 
An  eighth  section,  half  a  mile  long,  north  and  south,  and  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  wide — 80  acres. 

A  sixteenth  section,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  square — 40  acres. 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION.  177 

The  sections  are  all  numbered  1  to  36,  commencing  at  the  north-east 
corner. 

The  sections  are  divided  into  quarters,  which  are  named  by  the 
cardinal  points.  The  quarters  are  divided  in  the  same  way.  The  de- 
scription of  a  forty  acre  lot  would  read :  The  south  half  of  the  west  half  of 
the  south-west  quarter  of  section  1  in  township  24,  north  of  range  7  west, 
or  as  the  case  might  be ;  and  sometimes  will  fall  short  and  sometimes 
overrun  the  number  of  acres  it  is  supposed  to  contain. 

The  nautical  mile  is  795  4-5  feet  longer  than  the  common  mile. 

K                                       SURVEYORS'  MEASURE. 
92-100  inches make  1  link. 

^5  links' "     1  rod. 

4rods , "     1  chain. 

80  chains "     1  mile. 

NOTE. — A  chain  is  100  links,  equal  to  4  rods  or  66  feet. 

Shoemakers  formerly  used  a  subdivision  of  the  inch  called  a  barley- 
corn ;  three  of  which  made  an  inch. 

Horses  are  measured  directly  over  the  fore  feet,  and  the  standard  of 
measure  is  four  inches — called  a  hand. 

In  Biblical  and  other  old  measurements,  the  term  span  is  sometimes 
used,  which  is  a  length  of  nine  inches. 

The  sacred  cubit  of  the  Jews  was  24.024  inches  in  length. 

The  common  cubit  of  the  Jews  was  21.704  inches  in  length. 

A  pace  is  equal  to  a  yard  or  36  inches. 

A  fathom  is  equal  to  6  feet. 

A  league  is  three  miles,  but  its  length  is  variable,  for  it  is  strictly 
speaking  a  nautical  term,  and  should  be  three  geographical  miles,  equal 
to  3.45  statute  miles,  but  when  used  on  land,  three  statute  miles  are  said 
to  be  a  league. 

hi  cloth  measure  an  aune  is  equal  to  li  yards,  or  45  inches. 

An  Amsterdam  ell  is  equal  to  26.796  inches. 

A  Trieste  ell  is  equal  to  25.284  inches. 

A  Brabant  ell  is  equal  to  27.116  inches. 

HOW  TO  KEEP  ACCOUNTS. 

Every  farmer  and  mechanic,  whether  he  does  much  or  little  business, 
should  keep  a  record  of  his  transactions  in  a  cle"ar  and  systematic  man- 
ner. For  the  benefit  of  those  who  have  not  had  the  opportunity  of  ac- 
quiring a  primary  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  book-keeping,  we  here 
present  a  simple  form  of  keeping  accounts  which  is  easily  comprehended, 
and  well  adapted  to  record  the  business  transactions  of  farmers,  mechanics 
and  laborers. 


178 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION. 


1875.                                         A.  H.  JACKSON.                           Dr.           Cr. 

Jan.      10 

"       17 
Feb.       4 
"         4 
March    8 
8 
"     13 
"     27 
April      9 
9 
May        6 
24 
July        4 

To  7  bushels  Wheat  at  $1.25 

$8 

6 
1 

48 
6 

17 

75 

30 
25 

Go 
2  r> 

50 

$2 

18 
2 

25 
4 

35 

50 

00 
40 
25 

00 

75 

15 

By  shoeing  span  of  Horses  

To  14  bushels  Oats  at  $  .45 

To  5  Ibs.  Butter  at      .25 

By  new   Harrow  

Bv  sharpening  2  Plows.  _ 

By  new  Double-Tree  

To  Cow  and  Calf            

To  half  ton  of  Hay  

By  Cash   . 

By  repairing  Corn-Planter  

To  one  Sow  with  Pigs  .          

By  Cash,  to  balance  account  

$88 

05 

$88 

05 

1875.                                   CASSA   MASON.                            Dr.           Cr. 

March  21 
"      21 
"      23 
May        1 
1 
June     19 
26 
July      10 
29 
Aug.    12 
12 
Sept.      1 

By  3  days'  labor  .            at  $1.25 

$6 

8 

10 

2 
2 

20 
18 

UO 
10 

00 
76 

;o 

00 

vo 

$3 

25 
12 

18 
9 

75 

00 
00 

00 

00 

To  2  Shoats                     at    3.00 

To  18  bushels  Corn       at      .45 

By  1  month's  Labor  

To  Cash                          

By  8  days'  Mowing   at  $1.50 

To  50  Ibs.  Flour  

To  27  Ibs.  Meat  at  $  .10 

By  9  days'  Harvesting       at    2.00 

By  6  days'  Labor              .              at    1.50 

To  Cash   ..                ...    .              

To  Cash  to  balance  account  

$67 

75 

$67 

:-> 

INTEREST  TABLE. 

A  SIMPLE  RULE  FOR  ACCURATELY  COMPUTING    INTEREST   AT  ANY  GIVEN  PER  CKNT.  KOR  ANY 

XiENGTH   OP    TIME. 

Multiply  the  principal  (amount  of  money  at  interest)  by  the  time  reduced  to  days;  then  divide  this  product 
by  the  quotient  obtained  !>y  dividing  360  (the  number  of  days  in  the  interest  year)  by  the  per  cent,  of  interest, 
ahdt/ie  quotient  thus  obtained  will  be  the  required  interest. 

ILLUSTRATION.  Solution. 


Require  the  interest  of  $462.  50  for  one  month  and  eighteen  days  at  6  per  cent.    An 
interest  month  is  30  days;  one  month  and  eighteen  days  equal  48  days.    $462.50  multi- 
plied by  .48  Rives  S222  0000;  360divided  by  6  (the  per  cent,  of  interest)  gives  60,  and 
$222.0000  divided  by  60  will  give  you  the  exact  interest,  wnie'i  is  $3.70.    Ifrhe  rare  of  ______ 

interest  in  the  above  example  were  12  per  cent.,  we  would  divide  the  $222.01)00  by  30g)360\     185000 
(because  360  divided  by  12  gives  30);  if  4  per  cent.,  we  would  divide  by  90;  if  8  per 


§462.50 
.48 


370000 


«ent.,  by  45:  and  lu  like  manner  for  any  otber  per  cent. 


60  /  $222.0000(83.70 
180 


420 
420 


00 


MISCELLANEOUS  TABLE. 


12  units,  or  things,  1  Dozen. 
12  dozen,  1  Gross. 
20  things,  1  Score. 


196  pounds,  1  Barrel  of  Flour. 
200  pounds,  1  Barrel  of  Pork. 
56  pounds,  1  Firkin  of  Butter. 


24  sheets,  of  paper.  1  Quire. 

20  quires  paper  1  Ream. 

4  ft.  wide,  4  ft.  high,  and  8  ft.  long,   1  Cord  Wood. 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION.  179 

NAMES  OF  THE  STATES  OF  THE  UNION,  AND  THEIR  SIGNIFICATIONS. 

Virginia. — The  oldest  of  the  States,  was  so  called  in  honor  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  the  "Virgin  Queen,"  in  whose  reign  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  made 
his  first  attempt  to  colonize  that  region. 

Florida. — Ponce  de  Leon  landed  on  the  coast  of  Florida  on  Easter 
Sunday,  and  called  the  country  in  commemoration  of  the  day,  which  was 
the  Pasqua  Florida  of  the  Spaniards,  or  "'Feast  of  Flowers." 

Louisiana  was  called  after  Louis  the  Fourteenth,  who  at  one  time 
owned  that  section  of  the  country. 

Alabama  was  so  named  by  the  Indians,  and  signifies  "  Here  we  Rest." 

Mississippi  is  likewise  an  Indian  name,  meaning  "  Long  River." 

Arkansas,  from  Kansas,  the  Indian  word  for  "smoky  water."  Its 
prefix  was  really  arc,  the  French  word  for  "  bow." 

The  Carolinas  were  originally  one  tract,  and  were  called  "Carolana," 
after  Charles  the  Ninth  of  France. 

G-eorgia  owes  its  name  to  George  the  Second  of  England,  who  first 
established  a  colony  there  in  1732. 

Tennessee  is  the  Indian  name  for  the  "  River  of  the  Bend,"  i.  e.,  the 
Mississippi  which  forms  its  western  boundary. 

Kentucky  is  the  Indian  name  for  "  at  the  head  of  the  river." 

Ohio  means  "  beautiful ;  "  Iowa,  "  drowsy  ones  ;  "  Minnesota,  "  cloudy 
water,"  and  Wisconsin,  "  wild-rushing  channel." 

Illinois  is  derived  from  the  Indian  word  illini,  men,  and  the  French 
suffix  ois,  together  signifying  "  tribe  of  men." 

Michigan  was  called  by  the  name  given  the  lake,  fish-iveir,  which  was 
so  styled  from  its  fancied  resemblance  to  a  fish  trap. 

Missouri  is  from  the  Indian  word  "  muddy,"  which  more  properly 
applies  to  the  river  that  flows  through  it. 

Oregon  owes  its  Indian  name  also  to  its  principal  river. 

Cortes  named  California. 

Massachusetts  is  the  Indian  for  "  The  country  around  the  great  hills." 

Connecticut,  from  the  Indian  Quon-ch-ta-Cut,  signifying  "Long 
River." 

Maryland,  after  Henrietta  Maria,  Queen  of  Charles  the  First,  of 
England. 

New  York  was  named  by  the  Duke  of  York. 

Pennsylvania  means  "  Penn's  woods,"  and  was  so  called  after  William 
Penn,  its  orignal  owner. 


180 


MISCELLANEOUS  INFORMATION. 


Delaware  after  Lord  De  La  Ware. 

New  Jersey,  so  called  in  honor  of  Sir  George  Carteret,  who  was 
Governor  of  the  Island  of  Jersey,  in  the  British  Channel. 

Maine  was  called  after  the  province  of  -Maine  in  France,  in  compli- 
ment of  Queen  Henrietta  of  England,  who  owned  that  province. 

Vermont,  from  the  French  word  Vert  Mont,  signifying  Green 
Mountain. 

New  Hampshire,  from  Hampshire  county  in  England.  It  was 
formerly  called  Laconia. 

The  little  State  of  Rhode  Island  owes  its  name  to  the  Island  of 
Rhodes  in  the  Mediterranean,  which  domain  it  is  said  to  greatly 
resemble. 

Texas  is  the  American  word  for  the  Mexican  name  by  which  all  that 
section  of  the  country  was  called  before  it  was  ceded  to  the  United  States. 


POPULATION  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES. 

POPULATION  OF  FIFTY 
PRINCIPAL  CITIES. 

STATUS  AND  TERRITORIES. 

Total 
Population. 

CITIES. 

Aggregate 
Population. 

996.  992 
484,471 
560,247 
537,454 
125,015 
187,748 
1.184,109 
2,539,891 
1,680,637 
1,191,792 
364,399 
1,321,011 
726,915 
626,915 
780,894 
1,457,351 
1,184,059 
439,706 
827,922 
1,721,295 

Arkansas  

California  
Connecticut  
Delaware.  
Florida  
Georgia  
Illinois  
Indi  ana  
Iowa  
Kansas  
Kentucky  
Louisiana  
Maine  
Maryland  
Massachusetts  —  
Michigan  
Minnesota  
Mississippi  
Missouri  

New  York,  N.  Y.  .  .  . 
Philadelphia,  Pa  •••  
Brooklyn,  N.  Y  
St.  Louis,  Mo  
Chicago,  111  
Baltimore,  Md  
Boston,  Mass  
Cincinnati,  Ohio  
New  Orleans,  La  
San  Francisco,  Cal  
Buffalo,  N.  Y  
Washington,  D.  C  
Newark,  N.  J  
Louisville,  Ky  
Cleveland,  Ohio  
Pittsburg,  Pa  
Jersey  City,  N.  J  

942,292 
674,022 
396,099 
310,864 
298,977 
267,354 
250,526 
216,239 
191,418 
149,473 
117,714 
109,199 
105,059 
100,753 
92,829 
86,076 
82,546 

Nevada  
New  Hampshire  
New  Jersey  
New  York  
North  Carolina  
Ohio  
Oregon  
Pennsylvania  
Khode  Island  
.South  Carolina  
Tennessee  
Texas  
Vermont  
Virginia  
West  Virginia  
Wisconsin  

Total  States  

42,491 
318,300 
906.096 
4,382.759 
1,071,361 
2,665.260 
90,923 
3,521,791 
217,353 
705,606 
1,258,520 
818,579 
330,551 
1,225,163 
442,014 
1,054,670 

38.113,253 

Detroit,  Mich  
Milwaukee,  Wls  
Albany,  N.  Y  
Providence,  B.  I  
Rochester,  N.  Y  
Allegheny,  Pa  
Richmond,  Va  
New  Haven,  Conn  
Charleston,  S.  C  
Indianapolis,  Ind  
Troy,  N.  Y  
Syracuse,  N.  Y  
Worcester,  Mass  
Lowell,  Mass  
Memphis,  Tenn  
Cambridge,  Mass  
Hartford,  Conn  
Scran  ton,  Pa  

79,577 
71,440 
69,422 
68,904 
62,386 
53,180 
51.038 
50,840 
48,956 
48,244 
46,465 
43,051 
41,105 
40,928 
40,226 
39,634 
37,180 
35,092 
33,930 
33,579 
32,260 
32,034 
31,584 
31,413 
31,274 
30,841 
30,473 
28,921 
28,804 
28,323 
28,235 
28,233 

9K  7fifi 

Arizona  
Colorada  
Dakota  
District  of  Columbia  
Idaho  

9,658 
39,864 
14,181 
131.700 
14,999 

Paterson.  N.  J  
Kansas  City,  Mo  
Mobile,  Ala  
Toledo,  Ohio  
Portland,  Me  

New  Mexico  
Utah  
Washington  
Wyoming  

Total  Territories.  

91,874 
86,786 
23,955 
9,118 

442,730 

Wilmington,  Del  
Dayton,  Ohio  
Lawrence,  Mass  
Utica,  N.  Y  
Charlestown,  Mass  
Savannah,  Ga  
Lynn.  Mass  

Total  United  States  ».... 

38,555,983 

Fall  River,     ass  . 

MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION. 


181 


POPULATION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


STATES  AND 
TERRITORIES. 

Area  in 
sauare 
Miles. 

POPULATION. 

Miles 
R.  R. 
1872. 

STATES  AND 
TERRITORIES. 

Area  in 
square 
Miles. 

POPULATION. 

Miles 
R.  R. 
1872. 

1870. 

1875. 

1870. 

1875. 

States. 

50,722 

52,198 
188.981 
4.674 
2,120 
59,268 
5S.OOII 
55,410 
33.809 
55,045 
81.318 
37,600 
41,346 
31,776 
11,184 
7,800 
56,451 
83,531 
47,156 
65,350 
75.9P5 
112,090 
9,280 
8.320 
47,000 
50  704 

996,992 

484,471 
560,247 
537,454 
125,015 
187,748 
1.184,109 
2,539,891 
1,680,637 
1,191.792 
364,399 
1,321,011 
726,915 
626,915 
7SO.H94 
1,457,351 
1,184,059 
439,706 
827,922 
1,721.295 
123,993 
42,491 
318.300 
906,096 
4,382,759 
1  071  361 

1,671 
25 
1,013 

820 
227 
466 
2,108 
5,904 
3.529 
3.160 
1,7(10 
1,123 
539 
871 
820 
1,606 
2,23:. 
1,612 
990 
2.5SO 
828 
593 
790 
1.265 
4,470 
1,190 
3,740 

States. 
Pennsylvania  
Rhode  Island  
South  Carolina... 
Tennessee  

46,000 
1,306 
29.385 
45,600 
237,504 
10,212 
40,904 
23,000 
53,924 

3,521,791 
217,353 
705,606 
1,258,520 
818,579 
330,551 
1,225,163 
442,014 
1,054,670 

""258i239 
925,145 

5.113 
136 
1,201 
1,520 
865 
675 
1,490 
485 
1.725 

Arkansas  

California  

Texas  

Florida  

Vermont  

Georgia  
Illinois  
Indiana  

1,350,544 
528,349 

"857!039 

Virginia  

West  Virginia  
Wisconsin  

1,236,729 

Total  States  

Kansas  

1,950.171 

113,916 
104,500 
147,490 
60 
90,932 
143.776 
121,201 
80.056 
69,944 
93,107 

38,113,253 

9,658 
39,864 
14,181 
131,700 
14,999 
20,595 
91,874 
86,786 
23,955 
9,118 

59,587 

Kentucky  
Louisiana  

Territories. 
Arizona  

Maine  

392 

Massachusetts.  .  . 

1,651,912 
1,334,031 
598,429 

"246,280 
52,540 

Dakota  

Dist.  of  Columbia. 

• 

Mississippi  

Montana  

Missouri.  
Nebraska  

New  Mexico... 

Utah  

375 

Nevada  

Washington  

New  Hampshire. 
New  Jersey  

Wyoming  

498 

1,026,502 
4,705,208 

Total  Territories. 

Aggregate  of  U.  S.. 
•  Included  in  t 

965,032 

2,915,203 
he  Railro 

442,730 

1.265 

Ohio  
Oregon  

39,964 
95,244 
s  of  Mic 

2,665.260 
90,923 
higan  tak 

38,555,983 

nl  Mileage 

60,852 
id. 

*  Last  Ceiisu 

en  in  1874. 

of  Marylar 

PRINCIPAL  COUNTRIES  OF  THE  WORLD; 

POPULATION  AND  AREA. 


COUNTRIES. 

Population. 

Date  of 
Census. 

Area  in 
Square 
Miles. 

Inhabitants 
to  Square 
Mile. 

CAPITALS. 

Population. 

China  

446  500  000 

1871 

3  741  846 

119  3 

Pekln     

1  648  800 

British  Empire  

226.817.108 

1871 

4  677  432 

48.6 

London  ... 

3,251  800 

Russia  

81,925  400 

1871 

8  003  778 

10.2 

St.  Petersburg  

667  000 

United  States  with  Alaska  

38,925,600 

1870 

2  603.884 

7.78 

Washington  

109,199 

France  

36,469,800 

1866 

204  091 

178.7 

Paris  

1  825.300 

Austria  and  Hungary  

35  904  400 

1869 

240  348 

149.4 

833  900 

Japan  

34.785,300 

1871 

149  399 

232.8 

Yeddo  

1,554,900 

Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  .  .  . 

31,817  100 

1871 

121  315 

262.3 

3,251  800 

German  Empire  

29  906  092 

1871 

160  207 

187. 

Berliu     

825  400 

Italy  

27,439,921 

1871 

118,847 

230.9 

Rome  

244,484 

Spaf  n  

16  642  000 

1867 

195  775 

85. 

Madrid  

332  000 

Brazil  

10,000.000 

3  253  029 

3.07 

Rio  Janeiro  

420,000 

Turkey  
Mexico  

16,463,000 
9  173  000 

i869 

672,621 
761  526 

24.4 

Constantinople  

1,075,000 
210  300 

Sweden  and  Norway  

5,921  500 

1870 

292  871 

20. 

Stockholm  

136,900 

Persia  

5  000  000 

1870 

635  964 

7.8 

Teheran  

120  000 

Belgium  

5  021  300 

1869 

11  373 

441.5 

314  100 

Bavaria  

4,861,400 

1871 

29  292 

165.9 

Munich  

1(19  500 

Portugal... 

3  995  200 

1868 

34  494 

115.8 

224  063 

Holland  

3  688  300 

1870 

12  680 

290  9 

90  100 

N  ew  Grenada.  .  .  . 

3,000  000 

1870 

357  157 

8.4 

Bogota  

45,000 

Chili  

2  000  000 

1869 

132  616 

15.1 

115  400 

Switzerland  

2  669  100 

1870 

15  992 

166.9 

36  000 

Peru  .  .  . 

2  500  000 

1871 

471  838 

5.3 

Lima  

160,100 

Bolivia  

2  000  000 

497  321 

4. 

25  000 

Argentine  Republic  

1  812  000 

1869 

871  84S 

2  1 

177  800 

Wurtemburg  

1,818  500 

1871 

7  533 

241.4 

Stuttgart  

91,600 

Denmark  

1  784  700 

1870 

14  753 

120  9 

162  042 

Venezuela  

1,500,000 

368.238 

4.2 

Caraccas  

47,000 

Baden  

1  461  400 

1871 

5  912 

247. 

36,600 

Greece  

1  457  900 

1870 

19  353 

75.3 

43  400 

Guatemala  :  

1,180,000 

1871 

40,879 

28.9 

Guatemala  

40,000 

Ecuador  

1,300  000 

218  928  « 

5.9 

Quito     

70,000 

Paraguay  

1  000  000 

1871 

63  787 

15* 

48,000 

Hesse  .  .  . 

823  138 

2  969 

277 

30  000 

Liberia  

718  000 

1871 

9  576 

74.9 

3,000 

San  Salvador  

600  000 

1871 

7  335 

81  8 

15  000 

Hayti  

572  000 

10  205 

56 

20  000 

Nicaragua  

350  000 

1871 

58  171 

6 

10  000 

Uruguay  

300  000 

1871 

66  722 

6  5 

44  500 

Honduras  

350  000 

1871 

47  092 

7  4 

12  000 

San  Domingo  

136  000 

17  827 

7  6 

20  000 

Costa  Rica  

165  000 

1870 

21  505 

7.7 

2,000 

Hawaii  

62.950 

7.633 

80. 

Honolulu  

7,633 

182 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION 


POPULATION    OF   ILLINOIS, 
BY  COUNTIES. 


COUNTIES. 

AGGREGATE. 

187O. 

I860. 

1850. 

26508 
2484 
6144 
7624 
7198 
8841 

3231 
4586 

7253 
2649 
3203 
9532 
4289 

5139 
9335 
43385 

7135 
3718 
7540 
5002 

1840. 

1830. 

1820. 

Adams      .  -  

56362 
10564 
I3I52 
12942 
I22O5 

32415 
6562 
16705 

11580 

32737 
20363 
18719 

15875 
16285 

25235 
349966 

13889 
12223 
23265 
14768 

13484 
16685 
21450 
7565 
15653 
19638 
9103 
12652 
38291 

"134 

20277 

14938 
13014 
35935 
5"3 
12582 
35506 
25782 
i9634 
11234 
17864 

15054 
27820 
11248 
39091 
24352 
12399 
39522 
21014 
60792 

12533 
27171 

3M7I 
23053 

41323 
4707 
9815 
11678 
9938 
26426 
5144 
H733 
11325 
14629 
10492 
14987 

9336 
10941 
14203 
144954 

"551 

8311 
19086 
10820 
7140 
14701 
16925 

5454 
7816 
11189 
1979 
9393 
33338 
8055 
16093 

10379 
99'5 
29061 

3759 
9501 
20660 
12325 

9589 
8364 
12965 
12051 
27325 
9342 
30062 
15412 

13074 
28663 
18257 
48332 
9214 

17651 
11637 
14272 

14476 

3313 
5060 

1705 
4183 
3067 
1741 
1023 
2981 

1475 
1878 

7453 
3228 
37i8 
9616 
1  020  1 

4422 

2186 
1390 
3124 

Alexander.  

626 
2931 

Bond  

Boone   .  

Brown  

Bureau   .   ._._-  -  --  

Calhoun         .  

1090 

Carroll        -  -  

Cass         

Champaign    '.  

Christian  

Clark              .. 

3940 

755 
2330 

931 

Clay               

Clinton         _    -  

Coles         

Cook    

Crawford..  

3"7 

*23 

2999 

Cumberland       -  .  .  . 

De  Kalb     - 

1697 
3247 

De  Witt          

Douglas       

Du  Page     

9290 
10692 
3524 
3799 
8075 

3535 
8225 
3070 
1675 
6328 

Edgar  

4071 
1649 

Edwards          ..-   -    .... 

3444 

Effingham           .  

Fayette  -  -  

2704 

Ford             

Franklin     .     

5681 
22508 
5448 
12429 
3023 
6362 
14652 
2887 
4612 
3807 
4149 
5862 
3220 
8109 

7354 
18604 
4114 
16703 

3682 
13142 
10760 
"951 

4083 
1841 
7405 
7674 

1763 

Fulton  

Gallatin  ..     _  

3155 

Greene       ..    

Grundy   .  

Hamilton   ..      ...  

3945 
9946 

1378 

2616 

483 

Hancock  .  

Hardin  .  

Henderson  _.  

Henry                    

1260 
1695 
3566 
1472 
5762 

4535 
6180 
3626 
6501 

4i 

Iroquois  .  _  .  ..  .  .    

Jackson   

1828 

1542 

Tasper  .  _ 

Jefferson  ....           .... 

2555 

691 

Jersey  .. 

Jo  Daviess 

2III 
1596 

Johnson  

843 

Kane  .... 

Kankakee. 

Kendall  .. 

7730 
13279 
14226 

17815 
6121 
5-292 
1553 
5128 

• 

Knox  ..  .  ..     .  

7060 
2634 
9348 
7092 
2035 
759 
2333 

274 

Lake  .....  . 

La  Salle  ... 

Lawrence  . 

3668 

Lee   

Livingston  -  __  

Loean  .  . 

MISCELLANEOUS  INFORMATION. 


183 


POPULATION  OF  ILLINOIS— CONCLUDED. 


COUNTIES. 

AGGREGATE. 

1870. 

I860. 

1850. 

1840. 

1830. 

1820. 

Macon             ..... 

26481 
32726 

44131 
2O622 
16950 
16184 
9581 
26509 
23762 
53988 
"735 
18769 

12982 

25314 
28463 
10385 
27492 
47540 
13723 
10953 
30708 

"437 
8752 
6280 
20859 
12803 
29783 
12714 
46352 
17419 
10530 
25476 
10751 

51068 
30608 
27903 
16518 
30388 
8841 
23174 
17599 
19758 
16846 
27503 
43013 
17329 
29301 
18956 

13738 
24602 
3"5I 
12739 
13437 
10931 
6213 
20069 
22089 
28772 
9584 
15042 

12832 

13979 
22II2 

6385 
22888 
366OI 
9552 
6l27 

27249 
6742 

3943 
5587 
17205 

97" 
21005 

9331 
32274 
14684 
9069 
14613 
9004 

37694 
25112 
21470 
11181 
19800 

7313 

18336 

I373I 
12223 
12403 

18737 
29321 
12205 
24491 
13282 

3988 

12355 
20441 
6720 
5180 

5921 
4092 
7616 
14978 
10163 

6349 
5246 

7679 
6277 
16064 

3234 
10020 

17547 
5278 
l6o6 
18819 

3975 
2265 

3924 
11079 
4012 

6937 
5588 
19228 
10573 
7914 
7807 
3710 

20180 
11666 
12052 
7615 
11492 
4690 
8176 

6953 
6825 
8925 
536i 
16703 
7216 
"773 
4415 

3039 
7926 

14433 
4742 
1849 

1122 

igV> 
6221 
2125 

Macoupin    .......  1.   .  . 

Madison   ....    

13550 

Marion.   

Marshall  .....  

Mason  ._ 

Massac  ..'.. 

McDonough  

5308 
2578 
6565 
4431 
2352 

4481 
4490 
19547 

w 

McHenry   .... 

McLean..   

Menard  

Mercer.  .  ..  _  ........ 

26 

2OOO 

2953 
12714 

.Monroe  

*2I 
1516 

Montgomery  

Morgan  

Moultrie..   .  ..  

Ogle  .  . 

3479 
6i53 
3222 

Peoria  

w 

1215 

Perry  

Piatt  

Pike  

11728 
4094 

2396 
3316 

Pope  

26lO 

Pulaski...  

Putnam.   ...  . 

2131 
7944 

(TI3IO 

4429 

Randolph  ... 

3492 

Richland  ..    

Rock  Island  '_.  .. 

2610 

Saline  

Sangamon  

14716 
6972 
6215 
6659 
1573 

13631 
2800 
7221 
5524 
9303 
4240 

6739 
4810 

5133 
7919 

25M 
10167 

4457 
4609 

12960 

£2959 

Schuyler  .. 

Scott  

Shelby  

2972 

Stark  

St.Clair  

7078 

*5 

5248 

Stephenson  

Tazevvell..  

4716 
3239 

5836 

2710 

308 
1675 
2553 

6091 

Union  

2362 

Vermilion.              . 

Wabash  

Warren  

Washington  

1517 

1114 

4828 

Wayne  

White  

Whitesides  

Will.  

Williamson  

Winnebago  

Woodford  

Total.. 

2^0801 

I7IIO<U 

S=;iJ7o 

47618^ 

I*  74.4  e. 

*49 
<;ii62 

184 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION. 


STATE  LAWS 
RELATING  TO  RATES  OF  INTEREST  AND  PENALTIES  FOR  USURY. 


STATES  AND  TERRITORIES. 


Legal  I  Rate  al- 
Rate  of  lowed  by 
Interest.  Contract. 


Alabama 

Arizona 

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Dakota 

Delaware 

District  of  Columbia ., 

Florida 

Georgia 

Idaho 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi .... 

Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New  Hampshire 

New  Jersey 

New  Mexico , 

New  York 

North  Carolina 

Ohio 

Ontario,  Canada 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

Quebec,  Canada 

Rhode  Island 

South  Carolina 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Utah 

Vermont 

Virginia 

Washington  Territory 

West  Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 


per  cent 

8 
10 

6 

10 
10 

7 
7 
6 
6 
8 

7 

10 
6 
6 
6 
8 
6 

5 

6 

6 

6 

7 

7 

6 

6 
10 
10 

10 

6 

6 

7 
6 
6 
6 
10 
6 
6 
6 

7 

6 

8 
10 

6 

6 
10 

6 

7 

12 


per  cent. 

8 
Any  rate. 

10 

Any  rate. 
Any  rate. 
7 

12 

6 

IO 

Any  rate. 
12 
24 
8 
10 

10 
12 

8 

8 

Any  rate. 

6 

Any  rate. 
10 
12 
10 
10 
Any  rate. 

12 

Any  rate. 
6 

7 
Any  rate. 

7 


Any  rate 

12 

Any  rate 
Any  rate 
Any  rate 
Any  rate 
10 
12 

Any  rate 
6 
6* 
Any  rate, 
6* 

10 

Any  rate, 


Penalties  for  Usury. 


Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  principal  and  interest. 


Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  principal. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Fine  and  imprisonment. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  ex.  of  in.  above  12  per  cent. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  ex.  of  in.  above  7  per  cent. 
No  Usury  Law  in  this  State. 
Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  thrice  the  excess  and  costs. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  contract. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  excess  above  6  per  cent. 


Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interest. 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 

Forfeiture  of  excess  of  interes* 
Forfeiture  of  entire  interest. 


*  Except  in  cases  defined  by  statutes  of  the  State. 


MISCELLANEOUS   INFORMATION. 


185 


STATE  LAWS 

RELATING  TO  LIMITATIONS  OF  ACTIONS  :  SHOWING  LIMIT  OF  TIME  IN  WHICH 
ACTION  MAY  BE  BROUGHT  ON  THE  FOLLOWING  : 


STATES  AND  TERRITORIES. 

Assault 
slander, 
&c. 

Open 

Accts. 

Notes. 

Judg- 
ments. 

Sealed  and 
witnessed 
Instru- 
ments. 

Years. 
I 

Years, 
•i 

Years. 
6 

Years. 
2O 

Years. 
IO 

I 

•3 

5 

IO 

IO 

I 

2 

e 

e 

I 

6 

6 

7 

6 

6 

2O 

17 

2 

6 

6 

2O 

2O 

I 

? 

6 

2O 

2O 

I 

12 

Florida     

2 

c 

2O 

2O 

I 

6 

7 

2O 

2 

2 

e 

C 

I 

5 

10 

2O 

IO 

Indiana  

2 

6 

20 

2o 

2O 

2 

e 

IO 

2O 

IO 

Kansas    

I 

c 

e 

tc 

I 

2 

1C 

tc 

1C 

I 

IO 

20 

2 

6 

20 

2O 

20 

Maryland  .*  

•        I 

•3 

12 

12 

Massachusetts  

2 

6 

20 

2O 

2O 

Michigan  

2 

6 

6 

6 

IO 

Minnesota  

2 

6 

6 

IO 

6 

I 

6 

7 

7 

Missouri  ..  .    

2 

c 

IO 

2O 

IO 

Montana  

2 

c 

IO 

IO 

IO 

Nebraska  

I 

c 

c 

IO 

Nevada  

2 

2 

c 

New  Hampshire  

2 

6 

6 

20 

20 

New  Jersey    

2 

6 

6 

20 

16 

New  Mexico         

I 

6 

IO 

IO 

IO 

New  York  .  

2 

6 

6 

20 

20 

North  Carolina  

•j. 

2 

IO 

IO 

Ohio  

I 

6 

1C 

T  e 

I  f 

Ontario  (U.  Canada)  •  

2 

6 

6 

20 

20 

Oregon... 

2 

6 

6 

IO 

20 

Pennsylvania  

6 

6 

20 

20 

Quebec  (L.  Canada)  

5 

^ 

•IQ 

I/O 

Rhode  Island  

6 

6 

20 

20 

South  Carolina  

2 

6 

6 

20 

20 

Tennessee  ,  

6 

6 

IO 

6 

Texas  

2 

IO 

Utah  

2 

c 

•j 

Vermont  

2 

6 

8 

8 

Virginia  

I 

e 

c 

IO 

20 

Washington  Territory  

2 

6 

6 

6 

West  Virginia  

I 

5 

IO 

IO 

IO 

Wisconsin  

2 

6 

6 

20 

20 

Wyoming... 

I 

6 

!< 

i<; 

K 

PRODUCTIONS  OF  AGRICULTURE,  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,  BY  COUNTIES.— 1870. 


JOUNTIES. 
Total  

Improved 
Land. 

Woodl'nd 

Uther  un- 
improved 

Spring 
Wheat, 

Winter 
Wheat. 

Rye. 

Indian 
Corn. 

Oats. 

Number. 
19.329.952 

Number. 
5,061.578 

Number. 
1.491.331 

Bushels. 
10,133.207 

Bushels. 
19.995,198 

Busliels. 
2,456,576 

Bushels. 
129.921,  39f 

Bushels. 
42.780.851 

Adam  s  

287,926 
13,836 
145,045 
137.307 
57,062 
398,611 
37,684 
186,864 
92.902 
419,368 
241,472 
118,594 
146.922 
150,177 
208,337 
348.824 
105,505 
75,342 
334,502 
168,539 
147,633 
564,874 
^65,458 
58,912 
120,343 
187,196 
141.228 
80,749 
228,132 
49,572 
175,408 
193,999 
88,996 
311,517 
28,117 
140,954 
265,904 
322,510 
78,548 
90,867 
118,951 
94,147 
156.51? 
57,820 
240,120 
312,182 
164.004 
330,829 
207,779 
533,724 
87,828 
322,212 
377,505 
321,709 
205,259 
231.059 
257,032 
178.081 
166,057 
209,453 
25,151 
261,635 
230,  5b6 
494.978 
134,173 
222.809 
92.810 
276,682 
293,450 
144,220 
316,883 
170,729 
93  754 

112,576 
17.761 
42,613 
29,886 
35,491 
41,866 
63.443 
29,793 
33,493 
16,789 
19,803 
102,201 
80,612 
48.868 
45,214 
19,635 
78,350 
40,334 
17,722 
29,548 
11,897 
17,243 
66,803 
57,585 
56.330 
93,460 
2,996 
3,994 
123.823 
68,750 
93,242 
6,256 
93,878 
43,385 
44,771 
34,705 
12,620 
22,478 
87,642 
67,023 
94,888 
51,42? 
82,076 

34,646 
10,978 
14,244 
41,566 
21,072 
48,117 
72,738 
12,071 
12,462 
17,394 
18,153 
81,224 
89,450 
61,579 
?8,26d 
J1.739 
33,396 
52,54? 
53,293 
40,366 
34.931 
45,97? 
83,369 
47,804 
60217 
24,783 
43,643 
48,666 
68,470 
5,978 
128,953 
87,754 
12,516 
17,184 
162,274 
50,618 
31,239 
70,393 
51,085 
62,477 
44,633 
74,908 
12,375 
76,591 
43.167 
45.268 
83,606 
53.078 
37,558 
27,294 
55,852 
146,794 
78.167 
21.823 
24,261 
116,949 
37.238 
25,217 

19,370 

16,191 

947,616 
42,658 
368,625 
599 
117.502 
724 
221,298 
260 
127,054 
123,091 
504,041 
195.118 
85,737 
610,888 
154,485 
4,904 
212,924 
84,697 
190 
11,695 
65,461 
693 
247,360 
122,703 
195,716 
351,310 
1,008 
111.324 
223,930 
83,093 
577,400 
150 
92,347 
232,750 
32,306 
69,062 
445 
10,480 
329,036 
87.808 
100,553 
558,367 
555 
92.191 
325 
480 
1,249 
7,654 
221 
2,193 
264,134 
2,260 
1,339 
40,963 
196,613 
861,398 
1,207,181 
173,652 
900 
125,628 
72,316 
36,146 
270 
10,955 
45,793 
13,203 
651,76? 
744,891 
357,523 
196,436 
5,580 
31.843 
350,446 
39,762 
1.057,497 
70,457 
44  Q22 

20,989 
30 
6,240 
35,871 
4,742 
43,811 
186 
25,721 
2.772 
45,752 
10,722 
7,308 
3,221 
1,619 
8,825 
20,171 
15,497 
14,798 
21,018 
11540 
9,017 
7,532 
37,508 
528 
19,759 
25.328 
11,577 
5.195 
131,711 
512 
415 
4,930 
11.672 
133,533 
865 
96,430 
35.766 
23,259 
524 
9,165 
5,934 

1,452,905 
244,220 
1,064,052 
466,985 
337.769 
3,030,404 
234,041 
1,367  965 
1,146.980 
3,924,720 
1,883,336 
614,582 
1,019,994 
813.257 
2,133,111 
570,42? 
581,964 
403,075 
1,023,849 
1,311,635 
1,680,225 
331,981 
2,107,615 
352,371 
620,24? 
962,525 
565,671 
653.209 
1,508,763 
509,491 
1.051,313 
295,971 
735,252 
1,510,401 
172.651 
1,712,901 
2,541,683 
799,810 
611,951 
461,345 
887,981 
519,120 
1,286,326 
343,298 
674,333 
637,39ft 
681,26? 
2,708,316 
517,353 
3,077,028 
656,36: 
1,656,978 
l,182,69b 
4,221,640 
2,214,468 
1,051,544 
2,127,549 
1,034,05? 
1,182,903 
2,648,72(5 
133,126 
1,362,490 
1,145,005 
3.723,375* 
1,973.881 
2,054,962 
543,718 
1,527,898 
3,198.835 
1,753.141 
1,787,066 
969,22-4 
384.44(i 
1,029,725 
1,399,188 
315,958 
195.735 
334,259 
510,080 
482,594 
1,459,653 
531,516 
4,388,763 
440,975 
752,771 
2,082.578 
1,149  878 
1,423.121 
1,615,679 
2,062,053 
679.753 
2,818,027 
421,361 
2,982,853 
836,115 
1,179,291 
870.521 
2,162,943 
1,131,458 
655,710 
1,237,406 
2,154,185 

759,074 
21,627 
461,097 
579,127 
70,852 
987,426 
26.234 
775,100 
168,784 
721,375 
383,821 
212.628 
269,945 
446,324 
315.954 
1,584,225 
136,255 
171,880 
1,087,074 
216,756 
225,074 
860,809 
290,679 
129,152 
386,073 
497,395 
154,589 
222,426 
261,390 
27,164 
64,029 
269,332 
203,464 
579,599 
26,991 
229,286 
668.367 
430,74ft 
149,931 
149,214 
285,949 
71.770 
874,016- 
74,525 
785,608 
772,408 
468,890 
787,952 
699,069 
1,509,642 
131,386 
903,197 
659,300 
490,226 
454,648 
459,417 
475,252 
389,446 
362,604 
272,660 
22,097 
280,717 
910.397 
911,127 
235,091 
458,889 
152,251 
668,424 
198,724 
263,992 
141,540 
334,892 
338,760 
130,610 
161,419 
67,886 
16,511 
86,519 
414,487 
204,634 
276,575 
69,793 
397,718 
119.359 
13,462 
637,812 
316.726 
476.851 
960.620 
505,841 
124,473 
436.051 
110,793 
601.054 
033,398 
404,482 
119,652 
880.838 
1,868,682 
180,986 
868.  903 
744,581 

Alexander  

Bond  

1,915 
2,658 
25,608 
15,803 
2,754 
33,302 
6,604 
58,502 
19,173 
5,420 
5,225 
8,722 
3,274 
17,337 
27,185 
5,604 
6,551 
17,633 
7,316 
3.851 
14,282 
830 
26,206 
16,786 
63,976 
86,710 
4,076 
2,565 
29.653 
4,505 
3,343 
18.480 
107 
14,243 
31,459 
63,498 
5.991 
12,250 
778 
1,363 
45,779 
79,141 
399 
10,598 
2,283 
25.155 
24,399 
2,356 
3,273 
7,409 
41,788 
408 
9,115 
7,343 
13,675 
4,142 
2,976 
31,013 
30 
14,035 
57.998 
49,087 
13,952 
22,588 
666 
8,495 
1.376 
13,112 
14,913 
2,516 
220 
13,897 
9,302 

700 
241,042 
13,276 
465,236 
75 
418,073 
12,165 
102.577 
18,360 

Boone  

Brown  

Bureau  

Calhouu  

Carroll  

Cass  

Champaign  

Christian... 

Clark 

Clay  

1,894 
500 
2,651 
144,296 
60 
550 
398,059 
106,493 
7,683 
106,096 
13,283 

Clinton  

Coles  

Cook  

Crawford    

Cumberland  

DeKalb  

DeWitt  

Douglas  

DuPage  

Edgar  

Edwards  

Effiughain  

77 

""42,571 
365 
193,669 

Fayette  

Ford        

Franklin  

Fulton  

Gal  hit  in  .... 

Grundy  

21,700 
129 
181,378 
13 
161,112 
462,379 
57,160 
890 

Hamilton  

Hancock  

Hard  in  

Henderson  

Henry   

Iroquois  

Jackson  

Jefferson  

Jersey 

JoDaviess      

282,758 

7.185 
2,468 
23.618 
12,935 

5.16;} 

113,547 

5.87d 
48,308 
1,121 
14,829 
26,163 
37.232 
29,223 
2.404 
3,685 
1'4,51? 
36,135 
49,182 
544 
52.401 
29.264 
39.824 
4.283 
40,778 
1,425 
3,296 
5,535 
6,670 
157,504 
99,502 
1,016 
9,248 
25,303 
2.309 
222 

7;70? 

3,235 
3.401 
20,003 
568 
23,073 
20,841 
930 
23.686 
30,534 
1,008 
135,362 
59,027 
1,737 
52,476 

""72;2l'2 

2,576 
8,665 
418 
31,658 
8.030 
6.228 
137,985 
20,426 

Johnson  
Kane  

188,826 
103,466 
90,681 
267,764 
168,914 
271,181 

ftankakee  

Kendall  

Knox....  

T^ake  

LaSalle  

Lee  

450.793 
120,206 
198,056 
55,239 
160 
550 

Livingston  

Logan  

Macon  

Macoupin  

Marion  

Marshall  

106,129 
73,261 

Mason  

McDon  ough  

273,871 
401,790 
211,801 
36,152 
289,291 

McHenry  

McLean  

Menard  

Mercer  

Montgomery  

59 
18,196 
17,128 
497,038 
92,361 

Morgan  

Moultrie  

Ogle  _  

Peoria  

Perry  

Piatt... 

94,454 
233.785 
55,980 
19,319 
37.271 
140.764 
75,079 
155,214 
72,309 

26,382 
130 

Pike  

Pope  

Pulaski  

Putnam  

4.174 
1.170 
2025 
20,755 
809 
19,932 
21,294 
1,610 
9,314 
'     2,783 
2,016 
13,701 
14,846 
5,300 
31,122 
509 
14,583 
1,931 
10,486 
869 
37.310 
6,335 
1,648 
15,237 
23,135 

28,137 
450 

'796 
1,031,022 
150,268 
2.279 
83.011 
247.658 
165.724 
266.105 
452,015 

Randolph  

Richland  

Rock  Island  

243,541 
200 
89,304 
56,221 
18 
15,526 
124,630 
2,550 
527,394 
132,417 

""44;  806 
""186,290 

Saline  

Sanganion  

421,748 
96,195 
85,331 
310,179 
138,129 
231,117 
254,857 
229,126 
75,832 
360,251 
54,063 
266.187 
177.592 
147.352 
92,398 
289,809 
419,442 
128,448 
241,373 
225,504 

Schuyler  

Scott  

Shelby  

Stark  :  

St.  Clair  

1,562.621 
2,118 
72.410 
180.231 
249,558 
202.201 
5,712 
672,486 
164,689 
184,321 
264 
1,996 
170,787 
2,468 
108,307 

Stephenson  

Tazewell  .  .  . 

Union  

Vermilion  
Wabash  

Warren  

Wayne  ... 

266 

White.... 

Whitesides.... 

457,455 
195,286 
176 
408,606 
178,139 

Will  

Williamson  

Winnebago  

V.'oodf  ord  

HISTORY  OF  MENARD  COUNTY. 


BY  REV.  R.  D.  MILLER. 

Long  ages  ago,  the  worst  curse  that  a  good  man  could  wish  to  befall  an 
enemy  was  that  he  were  compelled  to  "write  a  book,"  for  good  old  Job  cried 
out  in  anguish  "0,  that  mine  enemy  would  write  a  book;''  and  surely  this 
should  be  enough  to  gratify  the  enmity  of  a  much  worse  man  than  he  of  Uz, 
especially  if  the  book  written  was  to  be  one  giving  a  detailed  history  of  the 
early  settlement  of  a  central  county  in  Illinois  sixty  years  after  the  beginning 
of  that  settlement. 

Immediately  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  or,  at  least,  as  soon  as  the 
news  of  peace  was  confirmed  through  the  country,  the  mass  of  the  people  were 
siezed  with  a  mania  for  Western  emigration,  and,  although  the  sagacious  editor 
of  New  York  had  not  at  that  time  given  the  advice  to  young  men  to  go  West, 
yet  thousands  of  both  young  and  old  were  seized  with  the  fever,  and,  as  a 
result,  the  Western  Territories  began  to  fill  very  rapidly  from  the  older  settled 
portions  of  the  country. 

During  almost  the  whole  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  name  Illinois  was 
applied  to  all  the  known  region  lying  west  and  north  of  Ohio.  As  early  as 
1673,  French  colonists  established  themselves  at  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia.  Just 
one  hundred  years  from  the  establishment  of  these  colonies,  the  territory  of 
which  they  were  the  nucleus,  in  conjunction  with  Canada,  was  ceded  to  Great 
Britain.  This  was  again  transferred  to  the  United  States  in  1787.  In  the'same 
year  that  this  territory  was  acquired,  Congress  passed  an  ordinance  that  the 
territory  lying  north  and  west  of  the  Ohio  River  was  to  be  divided  into  not  less 
than  three,  nor  more  than  Jive,  States.  Congress  also  divided  the  region  named 
into  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  When  we  remember  that  this  legislation  was 
less  than  ninety-five  years  ago,  we  may  smile  at  the  short-sightedness  of  our 
statesmen,  especially  when  we  reflect  that  the  territory  was  bounded  on  the  north 
by  the  British  Possessions.  * 

So  rapidly  did  this  Northwestern  country  fill  up,  that,  in  1810,  the  Illinois 
Territory,  which  then  included  a  part  of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  contained 
a  population  of  12,282.  Michigan  had  been  formed  into  a  separate  Territory 
in  1805,  and  Indiana  in  1809.  The  reader  is,  perhaps,  acquainted  with  the 


190  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

history  of  the  controversy  with  Wisconsin  concerning  the  northern  boundary 
of  Illinois.  If  the  people  of  Wisconsin  are  -correct  in  their  views  of  the  mat- 
ter, then  Illinois  has  no  northern  limit  save  that  first  given  to  the  Territory, 
and  her  area  still  extends  to  the  British  Possessions  in  Canada. 

Illinois,  like  other  new  Territories,  was  at  first  divided  into  counties,  cover- 
ing very  large  areas,  in  fact,  the  entire  State  was  once  "  Illinois  County ; "  but 
as  the  country  became  more  thickly  settled,  these  counties  were  subdivided,  and 
many  portions  re-divided  the  third  or  fourth  time.  Illustrative  of  this  fact,  it 
mav  be  stated  that  at  the  time  of  the  admission  of  Illinois  into  the  Union,  it 

» 

comprised  only  fifteen  counties.  As  the  settlement  of  the  State  began  in  the 
southern  portion  and  gradually  extended  northward,  it  is  not  at  all  surprising 
that  in  more  than  one  case  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  find  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  county  unless  it  were  considered  as  extending  to  the.  north 
line  of  the  State.  As  an  illustration  of  this  subdivision  of  counties,  it  may 
be  stated  that  the  city  of  Chicago,  or  at  least  the  land  on  which  the  city  now 
stands,  was  once  in  Fulton  County ;  whereas,  the  nearest  point  of  Fulton 
County  to  the  city  of  Chicago  is  now  150  miles  on  an  air  line.  A  further 
illustration  of  this  fact  may  be  briefly  given.  If  the  reader  will  turn  to  the 
map  of  Illinois,  he  will  observe  that  Crawford  County  is  the  eighth  county 
south  on  the  State  line  from  Chicago.  This  county  at  first  included  Chicago. 
When  Clark  was  formed,  it  embraced  Chicago ;  and  when  Edgar  was  cut  off  of 
Clark,  the  "great  city"  was  in  it;  and  then  when  Vermilion  was  cut'  off  of 
Edgar,  Chicago  fell  into  it :  so  that  a  great  many  counties  in  Illinois  can  boast 
of  at  least  at  one  time  including  Chicago. 

In  consideration  of  the  fact  that  Mehard  County  was  stricken  off  from  Sanga- 
mon,  it  becomes  necessary  to  give  a  brief  outline  of  the  latter.  The  reader, 
having  perused  the  history  of  the  Northwest,  as  given  in  a  former  part  of  this 
volume,  will  remember  that  portions  of  Illinois  were  settled  even  before  the 
close  of  the  last  century.  Prior  to  the  formation  of  the  county  of  Sangamon, 
by  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  January  30,  1821,  the  territory  of  which 
it  was  formed  was  included  in  the  counties  of  Bond  and  Madison.  Sangamon 
County,  when  first  formed,  included  all  of  what  is  now  Logan,  Tazewell, 
Mason,  Menard,  Cass  and  parts  of  Morgan,  McLean,  Marshall,  Woodford, 
Putnam  and  Christian.  The  boundary  remained  thus  till  the  year  1824,  when 
the  Legislature  reduced  its  limits ;  it  still,  however,  extended  to  the  Illinois 
River  and  included  all  of  Menard  and  parts  of  Christian,  Logan  and  Mason. 
The  boundaries  of  Sangamon  County  remained  unchanged  till  the  year  1839, 
when  the  Legislature  again  subdivided  it,  cutting  off  Menard,  Logan  and 
Christian.  The  uame  Dane  was  first  given  to  the  latter,  but,  after  a  few  years, 
it  was  changed  to  Christian. 

At  the  session  of  the  Legislature  in  1838—39,  Menard  County  was  stricken 
off  froni  Sangamon,  and  named  in  honor  of  Col.  Pierre  Menard,  a  Frenchman, 
who  settled  at  Kaskaskia  in  1790.  Menard  was  so  popular  in  his  day,  with  the 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  191 

people  of  Illinois,  that  when  the  Convention  framed  the  Constitution  of  the 
State,  a  clause  was  included  in  the  schedule  to  the  Constitution  providing  that 
"  any  citizen  of  the  United  States,  who  had  resided  in  the  State  for  two  years, 
might  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  Lieutenant  Governor."  This  was  done  in 
order  that  Col.  Menard,  who  had  only  been  naturalized  a  year  or  two  at  the 
time,  might  be  made  Lieutenant  Governor  under  Shadrach  Bond,  first  Gover- 
nor of  Illinois,  after  its  formation  into  a  State. 

As  Menard  County  was  named  after  this  popular  Frenchman,  it  may  be 
interesting  to  the  reader  to  give  a  brief  account  of  his  life.  Pierre  Menard  was 
born  in  Quebec  in  the  year  1767.  He  remained  in  his  native  city  till  in  his 
nineteenth  year,  when  his  native  spirit  of  adventure  led  him  to  seek  his  fortunes 
in  the  Territories  watered  by  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries.  He  was,  there- 
fore, soon  found  in  the  town  of  Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash  River,  in  the  employ 
of  a  merchant,  one  Col.  Vigo.  In  the  year  1790,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  one  Du  Bois,  a  merchant  of  Vincennes,  and  they  removed  their  stock  to 
Kaskaskia,  in  Illinois.  Menard,  though  possessed  of  but  a  limited  education, 
was  a  man  of  quick  perception  and  of  almost  unerring  judgment.  He  was  candid 
and  honest,  full  of  energy  and  industry,  and  these  qualities  soon  marked  him 
as  a  leader  among  the  scattered  population  of  his  adopted  home.  For  a  number 
of  years,  he  was  Government  Agent  for  the  Indians,  and  his  candor  and  integ- 
rity soon  won  for  him  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  the  Indian  tribes.  This 
fact  secured  him  great  advantage  as  a  merchant,  as  he  could  buy  their  peltries 
for  half  that  they  could  be  purchased  by  the  "  Longknives."  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lower  House  of  the  Legislature  while  Illinois  was  under  the  Indi- 
ana regime,  and,  from  1812  to  1818,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Legisla- 
tive Council,  being  the  President  of  that  body.  He  was  Lieutenant  Governor 
from  1818  to  1822,  and  after  that  he  declined  to  accept  further  honors  at  the 
hands  of  the  people.  He  acquired  a  considerable  fortune,  but  much  of  it  was 
lost  through  his  liberality  in  going  security  for  his-  friends.  He  died  at  the 
good  old  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  in  Tazewell  County.  Such  was  the  man 
for  whom  the  county  of  Menard  was  named. 

The  boundaries  of  the  county  of  Menard  are  as  follows :  Beginning  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  Section  22,  Township  17,  Range  8  west  of  the  Third 
Principal  Meridian  ;  thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Section  21,  Town- 
ship 17,  Range  6  west  of  the  Third  Principal  Meridian  ;  thence  north  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  Section  15,  Township  17,  Range  6  west  of  the  Third 
Principal  Meridian ;  thence  east  to  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  18,  Town- 
ship 17,  Range  5  west  of  the  Third  Principal  Meridian  ;  thence  north  one-half 
mile ;  thence  east  one-quarter  of  a  mile ;  thence  north  one-half  mile ;  thence 
east  one-quarter  of  a  mile  ;  thence  north  one  and  one-half  miles  ;  thence  east  to 
the  southeast  corner  of  Section  30,  Township  18,  Range  4  west  of  the  Third 
Principal  Meridian  ;  thence  north  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Lot  19,  Township 
19,  Range  4  west  of  the  Third  Principal  Meridian ;  thence  west  to  the  southeast 


192  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

corner  of  Section  13,  Township  19,  Range  5  west  of  the  Third  Principal 
Meridian ;  thence  north  to  Salt  Creek  ;  thence  with  said  creek  to  the  north- 
east corner  of  Section  7,  Township  19,  Range  6,  where  said  creek  unites  with 
the  Sangamon  River ;  thence  with  the  river  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Section 
10,  Township  19,  Range  8 ;  thence  south  to  the  place  of  beginning.  The 
county  contains  an  aggregate  of  197,975  acres.  The  Sangamon  River  is 
estimated  to  occupy  an  area  of  700  acres  within  the  limits  of  the  county.  This 
will  leave  the  entire  area  within  the  limits  of  the  given  boundary,  198,675 
acres. 

The  Sangamon  River  flows  through  the  county  from  south  to  north,  dividing 
it  into  almost  equal  parts.  A  number  of  small  streams  flowing  into  the 
Sangamon  River  and  Salt  Creek  afford  an  abundance  of  pure,  fresh  water  for 
every  purpose.  The  surface  of  the  county  is  gently  undulating,  in  the  main, 
though  for  a  mile  or  two  back  from  the  river  it  is  somewhat  broken.  The  greater 
portion  of  the  land,  in  its  native  state,  was  prairie,  covered  with  a  rank  and 
luxuriant  coat  of  grass,  and  interspersed  with  a  countless  variety  of  wild 
flowers. 

Groves  and  bodies  of  timber  are  interspersed  all  over  its  entire  area,  in 
ample  abundance  for  all  purposes  of  manufacture  and  agriculture.  Along  the 
Sangamon  River,  for  a  distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half,  on  either  side,  there  is 
heavy  timber ;  while  on  Rock  Creek  and  Indian  Creek,  are  considerable  bodies 
also.  In  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  are  Irish  Grove,  Bee  Grove  and 
Sugar  Grove,  each  large  bodies  of  good  timber.  On  the  west  side  of  the  river 
are  Little  Grove  and  Clary's  Grove,  which  are  also  good  timber.  The  principal 
kinds  of  timber  are  black,  spotted,  burr,  white  and  pin  oaks  ;  elm.  ash,  walnut, 
(white  and  black),  hard  and  soft  maple,  sycamore,  linden  or  basswood,  hickory 
(white  and  shell-bark),  cottonwood,  black  and  honey  locust,  pecan,  cherry  and 
mulberry. 

AGRICULTURE. 

The  soil  is  adapted  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  a  very  remarkable  degree. 
Not  only  in  the  bottom  and  table  lands  is  the  black  loam  deep  and  rich,  but  the 
uplands  are  also  equally  productive.  Of  the  310.4  square  miles,  or  198,675 
acres  of  land  in  the  county,  there  were,  in  1878,  168,282  acres  jn  cultivation, 
against  134,173  acres  in  1870.  Of  this,  63,286  acres  were  in  corn,  yielding 
1,875,096  bushels.  The  same  year,  1878,  there  were  8,987  acres  in  winter 
wheat,  yielding  125,149  bushels;  891  acres  in  spring  wheat,  yielding  6,244 
bushels ;  8,352  acres  in  oats,  producing  263,666  bushels ;  10,168  acres  in  tim- 
othy meadow,  yielding  14,542  tons  of  hay ;  303  acres  in  Irish  potatoes,  pro- 
ducing 15,620  bushels ;  1.469  acres  in  apple  orchards,  yielding  56,157  bushels 
of  apples.  The  acreage  of  grain  raised  in  1878  was  not  as  large  as  usual,  from 
the  fact  of  the  extreme  wet  weather  in  the  early  part  of  the  season,  preventing 
the  cultivation  of  large  amount  of  the  flat  and  low  bottom-land.  Beside  this, 
winter  wheat  has  been  such  an  uncertain  crop  for  some  years  past,  that  little 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  193 

attention  has  been  paid  to  it ;  but  the  yield  per  acre  of  what  was  sowed  last 
year  being  so  fine  that  the  acreage  the  present  year  is  almost  double  that  of 
1878,  and  the  quality  and  yield  are  both  much  better.  There  are  a  variety  of 
crops  raised  beside  those  named  above,  but  those  given  are  the  most  important. 

The  county  is  well  supplied  with  the  various  kinds  of  stock,  and  for  many 
years  great  pains  have  been  taken  to  improve  the  quality  by  securing  the  best 
imported  breeds,  for  a  number  of  years,  there  was  great  profit  in  feeding 
cattle  and  hogs  for  the  Eastern  markets,  and  many  of  the  cattle  raised  on  the 
rich  pasture-lands  of  "Little  Menard"  were  shipped  to  European  ports,  and- 
proved  to  be  as  rich  and  savory  as  the  boasted  beeves  of  the  Old  World.  For  a 
few  years  past,  however,  farmers  have  found  but  little  profit  in  this  department 
of  labor,  and  raising  cattle  and  hogs  as  a  business  is  falling  into  desuetude. 
The  price  of  pasture  and  the  cost  of  raising  corn,  together  with  the  Western 
competition  in  prices,  render  the  cattle  business  very  uncertain  and  dangerous, 
while  the  prevalence  of  hog-cholera  for  several  years  past,  renders  the  business 
of  hog-raising  so  dangerous  that  but  little  attention  is  given  to  it.  In  1878, 
there  were  5,961  head  of  cattle  fatted  in  the  county,  the  aggregate  gross  weight 
of  which  was  2,104,900  pounds.  There  were  1,089  milk-cows  kept,  from  which 
was  sold,  beside  the  home  consumption,  43,890  pounds  of  butter,  225  pounds  of 
cheese,  15  gallons  of  cream  and  2,300  gallons  of  milk.  The  same  year,  18,902 
hogs  were  fatted,  the  gross  weight  of  which  was  4,664,546  pounds ;  besides 
these,  there  were  22,495  hogs,  big  and  little,  died  with  cholera  during  the  same 
year,  the  aggregate  weight  of  which  was  1,5>14,421  pounds.  The  sheep  of  the 
county  yielded,  in  1878,  19,689  pounds  of  wool.  Of  the  horses,  mules  and 
asses  in  the  county,  we  have  no  statistics  later  than  1870  that  are  reliable. 
There  were  then  6,840  horses  and  921  mules  and  asses.  Since  that  time, 
there  has  been,  doubtless,  an  increase  of  15  or  20  per  cent.  For  the  last  five 
or  six  years,  the  attention  of  farmers  has  been  turned  largely  to  the  improve- 
ment of  the  breed  of  horses.  For  this  purpose,  large  sums  have  been  expended 
in  importing,  from  various  portions  of  Europe,  studs  of  the  finest  horses.  The 
most  popular  breeds  are,  perhaps,  the  Norman  and  Clydesdale.  In  this  short 
time,  a  marked  improvement  is  observable  in- the  stock  all  over  the  county. 

The  total  valuation  of  farm  lands,  at  the  last  census,  was  $7,944,895.  The 
total  farm  products  were  estimated  to  be  worth  $2,237,505,  and  the  live  stock 
was  valued  at  $1,617,389.  This  gives  a  total  of  $11,899,809  as  the  valua- 
tion of  real  estate,  farm  products  and  live  stock,  leaving  out,  however,  a  num- 
ber of  minor  matters  that  would  aggregate  no  inconsiderable  amount.  This  is 
distributed  among  a  population  of  not  more  than  13,000  or  14,000  (only 
11,735  in  1870),  of  whom  only  8  were  colored.  The  reader  will  bear  in  mind 
that,  instead  of  the  above  estimates  being  exaggerated,  those  which  were 
not  taken  from  absolute  official  statistics  taken  in  1878,  were  taken  from  the 
census  of  1870  ;  hence  the  facts  will  fall  considerably  below  the  above  figures. 
From  1860  to  1870,  the  increase  of  population  in  the  county  was  about  23  per 


194  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

cent ;  but  for  the  last  decade  it  will  fall  very  far  below  this,  as  the  emigration 
to  Kansas  and  other  parts  of  the  West  will  equal,  if  not  exceed,  the  immigra- 
tion into  the  county,  so  that  the  population  as  given  above  may  be  too  great- 

Although  this  county  covers  but  a  small  area  of  territory,  yet  there  is  no 
county  in  the  State  possessing  finer  natural  advantages.  As  before  intimated, 
pure,  fresh,  living  water  for  man  and  beast,  and  for  purposes  of  irrigation,  is 
distributed  in  every  part  of  the  county;  while  the  Sangamon  River  and  Salt 
Creek  afford  abundance  of  water  for  driving  manufacturing  machinery,  either 
-by  steam  or  by  water  power. 

Inexhaustible  deposits  of  bituminous  coal  of  the  best  quality,  underlie  the 
entire  area,  and  at  such  a  depth  that  it  can  be  mined  at  a  trifling  cost.  This  coal 
is  deposited  in  three  layers,  or  strata,  that  have  been  worked,  and  Prof.  Worthen, 
the  State  Geologist,  says  that  the  strata  in  this  part  of  Illinois  will  all  together 
make  at  least  twenty-five  feet  in  thickness.  A  tolerably  correct  idea  of  our 
wealth  in  this  direction  may  be  gained  when  we  remember  that  miners  estimate 
that  in  every  foot  of  the  vein  in  thickness,  there  are  twenty  million  bushels, 
or  one  million  tons  to  the  square  mile.  Now,  to  say  nothing  of  the  twenty-five 
feet  of  strata  of  which  Prof.  Worthen  speaks,  let  the  reader  contemplate  the 
wealth  that  is  hidden  in  the  vein  that  is  now  being  worked.  This  layer  aver- 
ages over  six  feet  in  thickness  ;  but,  for  safety,  we  will  estimate  it  at  six  feet. 
This  gives  us  120,000,000  bushels,  or  480,000  tons  to  each  square  mile  of  area. 

This,  of  itself,  is  a  source  of  inexhaustible  wealth.  A  writer  in  the  Lon- 
don Quarterly  Review  said,  not  long  since,  that  no  people  can  succeed  in  the 
arts  of  Christian  civilization  without  a  supply  of  coal ;  and  as  it  is  essential  to 
many  classes  of  manufacture,  and  to  the  navigation  of  the  ocean,  and  conse- 
quently to  the  commerce  of  the  world,  the  statement  does  not  appear  to  be 
extravagant.  The  same  writer  says  that  the  paddle-wheels  of  European  enter- 
prise are  constantly  stirring  up  the  dark  waters  of  superstition  in  the  East,  and 
every  Christian  steamer  that  navigates  those  waters  goes  as  a  herald  of  Chris- 
tian civilization  and  advancement ;  and  that  coal  is  thus  becoming  a  grand  and 
essential  agent  in  the  enlightenment  of  the  world.  Such  were  the  stores  of 
coal  deposited  in  the  bowels  of  England,  and  her  supply  so  inexhaustible — as 
supposed — that  the  expression,  "  carrying  coals  to  Newcastle  "  has  long  been 
the  manner  of  expressing  the  inexhaustibleness  of  the  deposit.  But  present 
indications  bid  fair  for  it  to  become  literally  true,  and  also  that  the  "  coals 
carried  to  Newcastle  "  shall  be  from  America.  Thus  we  see  that  in  respect  to 
this  source  of  wealth,  this  little  county  is  behind  none  of  her  neighbors.  Some 
seven ^er  eight  coal  mines  are  being  operated  successfully  in  the  county;  the 
most  of  them,  in  fact,  nearly  all,  are  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  town  of 
Petersburg.  In  addition  to  the  fact  that  we  thus  keep  the  price  of  this  article 
at  home,  it  also  affords  employment  for  a  large  number  of  laborers,  and  in  the 
same  proportion,  it  furnishes  market  of  our  produce.  The  coal  interests  are  just 
beginning  to  be  developed  here  ;  but  the  time  is  not  far  in  the  future  when  this 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  195 

will  be  an  important  branch  of  industry  here.  The  first  regular  coal-shaft  was 
opened  by  Elijah  Taylor,  in  the  southeast  part  of  town,  in  the  fall  of  ]  865.  Since 
that  time,  the  several  shafts  near  town,  and  that  of  Tallula  have  been  opened. 

Stone  is  not  as  plentiful  in  the  county  as  could  be  desired,  yet  there  are  some 
quarries  that,  when  fully  opened,  will  be  of  great  value.  A  large  field  on 
Rock  Creek  is  underlaid  with  a  fine  strata  of  limestone,  lying  near  the  surface 
in  many  places,  and  is  finely  adapted  to  building  purposes.  These  quarries 
have  never  been  properly  opened,  though  great  quantities  of  stone  have  been 
taken  out  along  the  hillsides  where  the  ledge  crops  out ;  but  the  time  is  not  far 
in  the  future  when  they  will  be  properly  opened.  Limestone  is  also  found  on 
the  Sangamon  River  at  Old  Salem,  and  also  at  Petersburg.  Near  the  east  end 
of  the  highway  bridge  over  the  river  at  Petersburg,  is  a  stratum  of  sandstone, 
though  it  is  not  yet  known  whether  it  is  of  a  good  quality,  or  of  sufficient 
quantity  to  pay  for  working.  Some  have  used  this  sandstone  for  foundations 
and  cellar-walls,  but  some  have  fears  that  it  will  not  resist  the  weight  of  the 
walls  and  the  influence  of  the  frost.  There  is  rock  in  small  quantities  in  other 
localities,  but  these  named  are  the  most  important  and  promising. 

Taking  all  the  natural  advantages  of  this  county  into  account,  no  locality 
possesses  more  or  better  facilities  for  manufacturing  enterprise.  Here  is  the 
timber,  the  stone,  the  coal,  the  water,  and,  as  Mr.  Hardin  Bale  has  recently 
demonstrated,  we  have  also  a  quality  of  clay  for  the  manufacture  of  drain-tile 
that  is  equal  to  the  best  in  the  State,  or  elsewhere.  Brick  of  an  excellent 
quality  are  also  made  here  in  abundance.  Taking  all  these  facts  together,  it 
is  strange  that  these  advantages  have  not  been  utilized  before  the  present  time. 
The  vast  amount  of  agricultural  implements  purchased  every  year  by  our 
citizens,  takes  out  vast  sums  of  money,  for  which  we  have  but  little  return 
made.  The  plows,  reapers,  planters,  threshers,  wagons,  buggies,  etc.,  that  are 
annually  purchased,  cost  a  vast  sum.  If  our  advantages  were  utilized,  not  only 
would  all  this  money  be  kept  in  our  midst,  but  other  great  advantages  would  accrue 
to  us.  A  market  would  be  created  here  at  home  for  our  surplus  timber,  which 
is  now  rotting  in  vast  quantities  all  over  the  county ;  a  demand  would  be  made 
for  greater  quantities  of  coal,  and  this  would  employ  a  great  number  of  laborers ; 
the  erection  of  these  factories  would  create  a  demand  for  stone  and  brick,  and 
sand,  and  lime ;  then  all  these,  so  well  as  the  timber  to  manufacture,  must  be 
delivered  on  the  ground,  thus  giving  employment  *to  a  great  number  of  men 
and  teams ;  and  last,  but  not  least,  this  would  call  together  great  numbers  of 
laborers  and  mechanics,  who,  bringing  their  families  with  them,  would  improve 
our  towns,  and  create  a  market  at  home  for  all  the  products  the  soil  produced 
by  our  farmers.  Surely  our  people  will  not  remain  blind  to  this  important 
matter  many  years  longer. 

The  raising  and  fatting  of  cattle  and  hogs  having  ceased  to  bring  remuner- 
ation to  the  agriculturists,  they  must  look  in  some  other  direction  for  a  reward 
for  their  toils. 


196  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

The  county  is  intersected  by  two  railroads,  the  Jacksonville  branch  of  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  and  the  Springfield  &  North-Western  Railroad.  A 
detailed  account  of  the  erection  of  these  roads  will  be  given  as  we  advance  in 
the  history  of  the  county,  as  giving  facts  in  their  proper  chronological  order 
will  enable  the  reader  to  understand  and  retain  them  to  a  much  better  advantage. 

Having  thus  hastily  glanced  at  the  resources  and  advantages  of  the  county, 
we  are  now  prepared  to  enter  into  the  history  of  the 

EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

Considerable  settlements  were  made  in  other  parts  of  old  Sangamon  County 
before  any  were  made  in  the  limits  of  what  is  now  Menard.  The  reader  will 
bear  in  mind  that  this  county  had  no  existence  till  1839,  hence  the  history  of 
the  early  settlement  and  development  of  the  county  is  connected  with  the 
history  of  Sangamon. 

Although  the  white  man  had  frequently  visited  the  "Sangamon  country," 
as  it  was  called,  and  had  traveled  over  the  beautiful  prairies,  and  explored  the 
deep  woods  of  this  locality,  yet  we  have  no  evidence  that  any  one  ever  settled 
in  the  area  of  the  county  prior  to  April,  1819.  The  first  settler,  according  to 
the  best  evidence  we  have,  was  Mr.  John  Clary,  who  came  with  his  family  at 
the  date  just  named.  He  settled  in  a  grove  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
county,  near  the  present  site  of  the  village  of  Tallula.  This  grove  was  ever 
after  known  by  the  name  of  its  first  settler,  and  is  to-day  noticed  on  the  maps 
and  known  far  and  near  as  Clary's  Grove.  Mr.  Clary  settled  on  the  south- 
west quarter  of  Section  32,  Town  18,  Range  7,  the  land  being  now  owned  by 
George  Spears,  Sr.  Mr.  Clary  built  what  was  known  to  the  pioneer  settlers  as 
a  "'three-faced  camp,"  that  is,  he  erected  three  walls,  leaving  one  entire  side 
open.  These  walls  were  built  about  seven  feet  high,  when  poles  were  laid  across 
at  a  distance  of  about  three  feet  apart,  and  on  these  a  roof  of  clapboards  was 
laid,  and  these  boards  were  held  on  by  weight-poles  laid  on  them.  These 
boards  were  some  four  feet  in  length,  and  from  eight  inches  to  a  foot  wide,  and 
were  split  out  of  oak  timber  with  an  instrument  called  a  froe.  No  floor  was 
laid  in  the  camp,  nor  was  there  any  such  thing  as  window  or  chimney  con- 
nected with  the  structure ;  neither  would  you  see  such  thing  as  a  door-shutter 
in  all  this  edifice.  Now,  these  are  facts,  and  we  doubt  not  that  the  young  men, 
who  are  now  growing  up,  wonder  what  the  people  did  for  light,  and  where  their 
fires  were  built,  as  well  as  how  they  found  ingress  and  egress.  The  one  side 
of  the  structure  that  was  left  out  answered  all  these  purposes.  Just  in  front 
of  the  open  side  was  built  a  large  log  heap,  which  served  to  give  warmth  in 
cold  weather,  and  for  cooking  purposes  all  the  year  round.  Abundance  of 
light  was  admitted  by  this  aperture,  while  on  either  side  of  the  fire  were  ample 
passage-ways  for  passing  in  and  out.  We  describe  this  camp  thus  particularly, 
because  in  such  as  this  the  early  settlers  spent  the  first  few  years  of  their 
sojourn  in  the  new  country.  Mr.  Clary  had  a  family  when  he  first  came. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  197 

Judge  Robert  Clary,  recently  deceased,  was  six  weeks  old  when  the  family  set- 
tled in  the  grove.  The  large  and  respectable  family  of  Clarys,  now  living  in 
the  county,  are  the  descendants  of  this  pioneer.  Not  long  after  Clary  settled 
in  the  grove,  Mr.  Solomon  Pratt,  with  his  family,  took  up  their  residence  in 
a  cabin  on  Section  3,  Town  17,  Range  7,  this  being  in  the  vicinity  of  Mr. 
Clary.  During  the  fall  of  1819  and  the  spring  of  1820,  emigration  came  in 
pretty  rapidly,  and,  there  being  no  record  kept  of  the  order  in  which  they 
came,  and  the  names  of  some  being  forgotten,  it  is  impossible  to  get  the  detail 
correct.  About  this  time,  the  Armstrongs,  Greens  and  Spears  came,  a  njore 
detailed  account  of  whose  settlement  will  be  given  in  another  place. 

It  was  before  stated  that  the  first  settlement  in  the  county  was  in  Clary's 
Grove ;  this  we  believe  is  true ;  however,  there  is  a  great  diversity  of  opinion 
on  this  subject  among  the  oldest  citizens  now  living.  Amberry  Rankin,  of 
Athens,  is  of  the  opinion  that  Judge  Latham  was  the  first  white  man  to 
take  up  his  abode  in  the  limits  of  the  county ;  and  it  is  a  known  fact  that 
Sugar  Grove,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  county,  was  settled  very  soon  after 
Clary's  Grove,  if  not  at  the  very  same  time.  From  a  document  left  by  Charles 
Montgomery,  deceased,  and  from  the  statement  of  Alexander  Meadows,  now 
living  in  Greenview,  we  learn  some  important  facts.  These  statements  are 
fully  reliable,  as  the  gentlemen  named  were  members  of  the  first  party  that 
settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  Sangamon  River. 

Jacob  Boyer  and  James  Meadows,  who  were  brothers-in-law,  came  to  Sugar 
Grove,  from  the  American  bottom,  in  the  spring  of  1819.  They  had  lived  a  year 
or  two  on  Wood  River,  in  the  American  bottom,  two  and  a  half  miles  from  Alton 
meadows,  brought  one  wagon  drawn  by  two  horses,  and,  in  addition,  one  milk 
cow,  a  yoke  of  yearling  steers,  that  had  been  broken  to  work  when  sucking- 
calves,  and  some  thirty  head  of  hogs.  Boyer  brought  three  horses,  two  milk 
cows,  and  perhaps  a  yoke  of  oxen.  About  the  same  day  that  Boyer  and 
Meadows  came,  the  Blane  family,  consisting  of  four  brothers,  one  sister  and 
the  mother,  came  to  the  same  grove.  This  family  was  of  Irish  blood,  and  it 
was  from  them  that  the  "Irish  Grove,"  in  the  east  part  of  the  county,  received 
its  name.  The  Blanes  brought  two  two-horse  teams  and  six  or  seven  yoke  of 
oxen.  Boyer  and  Meadows  erected  a  cabin  on  the  south  side  of  the  grove, 
which  was  occupied  by  Boyer,  and  Meadows  put  up  a  "three-faced  camp  "  on 
the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  "  Sugar  Grove  Cemetery."  Before  the  Blanes 
settled  there,  they  had  been  camped  for  a  few  days  in  the  "Irish  Grove,"  as 
it  has  since  been  called  ;  it  is  therefore  very  probable  that  they  were  camped  in 
the  county  when  Clary  settled  at  Clary's  Grove. 

The  Blanes  also  "  took  claims,"  erected  cabins  and  began  business  in  earnest. 
These  were  the  first  settlers  on  the  east  side  of  the  Sangamon  River. 

Before  giving  an  account  of  the  further  settlement  of  Sugar  Grove,  it  may 
not  be  amiss  to  relate  an  incident  in  the  early  history  of  this  settle- 
ment, illustrating  the  fact  that  human  nature  is  ever  the  same,  and  that 


198  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY". 

even  in  this  early  day  men  had  need  of  civil  courts.  It  will  be  necessary  to 
explain  that  although  the  trouble  began  when  but  few  families  had  settled 
there,  it  was  some  time  before  it  culminated  in  a  lawsuit,  as  there  were  no 
courts  of  justice  in  reach  till  some  time  later. 

As  stated  above,  Meadows  brought  two  horses,  thirty  head  of  hogs  and  two  year- 
ling calves  with  him  to  the  grove.  Not  many  months  elapsed  until  both  the  horses 
were  missing,  and  the  hogs  were  all  strayed  away  and  lost.  Not  a  great  while 
after  these  misfortunes,  one  of  the  little  oxen  was  found  dead  in  the  woods. 
Diligent  search  was  made  in  every  direction  for  the  missing  stock,  as  they 
could  not  be  replaced  without  great  trouble  and  expense,  owing  to  the  distance 
from  any  older  settlement.  In  his  anxiety,  Mr.  M.  applied  to  a  fortune-teller, 
who  strolled  through  the  new  settlement,  practicing  his  art,  as  the  ancient 
troubadour  used  to  stroll  from  village  to  village,  to  rehearse  the  deeds  of  his 
heroes.  This  seer  told  Mr.  Meadows  that  the  horses  were  in  the  possession  of 
the  Indians,  and  that  he  would  recover  them  after  awhile,  though  but  one  at  a 
time.  Sure  enough,  the  horses  were  found  in  the  hands  of  the  Indians, 
who  said  they  had  traded  for  them  from  a  Frenchman.  The  horses  were  so 
jaded  that  they  were  of  no  service,  and  soon  after  died.  The  hogs,  he  was 
told,  had  gone  down  the  Sangamon  River,  where  one-half  of  them  had  been 
eaten  by  a  "  squatter,"  and  the  rest  he  would  recover.  Meadows  followed  the 
directions  given,  found  the  cabin  of  the  suspected  settler,  but  found  none  of  the 
hogs.  He,  however,  traded  for  a  frying-pan  from  the  worthy  citizen,  the  one, 
he  supposed,  in  which  his  hogs  had  been  fried ;  but  the  remainder  of  the  hogs 
were  found  as  had  been  predicted.  The  fortune-teller  further  said  that  the  ox 
came  to  its  death  at  the  hands  of  one  of  Mr.  M.'s  neighbors,  in  the  following 
manner :  The  neighbor  was  making  rails  in  the  timber,  his  coat  lying  on  a  log 
near  by,  when  the  poor  calf  came  browsing  along,  and,  spying  the  coat,  he 
determined  to  make  a  meal  of  it.  The  laborer,  seeing  his  coat  about  to  be 
swallowed,  ran  and  struck  the  brute  on  the  loins  with  his  maul,  and  the  blow 
proved  sufficient  to  kill  it  on  the  spot. 

Although  this  was  only  the  statement  of  a  superstitious  fortune-teller,  yet 
it  was  believed  strongly  enough  to  induce  Mr.  Meadows  to  begin  a  suit  against 
the  accused  party,  which  was  in  the  courts  for  several  years,  cost  a  vast  sum  of 
money,  and  created  a  feud  between  two  families,  which  lasted  to  the  second  gen- 
eration. This  is  spoken  of  as  the  first  lawsuit  of  any  importance  in  the 
county ;  and  also  as  illustrating  a  superstitious  belief  in  fortune-tellers  that  at 
that  time  was  almost  universal. 

Not  long  after  the  settlement  of  Boyer.  the  Blanes  and  Meadows,  another 
caravan  of  immigrants  came  to  the  grove.  John  Jennison,  Mr.  Hill,  William 
McNabb,  his  wife,  son  and  daughter  were  of  this  company.  James  McNabb, 
son  of  William,  above  named,  was  a  surveyor,  and  taught  the  first  school  in  the 
grove.  A  few  years  later,  he  was  drowned  in  trying  to  swim  the  Sangamon 
River  with  his  compass  tied  on  his  head.  It  is  said  that  he  had  been  drinking, 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  199 

or  he  would  not  have  made  the  attempt.  A  few  months  after  the  arrival 
of  those  last  named,  others  came,  among  them  Roland  Grant  and  family,  Benja- 
min Wilcox  and  Ward  Benson.  About  the  same  time,  a  Mr.  Pentecost  came 
from  Kentucky,  bringing  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  He 
settled  near  the  present  residence  of  Judge  Marbold,  near  Greenview.  Cavanis, 
for  whom  Cavanis  Creek,, running  near  Greenview,  was  named,  cam,e  about  this 
time.  He  also  was  from  Kentucky.  The  next  to  find  their  way  to  this  grove 
was  a  company  from  Deer  Creek,  Ohio ;  it  was  composed  of  the  Alkires  and 
William  Engle.  No  party  of  weary  travelers  ever  entered  a  new  country  that 
was  destined  to  exert  a  stronger  influence  on  the  future  growth  and  prosperity 
of  community  than  this  little  band.  Leonard  Alkire  brought  considerable 
means  with  him,  and  invested  it  largely  in  "claims,"  which  he  afterward 
entered.  He  purchased  the  claims  of  Meadows,  Grant,  Wilcox,  and  the 
Blanes.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a  change  among  the  early  settlers  of  this 
grove.  Hill,  who  was  spoken  of  above,  moved  to  St.  Louis.  John  Jennison 
farmed  a  year  or  two  in  the  grove,  and  then  removed  to  Baker's  Prairie,  three 
miles  southeast  of  Petersburg.  Meadows  moved  to  the  lower  end  of  the  grove, 
and  bought  the  claim  of  Pentecost.  McNabb  and  Wilcox  also  moved  to 
Baker's  Prairie,  where  they  took  claims,  which  they  entered  as  soon  as  the  land 
came  into  market.  There  they  reared  families,  and  many  of  their  descendants 
are  still  in  that  vicinity.  Not  long  after  the  arrival  of  Alkire  and  Engle,  Mat- 
thew Bracken  came  with  a  large  family  ;  after  him  came  Nicholas  Propst ;  then 
Wall  and  William  Sweeney,  Milt  Reed,  Thomas  and  William  Caldwell.  From 
this  time  the  tide  of  immigration  constantly  grew  deeper  and  wider,  pouring  in 
a  host  of  earnest,  industrious  and  enterprising  men  to  develop  this  most  highly 
favored  body  of  country. 

While  the  settlement  here  was  being  made,  of  course  other  localities  were 
not  neglected.  It  is  rather  a  remarkable  fact,  however,  that  no  settlers  were 
found  on  the  prairie  for  several  years,  but  each  grove  of  timber  contained 
a  settlement,  and  was  the  nucleus  of  a  community.  '  Of  the  more  important  of 
these,  we  will  speak  farther  in  the  proper  place.  It  may  be  of  interest  to  the 
reader  to  know  that  the  first  marriage  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  was  John 
Jennison  to  Patsy  McNabb  ;  the  second  was  one  Henman-to  Rosina  Blane  ;  and 
the  third;  William  Engle  to  Melissa  Alkire.  The  last-named  couple  were  mar- 
ried by  Harry  Riggiri,  J.  P. 

The  first  death  was  an  infant  son  o"  Jacob  Boyer  named  Henderson.  The 
second  was  James  Blane,  and  the  third  was  Joseph  Kinney,  who  was  thrown 
from  a  horse.  He  was  brought  home  but  soon  died.  Some  say  that  he  was 
the  second  person  who  died  in  the  grove,  and  the  first  aduh  buried  in  the  bury- 
ing-ground  ;  but  Charles  Montgomery,  in  a  statement  written  some  years  before 
his  death,  says  that  James  Blane  was  the  second,  and  Kinney  the  third  who 
died.  Kinney  was  buried  in  Sugar  Grove  Cemetery,  and  an  elm  came  up  immedi- 
ately out  of  his  grave,  and  it  is  now  a  large,  wide-spreading  tree  ;  and  although 


200  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

its  roots  and  stem  have  obliterated  all  signs  of  a  grave,  yet  it  is  a  verdant  mon- 
ument to  the  memory  of  Joseph  Kinney. 

The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in  Sugar  Grove  in  1822,  by  Meadows, 
Boyer,  Wilcox,  McNabb  and  Grant.  It  was  constructed  of  split  logs,  and  was 
about  sixteen  feet  square.  This  house  was  furnished  on  a  par  with  all  the 
schoolhouses  in  the  early  settling  of  the  country.  Covered  with  boards  held  in 
their  places  by  "  weight  poles,"  the  floor  of  "  puncheons  "  made  of  split  logs, 
the  seats  the  half  of  a- log  10  or  12  feet  long,  with  four  pins  set  in  with  a  large 
auger  for  legs,  a  log  left  out  along  one  side  for  a  window,  beneath  which  a  slab 
was  laid  on  two  large  pins  in  a  slanting  position  to  serve  as  a  writing-desk. 
The  text-books  were  few  in  number,  and  the  teacher  made  all  the  pens  of  goose- 
quills.  The  books  used  were  the  New  Testament  for  a  reader,  with  occasionally 
a  copy  of  the  old  "English  Reader,"  Pike's  or  Smiley's  Arithmetic,  but  few  of 
the  pupils  ever  advanced  farther  than  the  Single  or  Double  Rule  of  Three  (i.  e., 
single  or  double  proportion),  geography  was  seldom  studied,  and  English 
grammar  was  totally  unknown  in  the  schools  here  for  several  years.  Uncle 
Minter  Graham,  who  has  taught  school  longer  than  any  other  man  in  Central 
Illinois,  perhaps,  tells  an  amusing  anecdote  about  teaching  grammar  in  an  early 
day  here,  and  he  vouches  for  the  truth  of  the  statement,  as  it  came  under  his 
own  personal  knowledge.  A  certain  teacher  whose  aspirations  were  consider- 
ably in  advance  of  his  acquirements,  felt  himself  called  upon  to  teach  English 
grammar.  He  accordingly  organized  a  class  in  that  science,  and  very  kindly 
assisted  them  in  preparing  the  first  lesson,  which  was  the  four  general  divisions 
of  grammar;  these  he  pronounced  for  them,  with  a  gusto,  as  follows:  Or- 
iho-graph-y,  Et-y-mo-?o-gy,  Swine-t&x  and  Pro-so-dy.  The  text-books  used 
when  grammar  began  to  be  taught  in  the  schools,  were  Murray's  and  Kirk- 
ham's  Grammars.  The  above  books,  with  Webster's  old  Speller,  or  the  Element- 
ary, and  a  "horn-book" — a  wooden  paddle  with  the  alphabet  pasted  on  it — for 
the  littfe  fellows,  were  the  entire  outfit  of  school-books.  The  schools  at  this 
time  were  all  on  the  subscription  plan,  which  is  fully  explained  under  the  head 
of  Education  in  this  volume,  and  seldom  were  for  a  longer  term  than  three 
months,  and  that  in  the  middle  of  the  winter.  James  McNabb,  who,  as  the 
reader  will  remember,  was  drowned  in  the  Sangamon  River,  was  the  first 
teacher  in  Sugar  Grove ;  he  was  followed  by  Daniel  McCall,  and  soon  by  others. 
Perhaps,  one  Templeman  was  the  third  teacher  in  this  settlement.  The  first 
preaching  in  Sugar  Grove  was  in  the  cabin  of  Roland  Grand,  by  one  Hender- 
son, a  preacher  of  the  "New-Light  "  faith,  as  it  was  then  termed.  The  New 
Lights  and  the  followers  of  Alexander  Campbell  afterward  united,  forming  what 
was  at  first  denominated  the  Church  of  the  Disciples,  but  afterward  changed  to 
the  Church  of  Christ,  sometimes  called  Campbellites.  Of  this  a  more  extended 
account  will  be  given  under  the  head  "  Religious  Denominations." 

When  the  settlement  was  first  begun  at  Sugar  Grove,  and  for  some  time 
after,  the  nearest  physician  was  in  Springfield,  then  a  mere  village.  Dr.  Allen 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  201 

of  that  city  was  the  first  practitioner  of  the  healing  art  that  was  called  to  visit 
the  community  at  the  grove.  Not  a  great  while  elapsed,  however,  till  Dr. 
Winn  settled  near  Indian  Point,  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine. 

Having  thus  glanced  hastily  at  the  early  history  of  Sugar  Grove,  we  turn 
now  to  other  localities,  where  settlements  were  made  in  an  early  day,  as  New 
Salem,  two  and  one-half  miles  from  Petersburg,  up  the  river ;  the  vicinity  of 
Indian  Point;  the  Concord  neighborhood,  three  miles  north  of  Petersburg. 
The  Indian  Point  settlement  includes  that  of  Lebanon  and  Athens,  while  that 
of  New  Salem  is  associated  with  that  of  Rock  Creek.  These,  with  Clary's  and 
Sugar  Groves,  before  mentioned,  were  the  more  important  of  the  early  centers 
of  civilization ;  indeed,  all  the  others  may  be  regarded  as  offshoots  of  these. 
About  1820,  the  settlement  at  Indian  Point  began.  The  first  settler  was  Rob- 
ert White,  who  settled  on  the  farm  on  which  his  son  Franklin  now  lives, 
adjoining  the  ground  on  which  Lebanon  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  now 
stands.  With  him  came  James  Williams — father  of  Col.  John  Williams — and 
family,  consisting  of  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  Archibald  Kincaid,  Jacob 
Johnston  and  Dr.  Charles  Winn  came  about  the  same  time,  with  those  named 
above,  and,  soon  after,  John  Moore  also  settled  in  this  vicinity.  William  B. 
Short  was  also  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  part  of  the  county.  These 
were  all  intelligent,  earnest,  enterprising  people,  and  by  their  industry  and 
economy  laid  the  foundation  of  the  wealth  and  development  of  that  part  of  the 
county.  The  descendants  of  those  named  above  make  up  the  larger  part  of 
the  population  of  Indian  Creek  neighborhood  at  the  present  time.  Indeed, 
we  are  not  surprised  at  this,  when  we  reflect  that  these  people  held  in  high 
regard  the  Divine  command,  to  "multiply  and  replenish  the  earth,"  as  is 
proven  from  the  fact  that  James  B.  Short  ventured  no  less  than  five  times  into 
the  bonds  of  matrimony.  About  1820,  Joseph  Smith,  from  Kentucky,  and  his 
brother-in-law,  William  Holland,  from  Ohio,  came  and  settled  in1  the  south  side 
of  Indian  Point  timber.  Matthew  Rogers,  of  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  came  the 
same  year  and  settled  one  mile  northeast  of  the  present  site  of  Athens.  From 
this  time  the  stream  of  emigration  grew  deeper  and  wider,  and  the  numbers 
were  such  that  but  little  can  be  given  of  the  order  of  their  arrival.  Having 
thus  sketched  these  three  centers  of  early,  settlements,  viz.,  Clary's  Grove, 
Sugar  Grove  and  Indian  Point,  we  will  now  turn  to  the  most  important  local- 
ity, so  far  as  early  settlement  is  concerned,  in  the  county ;  we  refer  to  "  New 
Salem."  This  was  the  first  town  or  village  laid  out  in  the  county.  At  a 
point  some  two  and  a  half  miles  above  Petersburg,  the  Sangamon  River  washes 
the  foot  of  a  high  hill  or  bluff,  whose  precipitous  sides  and  level  summit  were, 
at  an  early  day,  covered  with  a  thrifty  growth  of  forest  trees.  The  country, 
back  from  the  crest  of  the  hill,  is  almost  perfectly  level  for  miles  to  the  west. 
The  timber  continued  back  from  the  river  in  a  dense  forest,  for  the  distance  of 
half  a  mile.  From  this  the  prairie  continued  in  unbroken  sameness  for  many 
a  mile.  At  a  distance  of  perhaps  three  miles  farther  up  the  Sangamon,  the 


202  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

little  stream — for  it  is  hardly  worthy  the  name  of  a  creek — of  Rock  Creek, 
mingles  its  waters  with  those  of  the  "St.  Gamo,"  as  the  Sangamon  was  some- 
times called  by  the  early  settlers.  Rock  Creek,  rising  in  the  western  part  of 
the  county  and  flowing  almost  due  east,  enters  the  Sangamon  at  almost  right 
angles.  Its  borders  on  either  side  were  covered  with  a  fine  growth  of  tim- 
ber, making  a  body  of,  perhaps,  a  mile  in  average  width,  and  five  or  six  in 
length.  The  land  on  both  north  and  south  of  this  stream  was  neither  flat  nor 
broken,  but  gently  undulating  and  of  the  richest  arid  most  productive  soil. 
Taken  altogether,  there  is  no  more  attractive  or  more  productive  section  of 
country  in  Central  Illinois  than  Rock  Creek  and  New  Salem.  Just  on  the 
brow  of  the  bluff,  above  described,  in  years  long  gone  by,  was  situated  the  vil- 
lage of  Salem.  This  locality,  though  not  so  at  present,  will  in  time  become 
almost  as  historic  as  Mt.  Vernon  itself.  Although  Nature  has  not  been  so  pro- 
fuse in  the  gorgeousness  of  the  scenery  here  as  in  that  -of  the  Old  Dominion, 
nor  is  the  quiet  Sangamon  to  be  compared  with  the  majestic  Potomac,  yet,  in 
many  respects,  Salem  is  as  sacred  to  the  lover  of  human  liberty  as  Mt.  Ver- 
non in  all  her  historic  glory.  Many  a  visitor  seeks  the  spot  where  President 
Abraham  Lincoln  spent  the  years  of  his  early  manhood ;  where  he  studied  the 
law,  wrestled,  foot-raced,  romped  and  sported  with  the  young  men  of  his  age, 
and  where  those  principles  were  imbibed  and  matured,  which,  in  after  years, 
made  him  the  idol  of  a  great  mass  of  the  American\ people,  and  wrote  his  name 
in  tablets  more  enduring  than  granite,  brass  or  bronze — but  they  are  ever  dis- 
appointed at  finding  no  vestige  of  the  village  of  Salem.  At  the  foot  of  the 
bluff,  just  at  the  brink  of  the  water,  stands  an  old  water-mill,  a  broken  dam 
stretches  across  the  stream,  and  through  its  countless  chinks  and  crevices  the 
water  murmurs,  making  sad  music  to  the  seeming  desolation,  which  seems  to 
reign  all  around,  for  there  is  not  a  building  of  any  kind,  save  the  old  mill, 
nearer  than  a  fourth  of  a  mile  to  the  old  town  site.  Settlements  had  been 
made  in  this  vicinity  several  years  before  the  laying-out  of  Salem.  Green  had 
settled  southwest  of  there,  Potter,  Jones,  Armstrong  and  others  settling  near 
there,  with  Lloyd  and  others  farther  up  the  Rock  Creek  timber.  Somewhere 
about  1824  to  1826,  John  Cameron  and  James  Rutledge  erected  a  rude  and  primi- 
tive mill  near  the  site,  perhaps  on  the  very  spot,  of  the  present  mill.  Two  or 
three  log  pens  were  built  and  filled  with  stone  to  prevent  their  being  washed 
away  by  high  waters ;  upon  these  was  erected  a  platform,  and  a  shaft  attached 
to  a  rude  breast-wheel  gave  motion  to  a  small  pair  of  "home-made"  buhrs  on 
the  platform.  Nothwithstanding  the  extreme  simplicity  of  this  mill,  it  was  a 
"big  thing"  in  that  early  day,  for  mills  were  so  scarce,  as  we  shall  see  in 
another  place,  that  people  came  from  a  distance  of  fifty  and  even  one  hundred 
miles  in  every  direction,  to  have  their  grain  ground  in  this  mill.  Such  was 
the  patronage  given  to  this  enterprise,  that  the  proprietors  determined  to  lay 
out  a  town  adjoining  the  mill  property.  Accordingly  the  surveyor,  Reuben 
Harrison,  was  employed,  and,  on  the  13th  day  of  October,  1820,  the  town  of 


HISTORY   OF   MENARU   COUNTY.  203 

Salem  was  duly  and  legally  laid  out.  The  first  improvements  in  the  town 
were  made  by  the  proprietors,  John  Cameron  and  James  Rutledge.  Each  of 
those  gentlemen  at  once  began  to  improve  a  lot  by  erecting  a  log  cabin. 

We  may  here  remark  that  the  town  was  destined  to  a  short  life,  for  in  less 
than  a  decade  it  had  run  its  course ;  but  the  cabin  of  John  Cameron  long 
remained  as  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  Salem.  Until  a  few  months  agor 
it  stood  in  desolate  solitude,  but  lately  it  has  fallen  down  and  has  been  removed,, 
and  there  is  nothing  now  to  mark  the  locality  of  this  first  town  in  the  limits  of 
Menard  County,  save  the  scattered  debris,  barely  indicating  that  buildings  of 
some  character  once  stood  there. 

The  third  building  erected  was  a  store-room,  which,  when  completed,  was 
occupied  by  Samuel  Hill  and  John  McNamar.  These  were  probably  the  first 
merchants  in  the  county,  except  Harry  Riggin  and  A.  A.  Rankin,  of  Athens. 

At  the  time  that  Salem  was  laid  out,  there  had  never  been  a  post  office  in 
the  limits  of  what  is  now  Menard  County,  the  people  getting  what  little  mail 
matter  they  received  from  Springfield,  then  a  mere  village.  A  post  office  was 
established  at  Salem,  and  Col.  Rogers  was  appointed  the  first  Postmaster.  His 
duties,  however,  were  not  very  arduous,  as  newspapers  were  then  scarcely 
known  in  the  West,  or  in  the  East,  for  that  matter,  and  but  few  persons  were 
ever  in  receipt  of  a  letter.  The  youth  of  to-day  can  scarcely  imagine  how 
people  lived  in  those  days.  To  illustrate  this  postal  system,  it  may  be  stated 
that,  while  Illinois  County  was  under  the  government  of  Virginia,  Col. 
John  Todd  was  appointed  Lieutenant  Commandant  of  said  county,  with  instruc- 
tions to  report  to  Gov.  Patrick  Henry,  of  Virginia,  each  month,  and,  although 
Todd  lived  in  Fayette  County,  Ky.,  yet  his  reports  were  often  one  month  in 
reaching  Gov.  Henry. 

Hill  and  McNamar  were  followed  in  the  mercantile  business  by  one  George 
Warburton,  who  soon  became  addicted  to  hard  drink,  and  ended  a  wretched 
existence  by  committing  suicide  by  throwing  himself  into  the  Sangamon  River. 
Warburton  was  a  shrewd  business  man,  possessing  a  fine  education,  and  of  a 
genial,  friendly  turn,  so  much  so  that  he  had  but  one  enemy,  and  that  was 
alcohel. 

Warburton  was  succeeded  in  the  store  by  two  brothers  from  Virginia,  by 
the  name  of  Chrisman,  who  remained  a  short  time,  and  followed  the  "star  of 
empire,"  going  Westward. 

About  this  time,  W.  G.  Greene,  from  Kentucky,  and  Dr.  John  Allen  and 
brother,  from  the  Green  Mountain  State,  came  to  Salem.  Dr.  Allen  was  a 
thorough  Christian  gentleman,  and  stood  very  high  in  the  medical  profession. 
It  was  through  the  influence  of  Dr.  Allen  that  the  first  Sunday  school  and 
first  temperance  society  were  formed.  The  meetings  of  both  these  were  held 
in  a  log  cabin  south  of  Salem,  across  the  ravine  that  ran  just  at  the  south 
limit  of  the  village.  Dr.  Allen  died  in  Petersburg  some  seventeen  to  twenty 
years  ago,  and  his  brothers,  after  remaining  here  a  number  of  years,  removed 


204  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

to  Minnesota,  and  at  last  accounts  were  in  the  lumber  regions,  running  facto- 
ries, stores,  banks  and  mills,  giving  employment  to  three  or  four  hundred  men. 
Dr.  Duncan  came  some  time  after  Dr.  Allen,  and  after  a  few  years  removed  to 
Warsaw,  111.,  where  he  built  up  a  flourishing  practice. 

In  the  summer  or  early  fall  of  1831,  Abraham   Lincoln  came  to  Salem,  on 
his  return  from  a  trip  with  a  flat-boat  to  New  Orleans.     This  was  his  first  visit 
directly  to  the  village,  although  he  had  passed  down  the  Sangamon  River  early 
in  the  preceding  spring.     And  here  we  cannot  refrain  from  relating  an  anedote 
often  repeated  by  the  old  citizens,  illustrative  of  the  peculiarities  of  this  eccen- 
tric though  celebrated  statesman.     The  story  is  told  of  Lincoln's  boring  a  hole 
in  the  bottom  of  a  sunken  flat-boat,  in  order  to  set  her  afloat  by  letting  the 
water  run  out  of  the  hole,  and  it  is  literally  true.     It  happened  as  follows : 
Before  Mr.  Lincoln's  father  left  Indiana  for  Macon  Co.,  111.,  the  youthful  Abraham 
had  made  a  successful  flat-boat  trip  to  New  Orleans,  via  the  Wabash,  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  Rivers.     Some  time  after  their  settlement  near  the  Sangamon,  in 
Macon  County,  a  gentleman  came  to  the  younger  Lincoln,  desiring  him  to 
assist  in  running  a  flat-boat  to  New  Orleans,  the  gentleman  having  heard  of 
Mr.  Lincoln's  success  in  a  former  trip.     A  bargain  was  soon  made,  and  soon 
the  boat  was  partially  loaded  with  salt  pork  in  barrels,  and  a  small  number  of 
live  hogs,  the  supercargo  intending  to  complete  the  burden  by  the  purchase  of 
more  live  hogs  on  their  way.     All  went  well  and  "  merry  as  a  marriage  bell  " 
till  the  craft  reached  the  dam  erected  across  the  river  at  Salem,  by  Cameron  & 
Rutlege.     Here  they  were  doomed  to  trouble,  for,  coming  to  the  dam  with  speed 
accelerated  by  the  draw  of  the  fall  to  such  a  degree  that  the  boat,  striking  prow 
first,  ran  far  enough  upon  the  dam  to  extend  the  prow  several  feet  over.     This,  of 
course,  elevated  the  forward  part  of  the  boat,  and  the  result  was,  the  water  came 
over  the  stern  till  that  part  of  the  boat  settled  to  the  bottom.    In  this  dilemma, 
the  owner  of  the  flat  proposed  to  get  the  freight  ashore  as  best  they  could,  and 
abandon  the  boat.    Not  so  with  Lincoln.    A  canoe  was  secured  and  the  freight 
principally  removed  to  a  place  of  safety.     Lincoln  then  said  that  he  would  get 
an  auger  and  bore  a  hole  in   the  bottom   of  the  boat  and  thus  set  her  afloat. 
Some  smiled  incredulously,  some  laughed  outright,  while  all  thought  it  the  act  of 
a  dolt.     Nevertheless,  an  auger  was  procured,  a  hole  was  bored  in  the  bottom  of 
the  boat  near  the  bow  where  it  projected  over  the  dam.     The  bow  was  then 
lowered,  when,  of  course,  the  water  in  the  stern  ran  to  the  front,  and.  as  the 
bow  extended  over  the  dam,  it  ran  out,  and,  in  a  very  short  time — a  pin  being  • 
driven  into  the  hole — the  boat  was  again  afloat.     By  a  little  care,  the  "  flat'' 
was  gotten  safely  over  the  dam,  reloaded,  and  they  pursued  their  course  down 
the  river.     It  was  on  this  trip,  some  four  or  five  miles  below  the  present  site  of 
Petersburg,  that,  they  having  bought  a  lot  of  hogs,  which  refused  to  go  on  the 
boat,  Mr.  Lincoln  conceived  the  novel  idea  of  sewing  up  their  eyes.     A  needle 
and  thread  was  procured,  and  the  eyes  of  the  stubborn  porkers  duly  stitched  up, 
when,  being  unable  to  see,  they  quietly  and  calmly  marched  on  the  boat,  when 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  207 

the  stitches  were  cut,  and  the  swine  restored  to  sight.  Having  completed  the 
cargo,  they  reached  their  destination  without  accident,  and  Mr.  Offutt,  having 
purchased  a  stock  of  goods,  he  determined  to  ship  them  to  Beardstown,  and 
thence  remove  them  by  wagon  to  Salem,  where  he  intended  to  open  a  store. 
He  also  engaged  the  young  boatman,  Lincoln,  to  serve  him  in  the  capacity  of 
clerk  in  the  store.  It  was  on  the  return  from  this  trip  that  Abraham  Lincoln 
made  his  first  appearance  on  the  streets  of  the  village  of  "  New  Salem."  The 
writer  is  aware  that  it  is  claimed  by  some  that  Lincoln  had  resided  in  Salem 
prior  to  this  visit  to  New  Orleans ;  but  after  a  careful  examination  of  all  the 
testimony,  he  is  fully  convinced  that  this  visit,  in  autumn,  1831,  was  Lincoln's 
first  residence  in  Salem,  and,  in  fact,  his  first  knowledge  of  it,  except  that  he 
passed  down  the  river  early  in  the  preceding  spring. 

The  goods  having  come,  Lincoln  was  soon  duly  established  in  the  Salem 
store  as  clerk.  It  may  not  be  amiss,  in  this  connection,  to  state  that  the  charge 
has  often  been  made  that  Lincoln  "kept  a  saloon"  while  in  Salem.  Now, 
while  the  writer  was  never  a  political  admirer  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  yet  truth  and 
justice  demand  that  this  matter  be  stated  correctly ;  and,  after  diligent  search 
and  inquiry,  he  is  obliged  to  state  it  is  as  his  deliberate  conviction  that  this  was, 
indeed,  a  store  in  which  dry  goods  and  groceries  were  kept.  It  is  a  truth, 
however,  that  in  that  early  day,  perhaps  nearly  all  the  stores  kept  liquor  to 
sell  by  the  pint,  quart  and  gallon.  In  the  joint  discussion  between  Lincoln 
and  Douglas,  in  1858,  Mr.  Douglas  sneeringly  spoke  of  Lincoln  having 
engaged  in  "  keeping  a  grocery."  In  reply,  Lincoln  said  Mr.  D.  was  "  wofully 
at  fault,"  for  he  had  "  never  kept  a  grocery,  anywhere  in  the  world." 

Offutt's  mercantile  business  soon  increased  to  that  extent,  that  he  found  it 
necessary  to  engage  another  clerk ;  William  G.  Greene,  now  one  of  the 
wealthiest  farmers  of  Menard  County,  was  engaged  for  this  position.  Here 
Lincoln  and  Greene  formed  a  friendship  that  lasted  long  as  life. 

In  the  fall  of  1831,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Salem,  which 
position  he  held  several  years. 

In  the  summer  of  1832,  the  Black  Hawk  war  began,  and,  Gov.  Reynolds 
issuing  a  call  for  volunteers,  a  company  of  100  men  was  soon  raised  in  the 
section  of  country  around  Salem.  Mr.  Lincoln  went  in  as  a  private  soldier, 
but,  soon  after  the  company  was  organized,  it  became  necessary  to  elect  a  cap- 
tain. Mr.  Lincoln  and  one  Kirkpatrick  were  the  aspirants,  the  former  being 
chosen  by  a  large  majority.  The  company  reported  at  once  at  Beardstown, 
whence  they  marched  to  Oquawka.  The  soldiers  soon  became  dissatisfied, 
as  they  had  no  opportunity  to  engage  the  Indians ;  and,  in  some  regiments,  the 
dissatisfaction  ran  so  high,  that  two  or  three  times  it  threatened  to  break  out  in 
open  mutiny.  At  the  end  of  the  time  for  which  Lincoln's  company  had 
enlisted,  they  were  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  their  homes.  Mr. 
Lincoln  re-enlisted  in  another  command  and  remained  till  the  total  defeat  of 

Black  Hawk  and  the  ratification  of  peace.     Mr.  L.  then  returned  to  Salem, 

B 


208  HISTORY   OF    MENARD   COUNTY. 

where  he  continued  the  study  of  the  law  in  the  idle  moments  snatched  between 
waiting  upon  customers  in  the  store.  This  study  had  been  begun  soon  after  his 
first  settlement  in  Salem,  and,  though  his  opportunities  were  of  the  very  poorest, 
yet,  during  his  stay  in  Salem,  he  laid  the  deep  and  wide  foundation  of  his 
future  brilliant  career  in  the  legal  profession.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  doubtless  born 
to  be  a  leader.  He  was  possessed  of  all  those  peculiar  gifts  and  traits  which 
caused  him  to  be  looked  up  to  for  counsel  and  direction,  even  when  a  mere 
youth.  During  his  stay  at  Salem,  especially  the  first  few  years  of.it,  there  was 
a  kind  of  feud  or  rivalry  between  the  "  Clary's  Grove  boys  "  and  the  "  River 
timber  boys."  Perhaps,  in  the  entire  State  there  was  not  a  harder  set  to  be 
found  than  those  Clary's  Grove  lads,  for  there  was  no  rowdyism  or  revelry  in  a 
circuit  of  twenty  miles  that  they  were  not  in  some  way  connected  with.  Occa- 
sionally they  would  repair  in  force  to  Salem  to  drink  their  grog  and  settle  old 
scores.  On  such  occasions,  in  the  early  stage  of  their  revels — that  which  may 
be  termed  the  social  and  friendly  stage — they  talked,  laughed,  told  yarns, 
cracked  jokes,  wrestled  and  ran  foot-races  ;  during  this  stage,  Lincoln  was  always 
umpire,  arbiter  and  judge,  all  having  the  most  implicit  confidence  in  his  honor 
and  ability.  During  the  second,  or  combative  stage,  when  the  fiery  juice  of  the 
grain  or  fruit,  had  worked  its  way  into  their  noddles,  and  made  each  one  con- 
sider himself  a  hero,  the  war  began  in  earnest.  And  then  such  scenes  of  fisti- 
cuff and  ground  tussle  were  scarcely  ever  seen.  Lincoln  was  still  arbiter, 
and  his  decision  was  the  end  of  all  dispute.  When  the  third  or  stupid  stage 
came  on,  the  boys  from  the  Grove — often  with  battered  pates  and  depleted 
pockets,  wended  their  sullen  way  back  to  the  timber,  to  bind  up  their  bruises 
and  condole  with  one  another  over  the  cruel  fate  that  ever  awaited  them  at 
Salem.  Lincoln  soon  became  Surveyor,  and  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
his  office,  he  visited  every  part  of  the  county,  for  by  him  the  land  of  the  entire 
county  was  surveyed.  Almost  his  last  work  as  Surveyor  was  laying  out  the 
present  town  of  Petersburg. 

Some  time  near  the  time  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  Mr.  Lincoln,  for  the 
first  time,  was  pierced  with  the  cruel  darts  of  the  little  blind  god  Cupid.  The 
"beautiful  Anna  Rutledge,"  as  she  was  called,  was  then  just  ripening  into 
lovely  and  perfect  womanhood,  and  he  felt  the  force,  as  Lytton  says,  of  "  the. 
revolution  that  turns  us  all  topsy-turvy — the  revolution  of  love,"  for 

"  Love,  like  death, 

Levels  all  ranks,  and  lays  the  shepherd's  crook 
Beside  the  scepter." 

From  the  few  old  settlers  who  could  remember  these  scenes  distinctly,  we 
have  gleaned  some  facts  concerning  this  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Lincoln — an 
event  which  affected  his  whole  after-life.  Anna  Rutledge  was  not  a  beauty  in 
the  modern  sense  of  the  word ;  for,  brought  up  in  this  rural  district,  and  in 
total  ignorance  of  the  conventional  follies  of  fashionable  life ;  accustomed  from 
early  childhood  to  out-door  exercise,  and  the  rough,  wild  pastimes  of  the  day 


HISTORY    OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  209 

in  which  she  lived — she  was  stamped  with  a  beauty  entirely  free  from  art  or 
human  skill — a  beauty  all  the  result  of  Nature's  handiwork.  That  the  young 
clerk  "was  captivated  is  not  surprising.  It  is  not  our  purpose  to  invade  these 
hallowed  precincts  by  detailing  their  many  strolls  along  the  margin  of  the  river, 
or  over  the  rugged  bluffs  in  the  vicinity  of  Salem.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  his 
affection  was  fully  reciprocated,  and  the  two  were  doubtless  pledged  in  the 
indissoluble  bonds  of  love.  But  in  1835,  disease  laid  its  cruel  hand  upon  the 
young  girl,  and,  in  spite  of  the  love  of  friends,  and  the  skill  of  the  ablest 
physicians,  on  the  25th  of  August,  1835,  death  came  to  her  relief,  and,  as  Mr. 
Herndon  expresses  it,  "  The  heart  of  Lincoln  was  buried  in  the  coffin  of  Anna 
Rutlege.  '  Be  this  literally  true  or  not,  one  thing  is  sure,  from  that  time 
a  dark  shadow  seemed  to  be  cast  over  him,  from  which  he  never  fully 
emerged.  It  is  said  by  those  having  the  means  of  knowing,  that  ever  after 
this,  whenever  an  opportunity  offered,  Lincoln  would  wander  alone  to  the  little 
hillock  raised  above  her  ashes,  and  sit  and  ponder  in  sadness,  doubtless  living 
over  in  memory  the  happy  hours  spent  at  Salem.  Notwithstanding  his  tall, 
ungainly  form,  and  the  readiness  of  his  humor,  there  was  hid  in  his  breast  a 
heart  as  tender  and  full  of  sympathy  as  a  woman's — a  heart  touched  by  every 
tale  of  sorrow,  and  full  to  overflowing  with  the  milk  of  human  kindness. 

Before  the  close  of  the  first  decade  after  Salem  was  laid  out,  the  citizens  of 
the  village  were  all  scattered  and  gone.  John  McNamar  settled  four  miles 
north  of  Petersburg,  in  Sand  Ridge  Precinct,  where  he  reared  a  respectable 
family.  He  was  respected  in  the  community  where  he  lived.  He  died  on  the 
old  homestead,  on  the  22d  of  February,  1879,  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy-eight 
years.  Mr.  Hill,  partner  of  Mr.  McNamar,  was  the  last  to  leave  Salem  ;  he 
afterward  became  a  prominent  merchant  and  manufacturer  in  Petersburg.  Had 
we  space,  we  would  be  glad  to  detail  the  entire  history  of  this  little  town,  giving 
an  account  of  each  citizen.  We  can,  however,  mention  in  passing  a  few  more 
characters,  as  Jonathan  Dunn,  the  millwright ;  Henry  Onstott,  cooper  ;  Edmund 
Grier,  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  school-teacher ;  Minter  Graham,  who  still  lin- 
gers on  these  "mortal  shores,"  living  at  present  in  Petersburg,  the  man  who, 
perhaps,  has  taught  school  a  greater  number  of  months  than  any  other  man  in 
Illinois.  He  has  taught  constantly  over  fifty  years,  having  taught  over  one 
hundred  terms  of  from  three  to  nine  months  in  length.  When  Lincoln  first 
came  to  Salem,  Mr.  Graham  gave  him  instructions  in  English  grammar,  when 
Mr.  L.  had  leisure  from  his  duties  in  the  store.  "  Uncle  Minter,"  as  he  is 
familiarly  known,  taught  the  first  school  in  Salem. 

We  would  mention  John  Herndon,  who  was  for  awhile  a  merchant  there, 
and  who  accidentally  killed  his  wife  while  taking  a  loaded  gun  from  the  loft  of 
his  dwelling;  John  H.  Kelso,  tavern-keeper;  Martin  Waddel, Jiatter  ;  William 
Berry,  Reuben  Radford,  Allen  Richardson,  and  several  others  whose  names 
have  escaped  the  memory  of  the  few  remaining  citizens  who  knew  the  village 
in  the  days  of  its  prosperity. 


210  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

Of  the  company  of  Capt.  Lincoln  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  but  few  still 
survive.  We  can  only  learn  of  a  few  individuals  who  are  still  living  here  or 
elsewhere.  Of  these  are  Hon.  W.  G.  Greene,  David  Pantier,  Samuel  Tibbs, 
Travis  Elmore,  Sr.,  and  Royal  Clary,  the  latter  recently  deceased. 

Speaking  of  the  Black  Hawk  troubles,  brings  to  mind  an  anecdote  so 
characteristic  of  Lincoln,  that  we  beg  the  reader's  indulgence  while  we  relate  it. 
In  1848,  while  Mr.  Lincoln  was  in  Congress,  the  Democrats  were  striving  hard 
to  make  a  military  hero  of  Hon.  Lewis  Cass,  of  Michigan,  in  order  to  increase 
his  chances  for  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States,  and  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  a 
speech  in  Congress,  thus  playfully  referred  to  the  fact : 

By  the  way,  Mr.  Speaker,  did  you  know  /  am  a  military  hero  ?  Yes,  sir,  in  the  days  of 
the  Black  Hawk  war  I  fought,  bled  and — came  away.  Speaking  of  Gen.  Cass's  career  reminds 
me  of  my  own.  I  was  not  at  Stillman's  defeat,  but  I  was  about  as  near  it  as  Cass  was  to  Hull's 
surrender,  and,  like  him,  I  saw  the  place  very  soon  afterward.  It  is  quite  certain  I  did  not 
break  my  sword,  for  I  had  none  to  break,  but  I  bent  a  musket  pretty  badly  on  one  occasion.  If 
Cass  broke  his  sword,  the  idea  is,  he  did  it  in  desperation  ;  but  I  bent  the  musket  by  accident. 
If  Gen.  Cass  went  in  advance  of  me  in  picking  whortleberries,  I  guess  I  surpassed  him  in 
charges  upon  the  wild  onions.  If  he  saw  any  live,  fighting  Indians,  it  was  more  than  I  did,  but 
I  had  a  good  many  bloody  struggles  with  the  mosquitoes  ;  and,  although  I  never  fainted  from 
loss  of  blood,  I  can  truly  say  I  was  often  very  hungry. 

Mr.  Speaker,  if  I  should  ever  conclude  to  doff  whatever  our  Democratic  friends  may  sup- 
pose there  is  of  black-cockade  Federalism  about  me,  and  thereupon  they  should  take  me  up  as 
their  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  I  protest  they  shall  not  make  fun  of  me  as  they  have  of  Gen. 
Cass,  by  attempting  to  write  me  into  a  military  hero. 

.  The  reader  will  pardon  this  rather  lengthy  account  of  the  settlement  and 
subsequent  history  of  Salem,  but,  as  Lincoln's  early  history  is  so  interwoven 
with  this  community,  it  seems  that  loyalty  to  truth  demands  this  account.  And, 
while  we  are  not  giving  a  history  of  "  Honest  Old  Abe,"  and  while  the  writer 
was  never  a  political  admirer  of  him,  yet,  history  demands  the  statement  of  a 
few  other  facts  regarding  him. 

In  1834,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  he  walked  to  the  seat  of 
government,  and  one  suit  of  home-spun  jeans  was  his  outfit  for  the  entire  session. 
At  present,  it  takes  three  or  four  "  Saratogas  "  to  carry  the  wardrobe  of  the 
average  legislator.  An  appropriation  is  now  made  of  $50  per  member,  to  pay 
for  stationery ;  but,  at  the  session  of  the  Legislature  of  Illinois,  in  1817-18,  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  contract  for  stationery  for  the  members  during  the 
session.  The  committee  reported  that  they  had  purchased  the  necessary 
amount  at  a  total  cost  of  $13.50  ! 

Lincoln  was  popular  with  all  classes.  At  one  time,  his  compass  and  chain 
were  sold  for  debts,  and  were  bought  by  Mr.  James  Short,  who  at  once  handed 
them  over  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  who  gladly  accepted  them,  remarking,  "  I'll  do  as 
much  for  you  some  day."  Firm  and  true  to  his  word,  after  he  became  President 
of  the  United  States,  he  did  repay  it,  by  tendering  Mr.  Short  an  appointment 
to  a  lucrative  office. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  popularity  of  Lincoln,  it  may  be  stated  that  when 
Clay  and  Jackson  ran  for  the  Presidency,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  of  course  a  Clay  man, 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  211 

being  a  life-long  Whig.  That  year  his  friends  brought  him  out  for  the  Legis- 
lature. The  whole  Whig  ticket  was  of  course  defeated,  but  in  his  own  precinct, 
out  of  284  votes  polled,  he  received  277. 

Such  is  a  brief  account  of  the  settlement  of  Salem,  rendered  historic  by 
being  the  home  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

The  next  center  of  the  early  settlements  in  the  limits  of  the  county,  aside 
from  those  we  have  named,  is  Concord,  four  miles  north  of  Petersburg.  An 
account  of  the  early  settlers  in  that  community  will  be  found  given  in  the  his- 
tory of  Sand  Ridge  Precinct.  The  early  settlements  were  all  made  in  the  tim- 
ber, and  it  was  many  yoars  before  the  prairies  were  cultivated  to  any  extent, 
and  settlements  were  not  made  on  the  larger  prairies  till  a  comparatively  recent 
date.  It  is  an  amusing  fact  that  the  early  settlers,  instead  of  opening  their 
farms  in  the  prairies,  ready  cleared  by  the  hand  of  nature,  and  ready  for  the 
plow,  would  "  squat "  in  the  heart  of  the  most  dense  forest,  and  by  the  most 
tedious  and  laborious  process  would  "grub  out  "  a  farm.  The  first  settlers  in 
Clary's  Grove  opened  fields  of  from  twelve  to  thirty  acres  in  this  way,  cutting 
down  and  burning  up  the  most  valuable  timber  in  large  amounts.  The  result 
of  this  was  to  settle  up  the  timber  along  the  streams,  and  the  groves,  long  before 
the  country  was  generally  covered  with  improvements.  The  reader  will  thus 
understand  us,  when  we  speak  of  the  nuclei  of  early  settlements.  Clary's 
Grove,  Rock  Creek  and  the  river  timber  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and 
Sugar  Grove,  Indian  Point,  Athens  and  the  river  timber  on  the  east,  were  thus 
the  localities  where  the  first  settlements  were  made.  Gradually,  the  settlements 
extended  farther  anfl  farther  into  the  prairies,  till  at  present  all  the  land  of  the 
county  is  under  fence,  and  nearly  all  in  cultivation. 

ABORIGINAL    INHABITANTS. 

Of  the  history  of  Menard  County,  as  Associated  with  that  of  the  Indian 
tribes,  but  little  can  be  said. 

On  the  highest  bluff  along  the  Sangamoh  River,  there  are  to  be  seen,  to  the 
present  time,  remains  of  the  works  of  that  strange  people  called  the  "  Mound 
Builders."  Many  of  these  mounds  have  been  opened,  but  no  relics  of  any 
value  have  been  found.  Stone  axes,  arrow-heads  and  spear-points  of  flint  have 
been  picked  up  on  the  surface,  and  exhumed  from  below  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  some  having  been  found  as  deep  as  twelve  feet  below  the  top  of  the 
ground.  The  present  writer  opened  a  number  of  mounds  along  the  crest  of 
the  bluffs  of  the  Sangamon.  In  one  of  these  was  found,  at  a  depth  of  thirty 
inches  below  the  surface,  a  full  set  of  human  teeth  embedded  in  the  clay.  Noth- 
of  them  remained  save  the  portion  above  the  gums,  covered  with  enamel.  The 
entire  thirty-two  were  present,  with  no  mark  of  decay  in  any  of  them.  They 
were  as  white  as  those  in  any  living  subject,  and  the  upper  and  lower  sets  were 
closed  together  as  in  the  closed  mouth  of  a  living  being.  These  were  setting 
in  the  pure  unmixed  clay,  and  in  all  the  surrounding  earth  not  a  sign  was 


212  HISTORY  OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

visible  of  the  remains  of  decayed  bones  or  anything  save  pure  clay.  The  teeth 
slacked  like  lime,  turning  to  a  fine  white  powder  in  a  few  minutes  after  being 
brought  to  the  air.  The  mound  in  which  these  were  found,  was  nearly  exactly 
round,  about  twelve  feet  in  diameter,  and  about  three  and  a  half  feet  above  the 
natural  level.  Some  three  hundred  feet  from  this,  another  of  almost  exactly 
the  same  size  and  form  of  this  was  opened.  This  contained  two  human  skele- 
tons, lying  about  three  feet  below  the  surface.  The  heads  were  very  near  the 
center  of  the  mound,  lying  within  about  ten  inches  of  each  other,  the  body  of 
one  lying  nearly  east  and  west,  the  other  extending  from  northeast  to  south- 
west. These  were  thought  to  be  the  bones  of  a  male  and  a  female.  Some 
three  hundred  yards  from  these,  was  another  mound,  somewhat  smaller  in 
diameter  than  the  others,  but  a  foot  or  more  higher.  Carefully  removing  the 
top  of  the  mound,  it  was  found  that  about  two  and  a  half  feet  below  the  top 
was  a  basin  about  the  proportion  of  a  breakfast  plate,  burned  to  the  hardness 
of  an  ordinary  brick.  It  appeared  that  a  small  mound,  perhaps  two  feet  high 
and  six  feet  across  the  top,  had  first  been  raised,  and  a  basin,  six  feet  across 
and  ten  inches  lower  in  the  middle  than  at  the  outer  edge,  had  been  formed, 
and  a  fire  built  in  this  till  the  clay  was  burned  hard  to  the  depth  of  two  inches. 
In  this  basin,  mingled  with  charcoal  and  ashes,  were  the  bones  of  a  man.  The 
smaller  bones  were  all  burned  to  a  snowy  whiteness,  while  the  larger  ones  were 
charred  on  top  and  the  under  surface  was  entirely  unaffected  by  the  fire,  indi- 
cating that  the  fire  had  been  built  on  the  top  of  the  body,  thus  leaving  the 
under  surface  of  the  bones  unmarked  by  fire. 

Further  down  the  river  a  great  number  of  Indian  graves  are  found,  in 
almost  all  of  which  specimens  of  pottery  are  found  in  connection  with  the 
bones. 

When  the  first  settlements  were  made  in  the  limits  of  the  county,  the 
Indians  had  nearly  all  been  removed ;  a  few  were  still  in  the  timber  on  Indian 
Creek,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Indian  Point ;  and  two  old  men,  with  ten  or  a 
dozen  of  their  relatives,  remained  for  some  time.  These  were  Shick-shack  and 
Shambolee.  They  lived  a  year  or  two  on  the  hill  just  south  of  the  late  resi- 
dence of  Judge  Robert  Clary  ;  they  then  removed  to  a  high  hill  within  a  mile  of 
the  present  town  of  Chandlersville.  Here  Shick-shack  died  and  was  buried, 
and  the  hill  is  still  called  Shick-shack's  Hill.  After  his  death,  the  rest  of  the 
little  band  left  the  haunts  of  the  pale-face  and  were  heard  of  no  more. 

There  being  no  trouble  with  the  Indians  at  the  time  of  the  settlements 
here,  and  there  being  various  forts  near  the  frontiers,  as  Fort  Clark,  at  Peoria, 
and  others,  there  was  never  any  need  of  forts  or  block  houses  in  this  section  of 
the  State.  At  one  time,  while  the  Indian  town  was  in  Elkhart  Grove,  a  band 
of  warriors  made  an  incursion  on  the  settlements  farther  south,  and  carried  oft 
a  young  lady  prisoner.  The  first  day,  she  was  tied  fast  on  the  pony  that  car- 
ried her,  but  she  had  presence  of  mind  enough  to  tear  off  bits  of  her  clothing 
which  she  dropped  at  intervals  when  not  watched  by  her  captors,  as  marks  by 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  213 

which  her  friends  might  know  she  was  still  alive,  and  also  to  serve  as  guides 
for  her  pursuers.  The  band,  with  their  captive,  crossed  the  Sangamon  River 
almost  east  of  where  Springfield  now  stands.  The  father  of  the  captive,  with 
a  few  friends,  was  in  rapid  pursuit,  and  came  up  with  them  somewhere  near 
where  Williamsville  is  located.  At  the  first  fire,  the  girl  having  clandestinely 
loosed  the  thongs  that  bound  her  to  the  pony,  leaped  off  and  ran  toward  her 
rescuers.  An  Indian  gave  chase,  and,  seeing  his  prisoner  about  to  escape, 
hurled  his  tomahawk  at  her,  striking  her  in  the  small  of  the  back,  and  fasten- 
ing the  blade  firmly  in  the  spinal  column.  She  fell  helpless  in  the  prairie, 
but,  after  a  brief  skirmish,  the  Indians  fled,  and  the  young  lady  was  restored  to 
her  friends ;  but  it  was  long  before  she  recovered  from  the  wound  of  the 
Indian's  missile.  Some  aver  J;hat  this  took  place  after  the  first  settlements  had 
been  made  in  this  county  ;  but  others,  equally  entitled  to  credit,  with  equal 
confidence  affirm  that  it  was  not.  The  reader  interested  in  the  Indian  history 
of  Illinois  is  referred,  for  further  information,  to  the  "  History  of  the  North- 
west "  in  the  former  part  of  this  volume. 

EARLY    MANNERS    AND    CUSTOMS. 

The  young  men  and  women  of  the  present  time  have  no  conception  of  the 
mode  of  life  among  the  early  settlers  of  this  country  from  forty  to  sixty  years 
ago.  In  fact,  one  can  hardly  conceive  how  such  changes  could  have  taken 
place  in  so  short  a  period  of  time.  In  nothing  are  the  habits  and  manners  of 
the  people  in  any  respect  similar  to  those  a  half-century  ago.  We  are  at  a  loss 
where  to  begin  so  as  to  give  the  youth  of  to-day  anything  like  a  just  idea  of 
this  matter.  The  clothing,  the  dwellings,  the  diet,  social  customs — in  fact, 
everything  has  undergone  a  total  revolution. 

In  a  former  part  of  this  article,  we  spoke  of  the  "  three-faced  camps  "  in 
which  some  of  the  early  settlers  lived,  and  it  may  be  truthfully  said  that  the 
dwellings  of  the  early  pioneers,  for  a  number  of  years,  were  but  slightly  in 
advance  of  these  camps.  The  house  was,  in  almost  every  case,  built  of  logs, 
the  cracks  filled  with  pieces  of  wood  called  "  chinks,"  and  then  daubed  over 
with  mortar  made  of  clay.  If  the  floor  was  anything  more  than  the  earth 
tramped  hard  and  smooth,  it  was  made  of  "puncheons,"  that  is,  logs  split  open 
and  the  split  side  turned  upward,  and  the  spaces  between  the  uneven  edges  of 
these  were  often  of  such  dimensions  that  the  younger  inmates  were  compelled 
to  use  care  to  keep  from  stepping  their  feet  through  these  crevices.  The  roof 
was  made  by  drawing  in  the  top  after  the  manner  of  a  boy's  quail-trap,  and 
laying  on  these  "clapboards,"  as  they  were  called  by  the  Western  people,  but 
known  among  Yankees  as  "shakes."  These  being  three  or  four  feet  in 
length,  were  held  in  place  by  logs  laid  on  them,  instead  of  nails.  These  were 
called  weight-poles.  For  a  fire-place,  the  logs  were  cut  out  of  one  wall  of  the 
room,  for  a  space  of  five  or  six  feet,  and  three  sides  were  built  up  of  logs, 
making  an  offset  in  the  wall.  This  was  lined  with  dirt,  or  stone  if  it  could  be 


214  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

had.  The  flue  or  upper  part  of  the  chimney  was  built  of  small  sticks,  plastered 
over  with  mud,  mixed  with  grass  or  straw  to  hold  it  together.  This  was  called 
a  "  cat-and-clay  "  chimney.  The  door  was  also  an  aperture  made  by  cutting  out 
the  logs  in  one  side  of  the  room  ;  and  the  shutter  was  composed  of  a  rude  framer 
with  clapboards  nailed  or  pinned  across.  The  hinges  were  also  of  wood,  while 
the  fastening  consisted  of  a  wooden  latch  catching  on  a  hook  of  the  same  mate- 
rial. To  enable  the  occupants  to  open  the  door  from  the  outside,  a  buckskin 
string  was  tied  to  the  latch-bar,  and  passed  through  a  small  hole  two  or  three 
inches  above,  so  that  when  the  string  was  pulled  from  the  outside  it  lifted  the 
latch  out  of  the  hook,  and  the  door  opened  without  further  trouble.  At  night, 
or  in  time  of  danger,  when  they  wished  to  lock  the  door,  all  that  was  necessary 
was  to  draw  the  string  in  through  the  hole,  and  all  was  safe.  This  is  thus 
minutely  described  in  order  that  the  young  people  may  understand  the  saying 
so  common  among  the  old  people,  when  speaking  of  their  hospitality,  that  "  the 
latch-string  hangs  out."  The  furniture  in  the  house  was  on  a  par  with  the 
house.  Illustrative  of  this  matter  of  buildings,  I  will  state  a  fact  that  may  be 
surprising  to  others  beside  the  young.  The  house  in  which  George  Spears,  Sr., 
lives,  in  Clary's  Grove,  was,  perhaps,  the  first  brick  house  in  the  county.  The 
bricks  were  made  in  the  fall  of  1829,  the  mud  being  tramped  by  oxen.  In  the 
spring  of  1830,  the  house  was  begun.  All  the  lumber  was  sawed  by  hand  with 
a  whip-saw,  that  is,  a  pit  was  dug,  over  which  the  log  was  placed,  and  one  man 
standing  in  the  pit  worked  one  end  of  the  saw,  while  the  other  was  handled  by 
another  on  a  frame  above.  In  this  way  all  the  flooring,  of  blue  ash.  and  all 
the  finishing  lumber,  of  black  walnut,  and  the  sheeting  for  the  roof,  was  sawed. 
This  must  have  been  an  immense  job,  as  the  house  is  one  of  the  largest  farm- 
houses in  the  county.  Any  one  examining  this  building  at  the  present  time 
would  not  suppose  it  to  have  been  built  more  than  ten  or  twelve  years,  for  it 
seems  as  perfect  as  when  first  built.  During  the  erection  of  this  house,  Mr. 
John  Clary,  the  first  settler  in  the  grove,  being  then  between  forty-five  and  fifty 
years  of  age,  came  to  Mr.  Spears  and,  after  watching  the  workmen  for  awhile 
very  earnestly,  remarked  that  that  was  the  first  brick  house  he  had  ever  seen. 
Mr.  Spears  was  obliged  to  send  to  St.  Louis  for  window-glass,  for  even  at  that 
comparatively  late  day  it  could  not  be  procured  nearer.  This  was  occasioned 
by  the  fact  that  glass  windows  were  almost  entirely  unknown,  the  ordinary 
window  being  an  unclosed  crack  between  two  logs,  over  which  a  greasy  paper 
was  fastened  in  the  winter. 

The  articles  used  in  the  culinary  department  were  as  few  and  simple  as  can 
be  imagined.  A  "  flat-oven  "  or  skillet,  a  frying-pan,  an  iron  pot  or  kettle, 
with,  occasionally,  a  coffee-pot,  completed  the  outfit  of  the  best  furnished  kitchen. 
Stoves  were  then  entirely  unknown,  hence  all  the  cooking  was  done  on  the  fire- 
place. The  oven  was  set  on  a  bed  of  glowing  coals,  and  the  frugal  housewife, 
taking  as  much  stiff  dough  of  Indian  meal  as  she  could  conveniently  hold  in 
both  hands,  and,  deftly  tossing  from  hand  to  hand  to  mold  it  into  the  desired 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  215 

shape,  tossed  it  into  the  oven,  patting  it  with  her  hand  to  the  desired  thickness. 
About  three  of  these  "dodgers"  would  fill  the  oven,  when  the  ready  heated  lid 
was  placed  on  the  oven,  and  all  was  covered  with  burning  coals.  As  soon  as 
the  bread  was  done,  it  was  taken  out  upon  a  tin  platter  and  set  on  the  hearth 
near  the  fire  to  keep  warm.  Generally,  the  impress  of  the  fingers  of  the  cook 
were  plainly  visible  in  each  "dodger."  In  the  oven  from  which  the  bread  was 
taken,  the  ham  or  venison  was  then  fried,  and  often,  in  the  fall  and  winter,  the 
grease  tried  out  of  the  meat  when  fried  was  allowed  to  remain,  and  in  it  the 
"lye-hominy,"  made  also  of  Indian  corn,  was  seasoned  for  the  meal.  Thus 
the  repast  was  prepared,  and  sweeter  bread  or  more  savory  meats  were  never 
eaten  than  was  prepared  on  those  rude  fire-places.  As  to  sweetmeats  and  con- 
fections, they  were  things  entirely  unknown.  Sugar  was  unknown  save  in  sec- 
tions of  country  where  sugar-maple  abounded ;  but  nearly  all  of  the  early 
settlers  had  an  abundance  of  the  finest  honey  in  their  cabins  the  year  round ; 
for  wild  honey-bees  were  found  in  great  numbers  wherever  there  was  timber. 
Sometimes  wild  crabs,  wild  grapes,  and  berries  of  various  kinds  were  preserved 
in  honey  ;  but  these  were  only  opened  on  the  most  important  occasions.  For 
many  years  after  the  settlements  were  commenced  in  this  section,  wheat  bread 
was  entirely  unknown.  This  fact  will  demand  a  separate  paragraph  on 

MILLS   AND    MILLING. 

In  a  new  country,  the  preparation  of  grain  for  making  bread  is  a  matter  of 
no  slight  importance ;  for  while  grain  may  be  produced  from  the  soil  as  easily 
in  a  new  country  as  in  an  old  one,  it  is  not  so  easy  to  have  the  grain 
converted  into  meal.  The  first  settlers  here  had  a  very  primitive  method  of 
grinding  corn,  but  the  process  was  at  once  slow  and  toilsome.  As  said  above, 
nearly  or  quite  all  of  the  first  emigrants  settled  in  the  timber.  A  large  stump  was 
selected  at  a  convenient  point ;  the  top  was  dug  or  burned  out  into  the  form  of 
a  mortar ;  a  large,  heavy  block  of  hard  wood,  weighing  from  fifty  to  two  hun- 
dred pounds,  was  shaped  at  one  end  so  as  to  fit  into  this  mortar.  A  long, 
springy  pole  was  then  placed  in  such  a  position  that  when  the  block  named 
above  was  hung  to  the  end  of  the  pole,  it  would  hang  just  over  the  mortar ; 
the  mill  was  now  ready  for  use.  A  small  amount  of  corn  was  placed  in  the 
mortar,  and  taking  hold  of  the  pestle,  it  was  worked  up  and  down,  and  by  its 
weight  the  corn  was  crushed ;  this  was  taken  out  and  more  put  in,  and  the 
finest  being  separated  from  the  coarse,  the  last  was  placed  again  in  the  mortar  to 
be  rebeaten,  and  the  fine  used  for  bread.  But  this  process  was  so  slow,  that  in 
a  large  family,  the  pestle  must  go  almost  constantly,  or  some  of  the  family 
would  be  "placed  on  short  rations."  This  kind  of  a  mill  was  used  the  first 
three  years  after  the  settlement  was  begun  in  Sugar  Grove.  The  first  milling 
done  from  Sugar  Grove,  was  done  by  John  Jennison  and  James  Meadows. 
These  men  went  in  a  canoe  down  the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois  River,  thence 
by  the  Mississippi  to  Alton.  They  were  gone  twenty-one  days,  bringing  back 


216  HISTORY   OF   MEN'ARD   COUNTY. 

a  canoe-load  of  breadstuff  with  them.  Soon  after  this,  Mr.  Meadows  built  a 
"band-mill  "  in  the  grove,  and,  soon  after  this,  a  similar  structure  was  put  up  at 
Salem,  detailed  accounts  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  the  respective 
precincts.  The  reader  will  bear  in  mind  that  these  mills  antedated,  by  several 
years,  the  water-mill  of  Cameron  and  Rutledge.  at  Salem,  which,  at  the  time, 
was  looked  upon  as  almost  a  wonder  of  mechanical  invention.  Those  band- 
mills,  or  horse-mills,  though  much  better  than  the  sweep  and  pestle,  were  sorry 
affairs  at  best.  Like  the  rule  made  among  the  barbers  at  the  present  time,  it 
was  then  a  rule  or  custom  that  those  who  came  first  should  be  served  first,  and 
this  custom  was  most  rigidly  adhered  to.  Persons  would  take  a  "grist "  of  one  or 
two  bushels  of  corn  to  the  mill,  and  they  must  stay  till  it  was  ground.  Reli- 
able men  at  Tallula,  stated  to  the  writer  that  they  came  from  there  to  Peters- 
burg— only  eight  miles — in  the  days  of  the  old  band-mill,  using  their  utmost 
diligence,  it  was  midnight  of  the  ninth  day  before  they  returned  with  their 
grinding.  How  strangely  this  must  sound  to  the  ears  of  "Young  America." 
It  was  several  years  before  there  were  any  mills  in  this  county  provided  with 
bolts,  etc.,  for  the  grinding  and  bolting  of  wheat,  so  that  those  comparatively 
young  can  remember  when  wheat  bread  was  a  great  rarity,  and  the  little  ones 
rejoiced  to  know  the  Sabbath  was  approaching,  for  they  would  get  "cake"  for 
breakfast  Sunday  morning. 

CLOTHING. 

Among  the  early  pioneers,  everything  was  plain,  simple  and  in  conformity 
with  the  strictest  economy.  This  was  not  only  true  of  their  dwellings,  furni- 
ture and  provisions,  but  also  of  their  clothing.  In  a  very  early  day,  the  men 
usually  wore  pants  and  hunting-shirts  of  buckskin,  and  caps  of  coon  or  fox 
skin,  while  both  sexes  clothed  their  feet  in  moccasins.  Cotton  goods  were  then 
extremely  hard  to  get,  because,  in  the  first  place,  of  the  distance  such  goods 
were  to  be  conveyed  by  private  means,  and,  secondly,  because  the  manufacture 
in  this  country  was  very  limited,  the  greater  part  being  manufactured  in  Europe. 
As  a  consequence,  the  pioneers  of  the  West  found  this  one  of  the  hardest 
demands  to  meet.  Many  were  the  expedients  devised  by  them,  especially  by 
the  frugal  and  economical  dames ;  for,  ever  since  the  wonderful  expedient  of 
preparing  an  entire  wardrobe  from  fig-leaves,  devised  quite  a  number  of  years 
in  the  past,  woman  has  been  very  gifted  in  laying  plans  and  adopting  expedi- 
ents in  the  matter  of  clothing.  But,  unfortunately  for  her  skill  and  industry, 
the  country  afforded  nothing,  the  first  few  years  of  its  occupancy,  that  could  be 
turned  to  any  account  in  this  direction.  If  cotton  had  been  planted  on  their  first 
arrival,  it  would  have  amounted  to  but  little,  because  neither  the  soil  nor  climate 
were  favorable  to  its  growth,  and  the  seasons  were  so  short  that  it  could  hardly 
be  planted  early  enough  to  mature  in  quantities  sufficient  to  justify  its  cultiva- 
tion. It  was  almost  useless,  in  an  early  day,  to  take  sheep  into  the  frontier 
settlements,  on  account  of  the  vast  numbers  of  prairie  and  black  and  gray 
wolves,  which  would  destroy  an  entire  flock  in  a  single  night.  Hence  the 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  217 

people  had  no  choice  save  that  between  adopting  expedients  and  appearing  in 
••nature's  light  and  airy  garb."  So,  after  the  first  year  or  two,  the  people 
began  to  sow  crops  of  flax  or  hemp,  and  this  the  women  spun  and  wove  by 
hand  into  a  coarse  but  substantial  and  pleasant  linen.  Of  this,  underwear  was 
made,  dresses  for  the  ladies,  towels,  table-cloths,  etc.  But.  you  may  inquire, 
what  did  they  do  till  a  crop  of  this  could  be  raised,  rotted  and  made  into  cloth. 
In  reply  it  may  be  stated  that  the  clothing  taken  with  them  to  the  new  country 
wa-  made  to  do  an  immense  service.  But  even  wild  nature  was  often  appealed 
to  for  aid.  In  an  early  day,  vast  fields  of  wild  nettles  grew  here,  often  stand- 
ing on  the  ground  thicker  than  a  field  of  wheat,  and  not  unfrequently  attaining 
a  height  of  three  and  four  feet.  This  produced  a  most  excellent  lint,  that  was 
susceptible  both  of  being  woven  and  bleached.  Thousands  of  yards  of  linen 
were  made  from  these  nettles  by  the  pioneer  settlers  in  Illinois.  The  year  after 
James  Meadows  settled  in  Sugar  Grove,  his  wife  spun  and  wove  no  less  than 
thirty  yards  of  this  nettle  linen.  It  was  strong,  serviceable,  and  bleached  to 
almost  a  snowy  whiteness. 

Even  after  flax  was  raised  in  sufficient  quantities,  and  sheep  had  been 
introduced  in  considerable  numbers,  still  it  was  an  arduous  task  to  spin  and 
weave  the  cloth  for  the  entire  wearing  apparel  of  a  family.  Had  the  fashions 
prevailed  then  that  have  in  a  later  day,  the  women  would  have  given  up 
in  despair.  But,  instead  of  eight  or  ten  widths  of  cloth  being  put  in  a  dress 
skirt  in  order  to  cover  a  balloon-frame  of  crinoline,  two  or  three  widths  were 
considered  amply  sufficient  for  the  fullest  dress.  On  a  certain  occasion,  under 
the  old  "blue  laws  "  in  Connecticut,  a  young  lady  was  taken  before  the  magis- 
trate, charged  with  having  leaped  over  a  little  brook  on  her  way  to  church  on 
Sabbath ;  and  this  was  an  offense  for  which  she  was  liable  to  pay  a  severe  fine. 
The  mother  of  the  young  lady  came  into  court  and  made  oath  that  the  skirts  of 
the  prisoner's  dress  were  so  narrow  that  she  was  obliged  to  leap  the  brook,  or  step 
into  the  water.  Upon  this  testimony  she  was  released.  Doubtless  there  was  as 
great  economy  practiced  by  our  ancestors  as  by  the  staid  old  Puritans  in  godly 
Connecticut ;  but  it  was  more  necessity  than  piety  that  dictated  the  limited 
amount  of  material  in  their  clothing.  Our  modern  young  gentlemen,  who  have 
dressed  in  the  very  best  ever  since  they  could  remember,  would  be  surprised  at 
the  scanty  outfit  of  the  boys  of  that  time.  The  summer  wear  of  the  boys  up  to 
ten  and  twelve  years  of  age  was  simple  and  very  free  from  any  effort  at  display, 
as  it  consisted  of  but  one  article,  that  being  a  long,  coarse  overshirt.  With  this 
indispensable  article  they  explored  the  forests,  traversed  the  prairies,  thought 
about  the  girls,  and  built  as  many  castles  in  the  air  as  the  boys  of  more  favored 
times.  In  winter,  they  were  supplied  with  buck-skin  or  tow  pants,  moccasins 
or  raw  hide  shoes,  and  coats  of  jeans  after  sheep  began  to  be  raised  among  the 
settlers.  In  winter,  when  the  deer-skin  pantaloons  had,  by  any  accident,  become 
wet,  and  dried  again,  it  is  affirmed  that  they  could  be  heard  to  rattle  a  distance 
of  forty  yards  as  the  wearer  walked  in  them.  This  scarcity  of  clothing 


218  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

continued  to  be  felt  for  at  least  two  decades,  or  even  more.  In  summer,  nearly  all 
persons,  both  male  and  female,  went  barefoot ;  and  it  was  nothing  uncommon  to 
see  young  ladies  on  their  way  to  church  on  foot,  carrying  their  shoes  in  their 
hands  till  near  the  place  of  worship,  when,  carefully  brushing  the  dust  from 
their  feet,  the  shoes  and  stockings  were  donned,  and  they  mingled  with  the 
throng.  This  continued  to  be  common  for  nearly  twenty  years.  After  sheep 
could  be  protected  from  the  wolves,  the  people  fared  better  in  the  matter  of 
clothing.  Flannel  and  linsey  were  woven  for  the  wear  of  women  and  children, 
while  jeans  was  woven  for  the  men.  For  want  of  other  dye-stuffs,  the  wool  for 
the  jeans  was  almost  invariably  colored  with  the  bark  or  young  shoots  of  the 
walnut;  hence  the  inevitable  "butternut"  worn  so  extensively  in  the  West  for 
many  years.  As  a  matter  of  course,  every  family  did  its  own  spinning  and 
weaving;  and,  for  many  years,  all  the  wool  had  to  be  carded  by  hand  on  a 
little  pair  of  cards  about  five  by  ten  inches.  Each  family  had  its  spinning- 
wheels,  little  and  big,  winding  blades,  reel,  warping  bars  made  by  driving  pins 
into  the  wall  of  the  house  on  the  outside  in  some  place  where  no  door  was  in 
the  way,  and  wooden  loom.  These  were  indispensable  articles  in  almost  every 
household ;  and  during  the  fall  and  early  winter  the  merry  whir  of  the  wheels, 
and  the  regular  "bat,  bat"  of  the  loom  could  be  heard  till  a  late  hour  at  night. 
Generally,  the  shoes  worn  were  all  made  in  the  family,  and  mostly  during  the 
long  evenings.  No  scene  can  be  imagined  that  is  more  full  of  real  happiness 
than  the  home  of  the  pioneer,  when,  in  the  evening,  all  were  engaged  in  earnest 
labor.  A  bright  fire  burns  on  the  wide  hearth,  and  the  ruddy  flame  leaps  far  up 
the  wooden  chimney,  affording  the  only,  yet  sufficient,  light  in  the  room.  In 
one  corner  sits  the  father  busily  engaged  in  making  shoes ;  the  mother  at  her 
little  wheel  hums  a  tune  in  low  harmony  with  its  steady  whir ;  while  in  front  of 
the  ample  fire-place  the  daughter  trips  nimbly  back  and  forth,  drawing  out  the 
long  woolen  threads,  while  the  wheel,  seeming  to  partake  of  the  general  happi- 
ness, swells  out  its  musical  whir-ir-r,  which  swells  and  dies  away  in  regular  and 
harmonious  cadence :  the  younger  members  of  the  group  engaged  in  some 
absorbing  pastime,  all  undisturbed  by  a  single  discordant  note. 

Boots  were  almost  unknown  for  many  years,  and  many  of  the  old  men 
never  had  such  things  during  their  entire  life-time ;  while  none  of  the  youths 
were  forcunate  enough  to  boast  the  possession  of  boots  till  they  reached  man- 
hood. Boys  of  fifteen  and  sixteen  years  of  age  never  thought  of  wearing  any- 
thing on  their  feet  except  for  three  or  four  months  in  the  midst  of  winter ; 
while  the  number  who  were  not  so  fortunate  as  to  get  them  even  in  winter  was 
by  no  means  small.  Boys,  and  even  men,  went  to  church  many  times  without 
shoes  or  stockings.  But  what  would  the  people  of  to-day  think  of  the  minister 
who  would  propose  to  present  himself  before  his  auditory  barefooted  !  This  may 
never  have  occurred  in  Illinois,  yet  it  did  in  some  of  the  older  States,  and  pos- 
sibly even  here.  The  writer  was  intimately  acquainted  with  two  ministers, 
both  of  whom  died,  at  an  extreme  old  age,  a  number  of  years  ago,  who  often 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  219 

spoke  of  preaching,  in  their  younger  days,  without  anything  on  their  feet. 
They  began  preaching  in  Tennessee,  and  were  men  of  far  more  than  ordi- 
nary ability ;  in  fact,  we  have  heard  many  sermons  in  finely  frescoed  churches, 
from  men  dressed  in  broadcloth,  which  were  not  worthy  of  comparison,  in 
any  respect,  with  the  sermons  of  those  men.  Several  times  they  spoke  of 
preaching  in  their  youthful  days,  on  a  certain  occasion,  in  a  private  cabin, 
the  loft  or  ceiling  of  which  was  very  low,  and  one  of  the  preachers  being  a 
very  tall  man,  a  plank  was  taken  up  in  the  floor,  so  that  he  might  stand  in  this 
opening,  his  head  thus  being  below  the  "loft."  This  being  in  the  summer- 
time, and  that  region  being  infested  with  rattlesnakes,  the  speaker  soon  felt  a 
thrill  of  horror  convulse  his  frame,  as  the  thought  crossed  his  mind  that  per- 
haps he  stood  in  the  midst  of  these  unwelcome  companions.  Of  course,  under 
these  circumstances,  the  sermon  was  not  painfully  long. 

We  are  fully  aware  of  the  incredulity  with  which  the  above  and  similar 
facts  will  be  received  by  the  mass  of  the  present  generation ;  but  we  write  the 
facts,  facts  which,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  were  known  to  be  such  by  the 
writer  in  person.  These  facts  should  all  be  recorded,  for  none  of  the  present 
generation  have  any  just  conception  of  the  changes  that  have  taken  place  in 
the  last  half-century.  If  the  next  fifty  years  are  as  productive  of  change  as 
the  past  fifty  have  been,  who  can  imagine  the  state  of  affairs  a  half-century  in 
the  future? 

The  tools  and  agricultural  implements  were  about  on  a  par  with  everything. 
The  ground  was  broken  up  by  the  use  of  a  wooden  mold-board  plow,  and  the 
corn  cultivated  with  hoes,  and  bull-tongue  as  shovel-plows.  These  plows  were 
all  single,  and  in  plowing  corn  the  plowman  was  obliged  to  go  three  or  four  times 
between  every  two  rows.  In  planting,  the  ground  was  marked  oft"  with  a  plow 
and  the  corn  dropped  by  hand  and  covered  by  hand  with  hoes.  Wheat  and 
rye,  etc.,  were  cut  with  a  sickle — a  hooked  instrument  some  eighteen  inches  in 
length,  with  a  handle  some  six  inches  long.  This  was  taken  in  the  right  hand 
of  the  laborer,  while  the  grain  was  held  in  the  left  hand.  In  later  years,  the 
sickle  was  superseded  by  the  scythe-and-cradle,  which  enabled  the  laborer  to 
accomplish  more  in  a  given  time,  but  the  labor  was  of  the  severest  kind.  What 
would  the  farmers  of  to-day  think,  after  following  our  reapers  and  self-binders, 
to  be  obliged  to  go  into  the  harvest-field  with  a  sickle,  or  even  a  scythe-and- 
cradle  ? 

The  teams  principally  used  were  oxen,  yoked  together,  and  thus  made  to 
draw  burdens.  In  breaking  up  ground  the  first  time,  cattle  were  generally 
used.  It  was  by  no  means  uncommon  to  see  six  or  seven  yoke  of  oxen  hitched 
to  a  plow,  and,  at  fearfully  slow  pace,  dragging  the  ponderous  plow,  as  it  steadily 
crushed  through  turf  and  roots,  turning  over  the  long  and  evenly  sod  ;  and,  not- 
withstanding the  tardy  pace  at  which  they  moved,  owing  to  the  width  of  the  fur- 
row, a  considerable  amount  of  land  would  be  plowed  in  a  day.  Oxen  were  also 
much  used  single,  that  is,  hitched  singly  to  a  plow  with  harness,  or  rather  "gears," 


220  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

as  they  were  called,  for  little,  if  any,  leather  was  used  in  their  manufacture. 
A  huge  collar,  made  of  corn-husks,  tugs  of  twisted  raw-hide,  or  of  iron  chains 
when  they  could  be  procured,  made  the  outfit ;  for  bridle  and  lines  were  dis- 
carded, as  the  well-trained  animal  did  everything  by  word  of  command.  Occa- 
sionally, horses  were  used  in  farming,  but  they  were  far  from  being  plentiful. 
After  a  few  months  or  years,  the  people  had  preaching  occasionally,  and  on 
such  occasions  a  yoke  of  oxen  was  hitched  to  a  cart,  sled 'or  wagon,  and  in  this 
the  family  attended  service;  but  we  will  speak  of  this  in  detail  in  the  proper 
place. 

THE    EARLY    CHURCHES. 

It  is  a  fact  highly  commendable  of  the  early  settlers  of  Illinois,  that  with 
all  the  trials  and  toils  incident  on  settlement  in  a  new  and  undeveloped  country, 
and  the  numbers  of  rough  and  vicious  men  who  always  seek  the  frontiers, 
the  teachings  of  the  Christian  religion  were  felt  and  realized  in  the  most 
remote  settlements.  What  a  rebuke,  too,  is  given  to  the  ministers  of  the  pres- 
ent, by  the  self-sacrifice,  devotion  and  arduous  toil  of  those  men  who  first 
planted  the  standard  of  the  Cross  of  Christ  in  the  sparsely  settled  frontiers  of 
the  West.  Without  the  most  remote  hope  of  the  least  temporal  remuneration, 
exposed  to  danger  and  disease,  subject  to  th#  severest  trials  and  most  painful 
privations,  they  went  out,  foregoing  all  the  joys  of  home  and  the  society  of 
loved  ones,  only  to  be  instrumental  in  the  advancement  of  the  truth  and  the 
salvation  of  men.  Often  the  pioneer  preacher,  with  no  companion  but  the 
horse  he  rode,  would  start  across  the  wide  prairies,  with  no  guide  but  the  knowl- 
edge he  had  of  the  cardinal  points,  or,  perhaps,  a  point  of  timber  scarcely  visi- 
ble in  the  dim  and  hazy  distance,  and,  reaching  the  desired  settlement,  would 
present  the  claims  of  the  Gospel  to  the  few  assembled  hearers,  after  the  toilsome 
and  lonely  day's  journey ;  then  after  a  night  of  rest  in  the  humble  cabin  and 
partaking  of  the  simple  meal,  he  again  enters  upon  the  journey  of  the  day,  to 
preach  again  at  a  distant  point.  Thus  the  "circuit"  of  hundreds  of  miles  was 
traveled  month  after  month  ;  and  to  these  men  we  owe  the  planting  of  churches 
all  over  our  land,  and  the  hallowed  influences  of  religion  as  seen  and  felt  in 
society  everywhere.  At  this  late  day,  it  is  impossible  to  learn  who  was  the 
first  minister  who  visited  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Menard  County.  This 
honor  is  claimed  for  at  least  a  dozen  different  individuals,  and  three  or  four 
different  denominations  lay  claim  to  the  honor  of  being  first  to  be  represented 
by  a  minister  here.  There  were  at  least  five  different  denominations  that  were 
represented  by  ministers  coming  here  in  a  very  early  day.  '  These  were  the 
Regular,  Hard-Shell  or  Calvinistic  Baptists,  the  Separate  (now  Missionary) 
Baptists,  the  Methodists,  the  New-Lights,  afterward  called  Disciples,  some- 
times called  "  Campbellites,"  and  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians.  We  may 
give  a  very  brief  account  of  each  of  these  separately. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  221 


REGULAR    BAPTISTS. 

These  people,  generally  called  "  Hard-Shells,"  have  ever  been  anti-mission- 
ary and  have  opposed  temperance  societies.  They  also  teach  that  it  is  the  duty 
of  ministers  to  refuse  stipulated  salaries.  As  a  people,  they  are  good  citizens, 
candid  and  reliable,  while  their  ministers  are  generally  men  of  good  natural 
minds,  yet  very  few  of  them  are  educated.  Being  Calvinists  of  the  most 
decided  type,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  they  believed  if  God  made  it  one's 
duty  to  preach  the  Gospel,  He  would  also  enable  him  to  do  the  work  when  the 
time  came,  without  any  previous  preparation.  Hence  they,  in  their  preaching, 
gave  the  people  the  truth  "just  as  God  gave  it  to  them."  If  this  was  really 
true,  all  we  can  say  (speaking  with  reverence),  is  that  God  gave  them  some 
very  much  mixed  harangues. 

Very  soon  after  the  settlements  were  begun  here,  "  Hard-Shell"  preachers 
made  their  debut  also.  Some  even  affirm  that  an  organization  of  "  Hard- 
Shells"  was  formed  in  the  vicinity  of  Salem  even  before  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Clary's  Grove  was  organized.  Grandmother  Potter,  who  was  a  grown  woman, 
and  living  within  a  mile  of  Salem,  in  1820,  is  positive  that  the  Church  there  was 
older  by  a  year  or  two  than  that  in  the  grove.  But  the  recollection  of  all 
other  pioneers  is  at  variance  with  hers  on  this  matter.  Be  this  as  it  may,  a 
Regular  Baptist  Church  was  organized  there  in  a  very  early  day.  The  names 
of  ministers,  etc.,  etc.,  is  given  in  the  township  history.  Other  societies  were 
perhaps  formed  in  the  county  ;  but,  if  so,  they,  with  that  near  Salem,  have  long 
since  become  extinct,  so  that  there  is  not  one  at  present  in  the  county,  and  has 
not  been  for  many  years.  While  we  would  not  say  anything  disrespectful  or 
disparaging  of  this  venerable  people,  yet  we  cannot  refrain  from  relating  an 
anecdote  of  them,  the  truth  of  a  part  of  which,  at  least,  can  be  vouched  for. 
In  the  palmy  days  of  the  Salem  Church,  Dr.  Allen  created  considerable  excite- 
ment on  the  temperance  question,  and  many  signed  a  pledge  of  total  absti- 
nence. Among  those  signing  the  pledge  was  Minter  Graham,  the  pioneer 
school  teacher  of  this  county,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  So 
soon  as  this  was  known  to  the  Church,  Graham  was  tried  and  promptly  turned 
out.  Thus  far,  the  story  is  true  to  the  letter.  But  the  story,  as  popularly  told 
at  the  time,  is  to  the  effect  that,  on  the  same  day  that  k'  Uncle  Minter"  was 
suspended,  another  brother  was  tried  for  getting  drunk,  and  he,  too,  was 
expelled.  After  this,  an  old  brother  arose  very  solemnly,  and,  drawing  a  quart 
"  flask  "  from  his  pocket,  the  bottle  being  about  half-full  of  whisky,  and,  holding 
this  steadily  between  his  eye  and  the  light,  and  inclining  his  head  slightly 
to  one  side,  addressed  the  congregation  as  folloAvs  :  "  Brethering,  you  have 
turned  one  member  out  because  he  would  not  drink,  and  another  because  he 
got  drunk,  and  now  I  want  to  ask  a  question.  It  is  this :  How  much  of  the 
critter  does  one  have  to  drink  in  order  to  remain  in  full  fellowship,  in  the 
Church?" 


222  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

We  are  not  advised  what  answer  was  given  to  this  important  question,  but, 
doubtless,  there  was  a  medium  well  defined  and  understood  by  the  ministry,  if 
not  by  the  laity. 

This  denomination  of  people  performed  a  very  important  part  in  the  early 
history  of  the  county,  and  its  members  were  among  the  very  best  men  and 
women  of  the  entire  population.  Although  they  have  ceased  to  exist  here  as  a 
distinct  body,  yet  their  influence  is  still  felt,  and  the  results  of  their  labors  are 
seen  on  every  hand.  Scattered  over  the  county-  are  a  number  of  persons  who 
once  belonged  to  this  Church,  but  their  numbers  being  too  small  to  form  a 
society  in  any  locality,  they  are  living  out  of  regular  connection  with  any 
society,  calmly  awaiting  the  transfer  to  the  great  "congregation  above." 

ANTI-CALVINIST    BAPTISTS. 

As  before  stated,  the  Baptists  here,  in  an  early  day,  were  considerably 
divided,  especially  on  the  subject  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Missions.  There 
were,  beside  the  "Hard-Shells,"  or  Regulars,  the  Separate  and  the  United  Bap- 
tists ;  and  these  were  divided  into  the  Missionary  and  Anti-Missionary  parties. 
The  Anti-Missionary  spirit,  however,  gradually  declined,  till,  many  years  ago, 
there  ceased  to  be  any  Baptists  in  the  whole  country,  who  opposed  the  mission- 
ary work,  except  the  "  Calvinists."  No  people  can  justly  be  said  to  be  opposed 
to  missions  who  enroll  among  their  membership  such  characters  as  the 
Judsons. 

Clary's  Grove  Baptist  Church  was  organized  on  Christmas  Day,  1824. 
This  was  the  first  Church  organized  in  the  limits  of  the  county,  and  it  was  the 
focal  point  from  which  an  influence  radiated  over  the  surrounding  territory.  It 
is  not  our  province,  in  writing  the  general  history  of  the  county,  to  enter  into 
detail  respecting  each  separate  congregation.  For  this,  the  reader  is  referred 
to  the  several  township  histories.  The  early  Baptist  ministers,  like  all  the  Evan- 
gelical preachers  of  that  time,  were  earnest,  devoted  and  self-sacrificing  in  their 
labors.  "  Baker's  Prairie "  congregation  of  Baptists,  three  miles  east  of 
Petersburg,  was  organized  at  rather  an  early  date.  A  congregation  was  also 
formed  in  Petersburg,  early  in  the  history  of  that  town,  which  has  flourished 
from  that  time.  This  Church  has  a  large  and  commodious  house  of  worship' 
built  of  brick,  and  out  of  debt.  At  present  writing,  they  have  no  regular  Pas- 
tor. In  Greenview,  the  Baptists  have  a  substantial  frame  church,  and  a  toler- 
ably strong  congregation.  In  Sand  Ridge,  there  is  a  Baptist  congregation ; 
they  worship  in  the  New  Hope  Church,  erected  by  the  Cumberland  Presbyteri- 
ans, and,  by  order  of  the  Presbytery,  under  the  control  of  the  Concord  congre- 
gation. As  full  details  are  given  elsewhere,  we  will  merely  give  a  summary 
here.  The  Baptist  denomination  have,  in  the  county,  four  houses  of  worship, 
two  brick  and  two  frame.  They  have,  also,  some  congregations  having  no 
church  edifice.  They  form  an  important  element  in  society,  exerting  an  influ- 
ence for  good  that  is  felt  far  and  near. 


PETERSBURG- 


HISTORY    OF   MENARD    COUNTY.  225 

Several  Baptist  ministers  are  resident  of  the  county.  We  cannot  forbear  to 
mention  Rev.  William  Goldsby,  who  died  only  a  month  ago.  Mr.  Goldsby  grew 
up  from  early  youth  in  this  county,  professed  religion  here,  spent  his  life  here 
in  the  ministry,  and  died  at  his  home,  six  miles  southwest  of  Petersburg,  on  the 
18th  of  August,  1879.  He  was  a  man  of  but  limited  education,  and  possessed 
of  nothing  brilliant,  intellectually  ;  but  his  straightforward  integrity,  unswerv- 
ing honesty  and  devoted  piety  gave  him  a  wonderful  power  for  good  ;  and  while 
he  was  not  regarded  as  an  able  preacher,  yet,  in  his  simple  way,  he  won  many 
to  the  way  of  righteousness,  and  will,  doubtless,  have  many  stars  in  his  crown 
of  rejoicing.  His  devoted  wife,  who  was  in  her  usual  health  at  the  time  of  her 
husband's  death,  survived  him  only  eleven  days  ;  and  they  were  buried,  side  by 
side.  May  they  rest  in  peace. 

Elder  Homey,  of  Greenview ;  P.  E.  Clark,  six  miles  east  of  Petersburg ; 
H.  P.  Curry,  of  Oak  Ridge  ;  John  Coffee,  of  Fancy  Prairie,  and  George  Bell, 
of  Tallula,  are  all  ministers  of  this  Church,  but  not  all  actively  engaged  in  the 
ministry.  Fuller  accounts  of  each  are  given  in  the.  precinct  histories,  and  in 
the  biographical  portion  of  this  work. 

THE    M.    E.    CHURCH. 

It  would  seem  eminently  proper  to  have  placed  this  denomination  first  in 
the  history  of  churches  in  Menard  County,  for  it  is  to  all  intents  and  purposes 
pioneer  in  its  operations.  Its  policy  for  spreading  the  Gospel  is  exactly 
adapted  to  the  wants  and  needs  of  new  and  sparsely  settled  sections  of 
country.  The  itinerant  system,  so  long  practiced  and  brought  to  such  perfec- 
tion among  the  Methodists,  is  the.  method  of  sending  the  Gospel  to  the  remote 
settlements.  It  is  not  surprising  then,  that  the  Methodist  "circuit-rider"  is 
found  in  every  new  country.  The  first  Methodist  that  ever  settled  in  Illinois 
was  Capt.  Joseph  Ogle,  who  settled  here  in  1785.  The  first  preacher  of  the 
Church  to  come  into  the  State  was  Rev.  Joseph  Lillard,  who  formed  the  first 
society  in  the  State.  This  class  met  in  the  house  of  Capt.  Ogle,  in  St.  Clair 
County,  and  he  was  appointed  the  leader.  Some  years  later,  Rev.  John  Clark, 
who  had  preached  in  the  Carolinas  from  1791  to  1796,  desiring  to  get  beyond 
the  limits  of  slavery,  wandered  westward,  and  was  the  first  to  preach  Methodism 
west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  subsequently  came  to  Illinois.  Rev.  Hosea 
Riggs  was  the  first  local  preacher  to  settle  in  the  State.  The  first  regular  work 
of  the  Church  in  the  State  under  authority  of  Conference,  was  in  1803,  when 
Rev.  Benjamin  Young  was  appointed  missionary  to  the  State  by  the  Western 
Conference  holding  its  session  at  Mt.  Gerizim,  Ky.  In  1804,  the  missionary 
reported  sixty-seven  members  in  the  State.  In  1806,  Rev.  Jess  Walker  was 
sent  to  the  State ;  he  was  a  man  of  great  zeal  and  energy.  He  held  the  first 
camp-meeting  in  the  State  during  this  year.  This  meeting  awakened  a  revival 
interest,  which  was  felt  in  nearly  all  the  settlements  in  the  State.  At  the  close 

of   the   year,    he   reported    218    members.     The    Western    Conference   then 

c 


226  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

included  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Ohio  and  all  the  Northwest.  In  1812,  it  was 
divided,  and  Tennessee  and  Illinois  formed  a  Conference.  In  1816,  the  Mis- 
souri Conference  was  formed,  and  Illinois  was  included  in  this.  In  1824, 
Illinois  Conference  was  formed,  including  Illinois  and  Indiana.  In  1832, 
Indiana  was  separated  from  it.  We  speak  of  this  to  show  the  rapidity  with 
which  the  Church  increased  in  the  sparsely  settled  regions  of  the  West  and 
North.  From  about  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  the  itinerants  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  were  constantly  traversing  the  country  from  East  to  West,  and  from 
North  to  South,  organizing  classes  wherever  opportunity  offered.  There  are  no 
means  of  learning  who  the  first  minister  of  this  denomination  was  who  first 
preached  in  Menard  County.  We  have  positive  proof  that  in  the  summer  of 
1820,  a  class  was  formed  in  the  settlement  near  where  Athens  now  stands. 
One  James  Stringfield  was  perhaps  the  first  Methodist  preacher  in  the  county ; 
certainly  he  was  the  first  local  preacher  who  settled  here.  He  came  in  1819 
or  in  the  early  part  of  1820.  About  the  time  that  the  class  was  formed  near 
Athens,  or  not  long  after,  a  society  was  formed  west  of  the  river,  but  its  precise 
locality  cannot  be  determined.  The  matter  is  not  positively  decided,  but  it  is 
believed  that  the  first  regular  circuit  formed  included  the  societies  on  both  sides 
of  the  Sangamon  River.  In  1821  or  1822,  a  regular  circuit  was  laid  out, 
including  the  classes  here.  Rev.  Isaac  House  was  the  first  preacher  placed  on 
the  circuit,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Simms  was  Presiding  Elder.  The  Methodists,  per- 
haps (in  fact,  it  is  absolutely  certain),  built  the  first  house  of  worship  that  was 
erected  in  the  county ;  this  was  in  the  year  1825.  This  house  .was  built  on 
the  farm  of  Mr.  Harry  Riggin.  The  land  was  donated  by  Mr.  Riggin,  with 
the  understanding  that  it  was  to  revert  to  him  or  his  heirs,  so  soon  as  it  ceased 
to  be  used  for  religious  purposes.  This  was  a  neat  hewed-log  building,  22x36 
feet.  It  had  glass  windows  by  chance  ;  we  say  by  chance,  because  Mr.  Riggin 
brought  quite  a  large  quantity  of  window-glass  with  him  when  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  this  was  part  of  his  contribution.  This  house  was  used  constantly 
till  about  1839  or  1840,  when  it  was  sold,  and  is  now  a  barn  on  the  farm  of 
Henry  Rankin.  The  proceeds,  with  a  considerable  subscription  added,  was 
expended  in  the  erection  of  a  new  frame  church  in  Athens.  This  house  was 
built  about  the  year  1840,  and  is  still  used  by  the  M.  E.  Church  there. 

This  portion  of  the  Church  has  been  blessed  with  the  services  of  very  able 
men.  The  venerable  Peter  Akers,  D.  D.,  was  for  years  Presiding  Elder  of  this 
district.  Peter  Cartwright,  of  national  reputation,  was  Elder  of  the  district 
longer  than  any  other  man,  and  Dr.  Akers  next.  Cartwright  has  preached  in 
every  part  of  the  county  ;  indeed,  we  might  say  in  almost  every  gr.ove  of  tim- 
ber. The  fruits  of  the  labors  of  this  people  are  to  be  seen  in  every  locality. 
The  denomination  has,  in  the  county,  four  church  edifices,  three  frame,  and  one 
brick.  (This,  of  course,  is  exclusive  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  at  Athens, 
and  the  German  M.  E.  Church  on  Sand  Ridge).  Besides  these,  there  are  sev- 
eral classes  having  no  house  of  worship.  A  large  volume  might  be  written, 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  227 

giving  interesting  accounts  of  the  labors  of  the  Methodists  here.  The  ministers 
in  the  county  at  present,  are  as  follows:  Rev.  Mr.  Coombs,  in  Petersburg ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Eckman,  at  Athens ;  Rev.  Mr.  Finity,  at  Greenview.  These  are  on  the 
circuits  in  the  county,  and  the  only  local  preachers  are  Rev.  Starling  Turner 
(he  being  a  Protestant),  and  Rev.  F.  E.  Foster,  Greenview. 

Reminiscences  of  Methodist  ministers  rush  on  our  mind,  demanding  to  be 
recorded,  but,  if  the  flood-gate  is  once  opened,  no  telling  where  the  end  will  be. 
But,  in  imagination  the  portly  form  and  smiling  face  of  Rev.  Barrett  rises  up, 
and  with  the  face  an  interminable  store  of  remembered  incidents.  That  eye, 
so  full  of  humor,  looks  out  on  the  world  no  more ;  the  voice,  so  sweet  in 
persuasion,  so  dire  in  denunciation,  and  so  convincing  in  argument,  is  long  since 
silent  in  death,  but  those  who  knew  him  will  never  forget  the  power  of  his 
pulpit  efforts,  or  the  unrivaled  point  and  potency  of  his  witticisms.  Ever  a 
devoted  and  consistent  Christian,  but  at  the  same  time  ever  ready  to  see  the 
ludicrous  phase  of  everything,  and  lead  others  to  see,  and,  with  his  anecdotes,  to 
convulse  everything  with  merriment.  Sometimes,  though  seldom,  this  char- 
acteristic of  the  man  would  manifest  itself  in  the  pulpit,  and  when  this  was  the 
case,  the  house  was  sure  to  be  "  brought  down."  Pardon  one  illustration,  kind 
reader,  aud  we  will  pledge  ourselves  to  give  but  the  one. 

Mr.  Barrett  was  a  plain  Western  man,  used  to  Western  habits  and  customs. 
He  was  also  blessed  with  a  powerful  physical  constitution,  and  being  a  man  of 
very  active  habits,  his  nature  demanded,  and  he  relished  most  heartily,  good, 
plain,  wholesome  food.  At  one  time,  he  was  on  a  circuit,  one  of  the  preach- 
ing points  being  in  a  settlement  of  New  England  people,  and  most  of  the  class 
were  "Yankees."  Of  course,  their  manners  differed  widely  from  his,  and 
especially  in  the  matter  of  diet,  they  were  totally  unlike.  In  that  early  day, 
"sweetmeats"  were  scarce,  and  those  Eastern  people  had  no  idea  of  eating 
meat  like  the  Western  people.  They  lived  nearly  without  meat,  and  the  inev- 
itable "  pumpkin-pie  "  was  nearly  the  standard  part  of  their  food.  Brother 
Barrett  visited  different  houses,  but  it  was  everywhere  the  same — pumpkin-pie 
confronted  him  where'er  he  went.  At  last,  almost  starving,  he  hinted  very 
broadly  that  he  wanted  meat,  but  all  of  no  avail.  Finally,  one  Sabbath  morn- 
ing, when  a  large  congregation  had  assembled,  he  decided  to  present  his  case  in 
prayer.  So,  when  they  bowed  for  the  opening  prayer,  after  addressing  the 
throne  of  grace  for  a  time,  he  continued  :  "  Oh,  Lord,  we  thank  Thee  for  this 
good  land,  for  this  productive  soil,  and  for  sunshine  and  shower.  And  we 
pray  Thee,  oh,  Lord,  if  Thou  canst  bless  under  the  Gospel,  what  Thou  didst 
curse  under  the  law,  that  Thou  wilt  bless  the  hogs.  Oh,  may  they  fatten  and 
thrive  ;  and  do  Thou  send  abundant  crops  of  corn,  that  they  may  be  made  fat,  that 
Thy  servants  may  have  meat  to  eat,  that  they  may  grow  strong  to  serve  Thee 
and  do  Thy  Will.  Oh,  Lord,  we  pray  Thee  to  blight  the  pumpkin  crop.  Send 
blasting  and  mildew  on  every  vine,  for  Thou  knowest  we  cannot  serve  Thee  on  the 
strength  they  give."  He  then  went  on  and  closed  his  prayer  in  the  usual  way. 


223  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  brethren  took  the  hint,  and  after  that  Brother  Barrett 
had  meat  to  eat.  The  foregoing  anecdote  is  literally  true,  otherwise,  a  number  of 
men  of  unimpeachable  character  for  truth  and  veracity  have  stated  falsely. 
Rev.  Mr.  Barrett  lived  and  continued  to  preach  till  some  time  during  1878 ; 
during  that  year,  while  living  in  Jacksonville,  he  went  to  an  appointment  at 
Grigg's  Chapel,  in  the  Sangamon  Bottom,  in  Cass  County,  and  preached  morn- 
ing and  evening  with  his  usual  power  and  energy.  Retired  at  night  as  well  as 
usual,  and  was  a  corpse  in  a  few  hours.  Thus  passed  away  this  eccentric, 
though  faithful  and  successful  minister  of  the  Gospel.  The  M.  E.  Church 
could  boast  a  great  many  faithful  and  devoted  men  among  her  early  ministers, 
as  well  as  among  those  of  later  years.  This  Church  is  still,  with  great  energy 
and  zeal,  performing  her  part  of  the  work  in  sending  the  Gospel  to  men  in  this 
county.  She  has  here  a  large,  devoted  and  wealthy  membership,  and  a  faith- 
ful and  zealous  ministry. 

THE    DISCIPLES. 

This  body  of  people,  known  as  Disciples,  Christians  or  Church  of  Christ, 
had  its  origin  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  It  originated  thus  :  In  1809,  Thomas 
Campbell,  aided  by  his  son,  Alexander  Campbell,  both  of  whom  were  Presby- 
terian ministers,  becoming  deeply  impressed  with  what  they  regarded  as  the 
unfortunate  divisions  among  professed  Christian  people,  made  an  effort  to  bring 
about  a  union  of  all,  not  intending  to  start  another  "sect"  or  party.  It 
was  thought  that  taking  the  Bible  alone,  without  any  standard  of  interpreta- 
tion, would  do  this.  Quite  a  number  of  people,  mostly  Presbyterians,  went 
into  this  enterprise.  Soon  the  question  of  the  mode  and  subject  of  baptism 
was  mooted  among  them,  and  this  resulting  in  a  rejection,  by  the  majority,  of 
infant  baptism  and  affusion  ;  the  body  becoming  thus  one  of  immersed  believers, 
they  were  soon  united  with  the  Redstone  Baptist  Association.  Not  many  years 
after  this,  views  were  developed  at  variance  with  the  Baptist  Church,  and  the 
"  Disciples  "  were  formed  into  a  new  sect.  About  three  years  before  the 
beginning  of  the  move  by  the  Campbells  in  Pennsylvania,  a' Presbyterian  min- 
ister in  Kentucky  had  tried  to  bring  about  a  union  of  all  Christians  on  the  basis 
of  the  Bible  alone.  This  movement  was  introduced  and  led  by  one  Barton  W. 
Stone,  who  had  been  for  years  a  Presbyterian  minister.  He  had  collected 
quite  a  little  band  together,  and,  after  considerable  time  spent  in  controverting 
various  points  by  the  two  leaders,  a  union  of  the  two  parties,  forming  when 
united  quite  a  large  body.  The  followers  of  Stone  were  called  New  Lights, 
while  Campbell's  party  was  denominated  "  Disciples."  But,  for  sake  of  dis- 
tinction, some  persons  who  belonged  to  neither  called  one  party  Stoneites  and 
the  other  Campbellites  ;  neither  were  these  names  given  in  reproach,  but  merely 
to  distinguish  them.  For  many  years  after  the  union  of  the  two  parties,  the 
name  "  New  Lights  "  was  kept  up,  and  thus  applied  to  the  "  Disciples."  Soon 
after  the  consolidation  of  the  two,  they  began  work  in  earnest,  sending  out  mis- 
sionaries to  various  parts  of  the  country.  It  is  almost  certain  that  the  "New 


,      HISTORY   OF    MENARD   COUNTY.  229 

Lights,"  as  they  were  called  here,  sent  preachers  into  this  part  of  Illinois  as  ' 
early  as  any,  unless  it  was  the  Methodists  and  Hard-Shell  Baptists.  As  said 
before,  Rev.  Mr.  House,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  was  the  first 
preacher  in  the  county,  and  it  is  probable  that  old  Mr.  Crow,  the  Regular 
Baptist,  was  the  next.  As  early  as  1820  or  1821,  a  New  Light  preacher  of  the 
name  of  Henderson  came  to  Sugar  Grove,  and  preached  in  the  cabin  of 
Roland  Grant,  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  he  ever  attempted  to  organize  a 
society.  Not  very  long  after  this,  Barton  W.  Stone  himself  preached  in  Clary's 
Grove,  which  he  did  several  times  after.  He  was  followed  by  Sidney  Rigdon, 
then  a  New  Light,  but  who  afterward  became  a  Mormon,  becoming  one  of  the 
twelve  apostles  of  that  Church,  and  visiting  various  parts  of  Europe  as  a  mis- 
sionary. A  congregation  of  "  Disciples  "  was  formed  in  Clary's  Grove  as  early 
as  1827,  and  a  few  years  after,  they  erected  a  "  log  meeting-house."  This  log 
church  was  occupied  for  several  years,  when  a  new  frame  edifice  was  erected. 
This  last  served  them  till  after  the  village  of  Tallula  was  laid  out  and  settled  up. 
The  Church,  seeing  that  this  village  was  destined  to  be  the  center  of  the  com- 
munity, they  disposed  of  their  house  in  the  grove,  and,  just  at  the  close  of  the 
late  war,  they  erected  in  the  village  the  large  and  commodious  house  in  which 
they  now  worship.  The  date  of  the  organization  of  the  "  Disciples'  "  Church 
in  Sugar  Grove  is  not  definitely  known,  but  it  was  at  a  very  early  day,  as  all 
admit.  This  soon  became  a  very  strong  and  prosperous  body,  and  was  for 
many  years  the  largest  and  most  wealthy  congregation  in  the  county.  It  con- 
tinued [to  hold  this  enviable  reputation  till  about  1867,  when  misfortune 
seemed  to  overtake  it,  and,  in  a  short  time,  it  was  nearly  annihilated.  This 
happened  in  this  wise:  One  J.  K.  Spears,  of  Indiana,  a  man  of  more  than 
average  ability,  was  employed  as  Pastor.  At  first,  his  preaching  was  in  con- 
formity with  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  ;  but  it  was  not  long  till  he  began  to 
drop  expressions  occasionally  that  pointed  to  materialism  very  strongly.  When 
interviewed  on  the  subject,  he  boldly  affirmed  the  doctrine  of  "soul-sleeping," 
denying,  in  toto,  all  spiritual  existence,  and,  as  a  consequence,  denying  the 
immortality  of  man,  except  in  the  resurrected  body.  He  also  taught  that  the 
Bible  clearly  aifirmed  the  second  advent  of  Christ  as  being  just  at  hand.  Such 
was  his  influence  and  tact,  that  he  carried  off  with  him  about  one-half  of  the 
entire  congregation,  among  them  some  of  the  most  influential,  intelligent  and 
wealthy  of  the  entire  flock.  They  all  seemed  utterly  demented ;  they  were 
re-baptized,  and  some  of  them  were  ready  for  months  to  start,  at  a  day's  warn- 
ing, to  Jerusalem,  to  meet  the  Savior  there.  Others  believed  that  he  would 
make  his  appearance  right  in  Menard  County,  and  some  actually  made  the 
remark  that  they  expected  to  go  fishing  with  Christ  in  Salt  Creek.  'Mr.  Spear 
would  not  preach  for  a  stipulated  salary,  as  he  regarded  it  as  very  sinful  to  do 
so ;  all  he  wanted  was  a  simple  support  for  himself  and  family ;  but  he  was 
exceedingly  careful  to  have  the  support  specified  in  every  particular,  so  that  it 
aggregated  more  than  any  salary  paid  in  all  this  region,  hence,  he  and  his  did 


230  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

literally  "fare  sumptuously  every  day."  In  order  to  the  quiet  of  the  com- 
munity (for  the  excitement  was  at  fever-heat  for  months),  a  public  discussion 
was  inaugurated,  and  Elder  Linn,  of  Indiana,  met  Mr.  Spear  in  open  con  • 
flict.  The  debate,  perhaps,  did  not  do  much  toward  quieting  the  troubled 
waters ;  but,  after  the  people  had  anxiously  awaited  the  coming  of  Christ  for 
several  months,  they  began  to  grow  incredulous  ;  the  enthusiasm  died  out,  and 
then  the  revenues  almost  entirely  failed.  This  was  hint  enough  for  Mr.  Spear, 
who,  in  a  short  time,  like  the  "star  of  empire,"  took  his  way  westward.  In 
an  incredibly  short  time,  all  mention  of"  soul-sleeping  "  ceased'to  be  made.  As. 
far  as  we  can  now  learn,  all  those  who  followed  Mr.  S.  in  his  folly  are  now 
open  and  avowed  infidels.  We  often  wonder  what  the  feelings  and  thoughts 
noAv  are  of  those  who  were  at  one  time  so  enthusiastic  as  to  become  teachers  of 
the  new  faith,  but  are  now  blasphemously  profane !  The  old  Church  has  never 
fully  recovered  from  this  blow,  though  it  is  gradually  approximating  its  former 
strength. 

The  Church  in  Petersburg  is  of  comparatively  recent  origin.  In  August, 
1875,. Elder  D.  R.  Lucas  came  to  this  place,  bringing  with  him  a  tent,  capable 
of  holding  eight  hundred  or  one  thousand"  people.  In  this  he  conducted  a  pro- 
tracted meeting  of  about  six  weeks'  continuance,  which  resulted  in  the  addition 
of  something  near  one  hundred  persons  to  the  Church.  Immediately  after 
the  close  of  this  meeting,  an  effort  was  made  to  build  a  house  of  worship.  These 
efforts  were  crowned  with  success,  and  before  the  next  spring,  a  neat  brick 
edifice,  some  40x60  feet,  and  finished  in  beautiful  style,  was  ready  for  use. 
Elder  M.  M.  Goode  was  engaged  as  Pastor,  who  still  serves  his  people  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  all.  Being  an  intelligent,  eloquent  and  very  sociable  gen- 
tleman, he  commands  the  respect  and  friendship  of  all  classes. 

Of  the  Church  in  Athens  and  Greeriview,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  his- 
tory of  those  townships. 

This  Church  has  in  Menard  County  five  church  edifices  and  as  many  pros- 
perous congregations.  The  ministers  in  the  county  are :  Elder  Breeden,  Pas- 
tor at  Tallula ;  W.  W.  Linn,  near  Tallula,  not  now  actively  engaged  in  the 
ministry ;  M.  M.  Goode,  Petersburg ;  D.  T.  Hughes,  Greenview ;  Dr.  Engle, 
Athens;  Elder  Hughes,  Sweetwater,  and  G.  A.  Davis,  Petersburg,  not  now 
actively  engaged. 

The  Disciples  are  an  intelligent,  liberal  and  enterprising  people,  keeping 
full  pace  with  the  age  in  all  that  advances  and  elevates  the  people. 

THE    CUMBERLAND    PRESBYTERIANS. 

About  the  close  of  the  last  century,  the  state  of  spiritual  religion  had  reached 
a  very  low  state,  especially  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  The  Presbyterians  of 
that  region  had  fallen  into  a  cold  formalism  that  was  truly  fearful.  A  promi- 
nent Elder  of  the  Church,  speaking  of  that  period,  says  that  he  sat  for  twenty  years 
under  the  ministry  of  an  able  Doctor  of  Divinity,  and  in  all  that  time  he  never 


HISTQRY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  231 

heard  him  speak  directly  of  the  work  of  the  Spirit  in  regeneration.  While  no 
body  of  people,  as  such,  insist  more  strongly  on  the  necessity  of  divine  power 
in  the  salvation  of  the  sinner,  yet  so  many  formalists  had  entered  the  Church 
that  vital  piety  was  almost  extinct. 

About  this  time,  Rev.  James  McGready,  who  had  been  preaching  seven 
years,  was,  by  accident,  awakened,  sought  religion  and  was  powerfully  con- 
verted. From  this  time,  he  turned  his  energies  to  arouse  the  Church.  The  result 
was  a  powerful  revival  of  religion  spreading  over  all  that  region.  The  Church 
was  divided  into  a  revival  and  anti-revival  party.  Some  of  the  revival  party 
could  not  accept  the  doctrines  of  the  Westminster  Confession  touching  fore- 
knowledge and  decrees,  believing  that  it  taught  fatality. 

The  Church  was  organized  February  4,  1810,  in  Tennessee.  Hence,  it 
could  not  be  expected  to  have  spread  very  far  as  early  as  the  first  settling  of 
this  country,  in  1819  and  1820,  especially  when  we  remember  that  it  had  its 
origin  as  far  south  as  the  southeast  part  of  Tennessee,  near  the  Kentucky  line. 
It  is,  however,  true,  notwithstanding  this  fact,  that  ministers  of  this  Church 
found  their  way  into  Illinois  before  the  Church  was  fifteen  years  old. 

The  Church  in  Menard  County. — The  first  preacher  of  this  denomination 
who  visited  this  part  of  the  State  was  John  McCutchen  Berry.  He  was  born 
in  the  "  Old  Dominion,"  March  22,  1788.  His  education  was  limited.  When 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  made  a  public  profession  of  faith  in  Christ,  and 
united  with  the  C.  P.  Church.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the 
Logan  Presbytery,  in  Tennessee,  in  1819 ;  and  in  1822,  was  ordained  by  the 
same  body.  In  1820,  he  had  removed  to  Indiana,  but  he  returned  to  Tennes- 
see to  attend  Presbytery.  A  few  years  later,  he  removed  to  Sangamon  County, 
111.,  settling  in  the  limits  of  what  is  now  Menard  County,  on  Rock  Creek. 
This  section  of  country  was  then  in  the  bounds  of  Illinois  Presbytery,  and  so 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1829,  when  Sangamon  Presbytery  was  organized. 
Mr.  Berry  had  organized  the  Sugar  Creek  congregation,  ten  miles  south  of 
Springfield. 

Revs.  Gilbert  Dodds  and  Thomas  Campbell  had  migrated  from  Kentucky 
some  years  before  the  year  1829 ;  both  being  licensed  preachers  when  they 
came ;  were  soon  after  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Dodds  set- 
tled on  a  farm  some  five  miles  south  of  Petersburg,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death. 

Synod — Old  Cumberland  Synod — ordered  the  organization  of  Sangamon 
Presbytery,  and,  agreeably  to  this  order,  the  ministers  and  a  few  Elders  met, 
at  the  house  of  William  Drennan,  on  Sugar  Creek,  the  20th  of  April,  1829, 
and  held  its  first  meeting.  The  ministers  were  John  M.  Berry,  Gilbert  Dodds, 
Thomas  Campbell,  David  Foster  and  John  Porter,  Mr.  Berry,  by  order  of 
Synod,  acting  as  Moderator,  and  Gilbert  Dodds  as  Clerk.  Mr.  Berry  preached 
the  opening  sermon,  from  Matthew,  xvi,  15.  The  Elders  present  were :  Joseph 


232  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

Dodds,  representing  Sugar  Creek ;  John  Hamilton,  from  Bethel,  and  Samuel 
Berry,  from  Concord  and  Lebanon.  There  were  also  present,  John  M.  Cam- 
eron, William  McCord  and  Neill  Johnson,  licentiates ;  Payton  Mitchell  and 
Archibald  Johnson,  candidates.  Needham  Roach,  a  licentiate  from  Nashville 
Presbytery  was  received  under  the  care  of  this.  This  session  of  Presbytery 
also  discontinued  Payton  Mitchell  as  a  candidate  under  its  care. 

As  Rev.  John  M.  Berry  was  the  first  minister  of  this  Church  who  preached 
in  this  county,  it  is  due  to  history  to  give  a  brief  description  of  him.  As  before 
stated,  owing  to  his  early  surroundings,  his  education  was  limited ;  but  his 
natural  powers  of  mind  were  very  far  above  the  average.  He  was  independent 
in  his  manner  of  thought,  gentle  and  kind,  but  uncompromising  in  his  opposi- 
tion to  all  that  he  thought  to  be  wrong.  He  was  charitable  in  his  feelings  to 
the  views  of  others,  but  unyielding  in  his  convictions  until  convinced  by  the 
force  of  argument.  As  a  speaker,  he  was  plain,  solemn  and  unassuming,  making 
no  eifort  at  display  or  show ;  but,  possessing  a  commanding  presence  and  a 
voice  at  once  full  of  power  and  a  persuasive  attractiveness,  he  was  in  every  way 
qualified  to  exert  a  great  power  over  an  audience.  Though  usually  full  of 
force  and  logic,  yet  sometimes,  when  warmed  with  the  inspiring  power  of  his 
subject,  he  arose  almost  to  sublimity,  and  at  such  times  his  solemn  and  earnest 
appeals  were  almost  irresistible.  His  method  of  argument  was  of  the  clearest 
logical  character,  and  when  fully  aroused  by  the  importance  of  his  subject,  he 
seemed  to  carry  everything  before  him.  His  character,  and  the  estimate  in 
which  he  was  held,  can  be,  to  some  degree,  illustrated  by  relating  an  incident 
in  the  early  history  of  this  country.  The  reader  is  doubtless  aware  of  the  fact 
that  the  lamented  Abraham  Lincoln  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  at  Old 
Salem,  in  this  county,  in  an  early  day.  A  son  of  Mr.  Berry  was,  for  a  time,  a 
partner  of  Mr.  Lincoln  in  the  grocery,  and  it  is  probable  that  intoxicants  were 
sold  by  them ;  in  fact,  this  is  generally  conceded  to  be  true.  Be  this  as  it  may, 
Mr.  Berry's  son  contracted  habits  of  dissipation  in  some  way,  and  ultimately 
became  an  utter  wreck,  dying  a  most  horrid  death.  This  was  a  blow  from 
which  the  father  never  fully  recovered ;  but  a  deep,  dark  shadow  seemed  ever 
after  to  be  cast  over  his  mind.  It  appears  that  during  the  partnership  in  the 
store  that  the  father  strove  hard  to  dissuade  his  son  from  a  life  of  intemperance, 
but  failed.  His  labors  were  not  lost,  however,  for  the  counsel,  though  lost  on 
the  son,  made  a  lasting  impression  on  Mr.  Lincoln.  Years  after  the  close  of 
the  partnership,,  when  Lincoln  had  reached  a  position  of  eminence  in  the  legal 
profession,  a  grog-shop  in  a  certain  community  was  having  a  bad  influence  upon 
some  men  who  were  married,  and  whose  wives  suffered  by  the  evil.  These 
injured  wives,  on  a  certain  occasion,  gathered  together  and  made  a  raid  on  the 
vile  den,  demolished  the  barrels,  broke  up  the  decanters  and  demijohns,  and 
played  havoc  with  things  generally.  For  this  the  ladies  were  prosecuted,  and 
Mr.  Lincoln  volunteered  his  services  for  their  defense.  In  the  midst  of  a  most 
powerful  argument  upon  the  evils  of  the  use  of,  and  the  traffic  in,  intoxicating 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  233 

t 

spirits,  while  all  in  the  crowded  room  were  most  intensely  interested  and  many 
bathed  in  tears,  the  speaker  turned  and,  pointing  his  long,  bony  finger  toward 
where  the  venerable  Berry  was  standing,  said :  "  There  stands  the  man  who, 
years  ago,  was  instrumental  in  convincing  me  of  the  evils  of  trafficking  in  and 
using  ardent  spirits.  I  am  glad  that  I  ever  saw  him.  I  am  glad  that  I  ever  heard 
his  testimony  on  this  terrible  subject."  This  was  a  higher  honor  than  to  have 
been  made  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  nation.  Such  an  encomium  from  such 
a  man  speaks  volumes  in  praise  of  Mr.  Berry's  influence  for  good. 

Such  is  a  brief  sketch  of  the  pioneer  of  Cumberland  Presbyterianism  in  the 
State  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Berry  died  as  he  had  lived,  with  his  armor  on,  in  the 
winter  of  1856-57,  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  De  Witt  Co.,  111.,  where  he  had 
lived  for  several  years.  His  early  colaborers  were  equally  earnest,  pious  and 
devoted  to  their  work.  Dodds,  Campbell  and  others  will  ever  be  remembered 
with  warmest  gratitude  by  the  people  of  that  Church. 

Some  of  the  old  citizens  are  firm  in  their  convictions  that  the  Lebanon  con- 
gregation of  the  C.  P.  Church,  was  the  first  Church  organized  in  the  county, 
though  the  writer  is  fully  convinced  that  Clary's  Grove  Baptist  Church  is  older 
by  a  year  or  more.  In  1829,  the  Lebanon  congregation,  six  miles  east  of  Peters- 
burg,  and  Concord,  four  miles  north,  were  represented  in  Presbytery.  Lebanon 
was  organized,  perhaps,  in  1825  or  1826,  and  Concord  a  year  or  two  later.  The 
Cumberland  Presbyterians  were  accustomed,  from  their  first  introduction  in  this 
part  of  Illinois,  to  hold  camp-meetings  every  summer.  These  meetings  were  held 
in  various  communities,  as  Lebanon,  Concord,  Rock, Creek,  Irish  Grove,  Salt 
Creek,  and  various  other  places.  This  custom  was  kept  up  till  some  twenty 
years  ago.  The  Church  grew  and  prospered  from  the  first,  and  at  the  present 
time  it,  perhaps,  has  a  larger  membership  than  any  other  denomination  in  the 
county.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  congregation  and  Pastors  in  the  county  r 
Irish  Grove,  Rev.  J.  T.  May  ;  Fancy  Prairie,  Rev.  3.  S.  Stevenson ;  Greenview, 
Rev.  James  White ;  Rock  Creek,  Rev.  J.  Momire ;  Petersburg,  Rev.  R.  D. 
Miller  ;  Concord,  Rev.  A.  H.  Goodpasture  ;  besides  these  there  are  Tallula,  New 
Hope  and  Lebanon  congregations  that,  at  present,  are  without  Pastors.  The  fol- 
lowing additional  ministers  of  this  Church  live  in  the  county :  Revs.  James 
Knoles  and  C.  B.  Parkhurst,  who  are  engaged  in  teaching.  Thus  it  will  be 
seen  that  there  are  nine  congregations  and  eight  ministers  in  the  county. 
Each  congregation  has  a  good  and  finished  house  of  worship,  except  Petersburg, 
which,  at  this  writing — July,  1879 — has  a  good  and  neat  brick  edifice  nearly 
ready  for  occupancy.  A  detail  of  the  history  of  each  of  these  congregations 
will  be  found  in  the  history  of  the  several  townships  in  which  they  are  situated. 

THE    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.* 

When  Diedrich  Knickerbocker  set  about  writing  the  history  of  New  York, 
that  his  subject  might  have  a  broad  foundation,  he  went  back  to  the  beginning 

*We  arc  indebted  for  this  sketch  of  the  Presbyterian  Churches,  to  Rev.  John  Crazier,  Pastor  of  North  Sangamon 
Church  at  Indian  Point. — R.  D.  M. 


234  HISTORY    OF  MENARD   COUNTY. 

of  the  world.  In  giving  a  sketch  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  Menard 
County,  we  may  not  go  back  as  far  in  order  of  time,  and  yet,  it  may  interest 
those  who  read  this  sketch  to  know  something  of  the  early  planting  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Illinois,  and  especially  this  central  portion,  where  our 
lot  is  cast.  In  1797,  just  three  years  after  Anthony  Wayne's  victory  over  the 
Indians  at  the  battle  of  the  Fallen  Timber,  and  five  years  before  Ohio  was 
admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State,  and  when  all  the  vast  territory  covered  by 
the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois  was  yet  under  Territorial  government, 
an  effort  was  made  by  a  Presbyterian  minister  to  plant  the  Gospel  ordinances  of 
Christ  according  to  the  Westminster  Standards,  upon  the  soil  of  Illinois.  Rev. 
John  E.  Finley,  a  Presbyterian  minister  from  Chester  County,  Penn.,  to  Mason 
County,  Ky.,  coveted  the  privilege  of  being  the  first  to  plant  the  Church  of 
Christ  upon  the  territory  of  the  future  great  State  of  Illinois ;  and  also  in  the 
Louisiana  Territory,  in  what  is  now  the  State  of  Missouri.  In  1797,  Mr.  Fin- 
ley  descended  the  Ohio  River  in  a  keel-boat,  with  several  of  his  neighbors, 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  ascended  the  Mississippi,  and  landed 
at  Kaskaskia,  with  the  bold  design  of  planting  the  standard  of  the  Cross  in  the 
Spanish  Colonies  west  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Mr.  Finley  probably  had 
ultimate  reference  to  a  mission  among  the  Indians.  He  preached  the  Gospel, 
catechised  and  baptised  several  of  the  "  red  men."  But,  in  a  short  time,  he  was 
led  to  abandon  the  enterprise.  A  few  years  later,  while  Capts.  Lewis  and 
Clark,  under  the  recommendation  of  President  Jefferson  and  by  appointment  of 
Congress,  were  exploring  a  route  over  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  descending  the 
Columbia  to  the  Pacific,  earnest  ministers  of  Christ  were  planning  the  conquest 
of  these  regions  for  Christ.  In  the  years  1804,  1805  and  1806,  short  mission- 
ary excursions  were  made  to  the  vicinity  of  Vincennes  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Samuel 
Rannels,  Samuel  B.  Robinson,  James  McGrady  and  Thomas  Cleland,  members 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Transylvania  in  the  State  of  Kentucky.  As  the  result  of 
these  labors,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in  Indiana,  near 
Vincennes,  and  was  then  named,  and  still  is  known  as  Indiana  Church.  This 
was  in  1806.  During  the  years  1810,  1811,  and  also  in  1814  and  1816,  Rev. 
James  McGrady  spent  a  considerable  time  in  the  southern  counties  of  Indiana, 
and  in  Illinois,  and  in  1816,  or  some  accounts  say,  in  1814,  Mr.  McGrady 
organized  Sharon  Church  in  White  County.  This  was  the  first  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Illinois,  and  its  honored  name  still  stands  on  the  roll  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Cairo. 

About  the  same  time,  Revs.  J.  F.  Schemerhorn  and  Samuel  J.  Mills  visited 
Kaskaskia,  and  left  a  deep  impression  of  their  zeal  and  fidelity,  especially  in 
the  family  of  Gov.  Ninian  Edwards.  At  that  time,  there  was  not  a  town  of  a 
thousand  inhabitants  in  Indiana,  Illinois  or  Missouri,  unless  it  was  Madison, 
Vincennes  or  St.  Louis.  Sparse  settlements  were  scattered  along  the  eastern 
part  of  Illinois  as  far  north  as  the  Vermilion,  and  on  the  west  side  as  far  north 
as  Quincy.  All  the  northern  part  of  the  State  was  a  wilderness,  with  here 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY,  235 

and  there  an  Indian  trading-post.  Peoria  was  Ft.  Clark,  and  Chicago  only 
appears  on  the  maps  as  Ft.  Dearborn.  The  fort  was  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Chicago  River,  and  on  the  north  side  just  opposite  was  John  Kinzie's  agency 
and  trading-post.  A  few  mud  and  stick  shanties  along  the  river  near  the 
agency,  and  at  Wolf  Point  on  the  west  side,  was  all  the  town  there  was  on  the 
site  of  the  great  city  of  Chicago.  In  1821,  Rev.  Dr.  Gideon  Blackburn,  the 
founder  of  Blackburn  University,  was  in  the  full  tide  of  his  popularity  as  a 
most  effective  preacher  of  the  Gospel.  He  passed  through  the  State  and  held 
a  camp-meeting  at  Shoal  Creek,  in  Bond  County,  where  there  was  a  great  out- 
pouring of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  many  were  converted,  and  a  church  was  there 
formed.  Rev.  Abraham  Williamson,  from  Princeton,  N.  J.,  also  Rev.  Messrs. 
Orrin  Catlin  and  Daniel  G.  Sprague,  from  Andover,  Mass.,  preached  in  that 
part  of  the  State  and  organized  a  church  at  Carrollton.  In  1825,  Rev.  John 
M.  Ellis  arrived  in  Illinois,  and  spent  a  year  or  two  with  the  Church  of  Kas- 
kaskia.  About  the  same  time,  the  Rev.  John  Birch,  a  Scotsman  who  had 
spent  his  earlier  years  in  his  native  country  and  in  England,  came  to  America, 
and,  after  a  few  years  in  Southern  and  Western  Ohio,  came  to  Morgan  County, 
111.,  where  the  village  of  Jacksonville  had  lately  been  laid  out.  Here  he 
labored,  and  had  organized  a  church  before  any  one  came  to  his  aid.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  Ellis,  who.  besides  his  zeal  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  had 
initiated  those  movements  which  led  to  the  establishment  of  Illinois  College. 
Mr.  Ellis  was  one  of  the  seven  ministers  who  were  organized  into  the  first 
Presbytery  of  Illinois,  known  as  the  Center  Presbytery  of  Illinois. 

January  30,  1828,  a  church  was  organized  by  Mr.  Ellis  at  Springfield,  and 
was  called  the  Sangamon  Church,  after  the  name  of  the  river  near  which,  and 
the  county  in  which  it  was  located.  This  Church  was  composed  of  nineteen 
members,  of  whom  only  five  lived  in  the  village  of  Springfield,  and  these  were 
all  women.  The  membership  was  scattered  over  a  region  of  twenty  miles 
around,  and  several  of  them  (Messrs.  John  and  John  N.  Moore)  in  what  is  now 
Menard  County.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  this  organization  was  made  in  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Smith,  widow  of  Dr.  John  Blair  Smith,  a  very  eminent 
man  in  his  day,  and  once  the  President  of  Hampden  and  Sidney  College,  Vir- 
ginia. The  Church  of  Edwardsville  was  also  organized  in  her  house,  when  she 
lived  there  in  1819.  The  original  Elders  of  the  Sangamon  Church  at  Spring- 
field were  John  Moore,  Samuel  Reid,  Isaiah  Stillman  and  John  N.  Moore. 
Ever  since  about  1820,  people  from  different  parts  of  Kentucky  had  begun  to 
settle  on  Indian  Creek,  then  a  part  of  Sangamon  County.  Many  of  these  were 
Presbyterians  and  Cumberland  Presbyterians.  The  Presbyterians  had  united 
with  the  Sangamon  Church-;  but  it  was  impossible  that  they  should  have  the 
full  benefit  of  the  privileges  of  a  church  twenty  miles  away,  with  high  waters 
and  often  impassable  roads  between.  Soon  after  the  Sangamon  Church  was 
organized,  the  Rev.  John  G.  Bergen,  lately  from  New  Jersey,  began  his  labors 
as  the  Pastor  of  the  Church.  But  he  did  not  confine  his  labors  to  Springfield, 


236  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

but  made  extended  missionary  tours  in  every  direction,  and  preached  the  AVord 
wherever  an  opportunity  offered.  During  the  winter  of  1828—29,  Mr.  Bergen 
visited  Vandalia,  then  the  capital  of  the  State,  and  preached  before  the  Legis- 
lature. On  his  return,  in  January,  1829,  he  went  to  the  Moore  neighborhood, 
on  Indian  Creek,  and  there  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Elder  John  Moore,  the 
patriarch  of  the  Moore  family.  Mr.  Moore  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  but  had 
emigrated  to  Kentucky  in  early  life,  while  the  Indians  were  still  a  terror  to  the 
white  settlers.  He  is  represented  as  having  been  greatly  useful  in  planting 
Presbyterianism  in  the  Green  River  country.  He  passed  through  the  great 
revival  at  the  beginning  of  the  century,  and  took  an  active  part  in  it,  but 
opposed  the  extravagances  by  which  it  was  characterized.  His  wonderful 
knowledge  of  the  deep  things  of  God  began  with  the  study  of  an  old  torn  and 
coverless  book,  which  he  found  in  the  garret  of  his  father's  house.  "  Law 
Death,  and  Gospel  Life  "  was  its  title,  probably  written  by  Dr.  Bellamy.  This 
book  he  read,  and  reread,  until  its  thoughts  were  inwrought  into  the  very  text- 
ure of  his  soul.  Mr.  Moore  came  to  Indian  Creek  in  1822.  After  Mr.  Bergen 
came  to  Springfield,  he  found  in  Mr.  Moore  a  warm  and  trusted  friend,  and 
was  his  companion  in  many  a  preaching  tour.  It  is  related  of  him  that  once, 
during  the  summer  before  the  deep  snow,  they  rode  together  130  miles  north  to 
organize  a  church  in  Union  Grove,  in  what  is  now  La  Salle  County.  On  their 
return,  Mr.  Bergen  preached  at  Holland's  Grove,  where  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton now  stands,  a  few  miles  east  of  Peoria.  At  this  service,  nearly  all  the 
settlers  were  present  for  seven  miles  around,  including  a  company  of  Potawat- 
omie  Indians,  who,  by  invitation,  attended  the  service,  filing  in  one  by  one,  and 
taking  their  seats  on  the  floor,  near  the  minister. 

In  1832,  the  time  had  come  when  it  was  thought  that  the  interests  of  religion 
required  a  separate  Presbyterian  church  organization  north  of  the  Sangamon 
River.  On  the  20th  of  May,  1832,  a  meeting  was  appointed  at  the  Lebanon 
"Meeting-house,"  the  place  of  worship  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians.  Mr. 
Bergen  preached  an  appropriate  sermon,  after  which  a  church  was  organized, 
consisting  of  thirty-two  members,  all  presenting  letters  from  the  Sangamon 
Church,  at  Springfield,  and,  as  this  church  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  Sanga- 
mon River,  it  very  appropriately  chose  the  name  of  the  North  Sangamon 
Church,  the  name  which  it  still  bears.  The  names  of  the  original  members 
were  as  follows,  viz. :  Elijah  Scott,  John  Stone,  Andrew  Moore,  Samuel  Moore, 
Alexander  Barnett,  David  AValker,  Milton  Rayburn,  Phrebe  Moore,  Margaret 
S.  Moore,  Stephen  Stone,  Ann  Barnett,  John  N.  Moore,  Mary  Moore,  Jane 
Patterson,  Panthy  Barnett,  Hannah  Baxter,  Jane  Rayburn,  Polly  AValkor, 
Matilda  AValker,  Elizabeth  Walker,  Jane  Walker,  Ann  AValker,  John  Moore, 
Ambers  Stone,  Jane  Scott,  Lucy  Stone,  Polly  Stotts,  Catherine  Stone,  Jane 
Casey,  Isabella  Walker,  Alexander  AValker  and  AVilliam  Stotts.  At  the  same 
time,  the  following  persons  were  received  on  profession  of  their  faith  in  Christ : 
John  Allen,  Henry  C.  Rogers,  Sarah  H.  Rogers  and  Elizabeth  Patterson. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  237 

John  Moore,  John  N.  Moore,  aad  Alexander  Walker,  were  elected  Ruling 
Elders.  As  their  first  place  of  worship,  the  North  Sangamon  Church  occupied, 
a  part  of  the  time,  the  log  meeting-house  built  by  the  Lebanon  congregation  of 
the  C.  P.  Church,  and  then  they  assisted  the  Cumberland  brethren  in  building 
a  frame  church,  which  has  since  been  replaced  by  their  present  commodious 
brick  church.  In  consideration  of  aid  thus  rendered,  the  North  Sangamon  con- 
gregation had  the  use  of  the  Lebanon  house  of  worship  one-half  the  time  until 
1844,  when  they  built  a  frame  church  of  their  own,  28x36  feet,  which  was 
occupied  seventeen  years,  until  1867,  when  the  present  brick  edifice  was  finished 
and  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  the  Almighty  God,  with  appropriate  services  by 
John  G.  Bergen,  D.  D.,  who  had  organized  the  church  thirty-five  years  before. 
Rev.  George  W.  F.  Birch,  Pastor  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church  in  Spring- 
field, assisted  in  the  services.  As  to  ministers  who  have  served  this  church, 
either  by  invitation  of  the  Session,  or  by  appointment  of  Presbytery,  we  may 
mention  the  honored  names  of  Rev.  William  K.  Steward,  Rev.  Thomas  A.  Spill- 
man,  also  Rev.  George  W.  McKinley,  who  often  supplied  the  church  and  pre- 
sided in  the  Session.  The  first  minister  who  regularly  supplied  this  church,  was 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Foster,  a  licentiate  from  New  England,  who  was  ordained  as 
an  evangelist  by  the  Presbytery  of  Sangamon,  in  the  year  1833.  Mr.  Foster 
served  this  church  only  a  little  more  than  one  year.  The  measure  of  success 
attending  his  ministry  does  not  appear  from  the  records.  But  the  his- 
tory of  this  church  seems  to  be  marked  with  frequent  additions  on  pro- 
fession of  faith.  After  Mr.  Foster  left,  the  church  -remained  vacant  for 
nearly  a  year,  when,  in  1835,  Rev.  Alexander  Ewing  entered  upon  his  labors. 
His  name  first  appears  as  Moderator  of  the  Session,  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Stephen  Stone,  in  Irish  Grove,.  March  22,  1835.  On  the  13th  of  June  fol- 
lowing, thirteen  persons  were  received  by  letter.  North  Sangamon  Church, 
which  had  only  had  a  separate  existence  of  four  years,  was  now  about  "  to 
become  two  bands."  At  a  meeting  of  the  Session  held  April  2,  1836,  Mr. 
Bergen  presiding,  it  was  resolved  to  apply  to  the  Presbytery  of  Sangamon  for 
a  separate  organization  at  Irish  Grove.  Preparatory  to  such  organization,  thirty- 
one  persons,  living  at  and  near  Irish  Grove,  asked  for,  and  obtained  letters  from 
the  North  Sangamon  Session,  with  a  view  of  uniting  in  the  new  organization. 
The  Irish  Grove  Church  was  soon  after  formed,  and  Mr.  Ewing,  who  lived  at 
the  grove,  gave  half  his  time  to  that  church,  and  the  remainder  to  the  church 
at  North  Sangamon.  This  arrangement  continued  until  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1837,  when  the  controversies  between  the  New  and  Old  School  cul- 
minated in  a  separation  in  1838.  The  North  Sangamon  Church  adhered  to 
the  Old  School  Assembly,  and  remained  in  connection  with  the  Presbytery  of 
Sangamon,  and  was  without  a  settled  Pastor  from  early  in  1837,  until  late  in 
1838.  At  this  time  Rev.  John  W.  Little,  of  the  Central  Congregational  Asso- 
ciation of  New  York,  was  received  by  the  Presbytery,  and  became  the  stated  sup- 
ply of  this  church  and  Irish  Grove,  giving  one-half  of  his  time  to  each  church. 


238  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

This  relation  continued  with  mutual  good-will,  until  Mr.  Little's  death,  in  June, 
1842.  The  church  was  then  supplied  by  Rev.  Thomas  Gait,  for  one-half  his 
time  until  1850,  or  nearly  seven  and  one-half  years.  In  the  third  year  of  Mr. 
Gait's  ministry  there  seems  to  have  been  quite  a  revival,  and  nineteen  persons 
were  added  to  the  church  on  profession  of  faith.  In  November,/ 1849,  Rev. 
William  Perkins  began  to  supply  this  church  on  the  alternate  Sabbaths,  when 
Mr.  Gait  preached  at  Irish  Grove.  Mr.  Perkins  continued  his  labors  until 
November  1,  1851.  They  were  then  without  a  Pastor  until  the  fall  of  1853, 
when  Rev.  R.  A.  Criswell  began  his  labors,  and,  in  November  of  that  year, 
Mr.  Criswell  was  ordained  and  installed  Pastor,  and  continued  his  labors  until 
November  1,  1866,  when  he  resigned  his  charge,  and  ceased  to  minister  to  this 
church.  In  April,  1867,  his  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  by  Presbytery. 
This  pastorate  seems  to  have  been  much  blessed.  During  the  thirteen  years  of 
Mr.  Criswell's  ministry  there  were  sixty-three  additions  on  profession,  and  forty* 
nine  on  certificate,  clearly  showing  that  the  continued  pastorate  of  one  man  with 
ordinary  faithfulness  is  more  conducive  to  Church  growth  than  frequent  changes. 
Soon  after  Mr.  Criswell's  resignation  Rev.  R.  A.  Van  Pelt,  formerly  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  more  recently  from  Wisconsin,  began  to  serve  the  church,  and  continued 
as  the  stated  supply  for  about  two  years  with  a  reasonable  measure  of  success. 
During  the  summer  of  1869,  after  Mr.  Van  Pelt  ceased  his  ministrations  in 
the  church,  Rev.  Mr.  Reese  supplied  the  church  for  a  short  time,  but  his  health 
failing,  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  his  charge,  and  eventually  to  retire  entirely 
from  the  work  of  the  ministry.  In  the  fall  of  1869,  the  church  invited  Rev. 
John  Crozier,  then  Pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Oxford,  Ohio, 
to  become  their  Pastor.  This  invitation  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  C.  began  his 
ministry  in  this  church  about  the  middle  of  November,  1869.  In  March  fol- 
lowing, at  a  regular  congregational  meeting,  with  Rev.  S.  J.  Bogle,  of  Mason 
City,  presiding,  the  church  made  out  a  regular  and  unanimous  call  for  the 
labors  of  Mr.  Crozier  as  their  settled  Pastor.  This  call  was  duly  presented  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Sangamon,  in  session  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Springfield,  in  April,  1870,  and,  being  found  in  order,  was  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  Pastor  elect  and  accepted,  and,  in  August  following,  the  installation  was 
consummated,  Rev.  Messrs.  D.  J.  Strain,  J.  D.  Kerr  and  F.  J.  Moifatt  as  the 
Committee  of  Presbytery  taking  part  in  the  services.  This  relation  still  con- 
tinues at  the  date  of  this  sketch,  September,  1879,  with  mutual  good-will  and 
confidence  between  Pastor  and  people.  During  this  period,  many  changes  have 
taken  place,  which  have  materially  aifected  the  progress  of  the  church.  Many 
have  been  removed  by  death,  and  many  persons  owning  small  farms  have  sold 
to  larger  land-holders,  and  removed  to  other  places.  By  this  process,  there 
has  been  an  actual  decrease  of  population.  During  the  present  pastorate,  there 
have  been  thirty-five  added  to  the  church  by  profession  of  faith,  and  twenty- 
seven  by  letter ;  forty-five  have  been  dismissed  to  other  churches,  leaving  the 
present  active  membership  a  little  less  than  one  hundred. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  230 

This  sketch  would  be  incomplete  without  mention  of  the  office  bearers  who 
have  faithfully  served  this  Church.  The  first  Session,  chosen  at  the  organiza- 
tion in  1832,  was  John  and  John  N.  Moore  and  Alexander  Walker.  The 
senior  Elder  was  John  Moore,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  born  in  the  year 
1767.  He  was  a  man  of  devoted  piety.  He  was  twice  married,  and  was  the 
father  of  eleven  children,  all  of  whom  became  pious.  Joseph  Moore,  of  Clin- 
ton, DeWitt  County,  William  Moore,  of  Irish  Grove,  and  Mrs.  Sarah  H.  Rog- 
ers, wife  of  Henry  C.  Rogers,  Esq.,  of  Athens,  also  Mrs.  Margaret  Waters,  of 
Clinton,  were  children  of  John  Moore,  and  are  still  living.  John  Moore 
served  as  an  Elder  in  this  church  from  its  organization  in  1832  till  his  death 
in  1843.  His  oldest  son  and  third  child  was  John  Newell  Moore,  who  was 
born  in  Kentucky  in  1794 ;  was  married  to  Phoebe  Scott  in  Adair  County, 
Ky.,  in  1820,  and  located  in  this  vicinity  in  1822.  He  was  elected  Elder  at 
the  organization  of  the  Sangamon  congregation  when  it  was  organized  in. 
Springfield  in  1828,  and  when  the  North  Sangamon  Church  was  organized  in 
1832,  he  was  chosen  Elder  in  it,  and  filled  the  position  faithfully  up  to  his 
death  in  1842.  Mr.  Alexander  Walker,  another  of  the  original  Session,  came 
from  Kentucky  at  an  early  day.  and  settled  in  Irish  Grove.  He  was  first  an 
Elder  in  the  North  Sangaraori  Church,  but,  when  the  Irish  Grove  congregation 
was  formed,  he  removed  his  membership  there.  Some  years  ago,  he  removed 
to  Iowa.  Elijah  Scott  was  another 'of  the  first  members  of  the  Church,  and  at 
an  early  period  was  chosen  Elder.  After  serving  in  this  office  a  number  of 
years,  he  removed  t.o  Cass  County,  where  he  still  lives,  being  over  eighty  years 
of  age.  Dr.  James  Smick  was  another  most  acceptable  Elder  in  this  church. 
He  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Ky.  His  parents  were  Presbyterians, 
and  he  united  with  that  Church  in  Lexington,  Ky.  He  studied  medicine  in 
the  same  city  and  practiced  there,  and  also  in  Indiana,  and  came  to  Menard 
County  in  1847.  He  was  an  Elder  before  he  came  to  Menard.  He  was 
chosen  Elder  here  in  1850,  which  office  he  filled  till  his  death  in  1853.  Alonzo 
H.  Whitney  and  Samuel  Moore  were  elected  Elders  and  ordained  December 
30,  1855.  Mr.  Moore  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1806  ;  was  a  son  of  John 
Moore  and  brother  of  Elder  John  N.  Moore.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  church.  His  name  appears  as  Elder  for  the  last  time  March 
13,  1862.  He  moved  near  Concord,  where  he  died  January  26,  1864,  aged 
fifty-eight  years  and  six  months.  Alonzo  H.  Whitney  was  born  in  Brattleboro, 
Vt.,  April  26,  1816 ;  professed  religion  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  when  near  nine- 
teen years  of  age.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1834,  and  joined  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  town  of  Springfield.  He  married  Miss  Mary  A. 
Kincaid.  In  1841,  he  joined  this  church,  and,  in  1855,  was  elected  and 
ordained  Elder.  He  continued  in  this  office  till  October  9,  1871,  when  he  was 
called  to  his  reward.  Milton  Rayburn  was  also  one  of  the  original  members, 
and  was  made  an  Elder  in  1835 ;  he  being  a  citizen  of  Irish  Grove,  was  dis- 
missed to  join  there  in  1836.  The  present  Session  is  composed  of  John 


240  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

Kennedy  Kincaid,  James  Scott  Moore  and  Robert  A.  Young.  The  senior 
Elder,  J.  K.  Kincaid,  was  born  in  Bath  County,  Ky.,  in  1808,  and  settled  in 
Illinois  in  1832.  He  joined  this  church  by  letter  in  1834.  The  exact  date 
of  his  election  and  ordination  to  the  office  of  Elder  is  not  known,  though  his 

'  O 

name  appears  on  the  records  as  such  as  early  as  1843.  He  has  been  an  Elder 
at  least  thirty-seven  years.  He  has  served  much  of  the  time  as  Clerk  of  the 
Session,  and  has  frequently  represented  his  congregation  in  Presbytery  and 
Synod.  James  S.  Moore  is  a  son  of  Elder  John  N.  Moore ;  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1821.  His  father  settled  on  Indian  Creek  in  1822.  December  3, 
1836,  he  united  with  the  church  on  profession  of  faith,  under  the  ministry  of 
Rev.  Alexander  Ewing.  He  was  ordained  Elder  May  4,  1857,  Rev.  William 
Perkins  officiating.  Mr.  Moore  has  served  the  Church  faithfully  in  that 
capacity  from  his  ordination  to  the  present  time,  except  near  three  years  spent 
in  Jacksonville,  where  he  removed  in  1870,  to  educate  his  children,  returning 
to  his  old  home  in  1873.  He  has  been  much  of  the  time  Clerk  of  the  Session; 
has  often  represented  the  congregation  in  Presbytery  and  Synod.  He  was 
representative  on  the  part  of  the  Eldership  from  Sangamon  Presbytery  to  the 
General  Assembly  in  1867,  which  met  in  Cincinnati ;  and,  in  1877,  he  repre- 
sented the  Springfield  Presbytery  in  the  General  Assembly  which  met  in  the 
city  of  Chicago.  He  is  an  efficient  Sabbath-school  Superintendent,  and  serves 
his  church  in  this  capacity  much  of  the  time.  The  junior  Elder  is  Robert  A. 
Young,  who  was  born  in  Bath  County,  Ky.,  November  23,  1829.  His  parents, 
William  P.  and  Margaret  Young,  came  to  Illinois  in  1836.  On  the  1st  of 
April,  1848,  he  united  with  the  church.  On  the  20th  of  July,  1871,  he  was 
ordained  Ruling  Elder.  The  present  Deacons  are  William  C.  Kincaid,  A.  E. 
Kincaid,  J.  H.  Kincaid,  A.  S.  Kirk  and  J.  M.  Fulton.  Trustees,  W.  C. 
Kincaid,  C.  0.  Culver  and  H.  M.  Moore.  The  officers  of  the  Sunday  school 
are — Superintendent,  James  S.  Moore ;  Assistant  Superintendent,  William  B, 
Thompson ;  Secretary,  R.  A.  Young ;  Chorister,  James  S.  Moore ;  Organist, 
Laura  P.  Moore ;  Sexton,  Henry  Walker. 

The  following  persons  who  were  communicants  in  this  church,  have  entert 
the  ministry  :  John  H.  Moore,  Pastor  at  Birmingham,  Iowa ;  D.  J.  Strain, 
Pastor  at  Virginia,  111.  ;  John  W.  Little,  Pastor  of  Cross  Roads  Church,  Alle- 
gany  Presbytery,  Pennsylvania ;  John  J.  Graham,  Pastor  at  Mount  Vernon, 
111.  ;  W.  C.  McDougall,  now  an  evangelist  in  Scotland.  John  Howe  Moore,  a 
young  man  of  rare  piety  and  promise,  was  called  to  his  reward  before  he  com- 
pleted his  studies  preparatory  to  entering  the  ministry. 

In  estimating  the  influence  of  this  church  for  good,  we  must  go  beyond  the 
actual  of  the  communion  roll.  In  the  first  place,  this  church,  in  a  spirit  of  self- 
reliance,  has  sustained  its  ministry  without  aid  from  the  Board  of  Missions 
even  when  weak  in  numbers  and  material  wealth.  In  its  early  history,  whei 
unable  to  support  a  Pastor,  it  united  with  some  other  in  the  support  of  a  min- 
ister. It  has  built  two  houses  of  worship  without  asking  for  help  from  the 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  243 

general  funds  of  the  Church  as  a  body.  Its  present  commodious  house  of  worship 
was  finished  and  furnished  at  a  total  cost  of  over  $3,000,  it  being  40x60  feetrin 
size.  Beside  this,  they  rendered  substantial  aid  in  building  the  Presbyterian 
Churches  of  Petersburg,  Mason  City,  Sweetwater  and  Irish  Grove.  This 
church  may  be  regarded  as  the  parent  of  all  the  Presbyterian  congregations 
in  the  county.  This  congregation  has  furnished  the  first  material  for  the 
organization  of  all  the  other  churches  of  this  body  in  the  county.  The  Presby- 
terians have  three  flourishing  congregations  in  the  county,  and  four  excellent 
houses  of  worship.  Each  of  those  congregations .  have  regular  ministers.  The 
reader  will  find  a  detailed  account  of  each  of  these  congregations  in  the  history 
of  the  townships,  in  which  they  are  severally  situated.  The  Presbyterians  pur- 
chased the  house  of  worship  erected  by  the  "  Soul-Sleepers,"  in  Sweetwater, 
some  years  ago,  in  which  they  have  occasional  services. 

THE   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

There  is  but  one  Episcopal  Church  in  the  county,  and  this  is  located  in 
Petersburg.  The  house  was  erected,  and  the  Church  organized,  through  the 
energy  and  zeal  of  Mrs.  Harris,  relict  of  the  late  Hon.  Thomas  L.  Harris. 
The  Trinity  Church  is  a  substantial  brick  of  the  Gothic  style  of  architecture, 
standing  on  the  hillside,  commmanding  a  fine  view  of  Petersburg.  The  first 
Rector  of  Trinity  was  Rev.  Mr.  Steel,  who  served  the  congregation  very 
acceptably,  and  then  gave  up  this  charge  to  accept  one  in  Alton,  111.  The 
Church  was  without  a  Minister  for  upward  of  a  year,  but  have  recently  secured 
the  services  of  a  Minister,  who  entered  on  his  duties  in  August. 

LUTHERAN  CHURCH  (GERMAN). 

This  denomination  has  had  a  church  in  the  county  seat  for  several  years, 
and,  although  representatives  of  the  Church  are  found  all  over  the  county  where- 
ever  there  are  Germans,  yet  no  congregation  was  ever  organized  in  the  county, 
out  of  Petersburg,  until  two  years  ago,  when  Prof.  Winnekin,  of  the  Lutheran 
Theological  Seminary,  located  at  Springfield,  organized  a  congregation  in  the 
vicinity  of  Tallula,  and  they  have  since  erected  a  neat,  though  cheap  house 
of  worship.  There  is,  also,  a  large  community  of  German  Lutherans  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Greenview,  though  they  have  not,  as  yet,  been  formally  organ- 
ized. In  Petersburg,  the  Church  owns  a  small  brick  church  house,  and  on 
adjoining  lots  are  a  schoolhouse  and  parsonage.  These  are  all  free  from  debt. 
Rev.  Robert  Collier  is  at  present,  and  has  been  for  more  than  a  year  past, 
their  Pastor.  The  membership  in  this  congregation  is  large,  and  they  have 
regular  services  each  Sabbath. 

CATHOLIC    CHURCH. 

There  is  but  one  congregation,  and  one  house  of  worship  in  this  county 
belonging  to  this  people.  The  house  stands  on  the  crest  of  the  high  hill  at  the 
south  border  of  the  town,  and  commands  a  most  commanding  view  of  the  town 


244  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

and  river.  The  house  is  large,  substantially  built,  and  finished  in  the  very  best 
taste.  With  the  church  is  connected  half  a  block  of  ground,  on  which  stands  a 
two-story  parsonage  and  a  schoolhouse,  in  which  a  school  is  conducted  eight 
months  in  the  year,  by  Sisters.  The  membership  is  large,  extending  to  almost 
every  part  of  the  county.  The  Pastor  occasionally  visits  the  villages  of  the 
county,  and  holds  services  in  them.  The  church  was  built  about  the  close  of 
the  war,  and,  since  it  was  completed,  there  has  been  a  regular  Pastor  in  charge 
almost  the  whole  of  the  time.  At  present,  they  are  without  a  Pastor,  Rev. 
Father  Ahne  having  left  some  two  months  ago,  on  a'ccouut  of  his  health,  and, 
as  yet.  his  place  has  not  been  supplied. 

With  this  brief  account  we  close  the  general  history  of  the  churches  in  this 
county,  though  the  reader  may  turn  to  the  histories  of  the  several  precincts,  where 
he  will  find  full  details  of  all  these  matters.  We  sincerely  regret  that  we  are 
not  able  to  get  fuller  details  of  the  early  preachers  and  churches,  but  it  was 
impossible  to  get  this  in  any  reliable  form.  It  is  no  trouble  to  find  parties 
professing  to  know  the  early  history  of  each  of  the  different  churches,  but  the 
difficulty  is,  that  when  you  accept  one  of  these  statements  so  positively  made, 
you  will  soon  find,  perhaps,  half  a  dozen  persons  equally  reliable,  who  will  con- 
tradict almost  every  fact,  and  give  an  almost  exactly  opposite  statement.  No 
doubt  many  facts  here  given  will  be  disputed,  yet  we  have  the  pleasure  of 
knowing  that  they  were  gotten  from  the  most  trustworthy  sources,  and  where 
there  were  conflicting  statements,  we  accepted  those  corroborated  by  the  greatest 
amount  of  reliable  proof. 

DEATHS     AND    CEMETERIES. 

As  before  stated,  the  first  death  in  the  county,  of  which  there  is  any  record 
or  recollection,  was  a  son  of  Mr.  Boyer,  named  Henderson.  Some  affirm  that 
Joseph  Kinney — thrown  from  a  horse  and  killed — was  the  second,  and  some  say 
the  third  death.  The  burden  of  the  proof  is  that  he  was  the  second.  His 
grave  was  the  first  in  the  burying-ground  now  known  as  Sugar  Grove  Cemetery. 
There  is  a  strange  fact  in  connection  with  this  oldest  known  grave  in  Menard 
County.  Kinney  was  injured  by  being  thrown  from  his  horse  while  on  his  way 
from  a  horse-race,  and  he  died  very  soon  after  the  fall.  Shortly  after  his  burial, 
an  elm  sprang  up  from  the  very  center  of  the  grave.  This  was  allowed  to  grow 
from  year  to  year ;  and  it  seems  there  was  peculiar  nutriment  in  the  soil  of  that 
spot  for  the  elm,  for  it  grew  with  remarkable  rapidity.  It  stands  there  to-day, 
a  giant  tree,  and  the  grave  is  entirely  covered  and  obliterated  by  it ;  and  there 
it  stands,  a  living,  verdant  monument,  wrestling  with  the  tempest,  and  glitter- 
ing in  the  sunshine,  silently  telling  of  the  death  of  Joe  Kinney. 

Soon  after  this,  the  old  "graveyards  "  in  Clary's  Grove,  and  at  Lebanon, 
and  at  other  points  were  opened.  No  fact,  connected  with  the  early  settlement 
of  the  country,  is  more  to  be  regretted  than  the  practice  of  burying  their  dead 
in  places  totally  unprotected  by  law,  and  doomed  soon  to  be  abandoned,  and,  in 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  245 

time,  to  be  inclosed  in  farms,  the  soil  above  them  ruthlessly  torn  by  the  plow, 
and  the  very  ashes  of  our  ancestors  made  to  feed  the  cultivated  crops.  A 
very  little  care  and  effort  at  the  proper  time  would  have  prevented  all  this. 
But  it  is  a  lamentable  fact  that,  even  to  the  present  time,  there  are  scarcely  any 
cemeteries  in  the  county  for  which  proper  provisions  are  made. 

The  principal  cemeteries  proper  are  as  follows  :  "  Rose  Hill"  situated  on 
the  hill  east  of  the  river,  one  mile  from  Peterburg.  Some  fifteen  years  ago, 
Mr.  William  S.  Conant  purchased  the  tract  of  land,  and  laid  out  the  cemetery 
into  blocks  and  lots.  The  location  is  one  well  suited  for  the  purpose.  It  is  a 
high  ridge,  level  on  top,  and  gradually  sloping  off,  at  first  into  gentle  undula- 
tions, and  then,  farther  south,  it  breaks  into  abruptly  rolling  hills ;  so  that  any 
taste  can  be  satisfied.  Fine  drives  for  carriages  traverse  every  part  of  the 
grounds,  so  that  every  lot  may  be  closely  inspected  without  alighting.  The 
ground  was  originally  covered  with  a  fine  growth  of  young  and  thrifty  forest- 
trees,  oak,  hickory,  elm,  walnut,  etc. ;  and  the  proprietor  has  displayed  great 
taste\in  setting  out  evergreens  and  flowers  in  every  part  of  the  ground.  A 
great  number  of  graves  are  already  to  be  seen  there,  while  a  great  number  of  fine 
monuments  beautify  the  ground,  standing  as  mute,  but  eloquent  mourners,  bring- 
ing to  the  memory  of  many  the  tender  but  broken  ties  of  other  years.  Mr. 
Conant  deserves  great  credit  for  his  energy  and  perseverance  in  opening  and 
keeping  up  this «"  city  of  the  dead." 

"Oakland  Cemetery"  is  deserving  of  mention  here,  for,  while  it  has  been 
opened  but  a  few  months,  in  point  of  importance  it  stands  among  the  first  cem- 
eteries in  the  county.  It  is  located  just  outside  the  corporate  limits  of  Peters- 
burg, at  the  southwestern  point.  It  consists  of  some  twenty  acres  purchased 
by  the  proprietor,  Mr.  D.  M.  Bone,  of  Mr.  Wadkins,  in  the  autumn  of  1878. 
It  would  seem  that  the  Great  Architect  prepared  this  spot  as  a  private  chamber 
where  the  sleeping  dead  may  rest.  The  cemetery  proper  is  cut  off  from  the 
surrounding  fields  by  a  deep  ravine  running  along  each  side,  thus  forming  a 
high  ridge,  slightly  declining  toward  the  city,  while,  on  the  summit,  there  are 
at  least  seven  or  eight  acres  that  are  almost  level,  rolling  just  enough  fo-  the 
water  to  run  off.  Along  the  entire  extent  of  the  crest  of  the  hill,  running  clear 
around  the  whole  bluff,  is  the  broken  brow  of  the  hill,  offering  a  choice  of  every 
quality  of  ground,  from  the  level  sward  on  top  to  the  sloping,  wave-like  undu- 
lations on  the  brow,  to  the  rugged  and  precipitous  sides  of  the  bluff.  The  earth 
is  close  and  compact,  and,  at  the  depth  of  three  or  four  feet,  it  is  almost  white 
as  lime,  while,  owing  to  the  peculiar  conformation  of  the  entire  tract,  the  ground 
underneath  is  very  dry,  caused  by  the  shedding  of  the  water  from  the  surface. 
The  surface  of  the  tract  was  by  nature  covered  with  a  dense  growth,  princi- 
pally young  and  thrifty  forest  trees,  with  here  and  there  a  gnarled  and  wrinkled 
oak  or  elm,  looking  the  parent  of  the  surrounding  forest.  These  old  pioneers 
of  the  wood,  centuries  old,  yet  showing  no  signs  of  age,  are  fitting  sentinels  to 
guard  these  precincts  of  the  slumbering  tenants  of  the  tomb.  The  natural 


246  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

forest  was  marred  but  little  by  the  ax,  but  left  almost  as  nature  formed  it. 
Mr.  Bone  secured  the  services  of  Mr.  Cleaveland,  of  Chicago,  the  most  gifted 
landscape  gardener  on  the  continent,  to  come  and  view  the  ground,  and,  having 
examined  the  land,  he  laid  it  out  in  the  highest  perfection  of  the  art.  Mr. 
Cleaveland  has  superintended  the  laying-out  of  the  leading  cemeteries  of  the 
country,  and,  so  soon  as  they  got  a  view  of  the  natural  .tract,  he  and  his  son 
both  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  its  beauty.  It  is  laid  out  in  gentle  curves, 
and  smoothly  gliding  lines,  without  any  sharp  angles,  or  monotonous  squares  or 
diamonds  to  weary  the  eye  and  surfeit  the  taste.  No  two  blocks  or  lots  are 
alike ;  no  two  drives  or  walks  are  similar ;  but  an  unending  variety  and 
every  varying  contrast  is  presented  to  the  eye.  Broad  drives  sweep  in  grace- 
ful curves  through  every  part  of  the  ground,  and  from  the  carriage  every  grave 
may  be  viewed  from  the  foot,  and  every  inscription  be  read.  In  addition  to 
this,  the  cemetery  is  chartered  on  a  basis  that  it  can  never  be  neglected  nor  fall 
into  decay.  Provisions  are  made  by  which  an  ample  fund,  as  a  kind  of  endow- 
ment fund,  is  laid  by  in  store,  the  interest  only  of  which  is  to  be  used  in  keep- 
ing up  the  repairs.  No  individual  can  ever  assume  the  control  of  it ;  and  as 
much  care  will  be  taken  of  the  grave  fifty  years  after  the  interment  as  the  first 
year.  Taking  all  these  facts  together,  and  in  connection  with  its  location  within 
an  easy  walk  from  any  part  of  town,  it  will,  in  the  very  near  future,  be  one  of 
the  most  lovely  cemeteries  in  the  county.  Quite  a  number  of  persons  are 
already  interred  there,  and  many  lots  have  already  been  sold. 

At  Indian  Point,  there  is  a  cemetery  one  mile  east  of  the  church,  that  is 
duly  incorporated,  and  is  beautifully  laid  out.  At  Athens,  the  cemetery  laid 
out  by  Mr.  Hall  is  also  incorporated,  as  also  the  Tallula  Cemetery.  These,  we 
believe,  are  all  the  incorporated  cemeteries  in  the  county.  There  are  a  large 
number  of  private  burying-grounds  in  the  county,  some  containing  hundreds 
of  graves ;  some  have  some  little  care  and  attention,  while  most  of  them  have 
fallen  into  neglect,  and,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  will  have  gone  to  entire 
ruin.  This  is  a  matter  in  which  our  people  are  shamefully  negligent,  and  it  is 
sincerely  to  be  hoped  that  the  public  mind  will  become  awakened  on  this  sub- 
ject. Will  we  take  so  much  pains  with  our  homes  and  barns  and  farms,  while 
the  dust  of  our  fathers  and  mothers  are  thus»neglected  ?  A  mere  pittance,  in 
the  way  of  expense,  and  very  little  care  and  labor  would  gather  these  scat- 
tered remains  from  those  dreary  scenes  of  desolation  and  neglect,  and  place  them 
in  incorporated  cemeteries,  where  their  graves  would  be  remembered,  protected 

and  cared  for. 

RAILROADS. 

There  are  two  railroads  passing  through  Menard  County  ;  these  are  the 
Jacksonville  branch  of  the  Chicago  £  Alton,  and  the  Springfield  &  Northwest- 
ern. These  roads  cross  each  other  at  nearly  right  angles  at  Petersburg,  which 
is  near  the  center  of  the  county,  thus  dividing  the  county  in  four  almost  equal 
parts.  The  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  enters  the  county  within  less  than  a 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  247 

half-mile  of  the  southwest  corner,  and  it  leaves  the  county  at  the  Salt  Creek 
bridge,  which  is  but  a  few  miles  from  the  northeast  corner ;  thus  it  traverses 
the  entire  county  diagonally  from  corner  to  corner.  The  Springfield  &  North- 
western road  enters  the  county  at  the  southeast  corner,  or  as  near  as  it  can  be 
found ;  it  traverses  the  entire  area,  and  the  bridg'e  on  the  Sangamon.  where  it 
enters  Mason  county,  is  precisely  at  the  corner  of  Menard. 

The  question  of  the  navigation  of  the  Sangamon  River  had  been  agitated 
as  early  as  1832  or  1833,  as  the  reader  will  see  in  another  place,  but  this  was 
soon  given  up  entirely.  Another  project  was  then  proposed,  of  opening  a  canal 
from  Beardstown  to  Decatur,  by  way  of  the  Illinois  and  Sangamon  Rivers.  In 
the  Legislature  of  1834-35,  a  charter  was  granted  for  this  purpose.  In  the 
spring  following,  a  careful  survey  wcs  made  of  the  route  ;  then,  after  a  vast 
deal  of  gas  and  calculation  and  suggestion,  the  matter  was  abandoned; 
but  it  did  not  die  in  the  rninds  or  energies  of  the  people.  Occasionally,  the 
matter  was  agitated,  but  it  was  not  till  1850,  or  1851,  that  it  was  again 
warmly  canvassed.  So  high  did  the  fever  run  at  this  time,  that  the  Leg- 
islature of  1852  granted  a  charter  to  the  "Springfield  and  Northwestern  Rail- 
road Company  "  to  construct  a  road  from  Springfield  to  Rock  Island.  This 
road  was  to  pass  through  the  county  just  as  the  Springfield  &  Northwestern 
Road  has  since  done.  So  far  was  this  enterprise  pushed,  that  the  county  of 
Menard  voted  $50,000  to  aid  in  its  construction.  The  people  were  so  full  of 
enthusiasm  over  the  enterprise  that  it  was  thought  for  a  time  that  it  could  not 
fail.  Even  a  small  per  cent  of  the  amount  voted  was  absolutely  raised  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  survey.  But  it  is  true  that 

"  The  best  laid  schemes  o'  mice  an'  men 
Gang  aft  ngley," 

and  as  Sangamon  County  refused  to  vote  her  share  of  the  stock,  and  troubles 
anticipated  concerning  the  favorable  negotiation  of  the  bonds  if  voted,  as  also 
some  unexplained  trouble  among  the  Company,  the  enterprise  finally  "  went  up.'' 
The  people  of  "Little  Menard,"  by  these  constant  failures,  became  thoroughly 
discouraged.  For  a  few  years  they  were  despondent ;  but  in  the  fall  of 
1856,  a  new  enterprise  was  suggested.  An  intelligent  citizen  informed  the 
writer,  that  when  this  was  first  proposed,  the  people  heard  it  with  a  scowl ;  but 
laier,  hope  began  to  revive. 

The  enterprise  proposed  was  the  construction  of  a  line  of  railroad  from 
Jacksonville  to  Tonica  in  La  Salle  County,  to  intersect  the  Hennepin  &  Streri- 
tor.  Tonica  is  a  village  on  the  last-named  road,  nine  miles  from  the  town  of 
La  Salle.  A  gentleman  from  La  Salle  County  came  along  the  proposed  line  of 
road,  talking  to  the  people  and  holding  public  meetings;  and,  having  a  corps  of 
surveyors  with  him,  he  was  making  a  preliminary  survey  at  the  same  time. 
As  the  proposed  line  was  to  pass  through  Petersburg,  and  that  being  twenty- 
two  miles  from  the  nearest  railroad  or  navigable  river,  the  proposed  road  was  a 
grand  scheme  to  the  citizens  of  this  section  of  country.  Menard,  as  a  corporate 


248  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

body,  voted  $100,000  stock,  and  such  was  the  zeal  of  the  people  that 
nearly  $30,000  -stock  was  subscribed  by  individuals.  A  charter  was  granted 
the  Petersburg  &  Tonica  Railroad.  The  subscriptions  were  legalized,  and 
Hon.  Richard  Yates  was  made  President  of  it,  and  Menard  County  had  two 
representatives  on  the  Board'of  Directors,  viz.,  John  Bennett  and  Hon.  "W.  G. 
Greene.  Work  was  soon  commenced  on  both  extremes  of  the  line,  and  prose- 
cuted with  vigor,  and  a  great  amount  of  grading  was  soon  done ;  but,  unfor- 
tunately, notwithstanding  the  zeal  of  the  people,  the  subscriptions  ran  short, 
and  the  work  was  compelled  to  stop.  About  this  time,  Mr.  Yates  resigned  the 
Presidency,  when  Hon.  W.  G.  Greene  was  called  to  fill  the  position,  and  Hon. 
W.  T.  Beekman  was  made  a  Director  and  Superintendent  of  the  road.  By 
almost  superhuman  efforts,  means  were  raised  to  complete  the  road  from  Jack- 
sonville to  Petersburg,  a  distance  of  twenty-eight  miles.  During  the  fall  of 
1861,  the  locomotive  whistled  for  the  first  time  in  Petersburg.  This  being 
just  at  the  opening  of  the  war,  all  hope  of  its  immediate  completion  was  aban- 
doned. Mr.  Milton  Moore,  recently  deceased,  was  the  first  agent  in  the 
Petersburg  depot,  and  Mr.  William  Bacon,  the  very  prince  of  conductors,  had 
charge  of  the  first  train.  Many  were  the  anecdotes  told  of  the  remarkable 
speed  of  this  train.  There  being  one  train,  and  the  time-table  requiring  him 
to  make  the  round  trip  every  twenty-four  hours,  of  course  he  must  run. 
Fifty-six  miles  in  twenty-four  hours !  Think  of  it !  They  still  tell  of  the 
train  waiting  for  a  farmer  to  shell  a  "grist "  of  corn  to  take  to  mill,  and  of  the 
conductor's  strictness  in  carrying  out  the  time-table ;  so  strict,  indeed,  that  he 
helped  shell  the  corn !  Of  the  lady  who  had  eleven  eggs  to  send  to  market  on 
the  train,  and  of  Mr.  Bacon  waiting  for  the  hen  to  lay  the  other  egg  ;  but 
they  do  not  say  that  he  hurried  the  hen !  One  thing  is  sure ;  that  is,  Mr. 
Bacon  was  always  a  gentleman,  and  still  is. 

About  the  close  of  the  war,  a  proposition  was  made  by  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad  Company,  which  was  accepted,  whereby  the  latter  company  completed 
the  road,  not  to  Tonica,  however,  but  following  the  old  road-bed  to  Delavan,  in 
Tazewell  County ;  there  leaving  the  old  Tonica  line,  it  was  run  directly  to 
Bloomington,  there  intersecting  the  line  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad. 
Since  that  time,  this  has  been  an  important  line  of  road.  Some  years  ago,  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Company  secured  entire  possession.  Now  it  is  finished  to 
Kansas  City.  There  are  no  finer  trains  run  anywhere  west  of  Ohio  than  the 
''Denver  Express"  and  the  "St.  Louis  Mail."  The  passenger  and  freight 
business  of  this  road  is  simply  immense ;  and  the  company  spare  no  expense  in 
keeping  their  road  up  with  all  others,  by  putting  all  new  appliances  that  can 
add  to  the  success  of  the  road  into  use. 

The  reader  will  remember  that,  in  1852,  a  charter  was  granted  by  the 
Legislature  to  the  "  Springfield  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company,"  to  build 
a  railroad  from  Springfield  to  Rock  Island.  After  that  old  charter  had  lain 
dead  for  seventeen  years,  it  was  revived  by  the  Legislature  in  1869 — to  a  new 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  249 

company,  however,  allowing  them  to  construct  a  road  on  the  line  of  the  old 
survey.  Menard  County  voted  $100,000  stock  in  this  road,  and  the  town  of 
Petersburg  pays  $15,000.  There  was  a  great  amount  of  trouble  over  this 
mfitter  of  the  "town  bonds,"  as  it  was  in  the  courts  for  quite  a  while;  but  as 
it  is  a  matter  that  produced  trouble  and  hard  feelings,  and  as  it  has  been  settled 
in  the  courts,  we  think  it  the  part  of  prudence  to  let  it  be  buried  in  the  obliv- 
ion of  forgetfulness.  In  the  latter  part  of  1870,  work  was  begun  on  this 
line  at  Havana,  but  it  progressed  but  slowly.  During  the  next  year,  1871, 
it  was  completed  across  Mason  County,  and  a  few  miles  into  Menard.  In  1872, 
the  cars  began  to  run  as  far  as  from  Havana  to  Petersburg.  By  late  autumn 
in  1873,  the  road  was  finished  all  the  way  to  Cantrall,  a  distance  of  no  less 
than  thirteen  miles  from  Petersburg  !  Here  another  rest  was  taken  ;  but  after 
the  needed  rest  and  recuperation  necessary  after  such  an  arduous  summer's 
work,  the  road  was  completed  at  last,  in  1874.  Mr.  William  Ludwig  was 
appointed  agent  at  Petersburg  depot,  a  position  which  he  has  held  to  the  pres- 
ent time,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all.  The  road  is  doing  a  good  business, 
both  in  freights  and  travel,  and  both  rapidly  increasing. 

NAVIGATION    OF   THE    SANGAMON. 

The  location  of  Menard  County  being  so  remote  from  large  rivers,  the  roads 
of  course,  poor,  and  railroad  transportation  being  then  unborn,  it  is  not  to 
be  wondered  at  if  the  early  settlers  did  seriously  ponder  the  navigation  of 
the  Sangamon.  We  are  to  bear  in  mind  another  fact,  viz.:  the  forests  being 
then  undisturbed,  the  ground  untrampled  by  stock  and  unplowed,  and  the  flat 
prairies  undrained,  it  follows,  of  course,  that  the  average  amount  of  water  flow- 
ing in  the  river  was  at  least  a  third  more  than  at  present ;  for,  there  being 
more  vegetation  then  than  now,  there  was  then  a  greater  rain-fall.  Also, 
the  ground  being  untrampled,  the  rain  all  sank  in  the  earth  and  passed  off 
regularly  by  springs,  feeding  the  river  constantly ;  whereas  now  the  ground  is 
hard,  and  the  fall  of  rain  runs  off  with  a  dash.  The  result  of  this  is  that  we 
have  greater  freshets  and  lower  waters  than  they  had  in  an  early  day. 

Not  only  was  the  matter  pondered,  but  the  experiment  was  absolutely  made 
more  than  once.  Some  gentlemen  in  or  near  to  Springfield,  being  very  desir- 
ous for  some  lumber,  conceived  the  plan  of  shipping  it  up  from  Alton  by  way 
of  the  rivers.  A  steamer  was  found  at  Alton  of  the  desired  size.  It  was  duly 
laden  with  lumber,  and  started  on  its  long  voyage.  The  season  was  favorable 
to  them,  the  waters  being  extremely  high,  as  this  was  1831,  the  spring  follow- 
ing the  deep  snow.  All  went  swimmingly  until  they  reached  the  inevitable 
Salem  dam  of  Cameron  and  Rutledge.  The  water  was  nearly  level  over  the  dam, 
and  so  they  tried  to  run  over  it.  Unfortunately,  they  hung ;  but,  removing  a 
part  of  the  cargo,  and  taking  a  cable  above  and  fastening  it  to  a  tree,  and 
working  the  rope  on  the  capstan,  by  steam  and  ropes  combined  they  pulled 
over.  From  this  on,  they  had  no  more  trouble.  It  went  as  far  as  Cotton  Hill, 


250  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

which  is  due  east  of  the  city  of  Springfield.  The  boat  soon  after  returned  in 
safety  to  the  Illinois  River.  The  name  of  this  first  steamer  up  the  Sangamon 
was  the  "  Talisman." 

Five  years  later,  in  1836,  the  steamer  Utility  came  up  the  same  river 
as  far  as  Petersburg ;  but,  owing  to  the  rough  usage  it  received  coming  up,  and 
the  low  stage  of  the  water,  the  Captain  was  afraid  to  start  back  to  the  Illinois 
with  it.  He  sold  the  Utility,  as  he  could  not  utilize  it,  to  Col.  John  Taylor, 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Petersburg.  Mr.  Taylor  built  the  first  frame 
house  that  was  ever  in  Petersburg  or  Menard  County,  of  the  debris  of  this 
boat;  the  first  glass  windows  in  the  town  came  out  of  this  boat,  and  the  first 
steam  mill  ever  in  the  town  or  county  was  run  by  the  engine  belonging  to  it. 
One  of  the  residents  of  the  town  at  the  time  says  that  there  was  not  a  house 
in  the  town  that  was  not  ornamented  with  some  part  of  the  Utility.  Certainly, 
the  primitive  "burghers"  utilized  it  to  pretty  good  purpose. 

Some  of  the  old  citizens  affirm  that  a  third  steamboat  came  up  as  far  as  this 
place ;  while  others  positively  deny  it.  If  such  a  vessel  did  visit  the  "  wharf" 
of  Petersburg,  its  name  was  never  known  to  the  people,  or  is  entirely  forgotten. 
It  is  true  that  the  citizens  sent  Maj.  Hill  to  Cincinnati,  and  had  a  boat  built 
expressly  "for  Sangamon  River  ports."  The  boat  was  built  and  came  on, .but 
it  was  too  large,  and  never  made  a  voyage,  as  some  say,  but  others  say  that  it 
came  to  Petersburg  and  was  sunk  here  in  the  raging  Sangamon.  So  much  for 
navigation. 

EDUCATION. 

The  year  has  its  seasons,  in  which  the  vegetable  kingdom  is  variously 
affected.  During  the  spring,  it  grows,  expanding  and  enlarging ;  in  summer, 
the  newly-formed  portions  are  matured  and  hardened  so  as  to  ensure  the  rigors 
of  winter.  Among  animals,  there  is  a  period  in  which  they  grow  and  advance, 
and  then  they  decay  and  die.  The  tide  ebbs  and  flows  ;  day  is  succeeded  by 
night ;  and  so,  all  through  nature,  there  is  change  and  variety  ;  even  the  plan- 
ets in  their  orbits  at  one  point  fly  with  inconceivable  rapidity,  while  at  another 
their  motion  is  retarded.  This  seems  to  be  true  even  of  the  intellectuality  of 
the  human  family.  Especially  since  the  introduction  of  letters  among  the 
Greeks,  there  have  been  seasons  of  advancement  and  then  retrogression  in  the 
intellectuality  of  the  race.  But  this  is  not  so  plainly  visible  till  after  the  revi- 
val of  letters  in  Europe.  This  is  true,  however,  in  civilization,  arts  and 
sciences ;  we  advance  and  then  recede,  drop  back,  not  to  the  former  state,  how- 
ever, and  then  advance  again  beyond  the  point  reached  before ;  so  that  the 
general  tendency  is  advancement.  So  it  is  in  the  literary  improvement  of 
mankind,  the  advance  being  greater  than  the  retrogression.  About  the  close 
of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  literature  and  science  began  to  advance  in  a  man- 
ner they  had  never  done  before,  and  the  interest  awakened  at  that  time  is  still 
on  the  advance.  From  that  time,  the  American  people  have  been  fully  aroused  on 
the  subject  of  education.  But  in  those  sections  of  country  that  were  settled  after 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  251 

the  Revolution,  time  was  absolutely  necessary  to  any  beneficial  results  from  the 
efforts.  In  the  early  development  of  Illinois,  there  was  a  great  variety  of 
influences  in  the  way  of  general  education.  The  settlements  were  sparse,  and 
continued  so  for  years.  Money  or  other  means  of  remunerating  teachers  was 
scarce,  as  the  pioneers  of  new  countries  are  nearly  always  poor.  There  were 
no  schoolhouses  erected,  nor  was  there  any  public  school  fund,  either  State  or 
county.  All  persons,  of  both  sexes,  who  had  physical  strength  enough  to  labor, 
were  compelled  to  take  their  part  in  the  work  of  securing  a  support,  the  labors 
of  the  females  being  as  laborious  and  important  as  that  of  the  men  ;  and  this 
continued  so  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  In  the  last  place,  both  teachers  and 
books  were  extremely  scarce.  Taking  all  these  facts  together,  the  wonder  is 
that  they  had  any  schools  whatever.  With  all  our  present  advantages — our 
commodious  schoolhouses,  our  abundant  and  ever  ready  public  fund,  and  the 
superabundance  of  teachers  of  every  quality,  from  the  very  poorest  up  to  the 
best — still  some  communities  will  lose  months  of  precious  time  in  wrangling 
over  some  matter  of  the  most  insignificant  character.  But  the  pioneers  of  Illi- 
nois deserve  the  highest  honors  for  their  prompt  and  energetic  efforts  in  this 
direction.  Just  so  soon  as  the  settlements  would  at  all  justify,  schools  were 
begun  at  each  one.  The  teacher  or  pupil  of  to-day  has  no  conception  of  getting 
an  education  under  difficulties.  Everything  connected  with  schools  was  as 
simple  and  primitive  as  the  dwellings,  clothing  or  food.  The  schools  were  at 
first  kept  in  private  dwellings,  and  then,  a  few  years  later,  houses  were  built  in 
the  various  neighborhoods,  not  by  money  subscribed,  but  by  labor  given.  The 
men  of  the  vicinity  would  gather  together  at  some  point  previously  agreed  upon, 
and,  with  each  an  ax  in  hand,  the  work  was  soon  done.  Logs  were  cut,  six- 
teen  or  eighteen  feet  in  length,  and  of  these  the  walls  were  raised.  Broad 
boards  composed  the  roof,  and  a  rude  fireplace  and  clapboard  door,  a  puncheon 
floor,  and  the  cracks  filled  with  "  chinks,"  and  these  daubed  over  with  mud, 
completed  the  schoolhouse,  with  the  exception  of  the  windows  and  furniture. 
The  window — if  any — was  made  by  cutting  out  a  log  the  full  length  of  the  build- 
ing, and  over  the  opening,  in  winter  (and  they  had  school  during  no  other  season 
of  the  year),  paper  saturated  with  grease  served  to  admit  the  light.  Just  under 
this  window,  two  or  *,hree  strong  pins  were  firmly  driven  in  the  log  in  a  slant- 
ing direction.  On  these  pins,  a  long  "puncheon"  was  fastened,  and  this  was 
the  writing-desk  for  the  whole  school.  For  seats,  they  used  benches  made  in 
the  following  manner:  Smooth,  straight  trees,  about  a  foot  in  diameter,  were 
cut  in  lengths  of  from  twelve  to  sixteen  feet.  In  the  round  side  of  these,  two 
large  holes  were  bored  at  each  end,  and,  in  each,  a  stout  pin  fifteen  inches  long 
was  driven.  These  pins  formed  the  legs.  On  the  uneven  floors,  these  rude 
benches  were  hardly  ever  seen  to  have  more  than  three  legs  on  the  floor  at  one 
time.  The  dirt  to  daub  the  house  and  construct  the  fireplace  and  chimney  was. 
nearly  always  dug  in  the  center  of  the  building,  before  the  floor  was  laid.  This 
dug  quite  a  cellar  under  the  schoolhouse  floor.  The  venerable  Minter  Graham 


252  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

informed  the  writer  that,  while  he  was  teaching  in  Salem,  he  was  one  day 
walking  the  floor,  deeply  interested  in  hearing  the  recitation  of  a  class.  All  at 
once,  one  of  the  "puncheons"  in  the  floor,  being  a  little  short,  slipped  off"  the 
"sleeper"  at  one  end,  and,  quick  as  thought,  the  teacher  was  sent  like  an 
arrow,  feet  foremost,  into  the  hole  under  the  floor.  The  children  screamed 
with  fright,  doubtless  thinking  that,  like  Korah  of  old,  the  earth  had  swallowed 
him  up;  nor  would  they  be  pacified  till  "Uncle  Minter "  crept  out,  and 
adjusted  the  treacherous  slab. 

The  books  were  as  primitive  as  the  houses.  The  New  Testament,  when  it 
could  be  had,  was  the  most  popular  reader,  though  occasionally  a  copy  of  the 
old  "English  Reader"  was  found,  and  very  rarely  the  "  Columbian  Orator" 
was  in  a  family.  Pike's  and  Smiley's  Arithmetics,  "Webster's  Speller"  was 
first  used,  and  after  eight  or  ten  years,  the  "Elementary  Speller"  came  in. 
Grammar  was  scarcely  ever  taught ;  when  it  was,  the  text-books  used  were 
Murray's  and  Kirkham's  Grammar.  To  illustrate  the  scarcity  of  these  books, 
it  may  not  be  amiss  to  state  in  this  connection  that  while  Lincoln  was  in  Salem, 
he  took  lessons  from  Mr.  Graham  in  English  grammar.  But  he  must  have  a 
book,  and,  after  diligent  inquiry,  he  learned  that  Mr.  John  Vance,  then  living 
seven  miles  north  of  Salem,  at  Concord,  had  a  copy  of  "  Kirkham's  Gram- 
mar." Mr.  Lincoln  walked  barefoot  the  seven  miles  and  back,  procured  the 
book,  mastered  its  contents,  and  then  returned  it. 

The  schools  were  made  by  subscription,  the  charge  being  from  $1.50  to 
$2.50  per  scholar  for  a  term  of  three  months,  the  schools  running  only  in  mid- 
winter. School  opened  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  closed  at  5  in  the 
evening.  The  teacher  must  be  an  adept  at  making  quill  pens,  as  pens  of  steel 
or  gold  were  then  unheard  of.  The  principal  game  among  the  boys  was  "  bull- 
pen," a  kind  of  ball.  The  party  was  equally  divided.  A  field  was  laid  out 
with  as  many  corners,  or  bases,  as  there  were  men  on  a  side.  They  tossed  for 
choice,  the  winners'  side  taking  the  corners,  or  bases,  the  others  going  into  the 
"  pen."  The  game  was  this :  The  men  on  the  bases,  tossing  the  ball  from  one 
to  another  as  rapidly  as  they  could,  threw  and  struck  one  in  the  "pen" 
whenever  they  could.  If  one  threw  and  struck  no  one,  he  was  out ;  but  if  he 
struck  one,  the  men  on  the  bases  all  ran  away,  and  if  the  one  struck  first  did 
not  throw  and  hit  one  in  return,  he  was  out;  though  if  he  did,  both  kept  their 
places.  So  the  game  went  on  till  all  on  the  "corners"  were  out;  the  others 
then  took  the  bases.  This  was  a  rough,  but  lively  and  amusing  game.  Those 
in  the  "  pen "  often  had  their  ribs  sorely  battered  with  the  ball ;  but  many 
became  such  adepts  in  the  art  of  "dodging"  the  ball  when  thrown  at  them, 
that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  strike  them.  This  game  was,  in  time,  aban- 
doned for  a  game  called  "town  ball;"  the  present  baseball  being  town  ball 
reduced  to  a  science. 

It  is  a  rather  strange,  but  very  creditable  fact,  that  schools  were  begun  in 
the  principal  centers  of  the  early  settlements  nearly  at  the  same  time,  and 


HISTORY   OF   MEXARD   COUNTY.  253 

* 

•within  less  than  two  years  after  the  first  pioneers  came  to  the  country.  It 
cannot  be  decided  who  it  was  that  taught  the  first  school  in  the  county,  or  where 
it  was  taught.  It  is  pleasing,  however,  to  know  that  the  name  of  the  first 
teacher  in  each  of  those  settlements  has  been  preserved — the  place,  the  approx- 
imate time,  and  all  this ;  but  the  exact  date  not  being  given,  we  cannot  tell 
which  was  first.  Clary's  Grove,  Sugar  Grove,  Indian  Creek  and  Rock  Creek 
settlements  each  claims  the  honor  of  being  the  first  to  start  in  this  direction. 

Mr.  Tarleton  Lloyd,  now  ninety-five  years  of  age,  had  settled  on  a  claim  on 
Rock  Creek,  on  which  were  two  log  cabins,  one  16x17  feet,  the  other,  15  feet 
square.  Mr.  Lloyd  lived  in  the  larger  of  these,  and,  about  1820  (Mr.  L.  can- 
not give  the  date  positively),  a  man  by  the  name  of  Compton  opened  a  school 
in  the  smaller  of  these  cabins ;  and  this  served  as  a  schoolhouse  for  two  years, 
when  a  better  one  was  built.  In  1820  or  1821,  Messrs.  Meadows,  Boyer, 
Wilcox,  McNabb  and  Grant  put  up  a  house  in  Sugar  Grove,  in  which  to  have 
school.  This  was  built  of  split  logs,  or  large  rails,  and  a  school  was  at  once 
opened  in  it  by  James  McNabb,  who,  as  the  reader  will  probably  remember, 
was  drowned  in  the  Sangamon  River  some  time  after.  The  next  school  there 
was  taught  by  a  Mr.  McCall,  and  the  third  by  Mr.  Templeman.  In  1820 
(positively),  a  school  was  taught  in  Clary's  Grove,  in  a  log  cabin,  by  Robert 
Armstrong.  The  old  settlers  of  this  grove  are  very  positive  in  the  assertion 
that  this  was  the  first  school  in  the  limits  of  "  Little  Menard." 

In  1820  or  1821,  a  log  cabin  was  put  up  on  the  brow  of  the  bluff  on  Indian 
Creek,  not  far  from  the  present  site  of  Indian  Point  Church.  In  this,  a  Mr. 
Hodge  taught  the  first  school  in  that  vicinity.  We  give  in  detail  only  these 
earliest  schools,  for,  by  one  or  two  years  after  those  named  were  begun,  schools 
were  opened  in  considerable  number,  so  that  any  effort  at  giving  any  farther 
particulars  would  be  simply  ridiculous.  As  the  school  system  .was  not  adopted 
and  put  into  operation  by  the  authority  of  the  State  till  as  late  as  1847,  it  fol- 
lows, of  course,  that  there  were  no  regular  districts  for  schools,  no  public  funds 
of  any  amount,  and,  therefore,  they  were  all  run  by  private  enterprise,  and  on 
the  subscription  plan.  But  in  order  that  the  people  should  not  be  imposed 
upon  too  egregiously,  it  was  common  for  the  neighborhood  to  select  some  one  of 
their  number  to  examine  and  pass  on  the  qualifications  of  the  applicant,  giving 
him,  if  qualified,  a  certificate  of  the  fact.  In  another  part  of  this  work,  Mr. 
Perrin  relates  an  incident  actually  occurring  in  the  county  :  A  gentleman 
applying  for  a  certain  school  was  sent  to  the  proper  dignitary  to  be  examined 
and  procure  a  certificate.  He  appeared  before  his  honor,  and  was  handed  a  Bible, 
opened  at  a  chapter  of  genealogy  in  the  Old  Testament,  which,  of  course,  was 
all  jaw-breaking  proper  names.  He  read  the  chapter,  when  the  old  gentleman 
said,  "  I  guess  you  can  teach  school."  He  then  produced  pen  and  paper  and  told 
the  applicant  to  write  a  certificate.  He  did  so,  and,  when  done,  handed  it  to  the 
old  gentleman  for  his  signature.  Said  he,  "  Just  sign  it  for  me,  and  I  will 
make  my  mark,  as  I  can't  write." 


2-r)4  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

In  some  communities  they  were  determined  not  to  be  imposed  upon  ;  as  in 
the  vicinity  of  Indian  Point.  Long  before  the  introduction  of  our  admirable- 
system  of  school  laws,  a  number  of  leading  citizens  constituted  themselves  a 
committee  on  examinations,  and  these  examinations  were  close  and  rigid. 
Many  were  the  poor  fellows  in  ye  olden  time,  who,  after  sweating  for  long 
hours  in  the  dreadful  ordeal  of  a  cross  fire  between  these  sturdy  old  farmers, 
were  doomed  at  last  to  fail.  But  the  result  was  a  wholesome  one  to  the  com- 
munity adopting  the  plan.  The  Indian  Point  school  is  an  illustration,  for 
they,  adopting  this  plan  in  a  very  early  day,  have  always  had  the  very  best 
of  schools — the  best  in  the  entire  county,  perhaps. 

After  the  adoption  of  the  present  school  system,  the  interest  in  education 
was  greatly  advanced,  and,  at  present,  our  districts  in  every  part  of  the  county 
are  enjoying  the  very  highest  privileges.  Each  district  has  a  neat  and  pleas- 
ant schoolhouse,  furnished  with  every  comfort  and  necessity.  The  best  of 
teachers  can  be  employed,  and  a  public  fund  is  provided  to  meet  all  the  expen- 
ses. Subjoined,  we  give  some  important  items  from  the  County  Superintend- 
ent's report  for  the  year  ending  July  30,  1879. 

There  are,  under  twenty-one  years  of  age,  males,  3,226;  females,  3,041: 
total,  6,267.  Between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one  years,  males,  2,160 ; 
females,  2,012  ;  total,  4,172.  Number  of  schools  in  the  county,  63.  Frame 
schoolhouses,  35;  brick,  28.  Number  of  teachers  employed  during  the  year, 
males,  58;  females,  53;  total,  111.  Months  taught  by  males,  327;  by  females, 
266  ;  total,  593.  Total  number  of  days  attended,  264,043.  Number  unable 
to  read  and  write,  males,  8  ;  females,  4 ;  total,  12.  This  includes,  of  course, 
only  those  between  six  and  twenty-one  years.  The  cause,  in  one  case,  was  men- 
tal incapacity  ;  in  all  the  others,  the  cause  was  the  neglect  of  parents.  Aver- 
age wages  paid  to  male  teachers  per  month,  $51.37 ;  average  paid  to  females, 
$34.13.  State  fund  received,  $4,650.22.  Interest  on  public  fund,  $264.77. 
Amount  of  district  tax  levy,  $14,833.16.  Total  sum  expended  in  the  county 
for  school  purposes  during  the  year,  $38,386.28.  The  county  never  had  any 
normal  school  till  during  1878,  and  the  summer  of  1879.  Each  term  was 
of  six  weeks,  and  forty  pupils  were  in  attendance  during  each  term.  Each 
term  was  a  decided  success. 

WAR    RECORD. 

Under  this  head,  we  think  it  best  to  give  the  entire  history  of  Menard 
County  as  connected  with  the  various  wars  in  which  the  United  States  has 
been  engaged  since  the  State  came  into  the  Union.  The  Black  Hawk  war 
was  spoken  of  in  the  history  of  the  village  of  Salem  ;  it  is  therefore  unnecessary 
to  repeat  what  was  there  said.  Ever  since  the  Indian  troubles  of  the  country, 
the  Western  people  have  shown  the  strongest  devotion* to  the  interests  and 
honor  of  the  whole  country.  And  when  a  portion  of  the  frontier  citizens  of 
the  country,  after  repeated  and  long-continued  abuses  from  heartless  and  despic- 
able neighbors,  appealed  to  the  whole  country  for  aid,  and  a  call  was  made  for 


HISTORY   OF    MENARD   COUNTY.  255 

volunteers,  the  whole  American  people  were  filled  with  enthusiasm.  The  citi- 
zens of  the  "  Lone  Star  State,"  as  it  has  since  been  called,  had  for  years  been 
engaged  in  a  kind  of  guerrilla  warfare,  with  varying  results;  but  in  1836,  a 
battle  was  fought  at  San  Jacinto,  wherein  Santa  Anna,  the  dictator  of  Mexico, 
was  captured,  and,  being  held  in  strict  confinement,  he  was  finally  induced  to 
sign  a  treaty  acknowledging  the  independence  of  Texas.  But,  in  violation  of 
the  treaty  and  of  every  principle  of  honor,  the  republic  of  Mexico  treated  Texas 
and  the  Texans  just  as  she  had  previously  done.  From  this  time  on,  petitions  were 
frequently  presented  to  the  United  States  asking  admission  into  the  Union. 
But  Mexico,  through  sheer  spite,  endeavored  to  prevent  the  admission  of  Texas, 
by  constantly  declaring  that  her  reception  would  be  regarded  as  a  sufficient 
cause  for  a  declaration  of  war,  thinking,  perhaps,  that  this  would  serve  to 
intimidate  the  United  States.  In  the  Presidential  canvass  of  1844,  this  was 
one  of  the  leading  issues  before  the  people,  and  Mr.  Polk  being  elected,  this  was 
taken  as  a  public  declaration  on  the  subject.  After  this,  Congress  had  no  hesi- 
tancy in  granting  the  petition  of  Texas,  and,  on  the  1st  of  March,  1845,  for- 
mally received  her  into  the  sisterhood  of  States.  Mexico  at  once,  in  her  indig- 
nation, broke  off  all  diplomatic  relations  with  the  United  States,  calling  home 
her  Minister  immediately,  which  was  a  clear  declaration  of  war.  War  was  soon 
declared.  Congress  passed  an  act,  authorizing  the  President  to  accept  the  ser- 
vices of  50,000  volunteers,  and  appropriating  $10,000,000  for  the  prosecution 
of  the  war.  Just  at  the  opening  of  actual  trouble  with  Mexico,  the  United 
States  was  disputing  about  the  boundary  of  Oregon,  the  motto  being  "  54,  40 
or  fight."  But,  as  we  had  one  war  on  hand  already,  it  was  thought  best  not 
to  get  into  trouble  with  Great  Britain,  and  the  boundary  was  placed  at  the 
4®th  parallel  of  north  latitude.  When  the  call  for  volunteers  was  made,  the 
requisition  on  Illinois  was  for  "three  regiments  of  infantry  or  riflemen."  As 
to  the  pay,  that  matter  was  nothing,  being  only  $8  a  month.  The  troops 
were  to  be  enlisted  for  a  term  of  twelve  months,  and  the  privates  were  lim- 
ited to  eighty  men  in  a  company.  The  call  of  the  Governor — Ford — was 
issued  May  25,  for  the  organization  of  the  three  regiments.  Soon  the  State 
was  alive  with  almost  frantic  enthusiasm.  The  strains  of  martial  music 
were  heard  in  almost  every  village  and  hamlet.  The  first  man  to  enroll 
himself  a  volunteer  was  the  well-known  and  brave  J.  J.  Hardin.  In  ten  days, 
thirty-five  full  companies  were  raised,  and  by  the  middle  of  June  there 
were  no  less  than  forty  companies  in  excess  of  the  call.  After  the  three 
regiments  hal  rendezvoused  at  Alton,  and  had  been  received  and  sworn  in> 
Hon.  E.  D.  Baker,  member  of  Congress  from  the  Sangamon  District, 
was  authorized  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  raise  another  regiment  in  Illi- 
nois. The  regiment  was  promptly  raised,  and  was  composed  of  two  com- 
panies from  Sangamon,  and  one  company  from  each  of  the  following  coun- 
ties: Macon,  McLean,  De  Witt,  Logan,  Tazewell,  Edgar,  Perry  and  '"Little 
Menard."  Hon.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of  Petersburg,  and  whose  family  still 


256  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

reside  in  that  place,  was,  by  general  consent,  recognized  as  Captain  of  the 
company,  though  no  election  was  held  till  some  time  later.  They  stopped 
for  a  short  time  at  Springfield,  where  they  were  partially  drilled.  At  Alton, 
they  were  sworn  in  and  received  arms.  They  then  removed  to  Jefferson 
Barracks,  twelve  miles  below  St.  Louis,  on  the  Mississippi  River.  When 
they  reached  the  barracks,  they  still  had  no  officers,  except  Capt.  Harris  who 
was  tacitly  regarded  as  such.  Here  an  election  was  held  for  regimental  offi- 
cers, which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  E.  D.  Baker  as  Colonel ;  the  former 
Lieutenant  Governor  of  Illinois,  John  Moore,  of  McLean,  as  Lieutenant  Col- 
onel, and  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of  Petersburg,  as  Major. 

Officers  were  here  elected  for  the  company.  A.  D.  Wright,  of  Petersburg, 
was  elected  Captain  ;  William  C.  Clary,  First  Lieutenant ;  Shelton  Johnson, 
Second  Lieutenant ;  Robert  Scott,  Third  Lieutenant.  The  whole  number  of 
men  in  the  company,  mustered  in,  was  eighty-two;  these,  with  Maj.  Harris, 
promoted,  made  eighty-three  men  from  Menard  County  actually  entering  the 
service.  Some  others  volunteered,  but  they  never  went  so  far  as  to  be  mustered 
into  service.  So  soon  as  the  Fourth  Regiment  reached  the  city  of  Alton,  a 
serious  question  of  rank  arose  between  Col.  Baker,  of  the  Fourth,  and  Col. 
John  J.  Hardin,  of  the  First  Regiment.  This  matter  was  referred  to  a  court 
of  inquiry,  composed  of  Capts.  Bishop,  Crow,  Coffee,  Dickey,  Elkin,  Hicks, 
Jones,  McAdams,  Morgan,  Roberts  and  Wiley,  and  G.  T.  M.  Davis  as  clerk. 
After  a  careful  investigation  of  the  whole  question,  Col.  Hardin  was  declared  the 
senior  officer.  The  men  who  went  from  Menard  County  were  the  following: 

Clayborn  Altig,  Lewis  Atchison,  Robert  Bishop,  Wilson  Bess,  John  Bond, 
Banister  Bond,  Greene  Bond,  Jesse  Browne,  Preston  Berry,  Andrew  Bell, 
Oliver  Cox,  William  Close,  David  Clark,  Robert  Clary,  William  Clary,  Thomas 
Clary,  Daniel  Clary,  Franceway  Day,  Phillip  Day,  Washington  Denton,  Aaron 
Durben,  Isaac  Estil,  Samuel  Ely,  Elijah  Elmore,  Napoleon  Greer,  Isaiah 
Goldsby,  Wade  H.  Goldsby,  Charles  Gum,  Christopher  Goodman,  Conover 
Gum,  Evans  Greene,  Amos  Gurnsey,  John  Garber,  Alvin  Hornback,  William 
Hutchinson,  Peter  Hamilton,  Elias  Hohimer,  Aaron  Houghton,  Michael  Hed- 
rick.  John  Jones,  Robert  N.  Jones,  Shelton  Johnson,  Richard  Johnson,  Walter 
W.  King.  Joseph  M.  King,  Jesse  Lukins,  Robert  Moore,  Royal  Miller,  John 
Miller,  Philemon  Morris,  T.  Nance,  Henry  Nance,  George  W.  Nance,  James 
Patterson,  William  Phillips,  Cornelius  Rourke,  Robert  Rayburn.  William 
Rhodes,  John  Ritchie,  William  Stone,  0.  H.  F.  Smith,  Daniel  Staten,  Robert 
Scott,  Richard  Smedley,  Jonathan  Simpson,  David  R.  Short,  Robert  Smith, 
Anderson  Trent,  Robert  Trotter,  Samuel  Tibbs,  Owen  Thomas,  J.  P.  Walker, 
John  Wright,  Enoch  Wiseman,  John  Wiseman,  Thomas  Watkins,  Richard 
Witt,  Capt.  A.  D.  Wright,  James  Watkins,  Benjamin  Wiseman,  Nelson  Yocum, 
George  Yocum. 

This  list  contains  eighty-two  names,  and,  with  that  of  Maj.  Thomas  L. 
Harris,  makes  the  number  of  men  from  Menard  County  eighty-three  in  all. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  257 

This  was  Company  F,  in  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Illinois  Volunteers.  From 
Jefferson  Barracks,  William  Phillips  came  back  home  on  furlough,  and  never 
returned  to  the  army.  At  New  Orleans,  Elias  Hohimer  received  permission  to 
return  home,  and  remained  there.  All  the  remainder  of  the  Menard  County 
men,  eighty-one  in  number,  boarded  the  brig  Mary  Jones  and  were  landed  at 
Point  Isabella,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  River,  in  Texas.  This  was  a 
seven  days'  voyage,  and  on  the  way,  two  men  died,  and  were  buried  in  the 
Gulf.  After  landing,  they  marched  up  the  Rio  Grande  toward  Camargo. 
This  was  a  toilsome  march,  and  the  climate  nor  food  agreeing  with  the  soldiers, 
death  made  fearful  havoc  among  them.  Every  day's  march  was  marked  by  a 
grave.  In  that  short  journey,  twenty-one  men  died,  among  whom  were  Short, 
Atchison,  Thomas  Clary,  Joseph  M.  King ;  seven  others  were  sent  home,  being 
unfit  for  service,  on  account  of  disease.  From  Camargo,  they  marched  by  land 
to  Tampico,  a  distance  of  near  five  hundred  miles.  On  this  march,  seven  more 
men  died,  making  thirty-seven  in  all  from  the  ranks  by  death,  and  returning 
to  the  States.  From  Tampico,  the  command  sailed  to  Vera  Cruz  by  the  steam- 
ship Alabama.  In  this  battle,  the  company  did  not  lose  a  man.  From  there, 
they  marched  to  Cerro  Gordo,  and  entered  the  battle  with  forty-two  men.  In 
the  engagement,  three  of  this  company  were  killed  and  three  severely  wounded. 
George  Yocum,  Al  Hornback  and  Lieut.  Johnson  were  killed.  Robert  Scott, 
John  Ritchey  and  Cornelius  Rourke  were  severely  wounded.  Mr.  Rourke 
lost  his  left  leg,  it  being  shot  off  near  his  body.  He  still  lives,  however,  an 
honored  member  of  society.  His  home  is  in  Petersburg,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  lumber  trade.  He  is  now  Major  in  the  State  militia.  The  command 
was  discharged  shortly  after  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo,  their  time  having 
expired,  and  they  reached  home  in  the  fall  of  1847.  By  the  best  information 
we  can  get,  there  are  fourteen  of  those  who  started  out  with  this  company  who 
are  still  living.  The  remnant  of  the  company  who  still  survive,  are  sorely  scat- 
tered, and  it  is  almost  impossible  to  obtain  a  correct  list  of  the  survivors  and 
the  places  of  their  residence.  A  few,  however,  still  live  in  this  and  adjoining 
counties.  Col.  Cornelius  Rourke,  William  Hutchinson,  Walter  W.  King  and 
Robert  Bishop  live  in  Petersburg.  Washington  Denton,  Charles  Gum,  Elias 
Hohimer,  Samuel  Tibbs,  Aaron  Houghton  and  Thomas  Watkins  are  still  citi- 
zens of  Menard  County.  Dr.  J.  P.  Walker  is  a  successful  practitioner  of 
medicine  in  Mason  City,  Mason  Co.,  111.  William  Clary  lives  in  Kansas,  R, 
N.  Jones  is  in  Iowa,  and  Richard  Witt  is  perhaps  in  Nebraska.  Royal  Miller 
lives  in  Sangamon  County.  Soon  the  last  of  them  will  be  gone  to  their  final 
reward. 

WAR    OF    THE   REBELLION. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  write  a  history  of  the  "  War  for  the  Union,"  for, 
even  if  we  had  time,  space  and  material,  we  should  not  then  be  tempted  to  the 
task,  as  there  is,  at  present,  vastly  more  war  literature  extant  than  is  read. 
And  this  is  not  to  be  regretted,  as  this  class  of  literature  is  very  unreliable. 


258  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

But  a  history  of  Menard  County  that  did  not  contain  its  war  record,  would  be 
no  history.  Nothing  will  be  of  greater  interest  to  coming  generations  in  our 
country,  than  a  true  and  faithful  account  of  the  events  of  those  four  long  and 
gloomy  years.  It.  is  a  duty  that  we  owe  to  the  soldiers  who  took  part  in  the 
bloody  struggle,  to  record  and  preserve  the  leading  facts ;  especially  do  we  owe 
this  to  the  long  list  of  the  dead,  who  willingly  laid  down  their  lives  for  their 
country's  honor  and  preservation  ;  we  owe  it  to  the  maimed  and  mangled 
cripples  who  were  lacerated  and  torn  by  shot  and  shell ;  and  last,  but  not  least, 
we  owe  it  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  our  brave  soldiers,  who,  for  love  of 
country,  forsook  home  with  all  its  endearments,  and  whose  bodies  fatten  the 
soil  of  the  Sunny  South.  Menard  County  had  been  Democratic  in  politics  for 
many  years,  and  in  the  Presidential  race  between  Lincoln  and  Douglas,  just  at 
the  beginning  of  the  war,  notwithstanding  the  high  esteem  in  which  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  personally  held  by  the  people,  Mr.  Douglas  received  a  large 
majority  of  the  votes  cast  in  the  county.  A  large  class  of  people  boldly 
opposed  the  Republican  party  and  its  policy ;  yet,  when  the  grim  visage 
of  war  began  to  frown  over  the  land,  when  the  American  flag  was  fired  upon 
at  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  blood  of  American  citizens  had  been  actually  spilled, 
the  feelings  of  patriotism  ran  high,  and  the  pulses  of  all  began  to  beat  full  and 
quick  ;  and  when  the  question  of  union  and  disunion  was  brought  full  before 
the  face  of  all,  then  Democrats  and  Republicans  forgot  old  issues,  and  petty 
quarrels,  and,  with  united  hands  and  hearts,  resolved  to  sacrifice  all  else  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union.  When  the  first  call  was  made  for  volunteers,  it  set 
the  entire  State  in  a  blaze  of  excitement,  martial  music  was  heard  in  every 
town  and  hamlet,  and  tender  females,  no  less  than  males,  were  wild  with  enthu- 
siasm. Wives  encouraged  their  husbands  to  enlist,  mothers  urged  their  sons 
to  patriotic  devotion,  sisters  tenderly  gave  their  brothers  to  the  cause  of  their 
country,  while  cases  are  not  unknown  where  the  bride,  of  an  hour,  joyfully 
though  tearfully,  gave  the  young  husband  the  parting  embrace,  admonishing 
him  to  be  brave  and  true.  We  propose  now,  in  as  brief  a  manner  as  we  can, 
to  give  the  part  that  Menard  County  took  in  the  late  war. 

The  reader  is  doubtless  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  State  of  Illinois  furnished, 
in  all,  six  regiments  of  men  for  service  in  the  war  with  Mexico.  Those  in 
authority  at  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion,  thought  it  due  to  the  patriotism 
and  devotion  of  the  heroes  of  that  war,  to  begin  the  numbering  of  the  regiments 
raised  in  the  State  with  seven,  thus  preserving  the  numbering  of  those  old  reg- 
iments. It  will,  therefore,  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  Seventh  Regiment  is  in 
reality  the  first  furnished  during  the  rebellion.  This  "  Seventh  "  Regiment  of 
Infantry,  Illinois  Volunteers,  was  mustered  into  service  the  25th  of  April,  1861. 
The  first  regiment  that  had  a  representation  in  it  from  Menard  County  was  the 
"  Fourteenth,"  and  Company  "  E  "  was  raised  in  this  county.  This  regiment 
was  first  called  into  the  State  service  for  thirty  days,  under  the  "  Ten  Regiment 
Bill."  It  rendezvoused  at  Jacksonville,  111.,  and  was  mustered  in  for  thirty 


TALLULA 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  261 

days,  on  May  4,  1861.  On  the  25th  of  May,  it  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States'  service  for  three  years,  by  Capt.  Pitcher,  U.  S.  A.  The  Colonel  of  this 
regiment,  when  it  first  went  into  service,  was  John  M.  Palmer.  In  July,  1861, 
it  was  ordered  into  Missouri.  Its  first  active  service  was  the  capture  and  parole 
of  a  rebel  force  under  James  S.  Green,  formerly  United  States  Senator  from  Mis- 
,  souri.  After  being  with  Gen.  Fremont  in  his  campaign  to  Springfield,  Mo.,  it 
went  into  winter  quarters  at  Otterville.  In  February,  1862,  it  was  ordered  to 
Fort  Donelson,  but  arrived  there  one  day  after  the  battle.  At  Donelson,  it 
was  brigaded  with  the  Fifteenth  and  Forty-sixth  Illinois,  and  the  Twenty-fifth 
Indiana,  and  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade,  Fourth  Division,  under  Gen. 
Hurlbut.  Before  this,  Col.  Palmer  had  been  promoted,  and  Maj.  Hall,  of  the 
Seventh  Illinois  Cavalry,  became  the  Colonel.  From  Fort  Donelson,  the  reg- 
iment marched  to  Fort  Henry,  and  went  from  there  by  transports  up  the  Ten- 
nessee River  to  Pittsburg  Landing.  Up  to  this  time,  the  regiment  had  never 
smelt  the  powder  of  an  enemy,  but  a  baptism  of  fire,  in  the  full  meaning  of  the 
term,  awaited  it  there.  Here,  on  the  6th  and  7th  of  April,  this  command  lost, 
in  killed  and  wounded,  fully  one-half  of  those  engaged.  This  is  not  mere  sur- 
mise, but  it  is  taken  from  the  Adjutant  General's  report.  On  the  evening  of 
the  7th,  a  grand  charge  was  made,  which  turned  the  tide  of  battle  in  favor  of  the 
Union,  notwithstanding  the  numbers  and  power  of  the  enemy.  This  splendid 
charge  was  led  by  the  Fourteenth,  with  Col.  Hall  at  the  head  of  the  columns. 
Gen.  Veatch,  who  commanded  the  brigade  to  which  the  Fourteenth  was  attached, 
uses  the  following  language  :  "  Col.  Hall,  of  the  Fourteenth  Illinois,  led  with 
his  regiment  that  gallant  charge  on  Monday  evening,  which  drove  the  enemy 
beyond  our  lines,  and  closed  the  struggle  of  that  memorable  day."  If  any  one 
has  doubts  concerning  the  force  of  the  storm  of  lead  and  iron  that  this  command 
passed  through  on  that  occasion,  let  him  go  to  Memorial  Hall,  in  Springfield, 
and  count  the  forty-two  bullet-holes  made  in  the  regimental  colors  in  that  battle, 
and  this  will  surely  convince  him.  This  regiment  took  an  active  part  in  the 
battles  of  Corinth,  Memphis,  Bolivar.  On  January  18,  1863,  it  went  into  win- 
ter quarters  at  La  Fayette,  Tenn.  It  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  until 
its  fall,  July  4,  1863.  In  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  the  Fourteenth  and 
Fifteenth,  which  had  been  together  nearly  all  the  time,  were  consolidated  into 
the  "  Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth  Illinois  Veteran  Battalion."  In  October,  1864, 
when  Gen.  Hood  made  his  demonstration  against  Sherman's  rear,  a  large  num- 
ber of  this  battalion  were  killed,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  remainder  taken 
prisoners,  and  sent  to  suffer  in  Andersonville  Prison.  Those  who  escaped  were 
mounted,  and  acted  as  scouts  during  the  remainder  of  the  march  to  the  sea. 
They  were  first  to  drive  the  rebel  pickets  into  Savannah,  Ga.  They  were  also 
first  to  enter  Cheraw,  S.  C.,  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
battle  of  Bentonville.  In  the  spring  of  1865,  the  battalion  organization  was 
discontinued,  and  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  the  two  regiments  were  re-formed,  being 
filled  up  by  recruits,  and  Col.  Hall  again  took  command  of  the  old  Fourteenth. 


262  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

It  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Fort  Leaven  worth,  Kan.,  on  September 
16,  1865,  and  reached  Springfield  September  22,  1865.  The  aggregate  of 
men  belonging  to  this  regiment  from  first  to  last,  was  1,980,  and  the  number 
mustered  out  at  Fort  Leavenworth  was  480.  It  was  in  service  four  years  and 
four  months,  and  during  that  time,  it  marched  no  less  than  4,490  miles, 
traveled  by  rail  2,330  miles,  and  by  steamboat  and  transports,  4,490, 
making  an  aggregate  of  11,670  miles.  The  officers  of  the  Fourteenth, 
in  their  order,  were  Cols.  John  M.  Palmer  and  Cyrus  Hall ;  Lieut.  Cols. 
Amory  K.  Johnson  and  William  Cam  ;  Majs.  Jonathan  Morris  and  John  F. 
Nolte. 

Company  E  of  this  regiment  was  raised  in  Menard  County,  eighty  men  of 
the  county  joining  it.  The  first  Captain  was  Amory  K.  Johnson,  followed  by 
Frederick  Mead,  of  Petersburg,  and  he  by  Henry  M.  Pedan,  of  Shelbyville.  The 
First  Lieutenants,  in  their  order,  were :  Jacob  M.  Early,  of  Petersburg ;  Ethan  H. 
Norton,  of  the  same  place,  and  Alonzo  J.  Gillespie,  of  Bloomington.  Second  Lieu- 
tenants, E.  H.  Norton  and  A.  J.  Gillespie.  Of  this  company,  John  L.  Kinman, 
of  Petersburg,  was  killed  in  action  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862.  None  deserted. 
The  following  were  discharged  on  account  of  disability,  viz.,  John  Murphy, 
James  Wilhite,  Edwin  Worth  and  Joseph  Todd.  The  above  statement  is  taken 
from  the  report  of  the  Adjutant  General,  that  is,  as  far  as  that  report  goes ; 
but  even  this  is  imperfect  in  many  respects,  and  a  number  of  facts  are  added, 
derived  from  individual  members  of  the  regiment. 

One  company — Company  A — of  the  Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth  Illinois  Vet- 
eran Battalion,  was  also  composed  of  Menard  County  men  ;  but  in  the  eighty 
men  of  Company  E,  of  the  Fourteenth,  and  the  twenty-four  men  of  Company 
A  of  the  Battalion,  no  man  is  counted  twice.  The  history  of  the  Battalion  is 
sketched  in  that  of  the  Fourteenth,  given  above,  hence  it  is  unnecessary 
repeat  it  here.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  men  of  this  command  saw  hard  service, 
but  never  flinched  when  the  storm  beat  the  hardest. 

We  come  now  to  the  Twenty-eighth  Infantry.  This  regiment  was  organize 
by  Lieut.  Col.  Louis  H.  Waters,  and  Maj.  Charles  J.  Sellan,  at  Camp 
Butler,  Illinois,  in  the  month  of  August,  1861.  On  the  28th  of  August,  was 
ordered  to  Thebes,  111.,  and  thence  to  Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  on  September  9. 
Early  in  October,  it  was  removed  to  Fort  Holt,  Ky.,  and  there  remained  until 
the  last  day  of  January,  1862,  when  it  wag  taken  to  Paducah,  Ky.,  and  was 
there  assigned  to  Col.  M.  L.  Smith's  Brigade,  Brig.  Gen.  Lew  Wallace's 
Division.  On  the  6th  of  February,  this  regiment  took  part  in  the  capture  of 
Forts  Hinman  and  Henry.  A  little  event  took  place  on  the  13th  of  February 
that  is  worthy  of  a  place  here : 

A  detachment  of  500  rebels  were  in  the  vicinity  of  Little  Bethel  Churcl 
which  Was  only  five  miles  from  Fort  Henry,  seeking  some  kind  of  adventure. 
Now,  it  so  happened  that  Col.  Johnson  was  out  on  a  scout  with  48  men  and  12 
officers — 61  men  all  told — and,  hearing  of  the  500  "  Johnnies,"  determined  to 


try 

*, 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  263 

try  their  mettle;  so,  finding  out  their  locality,  approached  them,  cautiously  at 
first,  but,  soon  after  the  firing  began,  he  ordered  a  charge,  and  so  furious  was 
the  attack  that  the  rebels  gave  way  in  confusion,  and  were  completely  routed. 
About  the  6th  of  March,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  and 
was  assigned  to  Gen.  Hurlburt's  (the  Fourth)  Division.  Just  at  dawn,  on 
Sabbath  morning,  April  6,  1862,  the  shrill  notes  of  martial  music  called  the 
men  into  line.  Ominous  signs  of  danger,  if  not  disaster,  were  everywhere. 
Buckling  on  their  belts  and  cartridge-boxes  as  they  fell  into  line,  they  were  hur- 
ried at  double-quick  over  half  a  mile  to  the  front,  where  they  met  Gen.  Prentiss' 
command,  being  driven  before  the  exultant  enemy.  It  was,  in  a  short  time, 
assigned  a  position  on  the  left  of  the  line,  in  what  was  called,  and  since  known 
as,  the  Peach  Orchard.  The  enemy  immediately  began  to  pour  a  galling  fire 
on  this  point,  with  a  view  to  turning  the  flank.  Stubbornly  and  doggedly  these 
Illinoisans  held  their  position,  from  before  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  after  3 
in  the  afternoon.  Nor  did -they  then  retire,  until  orders  were  given  from  Brig. 
Gen.  S.  A.  Hurlbut,  commanding  the  "  Old  Fighting  Fourth  Division."  On 
Monday,  the  7th,  it  was  assigned  a  position  on  the  right  of  the  line,  and  was 
there  most  hotly  engaged  until  victory  closed  the  two-days' struggle.  Thus 
they  were  two  full  days,  from  dawn  till  evening,  in  actual  engagement.  These 
were  long  and  trying  days ;  blood  flowed  everywhere,  and  the  night  was  ren- 
dered hideous  by  the  groans  of  the  dying ;  yet,  in  all  this  hotly  contested  con- 
flict, this  regiment  never  wavered,  nor  was  its  line  once  broken  or  driven  back. 
During  these  two  days,  the  regiment  lost  239  men  in  killed  and  wounded.  In 
May,  it  was  active  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  then  marched  to  Memphis.  Reach- 
ing Memphis  the  23d  of  July,  1862,  it  rested  there  until  early  in  September, 
when  the  march  was  taken  to  Bolivar,  which  point  was  reached  September  the 
14th.  Some  twenty  days  later,  the  regiment  was  in  the  battle  of  Hatchie 
River,  or  Matamora,  in  which  it  lost  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  97 
men.  In  the  summer  of  1863,  the  Twenty-eighth  was  ordered  to  Vicks- 
burg,  and  was  there  in  the  siege  from  the  llth  of  June  to  July  4.  After  this, 
on  the  12th  of  July,  a  detachment,  composed  of  men  from  the  Forty-first, 
Fifty-third  and  Twenty-eighth  Illinois  and  Third  Iowa  Infantry,  amounting  in 
all  to  not  more  than  800  men,  were  ordered  to  charge  across  an  open  and  level 
corn-field,  some  six  hundred  yards  in  width,  and  carry  a  line  of  rebel  works 
that  were  strong  in  their  formation,  and  from  which  twelve  dark-mouthed  can- 
non frowned  defiance  on  all  comers,  and  behind  which  lay  2,000  men,  ready 
for  the  fray.  The  bugle  sounded  the  onset;  not  a  man  faltered  nor  a  cheek 
paled,  but  right  onward  "  into  the  jaws  of  death,  rode  the "  800.  As 
they  came,  they  were  met  with  a  pitiless  storm  of  rifle  and  minie  balls, 
while  the  twelve  cannon  belched  a  constant  tide  of  fire  and  iron  ;  but  when  they 
reached  the  works,  their  whole  line  was  swept  from  right  and  left  and  front,  so 
that  to  persist  in  the  attempt  to  carry  the  works  was  sure  annihilation.  They 
^treated  to  their  line,  leaving  more  than  half  their  number,  rank  and  file,  in 


264  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

dead  and  wounded.  Of  the  128  men  of  the  Twenty-eighth  that  were  in  this 
charge,  73  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  16  taken  prisoners ;  89  left  behind, 
to  39  who  returned. 

In  1864,  the  regiment  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  after  which,  it  was  in  the 
engagement  at  Spanish  Fort  and  at  Mobile.  It  had,  during  the  war,  9  officers 
killed ;  19  wounded,  and  2  died  of  disease.  Privates — killed,  52 ;  died  of 
wounds,  34 ;  wounded,  265 ;  missing  in  action,  17  ;  killed  by  accident,  5 ; 
died  of  disease,  139.  The  officers  of  the  regiment,  in  their  order,  are  as  fol- 
lows:  Colonel,  Amory  K.  Johnson,  of  Petersburg;  Lieutenant  Colonels — 
Louis  H.  Waters,  of  Macomb ;  Thomas  K.  Killpatrick,  of  Milton,  and  Rich- 
ard Ritter,  of  Havana ;  Majors — Charles  J.  Sellon,  Springfield ;  Barclay  C. 
Gillam,  Rushville,  and  Hinman  Rhodes,  Vermont,  111.  Of  this  regiment, 
companies  F,  K  and  C  were  all  or  in  part  from  Menard  County.  Com- 
pany F  contained  in  all  107  men  from  this  county.  The  officers  were :  Cap- 
tains— William  J.  Estill  and  Thomas  Swarenguin,  both  of  Petersburg; 
First  Lieutenants — Isaac  B.  Estill,  Thomas  Swarenguin  and  John  H.  Ewing, 
all  of  Petersburg ;  Second  Lieutenants — Thomas  Swarenguin  and  John  H. 
Ewing.  There  were  killed  in  action,  4,  viz.:  James  T.  Jones,  at  Shiloh ;  J. 
Deerwester,  at  Vidalia;  James  H.  Stewart,  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  Charles  N. 
Riley,  at  Hatchie.  Five  died  of  wounds,  viz.,  David  C.  Stone,  Jacob  Ackle- 
son,  Peter  Farnheine,  Jacob  Homer  and  H.  G.  Toland.  Wounded  and  dis- 
charged, 3,  viz.,  Jesse  D.  Bradley,  David  Lucas  and  Elijah  S.  Nichols.  Died 
of  disease,  9,  viz.,  William  Canterbury,  Henry  H.  Fulton,  Elijah  Ferguson, 
Henry  T.  Gudgell,  James  Harman,  Francis  M.  Twaddle.  Christopher  Alexan- 
der, William  B.  Davis  and  Michael  Johns.  There  were  3  who  deserted,  viz., 
John  W.  Rutledge,  Henry  Johnson  and  Charles  Noble. 

In  Company  K,  there  were  39  men  from  Menard  County.  The  officers 
of  Company  K  were :  Captains — William  R.  Roberts,  of  Menard,  and 
Albert  J.  Moses,  from  elsewhere  ;  First  Lieutenants — John  Brewsaugh,  Fred. 
Garternicht,  Albert  J.  Moses,  John  B.  Newton  and  Dennis  Pride,  the  last 
two  from  Menard;  Second  Lieutenants — John  B.  Newton,  of  Menard,  and 
J.  Moses.  Of  these,  only  1,  Adam  Forsyth,  was  killed  in  action ;  Alonzo  G. 
Fleming  died  of  wounds;  4  were  wounded,  but  recovered,  viz.,  Richard  Bei 
nard,  Amos  Mouser,  Logan  Rayburn  and  Samuel  T.  Rogers  ;  discharged  or 
account  of  disability,  2,  viz.,  John  Sulivan  and  John  Rogers  ;  discharged  on 
account  of  wounds,  3,  viz.,  William  W.  Dudley,  James  H.  Gardener  and  Nult 
Greene;  the  4  following  died  of  disease :  Elijah  Edwards,  Gottlieb  Fotsch, 
Francis  Schasner  and  Phillip  A.  Simpson.  None  of  the  men  in  this  company 
from  Menard  County  deserted. 

Company    C  of  the    Twenty-eighth  had   46  men   from    Menard    County 
in  it.     None  of  the  commissioned  officers  of  this   company  were  from   Menarc 
County.     One  man  of  this  company,  Deerwester,  was  killed  in  action, 
were  wounded.     Two  died  of  disease,  viz.,  William  B.  Davis  and    Mike  Jone 


HISTORY    OF    MENARD   COUNTY.  265 

Columbus  Crosby  was  the  only  deserter.  The  above  companies  took  their 
share  of  all  the  trials  and  honors  of  the  gallant  Twenty -eighth  Regiment  of 
Illinois  Volunteers. 

We  come  now  to  the  Thirty-eighth  Regiment,  as  this  is  the  next  in  order 
in  which  there  were  any  companies  containing,  any  considerable  number  of 
Menard  County  men.  It  is  true,  however,  that  there  was  scarcely  an  Illinois 
regiment  that  did  not  have  a  representation  from  this  county.  The  writer  has 
performed  an  amount  of  labor  that  none  would  imagine,  hunting  these  stragglers. 
Where  there  were  less  than  four  or  five  in  a  company,  we  have  not  given  a 
detailed  history  of  it.  But  in  order  that  none  be  overlooked,  we  read  every 
name  and  post-office  address  in  the  eight  volumes  of  the  Adjutant-General's 
Report. 

The  officers  of  the  Thirty-eighth  were  as  follows :  Colonels — William  P. 
Carlin,  Daniel  H.  Gilmer  and  Ed.  Colyer  ;  Lieutenant  Colonels — Mortimer 
O'Kean,  D.  H.  Gilmer,  William  H.  Chapman  and  Ed.  Colyer;  Majors — D.  H. 
Gilmer,  Henry  L.  Alden  and  Andrew  M.  Pollard,  none  of  whom  were  from 
Menard.  This  regiment  was  organized  in  September,  1861,  at  Camp  Butler, 
Illinois,  by  Col.  William  P.  Carlin.  Moved  at  once  to  Pilot  Knob,  Missouri, 
receiving  arms  en  route,  and  as  early  as  the  21st  of  October,  one  month  arid 
one  day,  from  leaving  Camp  Butler,  it  was  introduced  to  the  stern  realities  of 
war,  at  Fredericktown,  by  being  engaged  in  battle  with  the  Missouri  "  Swamp 
Fox,"  Jeff.  Thompson.  This  introduction  was  a  very  good  index  to  the  future 
four  years  and  three  months  of  its  service.  At  or  near  the  city  of  Nashville, 
it  lost  in  battle,  3  killed  and  8  wounded.  At  Stone  River,  34  killed,  109 
wounded,  and  34  missing.  Near  Liberty  Gap,  the  regiment  lost,  killed,  3  ; 
wounded,  19.  In  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain,  the  Thirty-eighth  suffered 
severely.  Col.  Gilmer  was  killed,  Maj.  Alden  severely  wounded ;  and  of  the 
301  men  who  went  into  the  action,  180  were  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 
The  history  of  this  regiment  is  one  of  constant  hard  work  and  bloody  fighting, 
from  first  to  last ;  and  the  student  of  history  can  trace  its  way  through  those 
long,  dark  four  years  by  the  weary  marches,  and  bloody  fields  that  it  left  as 
waymarks.  Only  one  company  of  this  regiment  had  representatives  from 
Menard  County  on  its  roll,  and  this  was  Company  G.  Only  twelve  of  these 
were  from  this  county.  The  company  officers  were  as  follows,  viz.  :  Captains, 
A.  M.  Pollard,  Abraham  Golden  and  John  H.  Adams ;  First  Lieutenants, 
William  F.  Chapman,  Abraham  Golden  and  J.  H.  Adams  ;  Second  Lieutenants, 
A.  J.  Rankin  and  Abraham  Golden.  Of  these  only  Golden  was  from  Menard. 
Of  the  twelve  men  from  here,  none  were  killed,  wounded,  or  deserted.  Two 
died  of  disease,  these  were  Edward  W.  Martin  and  Ralf  Snodgrass.  Consider- 
ing the  general  mortality  in  the  regiment,  those  twelve  came  off  remarkably 
well. 

The  next  regiment  containing  men  from  Menard  County  was  the  Fifty- 
first  Illinois  Infantry.  As  there  were  but  few  of  our  men  in  this  regiment,  we 


266  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

give  but  a  very  brief  history  of  it.  This  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp 
Douglas,  Chicago,  111.,  by  Col.  Gilbert  W.  Gumming,  on  the  24th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1861.  On  the  14th  of  February  following,  it  moved  to  Cairo,  111.,  and 
thence  on  the  27th  to  Camp  Cullum,  on  the  Kentucky  shore  of  the  Ohio 
River.  Its  first  actual  engagement  was  at  Island  No.  10,  where,  on  the  8th 
of  April,  1862,  is  forced  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Mackall,  with  four  thousand 
men. 

On  the  24th  of  April,  the  brigade  of  Brig.  Gen.  John  M.  Palmer,  com- 
posed of  the  Twenty-second,  Twenty-seventh,  Forty-second  and  Fifty-first 
Illinois,  and  Company  C,  First  Illinois  Artillery,  was  assigned  to  Brig.  Gen. 
Paine's  Division.  This  division  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Farmington,  and 
the  siege  of  Corinth.  At  Mission  Ridge,  the  regiment  lost  one-fifth  of  the 
men  who  went  into  the  battle.  At  Kenesaw  Mountain,  it  lost,  in  killed  and 
wounded,  2  officers  and  54  men.  During  the  fighting  around  Atlanta, 
the  regiment  lost  in  killed  and  wounded,  7  officers,  and  105  privates.  At 
Franklin,  Tenn.,  Lieut.  Thomas  was  killed,  3  officers  wounded,  52  men  killed 
and  wounded,  and  98  missing.  Mustered  out  of  service  September  25,  1865. 
The  regimental  officers  were  all  Chicago  men.  Company  F,  of  this  regiment, 
had  eleven  men  from  this  county.  The  company  officers  were  all  from  else- 
where. Of  these  eleven,  none  were  killed  or  wounded.  One,  John  H.  Martin, 
died  of  disease.  Two  of  the  eleven  deserted,  viz.,  Samuel  Wagstaff  and  Jordan 
Shoon.  t 

The  Seventy-first  Illinois  Infantry  was  enlisted  for  three-months'  service, 
only.  Company  G,  of  this  regiment,  was  partially  raised  in  Menard 
County — thirty-seven  of  the  men  being  from  here.  Of  the  officers  of  the 
company,  only  one  was  from  Menard,  this  was  First  Lieut.  James  C.  Tice, 
of  Petersburg.  Of  these,  none  were  killed  or  wounded,  and  only  one  died  of 
disease — this  was  William  H.  Graham,  from  the  eastern  part  of  the  county. 
Being  out  only  ninety  days,  they  saw  but  very  little  of  the  reality  of  soldier 
life. 

We  come  now  to  the  Seventy-third  Infantry,  and  we  cannot  more 
briefly  or  pointedly  give  an  outline  of  the  work  of  this  brave  body  of 
men,  than  by  quoting  the  report  of  Lieut.  Col.  James  I.  Davidson,  as  made 
to  Adjt.  Gen.  Haynie.  This  report  was  dated  at  Springfield,  111.,  March  19, 
1867. 

Having  no  record  of  the  regiment  with  me,  a  history  would  be  impossible.  The  regimen \ 
was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  State  of  Illinois,  in  August,  1802,  and  immediately  became  part 
of  Gen.  Buell's  army.  Fought  nobly  at  Perryville,  finished  under  Gen.  Thomas,  at  Nashville. 
The  Seventy-third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  was  in  every  battle  fought  by  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  from  October,  1862,  until  the  rout  of  Gen.  Hood's  army  at  Nashville,  and  the 
winding-up  of  the  whole  matter.  The  only  report  I  can  make,  General,  is  that  our  dead  are 
found  at  Perryville,  Murfreesboro,  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge,  away  in  East  Tennessee, 
and  then  in  the  succession  of  battles  from  Chattanooga  to  the  fall  of  Atlanta.  And  when  Sher- 
man pushed  down  South,  the  Seventy-third  remained  with  Gen.  Thomas.  It  formed  a  part  of 
Opedyke's  Brigade,  at  Franklin,  which  saved  the  day  and  gave  him  his  star,  and  lost  its  last 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  267 

man  killed  in  driving  Hood's  army  from  Nashville.  It  has,  more  than  once,  been  complimented 
by  its  Generals.  It  lost  heavily  in  Murfreesboro,  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge  and  Frank- 
lin. It  had  two  Majors  and  two  Adjutants  killed  and  nearly  every  officer  of  the  regiment, 
wounded,  at  some  time — several  of  them  many  times ;  but  as  to  the  number  of  killed  and 
wounded,  I  know  not.  We  left  the  State  one  of  the  largest,  and  returned  one  of  the  smallest 
regiments.  Her  officers  and  men,  and  especially  the  men,  have  never  been  surpassed  for  brav- 
ery, endurance  and  devotion  to  the  country.  I  believe  that  nearly  two-thirds  of  the  organiza- 
tion wasted  away,  either  by  disease,  death  or  battles,  during  the  three  years'  service. 

Such  is  the  simple,  unostentatious  record  of  this  devoted  regiment.  In 
Company  F  of  this  regiment,  were  thirty  of  the  citizens  of  Menard  County. 
Of  the  officers  of  this  company,  none  were  from  this  county,  except  the  first 
Captain,  George  Montgomery,  and  he  served  only  till  the  19th  of  December, 
1862,  when  he  resigned  and  left  the  command.  Three  were  killed  in  action, 
viz.,  Robert  Z.  McBride,  Enoch  Preston  and  William  Weaver.  Eight  of  the 
others  died  of  disease ;  these  were  Thomas  D.  Nolan,  George  W.  Gardener, 
Joseph  Montgomery,  William  W.  Martenia,  David  Martenia,  Ritchey  Mont- 
gomery, William  L.  Stollard  and  Cornelius  C.  Wolf.  Four  others  were 
severely  wounded,  viz.,  James  A.  Coil,  Wesley  Long,  Isaac  C.  Coil  and 
George  H.  McKinney.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that,  of  this  little  band  going 
out  from  here,  more  than  one-third  the  number  were  left  to  sleep  amid  the 
flowers  of  the  Sunny  South,  undisturbed  by  the  roar  of  battle,  while  half  the 
number  were  among  the  dead  or  the  wounded  when  the  final  account  of  the 
regiment  was  made  up.  Their  comrades  in  arms  "  carved  not  a  line,  and 
raised  not  a  stone,  but  left  them  alone  in  their  glory." 

From  the  Seventy-third  up  to  the  Eighty-fifth,  there  was  to  be  found  no 
representative  from  "Little  Menard,"  except  here  and  there  a  company 
having  on  its  muster-roll  the  name  of  some  one  who  had  enlisted  among 
strangers,  but  who  should  have  been  credited  to  this  county.  But  Company  E, 
of  the  Eighty-fifth,  was  largely  made  up  from  this  county,  having  the  names  of 
seventy-five  men  from  here  on  its  roll.  Here  again  it  becomes  our  duty  to 
chronicle  some  of  the  leading  events  in  the  history  of  that  regiment,  though  the 
record  will  necessarily  be  brief. 

This  regiment  was  organized  by  Col.  Robert  S.  Moore,  and  it  was  mus- 
tered into  service  August  28,  1862.  The  organization  was  at  Peoria,  111. 
Immediately  after  being  mustered  in,  it  was  ordered  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  which 
point  it  reached  about  the  6th  or  7th  of  September.  Here  it  was  assigned  to 
the  Thirty-sixth  Brigade,  Eleventh  Division,  Third  Army  Corps,  Col.  McCook 
commanding  the  Brigade,  Brig.  Gen.  Phil.  Sheridan  commanding  the  Division, 
and  Maj.  Gen.  Gilbert  commanding  the  the  Corps.  The  Eighty-fifth  marched 
in.  pursuit  of  the  enemy  under  Gen.  Bragg,  October  1,  1862,  and  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Champion  Hills,  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8th,  and  moved  with 
the  army  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  arriving  November  7,  1862.  After  long 
and  hard  service,  it  was  mustered  out  June  5,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and 
arrived  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  June  11,  1865,  where  they  received  final 


268  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

payment  and  discharge.  Company  E,  of  the  Eighty-fifth  Regiment  was  largely 
made  up  of  men  from  this  county  ;  the  company  officers  were  all  from  Peters- 
burg. The  regimental  officers  were  Cols.  Robert  S.  Moore  and  Caleb  J. 
Dilworth ;  Lieutenant  Colonels,  C.  J.  Dilworth,  James  P.  Walker,  and  James  R. 
Griffith  ;  Majors,  Samuel  P.  Cummings,  Robert  G.  Rider  and  Pleasant  S.  Scott. 
Of  these,  none  were  from  Menard  County  except  Maj.  Scott.  The  company 
officers  of  Company  E  were :  Captain,  Pleasant  L.  Scott ;  First  Lieutenants, 
Joseph  M.  Plunket,  Hugh  A.  Trent  and  Charles  Borchert ;  Second  Lieuten- 
ants, Abraham  Clary,  Clark  N.  Andrus  and  Andrew  F.  J.  Shackey.  All  of 
these  were  from  Menard  County ;  seventy-five  of  the  men  were  also  from  this 
county.  Three  were  killed  in  action,  viz.,  J.  C.  Miller,  George  Watterman  and 
Thomas  Owens;  William  S.  Potter  was  killed  in  a  railroad  accident,  and  William 
Ray  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  pistol.  The  following  named  persons,  six 
in  number,  died  of  wounds  :  James  N.  Sheets,  Bowling  Green,  Richard  Griffin, 
William  F.  Hokimer,  A*  J.  Taylor,  and  J.  E.  Thomas ;  four  received  severe 
wounds,  of  which  they  recovered ;  these  were  James  Linn,  William  F.  Allen, 
James  Senter  and  John  H.  Arnold.  Ten  others  died  of  disease,  viz.,  Samuel 
Havens,  David  Armstrong,  John  Barnett,  John  Cox,  Michael  Ekis,  Wesley 
Frost,  William  A.  Mence,  Thomas  Osterman,  Christopher  Shutt  and  Ephraim 
Stout.  Thus,  of  the  seventy-five  who  enlisted,  just  one-third,  or  twenty-five, 
were  dead  or  wounded  before  the  time  of  service  expired.  Of  the  remainder, 
no  less  than  ten  deserted  the  ranks,  and  sought  safety  elsewhere.  Pleasant 
S.  Scott,  who  was  Captain  of  the  company  at  first,  was  promoted  to  the 
position  of  Major,  served  out  his  time,  and  Js  now  a  respected  citizen  of  Peters- 
burg.- 

From  the  Eighty -fifth,  we  pass  the  intermediate  regiments  up  to  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  before  we  find  any  men  from  Menard,  unless  it  be  a  single 
individual  in  a  company  here  and  there.  The  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  was 
organized  at  Lincoln,  Logan  Co..  111.,  by  Col.  Robert  B.  Latham,  in  August, 
1862.  It  was  mustered  into  service  on  the  18th  of  September,  the  same  year. 
On  the  7th  of  November,  it  started  for  Columbus,  Ky.,  by  way  of  St.  Louis, 
arriving  at  the  objective  point  on  the  10th  of  the  same  month.  From  there  it 
was  soon  removed  to  Jackson,  Tenn.  At  that  time,  Col.  M.  K.  Lawler  com- 
manded the  post  at  Jackson,  and  Brig.  Gen.  J.  C.  Sullivan  the  district.  Much 
of  the  time  was  spent  west  of  the  Mississippi  River ;  and  the  regiment  was 
mustered  out  of  service  at  Pine  Bluff",  Ark.,  on  the  12th  of  July,  1865.  It 
reached  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  July  25, ,1865,  and  there  received  final  pay- 
ment and  discharge. 

While  this  command  was  eminently  useful  in  guarding  posts  and  various 
kinds  of  service,  it  was  not  its  lot  to  see  much'of  the  real  tragedy  of  war,  and 
perhaps  the  comedy  was  equally  as  full  of  amusement  to  the  men  composing 
it.  Only  one  officer  of  the  regiment  was  from  this  county,  and  that  was  Lieut. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  26D 

CoL  John  M.  Hurt,  of  Athens,  who  died  at  Pine  Bluff,  Ark.,  November  18, 
1864.  A  company  from  this  county — Company  K,  consisting  of  102  men 
— belonged  to  this  regiment.  The  first  Captain  of  this  company  was  Alonzo 
E.  Currier,  of  Athens.  He  resigned  June  15,  1863,  and  was  succeeded  by 
George  Collier,  of  Petersburg.  But,  only  eleven  days  after,  Capt.  Collier 
died  of  disease,  and  was  succeeded  by  Lieut.  John  A.  Hurt,  of  Athens.  On 
the  28th  of  March,  1865,  Capt.  Hurt  was  honorably  discharged,  to  be  pro- 
moted Major.  Lieut.  Samuel  H.  Blane  then  became  Captain  and  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  now  a  popular  lawyer  in  Petersburg,  111.  The 
other  officers,  in  the  order  of  their  service,  are  as  follows  :  First  Lieutenants, 
George  Collier,  John  A.  Hurt,  James  D.  McCam,  Samuel  H.  Blane  and  Gage 
S.  Gritman ;  Second  Lieutenants,  John  A.  Hurt,  S.  H.  Blane  and  Enoch  B. 
Smith.  All  of  these,  except  McCam,  Gritman  and  Smith,  were  promoted. 
Of  these  102  men,  besides  the  officers,  20  died  of  disease,  viz.,  James  McCam, 
Jesse  Stone,  Henry  C.  Black,  Andrew  Gunstenson,  Calvin  Goodell,  Homer 
Goodpastine,  John  C.  Goff,  Samuel  H.  Hardin,  James  C.  Hurst,  James  H. 
Jackson,  James  W.  Kincaid,  James  McClary,  Thomas  H.  Metteer,  Francis 
Rice,  James  E.  Roberson,  Odd  A.  Roe,  William  A.  Smith,  Terry  Tuckleson, 
Francis  A.  Vanaman,  George  D.  Brockway  and  David  S.  Rice.  None  were 
killed  or  wounded  in  action,  nor  did  any  desert.  Through  a  singular  Provi- 
dence, or  fatality,  as  some  of  them  regarded  it,  they  were  given  no  chance  ta 
exhibit  their  great  prowess  on  the  ensanguined  field.  But  we  doubt  not 
that  the  motive  prompting  them  to  enlist  were  just  as  pure  as  that  of  those 
who  stood  where  the  fight  was  hottest ;  and,  if  opportunity  had  presented 
itself,  no  doubt  they  would  have  won  as  many  laurels  as  any  who  marched 
under  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  As  said  before,  it  was  no  fault  of  theirs  that 
they  were  not  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  for  both  officers  and  men  enlisted 
to  fight. 

Of  the  regiments  we  have  named,  there  is  not  one  of  which  an  Illinoisan 
need  be  ashamed ;  but  there  were  some  that  had  better  opportunity  to  write  its 
deeds  of  daring  in  crimson  letters  than  others.  Among  the  Illinois  regiments 
that  will  live  in  the  memory  of  man,  we  may  name  the  gallant  One  Hundred 
and  Fourteenth.  This  regiment  was  composed  of  six  companies  from  Sanga- 
mon  County,  B,  C,  E,  G,  H  and  I  ;  two  from  Cass  County,  A  and  D  ;  and 
two  from  Menard,  F  and  K.  The  regiment  was  made  up  in  the  months  of 
July  and  August,  1862,  and  was  mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois, 
on  the  18th  of  September  following.  It  was  at  once  ordered  to  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  and  there  did  picket  duty  until  the  26th  of  November,  when  it  started 
on  the  Tallahatchie  campaign  as  a  part  of  the  First  Brigade  of  Brig.  Gen. 
Lanman's  Division.  During  the  winter,  it  marched  to  College  Hill,  and  then 
to  Jackson,  and  thence  back  to  Memphis.  On  March  17,  1863,  it  was  trans- 
ported down  the  river  to  Young's  Point,  and  soon  after  went  into  camp  at 


270  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

Duckport,  La.  On  the  2d  of  May,  the  regiment  broke  camp  to  take  a  posi- 
tion in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  and,  on  the  14th  of  May,  engaged  in  the  battle  . 
of  Jackson,  Miss.  Reached  the  rear  of  Vicksburg  the  18th,  and  took  part  in 
the  siege.  Just  one  mouth  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  Col.  James  W.  Judy, 
of  Menard  County,  resigned.  This  was  August  4,  1863,  he  having  served 
eighteen  days  less  than  one  year.  He  was  succeeded  by  Lieut.  Col.  John  F. 
King.  Samuel  N.  Shoup  acted  as  Colonel  after  May  11, 1865.  The  regiment 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Wyatt,  Mississippi,  Guntown,  Tupelo,  Harris- 
ville.  It  was  on  the  long  and  tedious  pursuit  of  Gen.  Price  in  Missouri, 
marching  from  the  Arkansas  border,  to  Kansas  City  and  back  to  St.  Louis. 
At,  both  Guntown  and  Harrisville,  the  regiment  was  highly  complimented  for 
bravery.  Having  returned  South,  on  the  night  of  the  13th  of  April  (the  very 
idght  that  President  Lincoln  was  shot),  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  attack 
Forts  Tracy  and  Hugee,  situated  in  Mobile  Bay.  The  attack  was  made  in 
pontoon  boats,  but  when  the  forts  were  reached,  they  were  found  to  have  been 
entirely  evacuated.  After  the  surrender  of  Mobile,  the  regiment  marched  to 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  arriving  April  24,  and  bridging  the  Alabama  River  with 
pontoons,  remained  on  duty  at  the  bridge  until  the  17th  of  July,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  Vicksburg,  to  be  mustered  out.  On  the  3d  of  August,  1865,  it  was 
mustered  out,  and  reached  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  August  7,  and  were  paid  off, 
and  discharged  August  15,  1865. 

Company  C,  though  not  credited  as  a  company  to  Menard  County,  had 
thirty  men  from  that  county  in  its  rank  and  file.  Out  of  the  thirty,  four  were 
killed  in  battle,  viz.,  William  M.  Blue,  James  Griffith,  John  W.  Langston  and 
William  Bumford.  Two  died  of  wounds,  James  H.  Mitchell  and  Benjamin  F. 
Sever.  One  was  severely  wounded  but  recovered  ;  this  was  William  Lawrence. 
Two  died  in  prison,  viz.,  Simeon  Little  and  Charles  S.  Parker;  two  others, 
who  were  in  prison,  lived  to  be  exchanged,  viz.,  William  H.  Holland  and 
William  Staples.  Six  deserted.  Thirteen  died  of  disease ;  these  were 
William  Cantrall,  George  H.  Broaderick,  Young  M.  Oantrall,  David  S.  Dris- 
call,  Charles  Frisby,  Jacob  B.  Hutchinson,  Isaac  N.  Halladay,  Henry  Parks, 
William  0.  Smith,  John  W.  Sampson,  Peter  Sebriney,  Charles  C.  Tufts  and 
John  W.  Wilson. 

Company  F  mustered  fifty-six  men  from  Menard  County.  Capt.  Absalom 
Miller,  of  Menard ;  First  Lieutenant,  Willett  B.  Taylor,  of  Cass,  and  Second 
Lieutenant,  Joseph  T.  Workman,  of  Menard,  were  the  company  officers.  Two 
of  this  company,  George  A.  Bell  and  Charles  P.  Carson,  were  killed  in  action ; 
Thomas  R.  Humphrey  and  Robert  J.  Clarke  died  of  wounds  ;  James  S.  Smith 
was  severely  wounded  but  recovered ;  two  died  in  prison,  viz.,  David  Monroe 
and  William  H.  Penny.  Seven  out  of  this  company  were  for  a  time  prisoners 
but  were  exchanged ;  their  names  are  as  follows :  Jacob  Brown,  Jasper  I. 
Campbell,  William  D.  Colby,  A.  J.  Etherton,  George  H.  Hoff,  John 


' 


HISTORY   OF    MENARD   COUNTY.  271 

Kinner  and  Russel  B.  Thrapp.  Died  of  disease,  twelve,  viz.,  Richard  Smedley, 
Thomas  S.  Armstrong,  James  W.  Bell,  Thomas  D.  Fuller,  John  A.  Kurd, 
John  McNeal,  Michael  Spinner,  William  A.  Smith,  William  Tippet,  George 
M.  Wilson,  Lycurgus  Workman  and  John  A.  Conyers.  There  were  also  two 
deserters  from  this  company,  but  we  wiil  not  record  their  names  on  these 
pages. 

Company  K,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth,  was  also  raised  in  this 
county,  and  ninety -two  of  her  citizens  were  enrolled  in  it.  The  company  offi- 
cers were  all,  save  one,  from  this  county.  They  were:  Captains,  Samuel  Estill 
and  Robert  Hornback,  First  Lieutenants,  Lucian  Terhune  and  Ezra  Fish,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  Henry  C.  Rogge.  All  of  these,  except  Fish,  were  from  Men- 
ard.  Of  the  men,  Joseph  Denton  was  killed  in  battle ;  James  Morris  and 
John  M.  Hart  died  of  wounds  received  in  battle,  while  Jesse  Knoles  lost  a  leg 
at  the  knee,  but  recovered.  Four  were  taken  prisoners  ;  these  were  William 
J.  Allen,  Henry  Beekman,  Evan  McLean  and  Samuel  S.  Knoles ;  the  last 
named,  now  editor  of  the  Petersburg  Democrat,  was  in  Anderson ville  for  nine 
months.  Not  long  before  he  was  taken  prisoner,  while  in  the  heat  of  battle, 
he  was  hit  square  over  the  heart  with  a  minie  ball,  but  having  a  large  bunch 
of  letters  in  the  breast  pocket  of  his  coat  (letters  from  the  girl  he  left  behind 
him,  perhaps),  the  ball  lodged  in  the  center  of  the  letters  and  he  escaped  with 
a  thorough  shaking-up  and  a  severe  bruise.  Fourteen  of  the  company  died  of 
disease ;  these  were  David  F.  Estill,  Louis  P.  Moore,  William  J.  Denton, 
George  W.  Powell,  Isaac  F.  Estill,  William  Johnson,  Harman  Meyer,  Joseph 
Oswold,  Isaac  Snodgrass,  Rhodes  Snodgrass,  John  W.  Trumbo,  Walter  Taylor, 
Arthur  Thomas  and  John  Yelkin.  Eight  of  the  privates,  full  of  chivalry  and 
patriotism,  took  "  French  leave,"  that  is,  they  deserted  ;  their  names  we  will 
not  give  at  present.  This  completes  the  record  of  this  regiment,  so  far  as  we 
have  space  to  give  it.  Menard  County  had  178  men  in  the  ranks  of  this 
brave  body  of  men.  Many  are  sleeping  on  the  hillsides  of  the  Sunny  South, 
while  many  others,  having  almost  forgotten  the  arts  of  war,  are  here  enjoying 
the  liberties  for  which  they  fought,  showing  the  same  fortitude  and  courage 
exhibited  by  them  in  battle. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Illinois  Infantry  will  now  be  noticed 
briefly,  as  among  its  men  we  find  quite  a  number  from  this  county.  But  had 
there  been  none  of  our  volunteers  among  them,  we  would  be  almost  led  to 
state  a  few  facts  concerning  it,  as  it  merits  a  place  wherever  a  record  is  made 
of  Illinois  soldiers.  The  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  was  ordered  into  the 
field  from  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  on  October  4,  1862,  having  mustered  in  the 
l->th  of  September  of  the  same  year.  It  went  to  Cincinnati,  and,  the  same  day, 
crossed  the  Ohio  River  into  Kentucky.  It  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Bri- 
gade, Second  Division,  Army  of  Kentucky.  It  was  never  actively  engaged  in 
battle  until  it  was  ordered  to  Franklin,  Tenn.,  in  March,  1863.  But  the 


272  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

mortality,  on  account  of  exposure,  hard  marching  and  a  diet  to  which  they  were 
unaccustomed,  with  the  change  of  climate,  was  fearful.  Up  to  that  time,  more 
than  two  hundred  men  had  died  or  been  permanently  disabled  by  disease ;  they 
had  died  by  scores.  After  driving  Gen.  Bragg's  army  across  the  Tennessee 
River,  on  the  24th  of  June,  1863,  the  brigade  had  a  respite  from  battle  until 
the  19th  of  September.  On  this  day,  it  engaged  in  the  bloody  conflict  of 
Chickamauga.  In  this  battle,  the  loss  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth 
was  very  slight.  On  September  20,  it  crossed  to  the  support  of  Gen. 
Thomas,  on  the  extreme  right,  leaving  camp  at  sunrise.  At  1  o'clock  P.  M., 
it  engaged  the  rebels  of  Thomas'  right  with  Steadman's  division,  ten  regiments 
reserve  corps.  After  a  most  fearful  and  sanguinary  struggle,  it  held  its  posi- 
tion until  night  put  an  end  to  the  day's  carnage.  But  it  was  held  at  a  fearful 
sacrifice,  more  than  one-half  the  command  being  cut  down  on  the  field. 
The  regiment  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Chattanooga,  Mission  Ridge  and 
countless  skirmishes. 

In  the  campaign  around  Chattanooga,  the  regiment  lost  235  men  and  10 
officers,  among  them  being  Lieut.  Col.  Kinman,  of  Jacksonville.  After  this, 
it  fought  at  Dalton,  Resaca,  Atlanta  and  other  points,  and  finally  was  in  the 
pursuit  of  Hood  from  Nashville.  It  was  mustered  out  of  service  near  Nash- 
ville^  on  the  llth  of  June,  1865,  and  reaching  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  on  the 
16th  of  June?  there  received  final  pay  and  discharge  June  23,  1865. 

Company  K  pf  this  regiment  was  made  up  in  part  of  men  from  this 
county,  there  being  forty-three  among  the  privates  and  three  of  the  company 
officers  from  Menard  County.  The  company  officers  were  as  follows :  Cap- 
tains— James  Steele  and  Alanson  Pierce,  both  of  Menard,  and  Philip  Riley,  of 
Springfield  ;  First  Lieutenants — Sylvester  M.  Bailey,  of  Salisbury  ;  Philip 
Riley  and  Samuel  Alexander,  of  Menard ;  Second  Lieutenant — Philip  Riley. 
This  company  had  killed  in  action,  two,  James  B.  Strode  and  William  B. 
England.  Three  of  its  number  died  in  prison,  Lewis  J.  Ferguson,  Edward  R. 
Center  and  William  H.  Bumgardner.  Two  were  for  a  time  prisoners,  but 
were  at  length  exchanged ;  these  were  Andrew  J.  Hall  and  Jacob  A.  Allison. 
The  following  persons,  six  in  number,  died  in  prison :  James  P.  Moran,  Will- 
iam Bailey,  William  Ferguson,  William  L.  Hyde,  Smith  A.  Marshall  and  Law- 
rence Newhart.  Six,  also,  were  deserters.  In  one  or  two  other  companies  in 
this  regiment,  there  were  one  or  two  men  from  this  county,  but  the  reader  will 
find  a  list  of  these  scattered  individuals  at  the  close  of  this  article  ;  it  is  unnec- 
essary to  speak  of  any  of  them  in  this  place. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  was  organ- 
ized at  Camp  Butler  by  Col.  Thaddeus  Phillips,  and  mustered  into  the  service 
for  one  hundred  days  on  the  31st  of  May,  1864.  On  the  3d  of  June,  it  was 
removed  to  Rock  Island  Barracks,  and  was  there  assigned  the  duty  of  guarding 
prisoners  of  war.  This  duty  it  faithfully  performed  during  its  term  of  service, 
and,  on  the  24th  of  the  following  September,  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  at 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  273 

Camp  Butler.  The  regimental  officers  were :  Colonel,  Thaddeus  Phillips ; 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  John  E.  Moore  ;  Major,  James  F.  Langley.  Company  I, 
ofthe  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  contained  twenty-three  men  from  Menard 
County.  The  company  officers  were  :  Captain,  Alfred  Orendorff,  of  Lincoln  ; 
First  Lieutenant,  Ethan  A.  Norton,  of  Petersburg ;  and,  Second  Lieutenant, 
Samuel  A.  Rannels,  of  Murrayville.  Of  the  twenty-four  men  of  this  county, 
counting  Lieut.  Norton,  not  one  died  or  deserted  ;  and,  as  they  were  never  in 
action,  of  course  none  were  killed  or  wounded. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Illinois  Infantry  was  organized  by  Col. 
Ferdinand  D.  Stephenson,  at  Camp  Butler,  and  was  mustered  in  for  one  year's 
service  on  the  18th  of  February,  1865.  On  the  20th  of  the  same  month,  it 
moved  to  Tullahoma,  Tenn.,  by  way  of  Nashville,  and  there  reported  for  duty 
to  Maj.  Gen.  Milroy,  February  28,  1865.  The  regiment  was  mustered  out  at 
Memphis,  Tenn.,  on  the  llth  of  September,  1865.  It  reached  Camp  Butler, 
Illinois,  September  19,  1865,  and  received  final  payment  and  discharge.  The 
regimental  officers  were:  Colonel,  Ferdinand  D.  Stephenson,  of  Groveland; 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  Jasper  Partridge,  of  Whitmore;  and  John  N.  Nale, 
of  Blue  Mound.  One  company  of  the  regiment  was  partially  raised  in  this 
county.  This  was  Company  A.  Of  the  company,  forty-eight  men  and  two 
officers  (fifty,  in  all)  were  from  Menard.  The  company  officers  were :  Cap- 
tain, William  S.  Slocumb,  of  Groveland ;  First  Lieutenant,  Merritt  Hurst, 
of  Menard;  and  Second  Lieutenant,  James  N.  Barger,  of  Menard,  also. 
None  were  killed,  wounded  or  prisoners,  the  only  reduction  of  the  company 
being  from  disease  and  desertion.  Four  died  of  disease,  viz.:  Andrew  J.  Brown, 
John  Flemming,  Noah  L.  Weaver  and  Stephen  L.  Wilson.  The  deserters 
were  three. 

This  closes  the  record  of  the  part  taken  by  this  county  in  the  infantry  ser- 
vice, but  the  cavalry  had  several  representatives  from  Menard  County,  a  record 
of  which  we  will  now  give  very  briefly.  The  Tenth  Cavalry  was  the  only 
cavalry  regiment  in  which  any  considerable  number  of  men  from  this  county 
were  enrolled.  The  Tenth  Cavalry  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois, 
on  the  25th  of  November,  1861.  Dudley  Wickersham  was  appointed  its 
Colonel  on  the  15th  of  May,  1862.  On  the  20th  of  December,  1861, 
it  moved  to  Quincy,  111.,  and,  on  the  13th  of  March  following,  it  was  ordered 
to  Benton  Barracks,  Mo.  From  this  time  on,  this  regiment  saw  hard 
service  until  it  was  mustered  out.  It  was  made  up  of  a  fine  lot  of  men,  who 
were  ever  ready  for  the  fray.  It  was  finally  mustered  out  of  service  at  San 
Antonio,  Tex.,  on  the  22d  of  November,  1865,  and  ordered  to  Springfield, 
111.,  for  final  pay  and  discharge.  The  regimental  officers  were  as  follows: 
Colonels,  James  A.  Barrett,  Dudley  Wickersham  and  James  Stuart ;  Lieutenant 
Colonels.  Dudley  Wickersham,  James  Stuart,  Samuel  N.  Hitt,  Egleton  Car- 
michael  and  Thomas  D.  Vredenburgh  ;  Majors,  T.  D.  Vredenburgh,  George  A. 
Wills,  William  A.  Chapin  and  Tabner  B.  Pierce.  Of  these  officers  of  the 


274  HISTORY   OF   MEN  ARC   COUNTY. 

regiment,  none  were  of  this  county.  Two  companies  of  this  regiment  were  made, 
partially,  at  least,  in  this  county.  These  were  Companies  A  and  E.  Of  the 
first  of  these,  thirty-two  men  and  two  officers  were  from  Menard.  These 
were  Capt.  Christopher  H.  Anderson,  of  Swee'twater,  and  Second  Lieut. 
Samuel  F.  Russell,  of  Athens.  None  of  Company  A  were  killed  in  battle, 
although  Samuel  Montgomery  died  of  wounds  received  in  action.  Seven  died 
of  disease.  These  were  Bradley  V.  Atwood,  Joseph  McReynolds,  Joseph  L. 
Markwell,  John  C.  Rogers,  George  W.  Reding,  Elisha  Hall  and  Selathiel  G. 
Leach.  Company  E  mustered  sixty-six  men  from  Menard  County,  and  one 
officer.  The  company  officers  were  :  Captains,  Henry  Reily,  Samuel  J.  Byrd 
and  William  H.  Stout ;  First  Lieutenants,  Columbus  Cross,  William  H.  East, 
S.  J.  Byrd,  Henry  J.  Solomon  and  Samuel  B.  Garber ;  Second  Lieutenant, 
William  J.  Darman.  Of  these  officers,  only  Samuel  B.  Garber  was  from 
Menard  County.  Out  of  this  company,  none  were  killed  in  action.  Simon  P. 
Sampson  died  of  wounds  received  in  a  fight.  Four  died  of  disease,  viz.:  Levy 
Shaw,  Michael  Bolson,  James  M.  Reed  and  William  Young.  From  some 
unknown  cause,  the  number  of  deserters  was  excessively  large  in  proportion  to 
the  numbers,  there  being  no  less  than  ten  of  the  sixty-six  who  did  not 

"  Fight  and  run  away 
To  live  to  fight  another  day  ;  " 

but  they  ran  away  before  they  fought  a  battle. 

This  brings  us  to  the  artillery.  Only  three  men  of  Menard  County  were 
in  the  artillery,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  as  the  Adjutant  General's  Report  shows. 
James  Ward,  of  Athens,  Menard  County,  was  mustered  in  as  an  unassigned 
recruit,  into  the  First  Artillery,  on  the  20th  of  March,  1864.  Edward  L. 
Bingley,  of  Petersburg,  enlisted  as  a  recruit  in  Battery  B,  of  the  Second  Artil- 
lery, on  the  8th  of  March,  1864  ;  and  was  mustered  out  July  15,  1865.  Albert 
Albertson,  of  Petersburg,  enlisted  in  Battery  K,  of  the  Second  Artillery,  on  the 
27th  of  January,  1862.  He  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran,  and  served  till  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  served  most  of  the  time,  while  in  action,  as  No.  1  or  No.  2, 
that  is,  either  placed  the  cartridge  in  the  mouth  of  the  gun,  or  rammed  it  home. 
Albertson  was  in  a  number  of  battles,  his  battery  being  charged  more  than 
once,  and  many  of  the  men  cut  down  at  their  guns.  Mr.  Albertson  still  resides 
in  Petersburg,  a  respected  and  industrious  citizen. 

It  is  beyond  our  power  to  give  a  full  list  of  those  men  of  Menard  County 
who  belonged  to  commands  belonging  to  other  counties  ;  we  will  mention  a  few 
of  those  who  were  officers.  Charles  E.  McDougall,  now  a  merchant  of  Peters- 
burg, was  Captain  of  Company  E,  in  the  Sixty -first  Infantry.  He  enlisted  in 
Greene  County.  James  C.  Tice,  of  Menard  County,  was  First  Lieutenant  in 
Company  G,  of  the  Seventy-first  Infantry.  As  before  stated,  quite  a  number 
of  enlistments  from  this  county,  in  companies  from  other  parts  of  the  State, 
cannot,  by  any  possibility,  be  found. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 


275 


Below  we  give  a  tabular  view  of  the  enlistments,  officers,  deaths  from  vari- 
ous causes,  the  wounded,  deserters,  etc.,  etc.,  from  the  county.  Had  space 
allowed,  we  would  have  given  the  place,  date,  circumstances,  etc.,  of  all  the  cas- 
ualties of  soldiers  from  this  county,  during  the  war  from  first  to  last : 

SUMMARY    OF    THE    WAR    RECORD    OF    MENARD    COUNTY. 


REGIMENT  AND  COMPANY. 

Number 
Enlisted. 

_B 

•3  o 

=3 
53 

"S-S 

B 

•a  s 
»  o 

5£ 

Killed  by 
Accident. 

Wounded. 

s| 

5£ 

Prisoners 
Released. 

.°| 

•of 

0>    00 

Sa 

Deserted. 

.               ~                   „ 

80 
24 
107 
39 
46 
24 
12 
11 
37 
30 
75 
102 
30 
56 
92 
43 
23 
48 
32 
66 
1 
1 
1 

1 

Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth  Regiments,  Company  A.. 

4 

1 

5 
1 
1 

3 

9 
4 

3 

7 

2 

1 

'? 

1 
1 

2 

3 
3 

4 

8 

6 

2 

4 

10 

•>o 

10 

One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment,  Company  K... 
One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Regiment,  Co.  C  
One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Regiment,  Co.  F  
One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Regiment,  Co.  K  

4 

2 

rt 

1 
1 
1 

2 
2 

O 

2 
7 
4 
2 

13 
12 
14 

a 

6 

2 
8 
5 

2 
2 

One  Hundred  and  Thirty  -third  Regiment,  Co.  I.... 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Regiment,  Co.  A... 

4 
7 

3 

1 

T  "/I,  n      i        r                v       '       '              ""*" 

1 

4 

10 

Total   Privates  

19 

980 
31 
73 

21 
2 
3 

2 

21 
6 

8 

15 

117 
3 

50 

Total  Officers 

Total  Privates  enlisted  elsewhere         .    . 

9 

Total  

1084 

26 

19 

2 

26 

8j     15 

129 

50 

Total  deaths  of  officers  and  men  from  all  causes,  184.  A  great  many  of 
those  who  returned  home  have  since  died,  so  that  soldiers  of  the  late  war  are 
not  numerous  in  the  county,  even  though  over  one  thousand  entered  the  service 
eighteen  years  ago.  The  record  of  the  names  of  all  who  enlisted  should  be 
given,  that  the  future  generations  should  know  who  they  were  that  came  to  the 
rescue  in  the  hour  of  the  country's  peril.  A  few  years  in  the  future  and  the 
Report  of  the  Adjutant  General  will  be  out  of  print,  and  the  great  mass  of 
those  who  suffered  and  bled  and  died  will  be  forgotten. 

SOLDIERS    OF    THE    WAR    OF    1812    IN    MENARD    COUNTY. 

Of  course  this  county  sent  no  soldiers  into  the  last  war  with  England ;  but 
as  this  part  of  Illinois  began  to  be  settled  up  only  a  few  years  after  the  close 
of  that  war,  a  great  many  who  had  served  their  country  at  that  time,  settled 
here,  and  made  this  their  home  ever  after.  But  nearly  all  of  these  have  long 
since  gone  to  their  final  rest.  In  our  cemeteries,  we  frequently  see  inscriptions 


276  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

telling  the  fact  that  some  of  these  men  sleep  in  this  part  of  the  State.  Only 
a  year  or  two  ago,  one  of  these  old  patriots  was  laid  to  rest  beneath  the .  leaves 
and  flowers  of  Rose  Hill  Cemetery.  He  was  well  stricken  in  years,  but,  at  the 
mention  of  the  days  of  trial  he  experienced  in  the  war,  the  old  fire  would  come 
back  to  his  eye,  and,  for  a  time,  he  seemed  to  have  regained  all  the  fire  of  his 
youth ';  but,  at  the  change  of  the  theme  of  conversation,  he  relapsed  again  into 
the  apathy  and  weakness  of  extreme  old  age.  He  was  buried  by  a  detachment 
of  the  State  Guard  with  the  honors  of  war.  We  can  learn  of  only  three  per- 
sons now  living  in  the  county,  who  were  soldiers  in  that  war,  and  these  are,  of 
course,  all  very  old  men.  Mr.  Tarleton  Lloyd,  living  on  Rock  Creek,  some 
six  miles  south  of  Petersburg,  was  a  man  of,  at  least,  thirty  years  of  age  at  the 
beginning  of  that  war.  When  war  was  declared,  he  was  living  with  his  family  in 
one  of  the  Southeastern  States.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  he  had  a  wife 
and  children  at  the  time,  he  unhesitatingly  responded  to  the  call  of  his  country, 
and  enlisted  in  the  army.  He  served  faithfully  till  the  fall  of  Gen.  Packen- 
ham  and  the  close  of  the  war,  having  been  in  several  engagements,  and  then 
returned  to  his  family.  In  1820,  he  settled  on  the  place  where  he  now  lives  ; 
reared  a  large  family  (several  of  whom  are  still  in  this  part  of  the  State),  and 
still  lives,  a  hale  and  hearty  man  considering  his  age.  He  remembers  facts  in 
his  earlier  life  remarkably  well,  and  nothing  pleases  him  better  than  for  the 
younger  people  to  listen  to  his  stories  of  the  war,  and  the  early  history  of  Illi- 
nois. There  are  conflicting  statements  concerning  Mr.  Lloyd's  age.  Accord- 
ing to  his  own  statement,  he  is  now  about  ninety-six  years  of  age.  But  those 
who  have  known  him  long,  say  that  he  has  claimed  to  be  of  that  age  for  several 
years.  Those  who  knew  him  forty  or  fifty  years  ago,  say  that  according  to  the 
account  he  then  gave  of  his  age,  together  with  his  appearance  at  that  time, 
he  is  now,  certainly,  several  years  above  a  century  old.  William  Estill,  liv- 
ing on  Indian  Creek,  five  miles  east  of  Petersburg,  was  also  a  soldier  in 
the  late  war  with  England.  Sometime  after  the  close  of  the  war,  he  removed 
to  Illinois,  and  has  lived  ever  since  within  a  few  miles  of  his  present  residence. 
His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Williams,  sister  of  John  Williams,  one  of  the  leading 
capitalists  of  this  county.  She  died  many  years  ago,  and  some  years  la.ter,  he 
was  married  to  a  widow  lady — Mrs.  Eliza  Hayden.  By  his  first  wife,  he  reared 
a  large  family  of  children,  among  them  were  Capts.  William  J.  and  Samuel 
Estill,  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion  ;  Lieut.  Isaac  and  a  younger  brother,  both 
of  whom  died  in  the  service ;  and  also,  Joseph  and  James  Estill  (both 
farmers)  living  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county.  Besides  these  sons,  he 
has  two  daughters  still  living.  These  are  Mrs.  Luther  Jennison,  living 
near  Greenview,  and  Mrs.  William  Price,  near  Athens.  "  Uncle  Billy,"  as 
as  he  is  generally  called,  is  now  eighty-five  years  of  age,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  considerable  suffering  from  rheumatism,  is  in  remarkably  good 
health  for  one  of  this  great  age.  He  became  a  professor  of  religion  in  early 
life,  and  has,  for  about  half  a  century,  been  a  Ruling  Elder  in  the  Cumberland 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  279 

Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  a  man  of  deepest  piety,  and,  perhaps,  no  man 
in  this  part  of  Illinois  has  exerted  a  greater  influence  for  good  by  a  con- 
stantly devoted  and  consistent  Christian  life  than  he.  In  fact,  among  all  classes, 
he  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem,  and  regarded  as  a  model  of  devoted 
piety.  The  third  soldier  of  the  late  war  with  England,  living  in  this  county, 
is  Mr.  Lewis  McKay,  living  on  Rock  Creek,  seven  miles  south  of  Petersburg, 
and  in  the  same  neighborhood  with  Mr.  Tarleton  Lloyd,  spoken  of  before. 
Mr.  McKay  is  now  eighty-two  years  old ;  as  straight  as  a  boy,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  a  defect  in  his  hearing,  he  seems  to  be  in  the  enjoyment  of  excel- 
lent health  for  one  of  his  years.  Unfortunately,  we  have  not  had  the  means 
of  learning  the  history  of  Mr.  McKay.  He  went  into  the  service  -in  1814, 
hence,  was  not  more  than  seventeen  years  old  at  that  time.  He  served  till  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  then  settled  down  to  the  practice  of  the  arts  of  peace. 
He  is  a  perfect  gentleman  in  all  his  deportment,  and  is  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  know  him.  He,  at  present,  makes  his  home  with  his  son-in-law  and 
daughter — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abraham  Golden.  We  should  delight  to  honor  those 
old  men  who  have  done  so  much  for  our  country.  They  are  almost  all  gone. 
Here  and  there  one  still  lives,  but  a  few  years  from  now — in  less  than  a  decade 
— the  last  of  them  will  have  gone  to  the  journey's  end. 

It  becomes  our  duty,  in  this  connection,  to  speak  briefly  of  another  military 
organization  in  this  county.  This  organization  is  the 

HARRIS   GUARDS. 

On  the  8th  day  of  October,  1874,  a  militia  company  was  organized  in  Peters- 
burg, under  the  provisions  of  the  statutes  entitled  "Militia,"  and  approved 
March  3,  1845.  The  company  kept  up  its  organization,  though  not  in  a  perfect 
form,  until  the  1st  of  July,  1877,  when  it  was  re-organized  under  the  new 
militia  law,  of  the  State,  which  was  approved  May  18,  1877.  The  company 
was  named  in  honor  of  a  former  statesman  and  soldier  of  this  place,  Maj. 
Thomas  L.  Harris.  Maj.  Harris  filled  that  position  in  the  Mexican  war  with 
bravery  and  distinction  ;  and,  after  the  war,  represented  this  district  in  Con- 
gress. He  was  growing  rapidly  in  popularity,  but  when  little  more  than  forty 
years  of  age,  he  was  stricken  down  by  death.  When  the  company  was  organ- 
ized and  sworn  in,  it  was  attached  to  the  Fifth  Regiment  of  Illinois  National 
Guards,  the  company  being  Company  E.  regimental  headquarters  at  Springfield. 
The  Guards  have  occupied  Fisher's  Hall  as  An  armory,  in  the  past,  but  they, 
in  connection  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  have  now  in  process  of  erection  an 
armory  and  hall,  which  is  to  be  finished  this  fall,  and  is  to  cost  $10,000.  The 
Harris  Guards  have  never  been  called  into  active  service  but  once ;  this  was 
during  the  labor  riots,  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1877.  The  company  was 
first  called  to  Springfield,  and  thence  ordered  to  East  St.  Louis,  where  they 
remained  until  quiet  and  order  were  restored  throughout  the  country.  While 
on  duty,  they  exhibited  coolness,  discretion  and  fortitude  in  a  very  remarkable 

F 


280  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

degree,  and  in  this  way  exerted  a  great  influence  in  restoring  quiet  in  East  St. 
Louis  and  St.  Louis.  They  are  well  armed  and  nicely  uniformed,  and  are  well 
drilled  in  the  manual  of  arms.  The  men  are  principally  just  in  the  prime  of 
life,  and  on  parade  they  present  a  fine  appearance.  The  officers  of  the  company 
are  all  old  soldiers,  and  well  informed  in  military  matters.  Capt.  McDougall 
was  captain  of  a  company  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and  proved  himself  a 
true  soldier.  Below  we  give  a  full  roster  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  com- 
pany: Captain,  Charles  E.  McDougall;  First  Lieutenant,  John  M.  Walker :  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant,  James  H.  Carman  ;  First  Sergeant,  James  W.  Conant ;  Second 
Sergeant, Edward  C.  Drake;  Third  Sergeant,  John  C.  Cabanis;  Fourth  Sergeant, 
Frank  Meyer;  Fifth  Sergeant,  Julius  Rothschild;  First  Corporal,  Michael  F. 
Farney ;  Second  Corporal,  William  Kern  ;  Third  Corporal,  Powell  Antle ; 
Fourth  Corporal,  L.  H.  Fouch ;  Fifth  Corporal,  Charles  R.  Collier ;  Sixth 
Corporal,  Eugene  W.  Eads  ;  Seventh  Corporal,  John  B.  Barnhard  ;  Secretary, 
E.  R.  Oeltjen.  Privates — Leopold  Ahronheim,  John  P.  Brehl,  Howard  D. 
Burbank,  James  E.  Davis,  Alonzo  E.  Estill,  John  D.  Freeze,  Harry  Harris, 
William  E.  Hatfield,  Robert  H.  James,  Mayo  Jones,  John  A.  Larman,  John 
H.  McDougall,  George  W.  Morris,  Frank  A.  Rainey,  Thomas  A.  Ruddy, 
Henry  Wegharst,  Fred  Wilkinson,  Thomas  J.  Lewis,  Edward  L.  Goodman, 
James  M.  Bale,  William  R.  Humphreys,  James  H.  Bowen,  Lynch  Brooks, 
John  R.  Connover,  Orin  D.  Doland,  George  C.  Freese,  William  G.  Gottschall, 
Albert  L.  Hatch,  Lorenzo  W.  Heelan,  Hermann  Janssen,  William  S.  Judy, 
Frank  McDougall,  George  S.  Montgomery,  Albert  F.  Oeltjen,  Edward  D.  Rob- 
ertson, Marshall  W.  Thomas,  Leo  Werner,  Edward  D.  Wright,  Marcus  John- 
son, Charles  Laparierre,  James  Faith  and  Frank  Huggins. 

The  company  has  on  its  roll  of  officers  and  men  fifty-eight  names  in  all. 
They  also  have  connected  with  the  company  an  excellent  brass  band,  known 
as  the  Harris  Guard  Brass  Band.  They  drill  regularly,  and,  taken  all  in  all, 
they  are  a  remarkably  fine  company  of  military  men. 

This  general  history  would  be  incomplete  without  a  list  of  the  county  offi- 
cers from  its  organization  to  the  present  time.  This  we  will  give,  without  com- 
ment. The  reader  will  remember  that  the  county  was  not  organized  until 
1839. 

Sheriffs. — James  Goldsby,  commissioned  April  15,  1839,  August  28, 
1840,  and  August  16,  1842;  N.  A/Rankin,  August  9,  1844,  and  August  18, 
1846 ;  James  Taylor,  August  17,  1848 ;  James  G.  Long,  December  26,  1848 
and  December  2,  1850 ;  B.  D.  McAtee,  November  13,  1852 ;  J.  B.  Gum, 
April  8,  1853,  and  November  14,  1854 ;  J.  B.  Goldsby,  November  10,  1856 ; 
J.  M.  Hurt,  December  3,  1858 ;  A.  K.  Johnson,  November  20.  1860 ;  W.  C. 
Smoot,  December  8,  1862 ;  J.  M.  Quinn,  November  21,  1864 ;  John  Tice, 
November  14,  1866 ;  Robert  Clary,  November  20,  1868 ;  Fred  Wilkinson, 
November  29,  1870,  and  November  27,  1872 ;  Wolf  Feulner,  November  24, 
1874,  and  November  27,  1876  ;  Fred  Wilkinson,  March  26,  1878. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  281 

Probate  Justices. — Asa  D.  Wright,  commissioned  April  15,  1839,  May  1, 
1839,  and  August  23,  1843 ;  Nathan  Dresser,  September  18,  1-846 ;  Asa  D. 
Wright,  August  11,  1847.  r 

Recorders. — William  G.  Spears,  commissioned  April  15,  1839 ;  Jacob  H. 
Laning,  September  11,  1843;  Cornelius  Rourke,  September  17,  1847. 

Coroners. — Martin  S.  Morris,  commissioned  April  15,  1839 ;  George  D. 
Adams,  August  7,  1840;  John  E.  RawUngs,  August  5,  1842;  Ira  McGlas- 
son,  August  9, 1844,  and  August  27, 1846  ;  McLean  Wood,  August  23,  1848  ; 
T.  P.  Garretson,  November  20,  1850 ;  C.  Levering,  November  13,  1852 ;  W. 
T.  Hutchinson,  November  23,  1853 ;  William  Trent,  November  14,  1854 ;  F. 
C.  Davis,  November  10,  1856 ;  J.  T.  Brooks,  December  3,  1858 ;  C.  Lever- 
ing, November  24,  1860,  and  December  8,  1862 ;  A.  L.  Clary,  November  26, 
1864,  and  November  28,  1866 ;  L.  L.  Montgomery,  June  23,  1869  ;  G.  W. 
Hicks,  February  20,  1871;  J.  J.  Erwin,  November  24,  1874;  L.  Ahronheim, 
November  27,  1876 ;  Charles  Cowan,  December  1,  1877. 

Surveyors. — Edmund  Greer,  commissioned  April  15,  1839  ;  John  B.  Gum, 
September  12,  1843,  and  September  17,  1847  ;  Anno  Ritter,  December  11, 
1849,  November  10,  1851,  and  November  20,  1853 ;  E.  Hall,  November  12, 
1855 ;  William  F.  West,  November  20,  1857  ;  D.  N.  Carithers,  November 
25,  1859,  and  December  9, 1861  ;  John'B.  Gum,  November  18,  1863;  A.  E. 
Mick,  December  2,  1864,  November  18,  1865,  and  November  14,  1867  ;  A.  J. 
Kelly,  November  23,  1869,  and  November  18,  1875. 

Public  Administrators. — Lewis  B.  Wynn,  commissioned  February  14, 1843  ; 
George  U.  Miles,  July  31,  1845  ;  McLean  Wood,  February  16,  1849. 

County  Judges. — Jacob  Garber,  commissioned  November  22,  1849  ;  C.  J.  F. 
Clarke,  November  23,  1853,  and  November  14, 1857  ;'  J.  H.  Pillsbury,  December 
9,  1861  ;  M.  B.  Harrison,  November  20,  1865  ;  C.  M.  Robertson,  November 

#,  1869 ;  J.  H.  Pillsbury,  November  19,  1873  ;  John  Tice,  December  1,  1877- 
Associate  Justices. — James  Mott,  commissioned  November  20,  1853 ;  J. 
Reed,  November  23,  1853;  C.  J.  Hutchinson,  July  17,  1854,  and  November 
14,  1857 ;  Robert  Clary,  November  14,  1857,  and  December  9,  1861 ;  D.  T. 
Hughes,  December  9,  1861';  R.  Woldridge,  November  15,  1869 ;  H.  Warn- 
sing,  December  3,  1869. 

County  Clerks. — Cornelius  Rourke,  commissioned  November  22,  1849, 
November  23,  1853,  November  14,  1857,  and  December  9,  1861  ;  Hobard 
Hamilton,  November  20,  1865  ;  A.  E.  Mick,  November  15,  1869  ;  Anson 
Thompson,  November  19,  1873,  and  December  1,  1877. 

Circuit  Clerks. — A.  K.  Riggin,  commissioned  September  4,  1848,  Novem- 
ber 13,  1852,  and  November  14,  1856  ;  Joseph  Johnson,  November  20,  1860  ; 
William  J.  Estill,  November  12,  1864,  and  November  20,  1868  ;  T.  C.  Ben- 
nett, November  15,  1872,  and  November  27,  1876. 

States'1  Attorneys. — H.  W.  Masters,  commissioned  November  29,  1872,  and 
'November  27,  1876. 


282  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

Assessors  and  Treasurers. — John  Tice,  commissioned  November  25,  1857, 
November  25;  1859,  and  November  18,  1863;  J.  W.  Cheaney.  November 
15,  1869,  and  December  18,  1871;  Charles  H.  Thomas,  November  18,  1875, 
and  December  1,  1877. 

School  Commissioners. — 0.  D.  Clarke,  commissioned  November  20,  1853 ; 
J.  H.  Pillsbury,  December  20,  1857,  and  November  25,  1859 ;  Edward  Lan- 
ing,  November  18,  1863 ;  •  Edward .  Booth  (changed  to  Superintendent  of 
Schools),  November  15,  1865  ;  William  H.  Berry,  November  15,  1869 ;  K. 
B.  Davis,  November  19,  1873 ;  R.  D.  Miller,  January  3,  1877,  and  December 
1,  1877. 

The  present  officers  of  the  county  are  as  follows,  viz.:  County  Judge,  John 
Tice ;  Master  in  Chancery,  R.  N.  Stevens ;  Sheriff,  Frederick  Wilkinson,  and 
Deputy,  John  Cabanis ;  County  Commissioners,  James  Altig,  Andrew  Gaddy 
and  Frank  Duncan ;  State's  Attorney,  H.  W.  Masters ;  Circuit  Clerk,  Theo- 
dore C.  Bennett,  with  0.  B.  Carter,  Deputy ;  County  Clerk,  Anson  Thomp- 
son, with  E.  D.  Robertson,  Deputy ;  Assessor  and  Treasurer,  Charles  'H. 
Thomas  ;  Surveyor,  A.  J.  Kelley  ;  Coroner,  David  Cowan  ;  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  R.  D.  Miller.  The  county  owns  an  excellent  farm,  well  improved, 
and  lying  within  two  miles  of  Petersburg,  which  is  used  as  a  home  for  the  indi- 
gent and  homeless. 

PETERSBURG  PRECINCT. 

Mount  Vernon,  the  ancestral  home  of  the  Father  of  His  Country,  is  dear 
to  every  American  heart.  His  mortal  remains  lie  entombed  there,  and  feelings 
of  patriotism  diverge  from  the  venerated  spot,  as  golden  rays  are  reflected  back 
from  the  setting  sun.  As  Columbia's  first  and  greatest  son,  he  is  embalmed  in 
the  national  memory  as  Joseph  was  by  his  brethren,  and  reverently  assigned  a 

place  "Among  the  few  immortal  names 

,  That  were  not  born  to  die." 

In  that  portion  of  Menard  County  to  which  this  chapter  is  devoted,  is  an  his- 
torical spot,  that,  next  to  Mount  Vernon,  should  be  highly  cherished  as  long  as 
liberty  and  true  patriotism  prevail  in  this  great  republic.  We  allude  to  Old 
Salem,  formerly  the  home  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  Hefe  it  may  be  said  that  he 
made  his  start  in  the  world,  and,  although  little  remains  of  the  original  town,  ' 
the  spot  is  endeared  to  the  people  of  the  county  as  the  early  home  of  the  mar- 
tyred President.  It  seems  to  us  a  duty  that  the  State  owes  to  his  memory,  to 
purchase  the  site  of  the  old  town,  appropriately  care  for  it,  as  the  National 
Government  does  Mount  Vernon,  and  doubt  not  but  the  time  will  come  when 
this  additional  honor  will  be  paid  him.  We  shall  have  more  to  say  of  the  old 
historical  town  elsewhere  in  these  pages. 

Petersburg  is  the  largest  township -or  precinct  in  Menard  County,  and  like- 
wise  the  most  important,   inasmuch   as  it  contains  the  seat  of  justice.     It' 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  283 

embraces  portions  of  Towns  18  north,  Ranges  6,  7  and  8  west,  and  by  Gov- 
ernment survey  contains  about  fifty-seven  sections,  and  is  bounded  north  by 
Sandridge  Precinct,  east  by  Indian  Creek  and  Athens,  south  by  Rock  Creek 
and  Tallula,  and  west  by  Cass  County.  The  Sangamon  River  flows  through 
the  precinct,  entering  it  at  very  nearly  the  southeast  corner,  running  almost  a 
northwest  course  to  Section  25,  in  Range  7,  when  it  turns  due  north,  passing 
out  through  Section  1,  when  it  becomes  the  boundary  line  between  Indian 
Creek  and  Sandridge  Precincts.  Indian  Creek  forms  the  boundary  between 
this  and  Indian  Creek  Precinct,  while  Clary's  Creek  runs  through  the  western 
part  of  the  precinct,  and  Little  Grove  Creek  has  its  source  at  a  few  miles  dis- 
tance, southwest  of  Petersburg,  flowing  northwest  to  the  Sangamon  River. 
These  streams  supply  an  abundance  of  water  for  all  general  purposes,  as  well 
as  ample  means  of  drainage.  Excellent  timber  borders  the  water-courses,  as 
more  minutely  described  in  the  general  history  of  this  work,  and  consists  of 
the  species  usually  found  in  this  part  of  the  State.  A  large  portion  of  the 
precinct  is  fine  prairie  land,  the  timber,  as  above  stated,  being  confined  chiefly 
to  the  margin  of  the  streams.  The  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  and  the  Spring- 
field &  Northwestern  intersect  it,  the  one  crossing  from  northeast  to  southwest 
and  the  other  from  southeast  to  northwest,  thus  affording  ample  means  of  com- 
munication with  the  outside  world.  Petersburg,  the  capital  of  the  county,  is 
the  only  town  of  any  note  within  its  borders,  and  will  be  more  particularly 
referred  to  further  on  in  this  chapter.  It  also  contains  the  historic,  but  now 
almost  defunct  town  of  Old  Salem,  which  receives  due  notice  in  another  page. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  settlements  made  in  this  division  of  Menard  County  are  involved 
in  some  obscurity,  and  authentic  information'  pertaining  to  them  seems  almost 
beyond  reach  at  the  present  day.  With  nearly  sixty  years  stretching  between 
the  advent  of  the  pale-face  pioneers  and  the  present  period,  it  is  not  strange 
that  there  should  be  conflicting  statements  as  to  whom  belongs  the  honor  of 
making  the  original  settlement  in  Petersburg  Precinct.  From  our  investigations 
and  the  most  reliable  sources  of  information  at  hand,  we  are  of  opinion  that  the 
Esteps  were  the  first  white  men  in  this  locality.  They  were  originally  from 
the  State  of  North  Carolina,  but  emigrated  to  Tennessee  early  in  the  beginning 
of  the  present  century,  and  from  thence  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  St.  Clair 
County.  In  the  spring  of  1820-21,  James  Estep  came  to  Menard  County,  or 
Sangamon,  as  it  then  was,  and  made  a  claim  in  this  precinct,  near  or  within  the 
present  city  of  Petersburg.  -  He  was  followed  in  a  few  months  by  his  brother 
Enoch  and  his  father,  Elijah  Estep.  Upon  the  arrival  of  his  father,  he  gave 
his  claim  to  him,  and  moved  across  the  river  and  located  on  what  was  later 
known  as  Baker's  Prairie.  Elijah  Estep  built  a  small  horse-mill,  which  was 
afterward  embraced  in  the  city  limits,  and  otherwise  improved  the  claim  by 
erecting  on  it  a  cabin  of  the  regular  pioneer  pattern.  He  died  early,  and  but 


284  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

little  is  remembered  of  him  by  any  now  living  in  this  section.  Enoch  Estep 
removed  to  Arkansas  many  years  ago,  and  whether  living  or  not,  we  do  not 
know.  James,  who  seems  to  have  been  a  kind  of  roving  character,  never  con- 
tented long  in  one  place,  from  Baker's  Prairie  moved  over  into  the  present 
township  of  Crane  Creek,  in  Mason  County,  where  he  bought  a  claim  of  one 
James  Sutton.  In  the  few  years  following,  he  occupied  various  places,  and  in 
1832  moved  to  Arkansas,  but  returned  the  following  year  to  Mason  County. 
Remaining  a  few  years,  he  moved  back  to  Menard  County,  and  finally  to  Mis- 
souri, but  again  returned  to  Mason  County,  where  he  died  in  1857,  on  the  place 
now  owned  .by  his  son,  J.  M.  Estep.  He  is  described  as  a  man  of  considerable 
eccentricity,  and,  with  all  his  meandering  around  from  place  to  place,  never 
rented  a  home,  but  always  bought  and  sold.  True,  the  old  saying  is,  that  "  A 
rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss,"  and  Mr.  Estep  accumulated  but  little  of  the 
world's  goods,  dying  in  indigent  circumstances.  This  pioneer,  supposed  to 
have  been  the  first  white  settler  in  Petersburg  Precinct,  sleeps  in  New  Hope 
Cemetery,  in  Mason  County,  beside  the  partner  of  his  life,  who  preceded  him  a 
few  years  to  the  "  land  of  shadows." 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  Esteps — probably  the  latter  part  of  the 
same  year — the  Watkinses  and  a  man  named  Teeters  came  to  the  precinct. 
There  were  Joseph,  Samuel,  James,  John  and  Thomas  Watkins.  They  were 
from  Kentucky,  and  some  of  them  settled  in  Clary's  Grove  as  early  as  1819-20. 
Joseph  and  Samuel  Watkins  made  claims  in  this  precinct  in  1821,  as  noted 
above,  while  James  Watkins  did  not  come  until  1825-26.  Thomas  Watkins 
bought  the  claim  of  John  Clary,  acknowledged  by  the  majority  of  old  citizens 
to  be  the  first  white  settler  of  Menard  County,  as  noticed  in  the 'history  of 
Clary's  Grove.  This  claim  Watkins  sold  to  George  Spears,  in  1824,  and 
removed  to  the  "river  timber,"  n'ear  the  present  city  of  Petersburg,  where  he 
eventually  died.  The  eld  Watkins  stock  are,  we  believe,  all  dead,  but  there 
are  still  descendants  of  the  family  living  in  the  county.  Thomas,  Jr.,  a  son  of 
Thomas  Watkins,  was  born  in  the  county  in  1824,  and  may  be  recorded  among 
the  early  births.  He  is  still  living  in  this  precinct,  and  is  probably  the  oldest 
native-born  citizen  of  the  county.  He  served  one  year  in  the  Mexican  war.  Mack 
Watkins,  another  son,  also  lives  in  the  precinct.  Teeters  moved  into  Sandridge 
Precinct,  where  he  is  further  noticed.  Jacob  Short  and  three  sons,  Obadiah, 
Harrison  and  James  came  in  1822.  They  were  from  the  south  end  of  the 
State,  where  they  had  resided  for  some  time  before  coming  to  this  county.  In 
1824,  they  moved  into  Sandridge,  where  Jacob  Short  died  in  1825,  and  wher 
Harrison  also  died  some  years  later.  Obadiah  died  at  Nauvoo,  and  James 
removed  to  Iowa,  where  he,  too,  died. 

During  the  next  two  or  three  years,  the  little  community  was  increased  by 
the  arrival  of  several  additional  families,  among  which  were :  Jesse  Baker, 
Henry  and  William  Clark,  Ephi'aim  and  William  Wilcox,  Henry  McHenry, 
Daniel  Atterberry,  Andrew,  Jacob  and  Spencer  Merrill,  and  perhaps  others. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  285 

Jesse  Baker  settled  on  Baker's  Prairie,  and  from  him  it  derived  its  name.  He 
moved  into  Mason  County  about  1836,  and  located  in  the  present  township  of 
Kilbourne,  where  he  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  section.  He 
has  passed  to  his  last  account  since  we  began  the  work  of  compiling  this  his- 
tory. Henry  and  William  Clark,  brothers,  came  from  Kentucky  and  settled 
in  this  precinct.  William  died  many  years  ago,  but  Henry  is  still  living  upon 
the  place  of  his  original  settlement,  just  across  the  river  from  Petersburg. 
He  and  his  wife  have  lived  together  for  fifty-six  years.  Ephraim  and 
William  Wilcox  were  also  from  Kentucky,  and  both  died  in  this  county,  a 
number  of  years  ago.  Henry  McHenry  still  lives  in  Petersburg,  and  owns 
the  brick  hotel  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  public  square.  Daniel  Atterberry 
was  from  Kentucky,  made  a  claim  here,  but  has  been  long  dead.  Andrew 
Merrill  and  his  sons,  Jacob  and  Spencer  Merrill,  were  also  from  Kentucky. 
The  old  gentleman  died  in  1835,  and  it  is  said  that  he  pointed  out  one  day,  a 
short  time  previous  to  his  death,  the  spot  where  he  desired  to  be  buried.  When 
he  died,  his  son  Jacob  carried  out  his  wish  and  had  him  laid  away  in  the  des- 
ignated spot.  In  1859,  his  wife  was  laid  by  the  side  of  him.  Jacob  and 
Spencer  are  both  living  but  a  short  distance  west  of  Petersburg,  the  former  in 
his  seventy-fourth  year.  Thomas  Edwards  was  among  the  very  early  settlers, 
but  is  described  as  a  rather  hard  character,  and  of  little  benefit  to  any  commu- 
nity. He  remained  here  but  a  short  time,  pulled  up  stakes  and  moved  on  to 
other  frontier  settlements.  Thomas  F.  Dowell  came  about  1825-26,  and  is  still 
living  in  Sandridge  Precinct,  at  an  advanced  age.  Jesse  Gum  was  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Clary's  Grove,  as  noticed  in  the  history  of  Tallula  Precinct. 
He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Charles  Gum,  living  near  Petersburg,  is  his 
son.  John  B.  Gum,  who  now  lives  at  Kilbourne,  Mason  County,  and  who  is 
one  of  the  largest  landholders  in  Mason  or  Menard  County,  is  also  a  son  of 
Jesse  Gum. 

In  addition  to  the  names  already  given,  the  following  recruits  were  added 
to  the  settlement  prior  to  the  "deep  snow:"  George  Curry,  Henry  Bell  and 
sons,  John  Jones,  Zachariah  Clary,  Bartley  Milton,  John  and  Anno  Ritter, 
Pollard  Simmons,  William  Edwards  and  sons,  John  Jennison,  Bartlett  Con- 
yers,  Henry  and  David  Williams,  Conrad  Strader,  Josiah  Crawford  and  others. 
George  Curry  came  .from  Green  County,  Ky.,  and  laid  a  claim  in  this  pre- 
cinct, near  where  his  son,  Rev.  H.  P.  Curry,  now  lives.  He  died  in  1876. 
Rev.  H.  P.  Curry  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  ministry  for  thirty-nine 
years,  and  at  present  administers  spiritual  consolation  to  four  churches,  in 
addition  to  superintending  his  farm.  Henry  Bell  and  sons  were  from  Ken- 
tucky. The  old  gentlemen  is  long  since  dead,  but  some  of  the  sons  still  live 
in  the  county.  John  Jones  was  another  Kentuckian,  and  settled  in  Clary'8 
Grove  in  1824.  He  moved  into  this  precinct  some  years  later,  and  finally 
located  in  Little  Grove,  where  he  died.  Zachariah  Clary,  a  brother  to  John 
Clary,  the  first  settler,  came  from  Tennessee  and  settled  in  Clary's  Grove  in 


286  HISTORY   OF   MENA.RD   COUNTY. 

the  latter  part  of  1819,  and,  in  1825,  moved  into  this  precinct.  He  sffll  lives 
upon  the  place  where  he  then  settled,  a  mile  or  two  north  of  Petersburg.  He 
is  eighty-two  years  old,  and  he  and  his  good  wife,  who  is  also  living,  have  been 
plodding  on  over  the  old  stumpy  road  of  life  together  for  fifty-nine  years,  hav- 
ing been  married,  as  he  informed  us,  in  1820.  John  and  Anno  Ritter  were 
from  Kentucky.  Anno  died  here ;  John  moved  to  Mason  County,  where  he 
died.  Pallard  Simmons  removed  also  to  Mason  County  and  died  there.  David 
and  Henry  Williams,  and  Bartlett  Conyers  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood, 
but  where  they  came  from,  we  could  not  ascertain.  Conrad  Strader  is  dead, 
but  has  a  son  still  living  in  the  precinct.  Josiah  Crawford  moved  to  Mason 
County,  where  he  died.  This  completes  the  settlement  up  to  the  time  of  the 
deep  snow,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  names  and  facts.  As  we  have 
have  had  frequent  occasion  to  mention,  in  our  capacity  as  historian,  in  North- 
ern and  Central  Illinois,  the  "deep  snow"  is  an  epoch  from  which  the  chro- 
nology of  the  pioneer  dates  "  fore  and  aft."  All  important  events  are  reck- 
oned from  the  deep  snow.  It  is  a  waymark  that  will  not  be  forgotten  by  those 
who  witnessed  it,  until  their  life  journey  closes  at  the  brink  of  the  tomb.  Ask 
the  old  grandfather  or  grandmother  about  the  deep  snow,  and  note  the  sparkle  of 
their  eyes,  as  memory  rolls  back  over  a  period  of  fifty  years,  when 

"  All  the  land  with  snow  was  covered," 

to  a  depth  of  four  feet,  and  so  remained  for  a  period  of  three  months  or  more. 
They  can  tell  you  of  the  hard  times,  and  the  dreary  aspect  of  that  long,  long 
winter,  better  than  we,  for  it  was  before  our  day. 

The  population  was  increased  during  the  five  or  six  years  immediately  fol- 
lowing the  deep  snow,  by  the  following  emigrants,  a  majority  of  whom  came 
from  Old  Kentucky,  that  famous  land  of  blue  grass,  pretty  women  and  good 
whisky :  The  Davidsons,  the  Taylors,  William  Butler,  Dr.  John  Lee,  William 
P.  Cox,  W.  G.  Greene,  Thomas  Epperson,  William  J.  Hoey,  the  Bennetts, 
C.  G.  Brooks,  S.  and  C.  Levering,  A.  D.  Wright,  Jacob  H.  Laning,  James  S. 
Carter,  John  McNarnar,  A.  Humphrey,  John  McNeal,  Samuel  Hill,  Nathan 
Dresser,  Charles  B.  Waldo,  Zachariah  Nance  and  sons,  George  U.  Miles, 
Chester  Moon,  Thoims  L.  Harris,  W.  C.  Dawson,  Martin  Morris,  Jordan 
Morris,  J.  W.  Warnsing,  William  Haggefty,  Dr.  John  Allen,  George  War- 
burton,  Peter  Lukins,  the  Rutledges,  Jonathan  Colby,  Robert  Carter,  J.  A. 
Brahm,  James  Goldsby,  Nicholas  Tice,  Abraham  Bale,  Jacob  Bale,  Hardin 
Bale  and  others.  The  Davidsons,  George  A.,  Isham  G.  and  Jackson,  were 
from  Kentucky  and  were  among  the  early  merchants  of  Petersburg.  They 
first  settled  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  in  Bond  County,  we  believe, 
where  they  resided  for  a  number  of  years  before  coming  to  this  county.  George 
A.  Davidson  lives  at  present  in  Greenview,  Isham  G.  in  Fulton  County,  and 
Jackson  has  been  lost  sight  of.  They  were  related  to  the  Taylor  family,  and 
came  to  the  county  soon  after,  or  about  the  time  the  Taylors  came.  The 


: 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  287 

Taylors  were  from  Kentucky.  John  Taylor  was  the  first  merchant  of  Petersburg, 
and  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  town,  as  noticed  in  that  con- 
nection. He  died  in  Beardstown,  but  was  living  in  Springfield  at  the  time. 
Richard  Taylor  was  a  brother,  but  never  a  permanent  resident  here.  James 
Taylor  was  a  son  of  John  Taylor,  but  did  not  live  here.  Made  frequent  busi- 
ness visits  to  the  place,  however.  He  died  in  Springfield,  where  he  made  his 
home.  James  Taylor,  a  cousin  to  the  latter,  lived  here  some  years  and  died 
here.  William  Butler  was  a  transient  guest  and  did  not  remain  long  in  the 
community  ;  was  merely  here  attending  to  Taylor's  business  for  a  short  time. 
Dr.  John  Lee  was  from  the  Old  Dominion  and  a  member  of  the  original  L?e 
family  of  Virginia.  He  at  present  lives  at  Athens,  this  county.  William  P. 
Cox  came  from  Kentucky  and  is  yet  living  in  the  county.  William  G.  Greene 
came  from  Tennessee,  but  his  father,  William  Greene,  was  a  native  Kentuckian. 
He  came  to  Illinois  in  1821-22  and  settled  near  where  the  village  of  Tallula 
now  stands,  where  he  died.  William  G.  Greene  was  a  mere  boy  when  his 
father  came  to  Illinois.  He  is  and  has  been  for  years  a  prominent  man  of  the 
county  and  is  still  living.  He  is  mentioned  elsewhere  as  an  intimate  friend  of 
Mr.  Lincoln  when  he  was  a  resident  of  Menard  County.  Thomas  Epperson 
was  from  Kentucky  and  died  here  many  years  ago.  William  J.  Hoey  was  a 
son  of  the  "  auld  sod"  and  was  one  of  the  early  merchants  of  Petersburg. 
He  had  a  brother,  James  Hoey,  who  was  also  an  early  settler,  but  came  several 
years  after  William.  They  both  died  here. 

The  Bennetts  came  from  Old  Virginia,  the  home  of  statesmen  and  the 
birthplace  of  Presidents.  There  were  three  brothers — John,  William  and 
Richard  E.  Bennett.  John  came  to  Illinois  in  1835,  and  to  this  section  in 
1836,  and  became  one  of  the  early  merchants  and  prominent  business  men  of 
Petersburg,  as  noticed  in  that  chapter.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
during  the  session  of  1840-41,  and  was  one  of  the  first  directors  of  the  old 
Tonica  &  Petersburg  Railroad,  now  the  Jacksonville  division  of  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  Railroad,  besides  holding  many  other  positions  of  importance.  He  is 
still  living  in  the  city  of  Petersburg,  retired  from  active  business  life,  and  to 
his  excellent  memory  we  are  indebted  for  much  of  the  early  history  of  Peters- 
burg and  surrounding  vicinity.  William  Bennett  came  to  the  settlement  one 
year  after  John,  and  is  long  since  dead.  Dr.  Richard  E.  Bennett  came  about 
the  same  time,  and  is  elsewhere  mentioned  as  the  first  practicing  physician  in 
this  portion  of  the  county.  Dr.  Bennett  is  dead,  but  has  a  son,  Theodore  C. 
Bennett,  living  in  Petersburg,  who  is  the  present  Circuit  Clerk.  C.  G.  Brooks 
was  from  Kentucky  and  came  in  1836,  and  died  here  years  ago.  Septimus 
and  C.  Levering,  half-brothers,  came  from  Baltimore ;  Septimus  came  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  and  his  brother  some  time  later.  The  former  is  dead,  but  the 
latter  is  living  here  still.  James  S.  Carter  was  from  Virginia  and  came  in 
1838.  He  is  at  present  living  in  the  Tillage  of  Oakford.  Jacob  H.  Laning 
came  from  New  Jersey  in  1838.  He  is  still  living  in  the  city  of  Petersburg, 


288  HISTORY   OF    MENARD   COUNTY. 

and  his  sons  are  among  the  prominent  business  men  of  the  place.  A.  D. 
Wright  is  mentioned  in  another  place  as  connected  prominently  with  the  mill 
interests  of  the  city  at  one  time.  John  McNamar  was  a  a  Down  Easter,"  but 
from  what  State  is  not  known.  He  was  one  of  the  early  merchants  in  Salem,  and 
moved  to  Petersburg  after  the  decline  of  Salem,  where  he  again  embarked  in 
mercantile  business.  He  died  here  about  a  year  ago.  Dr.  John  Allen  was 
also  an  early  merchant  at  Salem,  as  well  as  an  early  physician.  He  moved  to 
Petersburg  about  the  same  time  as  McNamar.  They  were  in  business  together 
at  Salem,  which  was  continued  for  a  time  after  locating  in  Petersburg.  He 
died  here  some  years  ago.  A.  Humphrey  was  also  a  "  Down  Easter,"  and 
came  here  about  1837-38,  and  died  long  ago.  John  McNeal  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  but  went  to  Virginia,  where  he  married,  and  then  removed  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  this  precinct,  where  he  finally  died.  Samuel  Hill  came 
from  Ohio  and  first  located  in  Salem  very  early.  He  moved  to  Petersburg  in 
18-39,  and  died  several  years  ago.  Charles  B.  Waldo,  Nathan  Dresser  and 
Thomas  L.  Harris  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  whence  they  emigrated  to 
Virginia,  then  to  Illinois  arid  settled  in  Petersburg.  Waldo  is  mentioned  on 
another  page  as  the  first  pedagogue  in  the  neighborhood.  Both  he  and  Dresser 
moved  to  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  in  the  vicinity  of  Cairo,  where  they 
died.  Harris,  though  originally  from  the  same  place,  came  several  years  later. 
He  was  a  man  of  considerable  prominence  and  political  aspirations,  and  served 
one  or  two  terms  in  Congress  with  some  distinction.  He  died  here,  but  his 
widow  and  other  members  of  the  family  are  still  living.  Zachariah  Nance  and 
several  sons  came  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois  in  1833,  locating  in  what  is  now 
Rock  Creek  Precinct.  Here  the  old  gentleman  died  and  was  buried  in  the 
Farmers'  Point  Graveyard.  Among  his  sons  were  Thomas  and  Washington, 
the  latter  now  living  in  Petersburg;  quite  an  old  man.  "Albert  G.  Nance,  a 
son  of  Thomas,  served  two  years  in  the  Legislature,  and  was  a  candidate  for 
the  ^State  Senate,  but  died  a  few  days  before  the  election.  His  father  is  also 
dead.  Mrs.  Hill,  widow  of  Samuel  Hill,  now  living  in  Petersburg,  is  a  daughter 
of  Zachariah  Nance.  George  U.  Miles  was  from  Kentucky,  and  settled  here 
in  1839,  but  had  been  living  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State  several  years 
before  coming  to  Menard  County.  He  is  still  living,  but  very  old  and  feeble. 
Chester  Moon  was  a  Yankee,  but  what  State  he  came  from  we  could  not  ascer- 
tain. He  died  some  years  ago  in  Morris.  W.  C.  Dawson  came  from  Ken- 
tucky about  1840,  and  resides  at  present  in  Springfield.  Martin  and  Jordan 
Morris,  though  of  the  same  name,  and  both  blacksmiths,  were  in  nowise  related. 
Jordan  was  one  of  those  transient  characters  who  are  always  on  the  move,  and 
did  not  remain  long  in  this  community,  but  what  actually  became  of  him  is 
not  now  remembered.  Martin  Morris,  after  a  residence  here  of  some  years, 
removed  to  Missouri,  where  he  still  lived  at  last  accounts.  William  Haggerty 
was  also  a  blacksmith,  came  with  Jordan  Morris,  worked  with  him  and  left 
with  him.  J.  W.  Warnsing  was  a  German,  and  came  here  very  early.  Has 


HISTORY.  OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  289 

been  dead  several  years.  Samuel  Berry  came  from  Tennessee  at  an  early  day 
arid  died  long  ago. 

George  Warburton,  who  is  noticed  in  the  history  of  the  city  of  Petersburg 
as  the  owner  of  a  part  of  the  land  on  which  the  town  was  laid  out,  came  from 
the  East.  He  was  drowned  in  the  Sangamon  River,  when  the  water,  it  is  said, 
was  not  over  six  inches  deep.  It  is  supposed  that  he  was  intoxicated,  as  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  drinking  to  excess,  and  in  that  state  fell  into  the  water, 
when  no  help  was  at  hand,  and  being  unable  to  help  himself,  was  drowned. 
Peter  Lukins,  the  joint  proprietor  with  Warburton  of  the  land  on  which  the 
town  stands,  and  for  whom  Petersburg  was  named,  as  noted  hereafter,  came 
from  Kentucky.  He  and  Warburton.  as  more  particularly  detailed  in  the  his- 
tory of  Petersburg,  owned  160  acres  of  land,  upon  which  the  original  town  was 
laid  out.  This  they  afterward  sold  to  Taylor  &  King,  who  became  the  propri- 
etors of  the  town.  Lukins  is  noticed  as  the  first  hotel-keeper  and  the  first  shoe- 
maker. He  was  found  dead  in  his  bed  one  morning,  supposed  to  have  been  the 
result  of  excessive  drink,  as  he  too,  was  in  the  habit  of  taking  overdoses  of  the 
fiery  demon.  The  Rutledges  are  originally  from  Kentucky,  and  are  elsewhere 
noticed  in  this  work.  The  Rutledges  went  from  Kentucky  to  South  Carolina, 
and  from  there  came  to  Illinois,  locating  first  in  White  County,  where  they 
remained  som'e  years,  and  then  came  to  the  present  county  of  Menard,  in  1825. 
William  and  James  Rutledge,  and  John  Cameron,  came  to  the  neighborhood 
together,  and  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Old  Salem.  Cameron  and  William  Rut- 
ledge  were  brothers-in-law.  They  lived  in  the  county  until  their  death,  and 
still  have  many  descendants  residing  here.  Jonathan  Colby  came  from  New 
Hampshire  in  1834,  and  located  where  he  now  lives.  His  parents  lived  together 
as  man  and  wife  for  sixty  years,  and  at  their  death  their  combined  ages  were 
172  years.  Robert  Carter  came  from  Kentucky  in  1830,  and  settled  where  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Jemima  Gum,  now  lives.  He  died  in  1866.  J.  A.  Brahm 
came  to  this  county  with  his  father's  family,  in  1830,  and  settled  just  north  of 
Petersburg.  They  were  from  Germany.  The  elder  Brahm  died  here  in  1852. 
His  son,  J.  A.  Brahm,  is  a  prominent  banker  and  business  man  of  the  city  of 
Petersburg.  James  Goldsby  came  from  Kentucky,  and  settled  here  in  1830. 
He  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  the  first  Sheriff  of  Menard  County. 
He  has  a  son,  Rev.  William  M.  Goldsby,  in  this  precinct,  who  has  been  a  min- 
ister of  the  Baptist  Church  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Nicholas  Tice  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1831,  locating  at  the  village  of 
Athens.  In  1832,  he  purchased  a  farm  at  what  is  now  Tice's  Station,  where  he 
died  in  1856.  John  Tice,  a  son,  is  the  present  County  Judge  of  Menard 
County.  He  is  one  of  the  faithful  county  and  precinct  officers,  as  evidenced 
in  the  fact  that  he  has  been  in  the  official  harness  for  thirty  years  in  suc- 
cession. 

The  Bales  were  from  Kentucky.  Jacob  Bale  located  near  the  present  city 
of  Petersburg,  in  1830.  He  was  a  minister,  and  the  father  of  Hardin  Bale, 


290  HISTORY   OF   MENARD    COUNTY. 

proprietor  of  the  Petersburg  Woolen  Mills,  which  are  more  particularly  alluded 
to  on  another  page.  Abraham  Bale  came  to  the  precinct  in  1839,  and  located 
at  Salem.  In  1840,  he  purchased  a  farm,  on  which  he  resided  until  1852, 
when  he  bought  the  mill-site  at  Salem,  and  commenced  repairing  the  old  mill, 
but  he  died  in  1853.  His  sons  completed  the  repairs  he  had  begun,  and,  in 
1873,  T.  V.  Bale  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  once  famous  Salem  Mills,  and 
has  ever  since  operated  them.  The  Bales  seem  to  have  had  a  kind  of  genius  or 
talent  for  mills,  as  we  learn  that  Rev.  Jacob  Bale  bought  a  small  grist-mill, 
wherein  his  son  Hardin  took  his  first  lessons  in  the  business,  and  thus  qualified 
himself  for  the  successful  business  man  that  he  is  to-day.  Aaron  B.  White  was 
among  the  pioneers  of  Clary's  Grove,  and  came  from  Kentucky.  He  has 
a  son,  William  M.  White,  living  in  Petersburg,  who  remembers  the  hardships 
of  those  early  days.  Judge  Pillsbury  is  a  son  of  Alpha  Pillsbury,  and  is  a 
native  of  New  Hampshire.  His  father  died  there  in  1831,  and,  in  1836,  the 
family  came  West,  locating  in  the  town  of  Petersburg.  His  mother  died  here 
in  1868.  He  has  served  several  terms  as  County  Judge,  and  was  for  several 
years  Principal  of  the  city  schools.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Potter,  the  widow  of  Elijah, 
ranks  among  the  pioneers.  Her  husband  was  a  native  of  White  County,  111., 
and  came  to  Menard  County  in  1819-20.  He  died  in  March,  1876,  on  the 
place  where  his  widow  now  lives.  Robert  McNeely  was  an  early  settler  in  the 
neighboring  county  of  Morgan.  His  son,  Hon.  Thomas  W.  McNeely,  is  one 
of  the  prominent  men  of  Petersburg. 

This  comprises  the  early  settlement  of  Petersburg  Precinct  up  to  a  period 
when  emigrants  were  flocking  to  the  great  plains  of  the  West  in  such  numbers 
as  to  render  it  a  Herculean  task  to  keep  trace  of  them.  It  is  a  work  of  no 
little  trouble,  owing  to  the  large  and  irregular  divisions  of  the  county,  to  avoid 
confusion  and  error  in  the  location  of  early  settlers,  and  mention  them,  in  all 
cases,  in  the  precinct  or  particular  locality  where  they  truly  belong.  We  have 
exercised  the  utmost  care  in  this  respect,  yet  doubt  not  that  many  such  mis- 
takes have  been  made.  And  doubtless,  too,  the  names  of  many  pioneers  of 
the  county  and  precinct  have  been  overlooked,  which  deserve  honorable  men- 
tion in  this  work.  But  when  we  reflect  that  the  allotted  period  of  almost  two 
generations  have  passed  since  white  men  came  to  this  region,  and  that  many  of 
these  early  comers  are  gone  and  the  memory  of  others  weakened  by  age,  it  is 
not  strange  that  early  facts  are  sometimes  difficult  to  obtain,  and  when  gath- 
ered from  different  sources,  as  they  necessarily  must  be,  are  often  so  at  variance 
as  to  baffle  the  historian's  skill  to  place  them  before  his  readers  in  a  satisfactory 
manner.  Had  the  compilation  of  this  work  been  postponed  a  few  years  longer, 
the  last  of  the  old  settlers,  able  to  contribute  facts  and  incidents  of  the  far 
past,  would  have  been  beyond  the  historian's  reach,  and  the  opportunity  of 
getting  an  authentic  history  lost  forever. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  291 

THE    PIONEER    DAYS. 

If  the  ghosts  of  some  of  the  pioneers,  whose  settlement  we  have  been  not- 
ing in  these  pages,  could  rise,  like  that  of  Banquo's,  imbued  with  power  to 
observe  the  changes  wrought  since  they  first  saw  the  country,  their  astonish- 
ment would  doubtless  exceed  that  of  Rip  Van  Winkle's,  when  he  awoke  from 
his  long  nap  in  the  Catskill  Mountains  and  found  himself  no  longer  the  loyal 
subject  of  George  III.,  but  the  free  and  sovereign  citizen  of  "  the  greatest 
country  in  the  world."  When  white  men  came  here,  nearly  sixty  years  ago, 
the  forests  were  unbroken ;  the  prairies  were  yet  in  their  pristine  beauty,  fresh 
from  the  Creator's  hand,  and  were  the  abode  of  the  wolf  and  the  wild  deer. 
The  canoe  of  the  Indian  was  paddled  up  and  down  the  "  Sangamo;"  and  its 
forests  echoed  the  crack  of  his  rifle,  while  the  paths'  worn  by  his  moccasined  feet 
were  the  guiding  trail  of  the  emigrant.  The  flight  of  years  has  clothed  those 
"  verdant  wastes  "  with  flocks  and  herds,  with  waving  harvest-fields  and  vast 
forests  of  rustling  corn,  in  whose  depths  armies  might  ambush.  The  Indian 
trail  has  become  obliterated  by  the  railway  track,  and  the  ox  team  and  "  prairie 
schooner"  are  displaced  by  the  locomotive  and  the  rushing  train.  The  land- 
scape, where  first  the  savage  set  his  tepee  and  where  his  pale-face  successor 
built  his  '"pole  cabin"  or  his  "three-faced"  camp,  is  now  dotted  with  hun- 
dreds of  happy  homes,  churches  and  schoolhouses ;  the  silence  broken  by  the 
Indian  war-whoop  and  death  song,  now  echoes  to 

"The  laugh  of  children,  the  soft  voice 
Of  maidens,  and  the  sweet  and  solemn  hymn 
Of  Sabbath  worshipers." 

And  these  are  not  all.  Many  other  changes  and  improvements  have  taken 
place,  which  these  rude  and  honest  pioneers  never  dreamed  of  in  their  most  extrav- 
agant flights  of  fancy.  They  were  content  then  with  the  old  "  Gary  "  or  "bar- 
share  "  plow,  drawn  by  the  patient  ox,  and  were  thankful  if  they  had  corn-meal 
and  wild-deer  meat  to  satisfy  the  cravings  of  hunger.  Their  homes  were  cabins, 
built  of  poles  or  split  logs,  with  puncheon  or  dirt  floors,  clapboard  roofs  and  stick 
chimneys,  and  their  beds  were  usually  wild  prairie  grass,  which  honest  toil  and 
contentment  rendered  "soft  as  downy  pillows  are."  Nor  were  the  women  idle 
spectators.  They  were  in  truth  helpmates,  and  metaphorically  they  put  their 
hands  to  the  plow  and,  when  occasion  demanded,  did  not  hesitate  to  do  so  liter- 
ally. They  spun  and  wove  cloth,  manufactured  their  own  and  their  families' 
clothing.  No  doubt  they  were  as  happy  then  in  their  humble  attire  as  their 
fair  sisters  of  the  present  day  are,  when  robed  in  silks  and  salins  and  sparkling 
with  jewelry.  But  the  pole  cabin,  the  Gary  and  barshare  plow,  and  the  homely 
raiment  are  things  of  the  past  and  are  buried  beneath  the  years  that  have 
come  and  gone  in  rapid  succession,  while  the  panorama  has  been  unfolding  to 
view.  Soon  these  "  relics  of  barbarism "  will  be  wholly  forgotten.  Even 
now,  they  are  fast  becoming  fireside  legends. 


292  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

As  is  usually  the  case  in  townships  or  precincts  wherein  are  located  county 
seats,  the  more  important  events  center  at  the  capital,  leaving  little  of  historic 
interest  in  the  township  at  large.  Thus  it  is  in  Petersburg.  Beyond  the 
mere  fact  of  settling  the  country,  the  history  of  the  precinct  is  mostly  con- 
fined to  Old  Salem  and  to  the  county's  metropolis.  The  first  stores,  mills,  post 
offices,  churches,  schools,  shops,  etc.,  were  established  at  these  places.  With  a 
brief  notice  on  one  or  two  points  of  interest,  we  will  pass  to  the  history  of  the 
city. 

The  church  history,  as  we  have  said,  is  given  more  particularly  in  the 
town  of  Petersburg.  It  is  proper,  however,  that  a  notice  of  Baker's  Prairie 
Church  should  be  given  in  the  precinct  history.  It  is  one  of  the  old  church 
organizations  of  the  Baptist  denomination  in  the  county,  and  was  organized 
about  1835,  by  Rev.  John  Antle.  The  first  church  was  a  log  building,  and 
served  as  both  church  and  schoolhouse  for  a  time,  and  stood  two  or  three  miles 
east  of  Petersburg,  and  about  the  same  distance  north  of  Tice's  Station.  In 
1849-50,  a  frame  church  superseded  the  old  log  structure,  and  is  still  in  use  as 
a  temple  of  worship  for  this  pioneer  society.  Rev.  H.  P.  Curry,  who  has 
been  frequently  mentioned  in  this  work  as  a  Baptist  preacher,  at  present 
administers  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  Church.  Another  of  the  early 
churches  of  the  precinct  is  the  Methodist  Church,  at  Tice's  Station,  which  will 
be  noticed  in  connection  with  that  place. 

The  railroads  passing  through  this  precinct  are  the  Jacksonville  Division  of 
the  Chicago  &  Alton  and  the  Springfield  &  North-Western,  which  cross  at  the 
town  of  Petersburg.  But,  as  they  have  been  fully  noticed  already,  we  will  not 
repeat  their  history  here.  Suffice  it,  they  give  the  precinct  and  the  town  the 
benefit  of  transportation  in  any  direction  and  to  any  market,  and,  indeed, 
bring  the  best  markets  in  the  country  to  the  people's  very  doors. 

Petersburg  Precinct  is  Democratic  in  politics,  as  is  the  entire  county. 
During  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  it  furnished  many  soldiers  to  the  Union 
armies,  and  performed  a  good  part  to  maintain  the  supremacy  of  the  Govern- 
ment. But  for  a  more  complete  record  of  these  stirring  events,  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  war  history  of  the  county,  which  is  given  in  a  preceding  chapter. 

As  the  first  schools  taught  in  the  precinct  were  in  the  present  town  of 
Petersburg,  the  school  history  is  mostly  given  in  that  connection.  The  schools 
of  the  surrounding  country  are  in  a  flourishing  state,  corresponding  with  those 
in  other  portions  of  the  county.  Comfortable  houses  are  conveniently  situated, 
and  efficient  teachers  employed  during  the  usual  school  term,  so  that  a  good 
common-school  education  is  within  the  reach  of  all.  and  there  remains  no 
excuse  for  children  growing  up  in  ignorance. 

THE    CITY    OF    PETERSBURG. 

Petersburg,  the  metropolis  of  Menard  County,  is  beautifully  situated  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Sangamon  River,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  and 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  293 

the  Springfield  &  North- Western  Railroads,  twenty-one  miles  from  Springfield 
and  twenty-seven  miles  from  Jacksonville.  It  extends  back  from  the  river  on 
to  the  bluffs,  where  are  located  many  elegant  residences.  The  streets  are  broad 
and  lined  with  rows  of  trees,  thus  presenting  an  inviting  appearance  in  the  sul- 
try months  of  summer.  The  public  square  is  a  well-shaded  spot,  nicely  set  in 
grass,  and  containing  many  fine  trees,  in  the  midst  of  which  stands  that 
immense  pile  of  architectural  beauty  and  magnificence — the  Court  House.  The 
principal  portion  of  the  business,  as  in  a  majority  of  Illinois  towns,  is  done 
around  the  square,  and  the  business  houses,  as  a  class,  are  superior  to  those 
usually  found  in  towns  p,f  this  size. 

Peter  Lukins  and  George  Warburton  were  the  original  owners  of  160  acres 
of  land,  on  which  Petersburg  now  stands.  This  tract  of  land  was  embraced  in 
Section  14  of  Town  18,  and  Range  7  west.  They  laid  out  the  town  about 
1832-33,  surveying  and  dividing  the  entire  160  acres  into  blocks  of  town  lots, 
which  performance  being  ended,  they  quietly  sat  down  and  waited  for  the  place 
to  grow.  It  was  a  rather  extensive  foundation  for  a  town  forty  or  fifty  years 
ago,  and  it  was  probably  these  ponderous  proportions  that  retarded  its  growth 
for  the  first  few  years  of  its  existence,  as  we  karn  that  city  real  estate  com- 
manded but  limited  figures  in  either  the  home  or  in  foreign  markets.  Finally, 
becoming  discouraged  or  disgusted  because  a  town  did  not  rise  as  if  by  magic, 
they  sold  out  to  Hezekiah  King  and  John  Taylor.  These  gentlemen  employed 
Abraham  Lincoln,  then  Deputy  Surveyor  of  Sangamon  County,  to  resurvey 
and  plat  it,  which  plat  was  admitted  to  record  February  22,  1836.  The  town 
was  named  for  Peter  Lukins,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  land.  The 
accident,  or  incident,  which  led  to  the  name  of  Petersburg,  instead  of  that  of 
Georgetown,  occurred  in  this  wise  :  Peter  Lukins  and  George  Warburton, 
who  laid  out  the  original  town  as  already  stated,  were  each  desirous  of  being 
immortalized  in  history  by  bestowing  his  name  upon  the  incipient  city,  and 
became  involved  in  a  dispute  as  to  whether  it  should  be  called  Georgetown  (for 
Warburton)  or  Petersburg  (for  Lukins).  They  finally  agreeed  to  play  a  game 
of  "  old  sledge,"  or  "  seven-up."  then  the  national  game  (instead  of  base  ball), 
and  allow  the  winner  to  name  the  place.  Lukins  won  the  game,  and,  rising  from 
the  costly*  Turkish  chair  (an  empty  nail-keg)  on  which  he  sat,  solemnly  pro- 
nounced the  name  Petersburg. 

From  the  most  authentic  information  to  be  obtained  at  the  present  day,  it  is 
probable  that  the  first  shanty  erected  on  the  present  site  of  Petersburg  was  by 
Elijah  Estep,  mention  of  which  has  been  made  in  the  precinct  history.  As  the 
settlements  there  noticed  include  both  town  and  precinct,  we  will  not  recapitu- 
late the  settlement  of  the  town  under  this  head.  There  was  also  a  building, 
which  people,  out  of  respect,  called  a  mill,  erected  by  Estep,  which  is  supposed 
to  have  been  put  up  about  1826.  It  was  what  was  called,  in  those  early  times, 
a  ''gear  horse-mill,"  and,  we  believe,  used  for  sawing  only.  If  any  of  our 
readers  are  curious  to  know  what  a  -'gear  horse-mill  "  is,  they  will  have  to 


294  HISTORY   OF   MENAKD   COUNTY. 

Consult  some  of  the  old  settlers,  for  we  cannot  enlighten  them.  The  first  store 
was  opened  by  John  Taylor,  in  1833.  Not  long  after  Taylor  commenced  busi- 
ness as  a  merchant  here,  the  Davidson  Brothers  opened  a  store,  which  is  said  to 
have  been  the  second  in  the  place.  Taylor  sold  his  store  to  John  Bennett,  who 
is  still  living,  and  is  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  the  town.  He  was  for  a 
number  of  years  one  of  the  leading  merchants  and  business  men.  Jordan 
Morris  was  the  first  blacksmith,  and  Peter  Lukins  looked  after  the  soles  of  the 
early  settlers,  otherwise,  the  first  shoemaker.  A  post  ofiice  was  established 
about  1833-34,  with  James  Taylor  as  Postmaster.  It  was  a  very  small  affair, 
and  could  have  been  easily  carried  in  a  man's  hat,  but  Ijas  grown  to  considerable 
proportions,  and  its  emoluments  are  more  eagerly  sought  after  at  the  present 
day  than  when  established  nearly  fifty  years  ago.  The  present  Postmaster  is 
A.  N.  Curry,  and,  fnstead  of  a  weekly  mail,  four  mails  are  now  received  daily. 
The  first  practicing  lawyer  was  David  M.  Rutledge,  a  brother  to  Miss  Anna 
Rutledge,  once  the  fiancee  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  whose  premature  death  alone 
prevented  her  becoming  his  wife.  Dr.  R.  E.  Bennett  was  the  first  located  physi- 
cian. The  first  tavern  was  kept  by  Peter  Lukins,  and  stood  in  the  south  end 
of  the  town.  It  was  a  small  and  unpretentious  affair,  but  accommodated,  in  its 
time,  the  limited  demand  made  upon  an  establishment  of  that  kind.  At  pres- 
ent, there  are  four  hotels  in  the  city,  and  several  restaurants.  The  two 
principal  hotels  are  the  Menard  House  on  the  southeast  corner,  and  the  brick 
hotel  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  public  square. 

From  this  small  business,  beginning  back  nearly  a  half-century  ago,  Peters- 
burg has  grown  to  be  a  stirring  and  energetic  little  city,  of  nearly  three 
thousand  inhabitants,  commanding  as  large  a  trade  as  any  town  of  its  size, 
perhaps,  in  the  State.  The  little 'store  of  Taylor  has  given  place  to  twelve  or 
fifteen  large  establishments,  handling  dry  goods,  groceries  and  clothing.  Mor- 
ris, the  "  village  blacksmith,"  is  now  represented  by  six  shops,  the  smallest  of 
which  is  far  more  pretentious  than  his,  and  some  half  a  dozen  disciples  of  St. 
Crispin  supply  the  place  of  Lukins.  The  successors  of  'Squire  Rutledge  in 
the  legal  profession  comprise  a  dozen  or  more  attorneys  who  rank  at  the  head 
of  the  bar,  and  six  physicians  represent  Dr.  Bennett,  the  first  of  his  kind  in 
the  town.  All  other  branches  of  business  have  correspondingly  incpeased,  and 
hardware  stores,  agricultural,  harness,  drugs,  furniture,  meat  and  millinery 
stores,  and  lumber-yards  nourish,  and  are  well  patronized  and  maintained. 
There  are  also  two  banks  included  in  the  business  of  the  town. 

The  next  mill  after  the  small  affair  already  mentioned,  was  a  saw  and  grist 
mill,  built  by  one  Dorrell.  It  was  operated  for  a  number  of  years,  when  a  man 
named  Sanford  erected  a  very  fine  mill,  at  a  cost  of  $18,000,  which  he  sold,  in 
1853,  to  A.  D.  Wright.  After  operating  it  for  several  years,  his  sons,  J.  D. 
and  E.  D.  Wright,  took  charge  of  it.  In  a  few  years,  the  latter  withdrew  from 
the  firm  and  the  former  failed,  necessitating  the  sale  of  the  property.  The  mill 
was  purchased,  in  1878,  by  D.  Fischer  and  E.  L.  Gault,  who  are  now  running 


'"Q-. O 


TALLUU 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  297 

it.  with  good  success.  They  make  a  fine  article  of  flour,  as  evidenced  in  the 
fact  that  it  took  first  premium  at  the  State  Fair,  last  year,  at  Freeport. 

The  Eagle  Mills  were  built  in  1867  by  Nance,  Brother  &  Co.,  at  a  cost  of 
$.14,000,  and  were  operated  by  them  for  about  fifteen  months,  when  they  sold 
out  to  Philip  Rainey.  He  operated  them  for  a  time,  in  connection  with  Thomas 
Barfield,  but,  at  the  present  time,  is  alone  in  the  ownership  of  these  excellent 
mills.  He  has  recently  added  what  is  termed  a  "  New  Process,"  a  process,  by 
the  way,  of  which  we  are  ignorant,  but,  as  some  of  our  readers  may  be  better 
informed  upon  the  subject,  we  give  them  the  benefit  of  the  information.  "  The 
Process,"  whatever  it  is,  the  customers  say,  greatly  improves  the  quality 
of  the  flour.  While  on  the  subject  of  mills,  we  should  not  omit  to  men- 
tion the  fact  that  »in  early  times  the  Sangamon  River  was  supposed  to  be  sus- 
ceptible of  navigation,  as  noticed  in  the  general  history,  and  that  about  the 
year  1836,  a  little  steamboat,  in  paddling  up  (or  down)  the  crooked  stream, 
became  stranded  on  the  beach  in  this  vicinity.  The  machinery  was  purchased 
by  John  Taylor,  who  placed  it  in  a  saw-mill,  and  afterward  added  a  grist-mill 
to  the  establishment.  The  machinery  proved  more  valuable  here  than  in  the 
navigation  of  the  Sangamon  River,  and  performed  good  service  until  the  mill 
was  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  grain  trade  of  Petersburg,  though  quite  an  extensive  branch  of  busi- 
ness, scarcely  equals  many  other  towns  of  this  size.  The  principal  dealers 
here  at  present  are  Phil  Rainey,  of  the  Eagle  Mills,  Fischer,  Gault  &  Conover, 
of  the  Charter  Oak  Mills,  and  Laning  &  Co.,  all  of  whom  have  done  a  large 
business  the  present  year.  Fischer,  Gault  &  Conover  have  an  excellent  grain 
elevator  in  connection  with  their  mills,  which  is  the  only  grain  elevator  in  the 
town.  This  struck  us  as  a  little  strange — that  in  a  section  of  country  as  rich 
as  this,  where  corn  and  wheat  are  the  main  staples,  to  find  no  extensive  grain 
elevators  looming  up  along  the  railroad  tracks.  But  much  of  the  wheat  is 
shipped  as  soon  as  threshed,  the  corn  cribbed  by  the  railroads,  where  it  is 
shelled  and  loaded  into  the  cars ;  hence,  elevators  are  but  little  needed. 

PETERSBURG   AS   THE    COUNTY   SEAT. 

As  noted  in  the  general  history,  the  act  for  the  formation  of  Menard  County 
was  passed  at  the  Legislative  session  of  1838-39.  The  new  county  included 
the  larger  part  of  the  present  county  of  Mason,  which  was  not  set  off  until  two 
years  later.  One  of  the  first  questions  of  agitation  was  the  location  of  the  seat 
of  justice.  New  Market,  Huron,  Miller's  Ferry  and  Petersburg  were  the  con- 
testants, and,  after  a  short,  but  sanguinary  struggle,  it  was  decided  in  favor  of 
Petersburg,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1839,  it  became  the  capital  of  the  county. 
Its  competitors  in  the  struggle  for  official  greatness  were  long  since  submerged 
u 'neath  the  waves  of  dark  oblivion,"  and  few,  except  the  grizzled  pioneers  who 
are  left,  know  that  such  places  ever  existed  in  their  county.  From  this  time 
forward,  Petersburg  rapidly  increased  in  population,  and  grew  in  importance. 


298  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

After  the  formation  of  Mason,  it  was  found  that,  by  a  favorable  stroke  of  for- 
tune, the  county  seat  of  Menard  had  been  located  very  near  its  geographical 
center.  For  four  years  after  the  organization  of  the  county,  court  was  held  in 
the  store  of  Grinsley  &  Levering.  In  1843,  the  court  house  was  erected,  at  a 
cost  of  $6,640.  The  old  and  time-worn  building,  with  the  moss  of  more  than  a 
third  of  a  century  growing  upon  its  walls,  still  adorns  the  town,  and  though  an 
eye-sore  to  many,  is,  perhaps,  more  ^referable  to  the  majority  than  being 
encumbered  with  an  exorbitant  debt,  contracted  to  supply  a  gorgeous  edifice. 
It  is  the  old  Kentucky  tobacco-barn  style  of  architecture,  and  on  a  par  with 
the  court  houses  built  in  this  section  of  the  State  forty  or  fifty  years  ago. 
About  the  time  the  court  house  was  built,  a  jail  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $300. 
This  served  as  a  repository  of  the  lawless  until  1870,  when  a  new  jail  was  put 
up,  of  brick  and  stone,  which  cost  about  $22,000,  and  is  a  far  nlore  gorgeous  build- 
ing than  the  court  house  itself. 

The  coal  interest  of  Petersburg  has  become  an  extensive  business,  and  the 
mines  now  in  successful  operation  in  the  immediate  vicinity  afford  employment 
to  a  large  number  of  men.  The  South  Valley  Shaft  and  the  North  Junction 
Shaft  are  among  the  most  productive  being  worked.  As  the  coal  interest  is 
more  particularly  mentioned  in  the  county  history,  we  will  not  dwell  on  it 
here.  Suffice  it  to  say,  with  the  double  advantage  of  coal  in  endless  quantities  and 
the  water-power  afforded  by  the  Sangamon  River,  there  is  no  reason  why 
Petersburg  should  not  become  a  manufacturing  town.  The  facilities  are  almost 
unbounded,  and  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  encourage  enterprising  business  men 
and  capitalists  to  locate  in  the  place. 

The  Petersburg  Woolen  Mills  are  but  a  sample  of  the  facilities  presented  by 
this  locality  for  manufacturing  enterprises.  As  an  institution  of  considerable 
importance,  it  is  appropriate  that  a  description  of  their  origin  and  progress 
should  appear  in  the  history  of  Petersburg.  The  present  proprietor,  Hardin 
Bale,  a  son  of  Jacob  Bale,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Menard  County,  built  a 
carding  machine  at  Salem  about  1836—37.  After  Salem  became  extinct,  he 
moved  the  establishment  to  Petersburg.  Here  he  started  up  his  wool-carding 
machine  by  horse  or  mule  power.  As  trade  and  business  increased,  he  added 
machinery  and  improvements  until  1852,  when  he  purchased  an  engine, 
enlarged  his  building  and  introduced  a  spinning-jack  of  168  spindles  and 
four  .looms.  With  these  improvements,  he  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods,  and  added  a  storeroom  to  accommodate  his  increased  busine 
In  1865,  the  entire  building,  including  others  adjacent,  were  destroyed  by  fir 
involving  a  loss  of  nearly  $150,000.  Nothing  daunted,  he  made  immediate 
preparations  to  resume  business,  and  being  the  owner  of  a  large  brick  pork 
house,  he  at  once  placed  all  necessary  machinery  in  it,  consisting  of  a  jack  of 
240  spindles,  cards,  fulling-mill  and  five  looms.  After  a  short  season  of  pros- 
perity, he  was  again,  on  the  22d  of  February,  1869,  burned  out,  this  time  at 
a  loss  of  about  $45,000.  Again  he  set  to  work  to  rebuild,  and  in  a  short  time 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  299 

after  the  conflagration,  had  still  another  fine  woolen-mill  in  operation.  About 
the  first  of  May,  1874,  he  leased  it  to  C.  P.  Horner,  who  operated  it  for  a 
time,  when  Mr.  Bale  again  assumed  control,  and  is  now  operating  it  successfully. 
In  company  with  his  son,  Mr.  Bale  commenced  the  manufacture  of  drain 
tile  in  1878,  and  at  this  time  is  conducting  an  extensive  business  in  this  branch 
of  industry.  They  manufacture  drain  tile  of  all  the  sizes  in  common  use  in 
tliis  section  of  the  country.  "When  they  first  opened  their  factory,  they  used 
clay  taken  out  of  the  hill  near  by,  but  now  work  the  clay  from  the  coal  shaft, 
which  makes,  it  is  said,  a  better  tile.  Such  enterprises  as  those  given  above,, 
merely  go  to  show  the  advantages  possessed  by  this  locality,  and  what  a  busy 
manufacturing  little  city  this  may  become  if  it  has  a  chance  to  develop  ita 
resources.  Mr.  Miller,  in  the  general  history  of  this  work,  speaks  very  intelli- 
gently upon  this  subject,  and  to  his  timely  hints  the  attention  of  business  men 
and  friends  of  the  town  is  directed. 

SCHOOLS PAST    AND    PRESENT. 

After  a  thorough  investigation,  it  is  pretty  definitely  ascertained  that  the 
first  school  in  Petersburg  was  taught  by  Charles  B.  Waldo,  a  brother-^i-law  of 
John  Bennett,  Esq.,  mentioned  as  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  business  men 
of  the  town.  This  school  was  taught  in  1837,  in  a  small  log  cabin  which 
stood  in  the  extreme  south  end  of  the  village.  In  a  year  or  two,  a  small  frame 
building  was  erected,  for  school  purposes,  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  west  of  the 
village,  and  near  the  "Old  Dr.  Allen  place."  It  is  described  as  being  "out 
in  the  brush  "  then,  with  a  "  little  path  leading  to  it."  In  this  primitive 
temple  of  learning,  the  youth  of  the  period  laid  the  foundation  of  their  educa- 
tion and — learned  to  shoot  paper  wads,  until  1855,  when  the  town  purchased 
the  building  from  the  Masonic  fraternity,  which  they  had  used  as  a  hall,  and 
turned  it  into  a  common  or  free  school  building,*  flinging  its  doors  open  to  all, 
rich  and  poor,  alike. 

About  the  year  1845  or  1846,  the  Masons  started  a  school  in  the  lower 
story  of  their  hall,  for  the  benefit  of  their  children,  and  engaged  W.  A.  Dickey 
as  teacher.  The  school  was  not  confined  exclusively  to  their  own  children,  but 
others  were  admitted  upon  a  certain  subscription.  This  was  continued  until 
bought  by  the  town,  as  above  noticed.  After  its  purchase,  an  addition  was 
built  to  it,  making  a  large  and  comfortable  building,  which  was  used  for  educa- 
tional purposes  until  1874,  when  the  present  elegant  building  was  commenced 
and  pushed  forward  with  such  energy  as  to  be  ready  for  occupancy  by  Febru- 
ary. 1875.  It  cost  $10,000,  and  has  six  large,  well-ventilated  rooms,  three 
on  each  floor,  besides  several  private  rooms,  for  library  purposes,  offices,  etc. 
The  names  of  all  the  teachers  employed  previous  to  the  inauguration  of  the 
.common  school  cannot  be  given. 

*It  seems  a  little  strange,  but  is  vouched  for  as  true,  that,  although  the  common-school  law  was  passed  in  1847, 
the  first  free  school  in  this  place  was  not  taught  until  1855.    Up  to  this  date,  the  old  subscription-schools  were  the 
ily  kind  in  Petersburg. 


300  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

The  first  free  school  was  taught  by  Judge  J.  H.  Pillsbury,  in  1855  and 
1856.  The  following  is  a  list  of  Principals,  in  regular  rotation,  from  Pillsbury 
down  to  the  present  time :  Judge  J.  H.  Pillsbury,  1855  and  1856  ;  John  Dor- 
sey,  1856  and  1857  ;  Edward  Laning,  1857  and  1^58 ;  J.  H.  Best,  1858  to 
1860 ;  A.  Bixby,  1860  and  1861 ;  W.  Taylor,  1861  and  1862 ;  Edward  Lan- 
ing. 1862  and  1863 ;  M.  P.  Hartley,  1863  and  1864 ;  W.  Taylor,  1864  and 
1865;  C.  E.  McDougall,  1865  and  1866;  J.  A.  Pinkerton  and  J.  H.  Pills- N 
bury,  1866  and  1867  ;  W.  H.  Berry,  1867  to  1869 ;  C.  H.  Crandall,  1869 
and  1870 ;  -  -  Mayfield,  1870  and  1871 ;  M.  C.  Connelly,  1871  to  1876; 
€.  L.  Hatfield,  1876  and  1877;  J.  A.  Johnson,  1877  and  1878;  M.  C.  Con- 
nelly, 1878  and  1879. 

It  will  be  perceived  from  the  above  that  Prof.  Connelly  has  swayed  the 
scepter  over  the  schools  of  Petersburg  six  years,  and  has,  we  learn,  been 
retained  for  the  year  just  beginning.  His  assistants  for  the  opening  year  are 
as  follows :  G.  W.  Shepherd,  J.  W.  Whipp.  Miss  Grace  Brown.  Miss  Clara 
McDougall,  Miss  Dora  Lorentzen,  Miss  Mary  Fisher  and  Miss  Anna  Morris. 
The  school  is  graded,  and  includes  in  its  course  of  instruction  all  the  branches 
usually  taught  in  the  common  schools  of  the  country.  Prof.  Connelly's  long 
administration  as  Principal  shows  him  to  be  what  he  really  is,  "  the  right  man 
in  the  right  place." 

In  1870,  the  public  schools  of  the  town  having  somewhat  retrograded,  or, 
as  our  informant  expressed  it,  "run  down,"  John  A.  Brahm,  Isaac  White,  H. 
W.  Montgomery,  David  Frackelton,  J.  M.  Bobbins  and  B.  F.  Montgomery 
formed  a  joint-stock  company,  and  erected  a  building  on  the  hill,  west  of  the 
public  square,  for  the  purpose  of  having  a  "good  school."  This  building  cost 
$3,750,  and  was  styled  the  "Petersburg  Seminary."  As  will  be  seen  from 
the  above  facts,  it  was  a  private  and  individual  enterprise,  and  the  rate  of 
admission  to  it  was  $36  per  scholar,  for  a  term  of  nine  months.  The  first 
year  of  the  new  seminary,  W.  S.  Bennett  and  Miss  M.  A.  Campbell  were 
employed  as  teachers ;  the  second  year,  D.  M.  Bone  and  Miss  M.  P.  Rainey. 
We  may  remark  here,  parenthetically,  as  a  ritatter  of  interest  to  our  lady 
readers,  that  both  Principals  married  their  assistants.  Whether  this  fact  led 
to  the  position  of  assistant  being  much  sought  after  by  young  lady  teachers  or 
not,  we  are  not  informed. 

School  was  conducted  two  years  longer,  when  the  public  schools,  under  th< 
efficient  management  of  Prof.  Connelly,  had  attained  to  such  a  degree  of  pro- 
ficiency that  the  stockholders  or  Directors  of  the  seminary  wisely  decided 
close  it.  The  building,  accordingly,  was  sold,  and  is  now  used  as  a  residence. 
Mrs.  Rachel  Frackelton  bought  the  ground,  and  has  since  erected  thereon 
one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the  city  of  Petersburg. 

CHURCH    HISTORY. 

Cotemporaneous  almost  with   the  erection  of  the   pioneer's  cabin,  came  the 
.Methodist  circuit-rider.     Usually  these  itinerant  preachers  were  the  first  in  the 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  301 

field,  and,  traveling  from  settlement  to  settlement,  they  held  meetings  in  the 
settlers'  cabins,  or,  in  pleasant  weather,  in  the  groves — "  God's  first  temples." 
As  soon,  therefore,  as  half-a-dozen  families  had  settled  upon  the  site  of  the 
present  city  of  Petersburg,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Springer,  mentioned  in  connection 
with  the  Methodist  Church  of  Athens,  and  who  was  a  brother  to  Mrs.  Isham 
Davidson,  an  early  settler  of  the  place,  came  on  his  circuit  and  commenced  a 
meeting  in  Mr.  Davidson's  house  in  1835.  He  continued  to  preach  at  David- 
son's residence  until  the  erection  of  the  little  log  schoolhouse,  when  it  became 
a  temple  of  worship  as  well  as  of  learning.  This  house  was  used,  and  after  it 
the  frame  schoolhouse,  until  the  erection  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  1846,  in 
which  edifice  they  still  worship  at  the  present  day.  The  first  appointed  circuit- 
rider  by  Conference  was  Rev.  Michael  Shunk,  in  1837-38,  so  often  referred  to 
in  the  history  of  both  Menard  and  Mason  Counties  as  a  pioneer  preacher. 
Among  the  early  members  of  this  venerable  church  were  Isham  Davidson  and 
wife,  George  Davidson  and  wife,  Jacob  West,  Parthenia  West,  E.  B.  Spearsr 
Ellen  Spears,  Elizabeth  Harrison,  John  Bagby,  Caroline  Bagby,  M.  B.  Harri- 
son, Susan  Smith,  Ellen  Young,  Christina  Alkire,  Anna  Engle,  Frances 
Webb.  W.  P.  Elam  and  Martha  Elam.  In  1846,  Rev.  James  Newman,  the 
Pastor,  deeming  the  society  of  sufficient  -strength  to  erect  a  building,  set  to 
work  and  succeeded  in  arousing  sufficient  interest  to  erect  the  present  edifice. 
It  has  been  recently  remodeled,  improved  and  modernized,  until  it  presents  a 
very  handsome  and  attractive  appearance.  Among  the  improvements  are  new 
paper,  new  pulpit,  new  chandeliers,  a  re-arrangement  of  the  seats,  and  many 
other  little  items,  adding  beauty  and  comfort.  All  these  changes  have  been- 
wrought  under  the  administration. of  Rev.  W.  0.  Peet,  now  in  his  second  year 
as  Pastor.  Among  the  Pastors  who  have  administered  to  the  spiritual  welfare 
of  this  church  are  the  following,  who  officiated  in  the  order  named  :  Revs. 
James  Shaw,  H.  C.  Wallace,  T.  C.  Wolf  (two  years),  S.  Goldsmith,  W.  W. 
Roberts,  N.  R.  Whitehead,  S.  Goldsmith  (two  years),  W.  N.  Rutledge,  George 
W.  Reed  and  the  present  Pastor,  Rev.  W.  0.  Peet.  The  Church  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition,  maintaining  an  interesting  Sunday  school  and  prayer- 
meeting. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mrs.  Hill  for  much  of  the  history  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Petersburg.  She  is  one  of  its  original  members,  and  had  thought- 
fully preserved  a  paper  containing  a  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  Maurice  Waller, 
in  which  is  given  a  brief  history  of  the  Church.  This  paper  she  kindly  placed 
at  our  disposal,  and  from  it  we  extract  the  following  item  of  interest : 

"  The  first  church  of  Springfield,  which  may  well  be  regarded  as  the 
mother  church  of  this  immediate  region,  was  organized  by  Rev.  John  M.  Ellis, 
in  January,  1828.  The  North  Sangamon  Church  was  organized  in  May,  1832, 
by  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Bergen.  The  name  of  John  Allen,  one  of  the  first  Elders 
of  this  Church,  appears  as  one  of  the  members  received  upon  examination  into 
the  North  Sangamon  Church  at  the  time  of  its  organization." 


302  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY, 

The  following  is  from  the  records  of  the  Petersburg  Church :  In  Decem- 
ber, 1839,  a  number  of  persons  met  in  Petersburg,  Menard  County,  agreeably 
to  previous  notice,  and  were  organized  into  a  church  by  Rev.  Thomas  Gait, 
known  as  the  Petersburg  Presbyterian  Church,  under  the  care  of  the  Presby- 
terian Assembly  of  America.  The  following  members  were  admitted  by  letter: 
James  White,  Sr.,  John  Allen  and!  Parthenia  Hill,  from  North  Sangamon 
Church ;  S.  L.  Hallock,  Second  Church,  Springfield ;  Richard  Dey,  from 
Presbyterian  Church,  Laurenceville,  N.  J. ;  Catharine  Conover,  from  Dutch 
Reformed  Church  of  New  Jersey,  and  upon  examination,  Eli  W.  Hoff,  Will- 
iam L.  Conover,  Phoebe  Conover  and  Laurenah  Conover,  in  all,  ten  members. 
For  some  time  after  organization,  they  worshiped  in  people's  houses  and  in  the 
schoolhouse.  In  1842,  a  building  was  erected,  and  dedicated  May  12,  by  Rev. 
John  W.  Little.  Rev.  Mr.  Gait  preached  for  them  occasionally  the  first  year, 
and  again  from  1842  he  appears  as  occasional  preacher  until  1846—47.  The 
first  regular  Pastor  of  this  Church  who  resided  in  town,  commenced  his  labors 
in  1847,  and  gave  three-fourths  of  his  time  to  it.  He  was  succeeded,  in  1857, 
by  Rev.  J.  A.  Pinkerton,  who  continued  in  charge  for  thirteen  years.  In 
1871,  Rev.  John  Mehan,  of  Pekin,  took  charge  of  the  Church  as  temporary 
supply,  and  remained  seven  months,  when  Rev.  George  Wood,  of  Jacksonville, 
took  charge,  and  continued  until  1872.  •  In  February  of  this  year,  Rev. 
Maurice  Waller  assumed  the  pastorate,  which  position  he  held  for  six  years. 
During  his  administration,  the  elegant  church,  which  is  an  ornament  to  the 
town,  was  built.  It  was  dedicated  in  the  fall  of  1874,  by  Rev.  William. 
Harsha,  of  Jacksonville.  At  present,  the  church  is  without  a  regular  Pastor, 
but  is  attended  occasionally,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Nevins,  of  Jacksonville.  A 
flourishing  Sunday  school  is  maintained  and  largely  attended. 

The  first  services  of  the  Episcopal  Church  held  in  the  county  took  place  in 
the  Methodist  Church,  of  Petersburg,  May  26,  1867,  by  Rev.  I.  S.  Townsend, 
of  Jacksonville.  Mrs.  Thomas  L.  Harris  was  almost  the  only  representative 
of  the  Episcopal  faith  in  the  town,  and  it  was  through  her  influence  that  Rev. 
Mr.  Townsend  was  induced  to  come  here.  In  October  of  this  year,  she  organ- 
ized a  Sunday-school  class  at  her  own  house,  of  eleven  scholars,  which  increased 
to  fifteen  on  the  next  Sunday.  She  continued  to  collect  them  together  at  her 
house  every  Sunday  for  two  months,  when  the  school  was  removed  to  Mrs. 
Thomas  Bennett's,  as  being  more  convenient  to  the  majority  of  attendants.  It 
was  held  at  Mrs.  Bennett's  until  the  following  spring,  when  Mrs.  Dr.  Antle 
tendered  the  use  of  her  residence,  which  w,as  used  for  some  time.  Bishop 
Whitehouse  made  a  visit  to  the  place,  and  confirmed  those  who  were  desirous 
of  uniting  with  the  Church,  the  Lutheran  Church  being  used  on  the  occasion. 
It  was  also  tendered  for  the  use  of  the  Sunday  school,  and  regular  services 
were  held  in  it  once  a  month  by  Rev.  Mr.  Townsend.  Rev.  James  Cornell 
became  Rector  in  1871,  and  remained  about  a  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
William  Gill,  of  Jacksonville.  Through  the  untiring  efforts  of  Mrs.  Harris 


HISTORY    OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  303 

and  a  few  other  zealous  workers,  means  were  finally  raised  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  a  church,  and  in  October,  1873,  the  corner-stone  was  laid  on  a  lot 
presented  by  Mrs.  Harris  (in  the  northern  part  of  town),  by  Bishop  White- 
house,  assisted  by  Rev.  William  Gill.  It  was  completed  and  dedicated  August 
30,  1874,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Gill,  who  remained  with  them  until  December  of  that 
year,  when  he  removed  to  Colorado.  For  some  time,  services  were  read  by  lay 
members.  In  1876,  Rev.  W.  W.  Steele  became  Rector  and  continued  until 
1878,  when  he  was  called  to  Dixon,  and  again  they  were  without  a  regular 
minister.  Starting  with  one  member  (Mrs.  Harris),  it  has  now  twenty-eight ; 
and  the  Sunday  school,  from  eleven  scholars,  has  increased  to  an  attendance  of 
from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred,  who  are  instructed  by  some  half-dozen  or 
more  competent  teachers. 

The  German  Lutheran  Church  was  organized  in  Petersburg  in  the  spring 
of  1861.  Among  the  original  members  were  Harmon  Scherding,  John  Scherd- 
ing,  Henry  Messmann,  Henry  Fischer,  J.  P.  Bela,  J.  H.  Stagemann,  Jerry 
H.  Stagemann,  Jerry  Bonties  and  others.  They  bought  a  house  used  by 
Diedrich  Fischer  as  a  carpenter-shop,  which  they  fitted  up  as  a  temple  of  wor- 
ship, where  they  met  for  some  time  and  held  services  without  a  preacher.  They 
finally  secured,  as  Pastor,  Rev.  Paul  Lorentzen,  and  purchased  a  parsonage  adja- 
cent to  the  church,  at  a  total  cost,  for  both  edifices,  of  about  $1,750.  In  1863, 
Rev.  Mr.  Lorentzen  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Peter  Dahl,  he  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Schmidt,  and  he  by  Rev.  William  H.  Schmidt,  who  remained  the  Pastor  until 
his  death,  in  1872.  Rev.  Mr.  Dubiel  was  their  next  preacher.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  John  Karminsky,  he  by  Rev.  Mr.  Deichmann,  he  by  Rev. 
Charles  Behrends,  and  he  by  Rev.  Mr.  Conrad,  the  present  minister.  Services 
are  held  in  the  German  language,  and  the  congregation  numbers  about  thirty 
members. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1862,  a  society  of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith 
was  organized.  The  first  services  of  this  denomination  were  held  in  the  pri- 
vate residences  of  Cornelius  Rourke,  Adam  Johns  and  John  Lucas.  As  the 
meetings  increased  in  importance,  they  were  held  in  the  schoolhouse  and  Court 
House,  until  their  numbers  increased  to  such  an  extent  as  to  render  it  neces- 
sary to  build  a  church,  which  was  completed,  at  a  cost  of  $5,000,  and  services 
held  in  the  new  edifice  in  the  fall  of  1866.  The  dedicatory  services  were  held 
by  Rev.  Father  Mettinger,  and  at  the  time  of  the  completion  of  the  church 
the  Society  comprised  about  fifty  members.  The  following  are  the  Priests  in 
charge  of  the  Society  since  its  organization  :  *  Fathers  Quigley,  Zebell,  Jarn- 
sen,  Fitzgibbons,  Costa,  Clifford  (the  latter  at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone), 
Mettinger  (at  dedication),  Jaques,  Cleuse,  Wegman,  Sauer  and  Ahne.  Father 
Ahne  has  for  some  time  been  in  bad  health  and  has  been  forced  to  resign  his 
charge  in  consequence,  hence  the  Church  is  without  a  Pastor  at  present.  The 
Church  now  numbers  1,500  members.  (This  includes  all  members  of  families 

*  The  first  seven  named,  as  Missionaries,  the  remaining  five  as  regular  Pastors  or  Rectors. 


304  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

who  have  been  baptized  or  christened  from  parents  down  to  infants.)  There  is 
but  the  one  Catholic  Church  in  Menard  County,  and  much  praise  is  due  to.  the 
zeal  and  energy  of  Messrs.  Rourke,  Luthinger  and  others,  for  this  prosperous 
organization  and  its  elegant  temple  of  worship.  A  parsonage  has  been  erected 
adjacent  to  the  church,  also  a  schoolhouse,  together  with  stables  and  other 
necessary  buildings,  increasing  the  value  of  the  church  'property  to  about 
$8,500.  During  the  pastorate  of  Father  Sauer,  the  school  building  was  erected, 
in  which  a  "mission  school,"  as  it  is  termed,  is  carried  on  under  the  present 
charge  (or  for  the  year  just  closed)  of  Sisters  Augustine  and  Teresa.  It  is 
attended  by  from  sixty  to  eighty  pupils. 

The  first  years  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Petersburg  were  rather  check- 
ered. Forty  years  or  more  ago,  a  society  was  formed  under  the  charge,  or 
through  the  exertion,  of  Aaron  B.  White,  which  continued  for  some  years, 
receiving  spiritual  consolation  now  and  then  from  passing  ministers.  About 
1842,  several  preachers  congregated  and  held  an  "  open-air  meeting,"  one  block 
southwest  of  the  public  square,  which  resulted  in  a. great  "shaking  of  the  dry 
bones  of  the  valley,"  and  a  large  addition  was  made  to  the  number  of  believers. 
From  this  time  until  1850,  religious  services  were  held  by  the  society  in  the 
Court  House,  which  seems  to  have,  at  certain  periods,  served  as  a  temple  of 
worship  for  all  the  religious  bodies  represented  in  Petersburg.  About  this 
period  (1850),  many  of  the  early  members  having  died  and  moved  away,  the 
society  became  considerably  reduced  and  meetings  finally  ceased  altogether, 
except  as  an  occasional  minister  passed  through  and  preached  a  sermon.  In- 
1862,  it  was  again  organized  under  the  influence  of  William  White,  and,  with 
varying-  success  and  fortune,  existed  until  1875,  when  it  was  re-organized  by 
Elder  D.  R.  Lucas,  and,  July  30,  a  "tent  meeting"  was  commenced,  which 
lasted  until  the '12th  of  September.  This  increased  the  membership  to  nearly 
two  hundred.  Having  no  church  edifice,  a  hall  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship, 
but  being  over  a  livery  stable,  as  a  dernier  resort,  they  moved  to  the  Court 
House.  At  the  close  of  the  revival  mentioned  above,  an  eifort  was  made  to 
build  a  church,  which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  the  substantial  brick  building 
standing  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  town,  and  which  was  opened  for  services 
on  the  first  Sunday  in  March,  1876,  Elder  D.  R.  Lucas  preaching  the  dedica- 
tory sermon.  Elder  M.  M.  Goode  was  secured  as  Pastor  of  the  Church  in 
February,  1876,  and  is  still  laboring  in  that  capacity.  The  Church  is  in  a 
very  prosperous  condition,  with  a  membership  of  about  two  hundred  and 
seventy-five,  and  a  Sunday  School  correspondingly  flourishing. 

Of  the  Baptist  Church,  we  were  unable  to  obtain  any  information  beyond 
the  following,  from  a  history  of  it  already  published  :  "  The  Baptist  Church 
was  organized  in  1854,  with  fourteen  members,  the  Presbytery  being  Revs.  N. 
J.  Coffey  and  H.  P.  Curry.  In  1856,  it  built  a  comfortable  brick  church, 
35x60  feet,  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  The  list  of  Pastors  who  have  filled  the  pulpit 
from  time  to  time,  of  this  church  are  N.  J.  CofFey,  H.  P.  Curry,  M.  P.  Hartly, 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD-  COUNTY.  305 

Clarke,  A.  Blount,  P.  G.  Clarke,  J.  M.  Winn, Clarke  and  A.  Scott. 

?he  Church,  by  death  and  removals,  was  so  weakened  that,  for  several  years,  it 
was  without  a  regular  Pastor.  Rev.  H.  P.  Curry,  who  assisted  in  the  first 
organization  of  the  Church,  and  who  has  ever  been  a  pillar  of  strength  in  the 
society,  for  whose  advancement  in  Central  Illinois  he  has  labored  with  great 
earnestness  and  zeal  for  many  years,  is  at  present  the  Pastor.  The  society  at 
Petersburg  now  numbers  about  eighty  members,  thirty  of  whom  were  added 
during  the  past  year."  The  above  was  written  about  1874,  and  we  learn  that, 
at  the  present  time,  the  Church  is  again  without  a  Pastor. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized,  in  1870,  by  Rev. 
James  White,  with  some  seven  or  eight  members.  He  preached  to  them  occa- 
sionally, occupying  the  Court  House,  for  one  year.  The  society  them  became 
dormant,  and  so  remained  until  1874,  when  it  was  re-organized  by  Rev.  R.  D. 
Miller,  with  nine  members,  viz. :  Dr.  H.  A.  Harris,  C.  L.  Hatfield,  W.  R. 
Edgar,  C.  H.  Thomas,  'D.  M.  Bone,  T.  E.  Clarke,  Miss  Anna  Shepherd,  Mis& 
Elizabeth  Barclay  and  Mrs.  Lucy  Thomas.  The  Session  was  Harris,  Hatfield 
and  Clarke.  Ever  since  re-organization,  services  have  been  held  in  the  Court 
House,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Miller  is  still  Pastor.  The  society  numbers,  at  present, 
between  forty  and  fifty  members.  The  Session  is  comprised  of  D.  M.  Bone, 
C.  L.  Hatfield  and  B.  P.  Blood  ;  Deacons,  C.  H.  Thomas  and  Robert  Carver. 
A  n-ew  church  edifice  was  begun  the  present  summer,  and,  at  this  writing,  is 
nearing  completion,  which  will  cost  not  far  from  $5,000,  and  will  be  one  of  the 
handsomest  churches  in  the  town.  To  Mrs.  Dr.  Antle,  we  are  told,  more  than 
to  any  other  one  person,  is  the  society  indebted  for  the  erection  of  this  edifice. 
The  church  is  known  as  "  Barclay  Chapel,"  and  was  named  in  honor  of  Rev. 
John  Barclay,  one  of  the  most  promising  young  ministers  of  this  church  in  his. 
day,  in  Central  Illinois.  He  died  in  this  county  about  twenty-five  years  ago, 
and  was  a  brother  to  the  Miss  Barclay  mentioned  in  the  organization  of  the 
society.  A  flourishing  Sunday  school  is  maintained,  under  the  superintendence 
of  C.  L.  Hatfield. 

Freemasonry  and  Odd  Fellowship,  those  benevolent  institutions  that  exert  so 
wide  an  influence  for  good,  usually  follow  close  in  the  wake  of  the  Christian 
Church.  We  know  that  the  causes  which  actuate  them  are  beneficent  and  good, 
because  the  results  achieved  are  so  grand  and  glorious.  Freemasonry  was 
introduced  in  Petersburg  nearly  forty  years  ago.  Clinton  Lodge  was  organized 
under  dispensation,  in  October,  1842.  In  due  time,  it  was  chartered  as  Clin- 
ton Lodge,  No.  19,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  The  first  officers  were  :  John  Bennett, 
Worshipful  Master ;  Martin  *S.  Morris,  Senior  Warden  ;  John  McNeal,  Junior 
Warden ;  Jacob  West,  Treasurer ;  John  Broadwell,  Secretary ;  David  McMur- 
phy,  Senior  Deacon  ;  and  W.  B.  Kirk,  Junior  Deacon.  The  present  member- 
ship is  115,  and  the  officers  are  as  follows  :  John  Bennett,  Worshipful  Master ; 
Homer  Stewart,  Senior  Warden ;  R.  S.  Stevens,  Junior  Warden ;  H.  W. 
Montgomery,  Treasurer ;  J.  G.  Strodtmann,  Secretary ;  J.  R.  Carver,  Senior 


306  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

Deacon ;  and  J.  R.  Jarad,  Junior  Deacon.  As  a  matter  of  interest  to 
the  fraternity,  we  make  the  following  extract  from  a  local  writer  :  "  Clinton 
Lodge  was  named  in  honor  of  ex-Gov.  De  Witt  Clinton,  of  New  York.  To 
perpetuate  his  memory  and  great  virtues,  the  Masonic  brethren  have  caused  to 
be  built,  for  the  ornamentation  of  their  lodge-room,  a  '  shell  monument,'  con- 
sisting of  a  collection  of  shells  arranged  with  genius  and  skill.  As  the  number 
of  Clinton  Lodge  indicates,  it  is  one  of  the  old  Lodges  of  the  State."  Mr. 
Bennett  has  served  the  Orde*  as  Worshipful  Master  for  nearly  a  score  of  years, 
and,  as  appreciation  of  his  earnest  labors  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  society, 
his  brethren  have  honored  him,  the  present  year,  by  again  elevating  him  to  the 
Oriental  Chair. 

De  Witt  Chapter,  No.  119,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  was  organized  March  25, 
"L868,  with  the  following  as  its  first  set  of  officers :  >  Hobart  Hamilton,  M.\  E.\ 
High  Priest;  T.  W.  McNeely,  E.v  King;  J.  T.  Brooks,  E.-.  Scribe;  John 
Bennett,  Captain  of  the  Host ;  H.  W.  Montgomery,  Treasurer,  and  J.  G. 
Strodtmann,  Secretary.  The  Chapter  has  now  sixty-one  members,  and  the  fol- 
lowing officers:  Hobart  Hamilton,  M.'.  E.-.  High  Priest;  J.  H.  Traylor,  E.\ 
King;  Fred  Wilkinson,  E.\  Scribe;  Anson  Thompson,  Captain  of  the  Host; 
T.  C.  Bennett,  Principal  Sojourner ;  C.  E.  McDougall,  Royal  Arch  Captain  ; 
H.  W.  Montgomery,  Treasurer,  and  J.  G.  Strodtmann,  Secretary. 

St.  Aldemar  Commandery,  No.  47,  Knights  Templar,  was  organized  Octo- 
ber 27,  1875,  by  Right  Eminent  Sir  Hiram  W.  Hubbard,  Grand  Commander 
of  the  State.  The  first  officers  were :  Eminent  Sir  Hobart  Hamilton.  Com- 
mander ;  Sir  T.  W.  McNeely,  Generalissimo  ;  Sir  Charles  B.  Thacher,  Captain 
General ;  Sir  Anson  Thompson,  Senior  Warden  ;  Sir  Edward  Laning,  Junior 
Warden ;  Sir  F.  P.  Antle,  Treasurer ;  Sir  J.  G.  Strodtmann,  Recorder ;  Sir  J. 
M.  Sawyer,  Standard  Bearer ;  Sir  J.  T.  Brooks,  Sword  Bearer ;  Sir  T.  C. 
Bennett,  Warder,  and  Sir  J.  E.  Dickinson,  Captain  of  the  Guard.  There  are 
the  names  of  twenty-six  Sir  Knights  on  the  roll,  and  the  officers  for  1879  are : 
Eminent  Sir  T.  W.  McNeely,  Commander ;  Sir  Fred.  Huggins,  Generalissimo ; 
Sir  J.  M.  Sawyer,  Captain  General ;  Sir  T.  C.  Bennett,  Prelate ;  Sir  Anson 
Thompson,  Senior  Warden  ;  Sir  E.  W.  Eads,  Jucftor  Warden  ;  Sir  F.  P.  Antle, 
Treasurer ;  Sir  J.  G.  Strodtmann,  Recorder ;  Sir  I.  N.  Stevens,  Standard 
Bearer;  Sir  C.  B.  Laning,  Sword  Bearer;  Sir  Fred  Wilkinson.  Warder,  and 
Sir  John  T.  Brooks,  Captain  of  the  Guard. 

Bennett  Chapter,  No.  19,  Order  of.  the  Eastern  Star,  was  organized  January 
18.  1872.  The  first  officers  were :  John  Bennett,  W.  P.  ;  Mrs.  Isaac  White, 
W.  M. ;  Mrs.  James  W.  Judy,  A.  M.  ;  Mrs.  A.  D.  Wright,  Treasurer,  and 
Mrs.  John  Bennett,  Secretary.  The  officers  for  1879  are :  Homer  Stewart, 
W.  P. ;  Mrs.  J.  E.  Dickinson,  W.  M. ;  Miss  Elizabeth  Beekrnan,  A.  M. ;  Mrs. 
W.  S.  Conant,  Treasurer,  and  Mrs.  Jennie  Harris,  Secretary. 

The  Masonic  Fraternity,  in  connection  with  the  Harris  Guards,  are  now 
engaged  in  the  erection  of  a  substantial  brick  building,  the  upper  story  of 


HISTORY   OF    1VJ.ENARD   COUNTY.  307 

•which  will  be  used  as  a  Masonic  Hall.  The  corner  stone  of  the  edifice  was 
laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Masons,  on  the  9th  of  September  of  the  present  year,  by  Most  Worshipful 
William  Lavely,  Past  Grand  Master  of  the  State.  We  shall  refer  to  this 
building  again  in  another  page. 

Salem  Lodge,  No.  123,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  organized  under  dispensation 
April  13,  with  the  following  charter  members  :  B.  F.  Stevenson,  C.  N.  Gould- 
ing,  J.  H.  Collier,  Theodore  Baker  and  Z.  P.  Cabaniss.  The  first  officers 
were :  John  H.  Collier,  Noble  Grand ;  B.  F.  Stevenson,  Vice  Grand ;  Z.  P. 
Cabaniss,  Secretary,  and  Theo.  Baker,  Treasurer.  The  Lodge  continued  under 
dispensation  to  the  14th  of  October,  when  it  was  chartered,  and,  for  the  first  few 
years  following  its  organization,  it  flourished  almost  beyond  precedent.  At  the 
end  of  the  first  year,  it  had  enrolled  upward  of  fifty  members.  This  prosperity 
continued  until  the  commencement  of  the  war  in  1861,  and  from  that  and 
other  causes,  its  fortunes  waned  and  its  membership  became  much  reduced  in 
numbers.  The  few  remaining  members  even  contemplated  a  surrender  of  their 
charter,  and  a  vote  upon  the  question,  we  are  tyld,  was  actually  taken,  when 
the  dormant  energies  of  the  lukewarm  were  aroused,  and  the  Lodge  received  a 
new  lease  of  life.  The  financial  difficulties  which  had  for  some  time  harassed 
it,  were  overcome,  and  from  that  time  it  has  prospered.  Its  present  member- 
ship is  fifty,  and  its  officers  are :  W.  P.  Elam,  Noble  Grand ;  E.  M.  Morris, 
Vice  Grand ;  A.  J.  Kelley,  Secretary ;  Douglas  Bale,  P.  Secretary ;  Robert 
Frackelton,  Treasurer. 

An  Encampment  was  organized  under  dispensation,  August  16,  1871,  with 
the  following  original  members :  J.  W.  Cheaney,  John  W.  Briggs,  James  W. 
Bracken,  Richard  Mullen,  Alfred  E.  Mick,  George  Clemens,  W.  S.  Conant 
and  Charles  Fricke.  The  first  officers  were  :  James  W.  Cheaney,  W.  P.  ;  J. 
W.  Briggs,  H.  £. ;  J.  A.  Bracken,  S.  W. ;  A.  E.  Mick,  Scribe ;  George  Clem- 
ens, Assistant  Scribe.  At  the  October  session  of  the  Grand  Encampment,  a 
charter  was  granted  to  this  body,  and  it  was  regularly  instituted  as  Charity 
Encampment  No.  125,  I.  0.  0.  F.  It  has  a  membership,  at  present,  of 
twenty,  and  is  governed  by  the  following  corps  of  officers:  Richard  Mullen,  C. 
P. ;  A.  E.  Mick,  H.  P.  ;  A.  J.  Kelley,  Scribe ;  Charles  Fricke,  Treasurer ; 
Robert  Bishop,  S.  W.,  and  Douglas  Bale,  J.  W. 

Rebecca  Degree  Lodge,  No.  92,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  instituted-  May  5,  1876, 
and  re-instituted  March  3,  1879,  with  sixteen  members,  to  which  have  since 
been  added  twenty-six,  making  a  total  membership  of  forty-two.  The  follow- 
ing officers  were  installed  in  March,  1879,  and  still  fill  their  chairs:  R.  S. 
Frackleton.  N.  G. ;  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Cheaney,.  V.  G. ;  Mrs.  Helen  L.  Zilly, 
Secretary ;  Mrs.  Belle  Coneys,  Financial  Secretary  ;  Mrs.  Nancy  Pemberton, 
Treasurer ;  Charles  Fricke,  Warden ;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Mick,  Conductor ;  E.  M. 
Morris,  0.  G. ;  Mrs.  Margaret  Clemens,  I.  G.  ;  J.  W.  Faith,  R.  S.  N.  G.  ;  W. 
P.  Elam,  L.  S.  N.  G.  ;  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Mullen,  R.  S.  V.  G.  ;  Mrs.  Martha  J. 


308  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

Elam,  L.  S.  V.  G.,  and  Robert  Bishop,  Chaplain.  Meetings,  the  first  Thurs- 
day of  each  month. 

Social  Lodge,  No.  1306,  Knights  of  Honor,  was  instituted  December  26, 
1878,  and  has,  at  present,  thirty-five  members,  with  the  following  officers :  D. 
M.  Bone,  Dictator ;  J.  R.  Carver,  V.  Dictator ;  J.  M.  Walker,  Asst.  Dictator ; 
A.  J.  Kelley,  Reporter ;  Arthur  Young,  Financial  Reporter,  and  Thomas  Lev- 
ering, Treasurer. 

THE    CITY    PRESS. 

The  first  newspaper  was  established  in  Petersburg  in  the  fall  of  1854.  It 
was  published  by  S.  13.  Dugger,  and  was  called  the  Petersburg  Express.  After 
conducting  it  for  about  a  year,  he  disposed  of  it  to  Henry  L.  Clay,  and  it  became 
neutral  in  politics,  and  its  name  changed  to  the  Menard  Index.  In  September, 
1858,  he  sold  it  to  Hobart  Hamilton  arid  a  man  named  Brooks,  who  changed  it  into 
a  Republican  paper,  and  continued  its  publication  until  1863,  when  it  was  sold 
and  removed  from  the  county.  Brooks  continued  with  Hamilton  about  a  year, 
and  says  after  changing  the  politics  of  the  paper,  and  sending  out  the  first 
issue  as  a  Republican  sheet,  its  patrons  became  very  much  enraged,  and  would 
come  to  the  office  by  scores  with  their  papers  wadded  up  in  their  hands,  and, 

throwing  them  at  the  door,  would  exclaim,  "There's  your Abolition  paper." 

Shortly  before  the  removal  of  the  Index,  the  Northwestern  Baptist,  a  religious 
paper,  was  issued  from  the  Index  office,  and  edited  by  M.  P.  Hartly.  After 
Hamilton  changed  the  Index  into  a  Republican  paper,  the  Menard  County 
Axis,  a  Democratic  organ,  was  established  with  C.  Clay  as  editor  and 
publisher.  Its  first  issue  wa,s  April  12,  1859,  and  was  continued  by  Clay  until 
1867,  when  it  was  purchased  by  a  joint-stock  company,  with  M.  B.  Friend  as 
editor,  and  its  name  changed  to  Petersburg  Democrat,  which  name  it  still 
retains.  Mr.  Friend  remained  in  charge  of  the  paper  until  1871,  when  E.  T. 
McElwain  became  editor.  He  continued  in  editorial  control  until  July  1, 1877, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  A.  E.  Mick.  July  1,  1878,  Mr.  Mick  associated  S. 
S.  Knoles  with  him  in  its  publication,  and  so  the  firm  continues  to  the  present 
time. 

During  the  campaign  of  Fillnaore,  Buchanan  and  Fremont,  in  1856,  William 
Glenn  started  a  paper  called  the  Fillmore  Bugle,  but  it  ceased  at  the  close  of 
the  campaign.  In  June,  1868,  the  Menard  County  Republican  was  established 
with  Richard  Richardson  as  editor.  He  sold  out  in  about  a  year  to  John  T. 
McNeely,  who  conducted  it  until  1871,  when  Bennett  &  Zane  became  the  pro- 
prietors. About  a  year  after,  Zane  was  succeeded  by  John  Frank,  who  soon 
retired,  and  was  followed  by  F.  M.  Bryant,  who  likewise  remained  but  a  short 
time,  and  Bennett  continued  alone  in  its  control  for  a  time.  F.  J.  Dubois  then 
became  a  partner,  and  assumed  editorial  control  for  a  year.  The  material  of 
the  Republican  wa"s  sold  to  John  Frank  early  in  1874,  who  had  started  a  new 
paper  the  August  preceding,  called  the  Menard  County  Times.  It  and  the 
Republican  were  now  consolidated  and  published  under  the  name  of  the  Times. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  309 

Frank  sold  out  to  F.  M.  Bryant,  who  continued  the  paper  until  May  9,  1878, 
when  he  sold  it  to  G.  W.  Cain  &  Parks.  Cain  had  been  publishing  a  paper  in 
Tallula,  and  when  he  bought  out  Taylor,  he  changed  the  name  of  the  paper  to 
the  Petersburg  Observer.  The  paper  is  now  devoted  to  the  Greenback  and 
Labor  party,  and  is  still  under  control  of  Cain  &  Parks. 

On  the  4th  day  of  September  of  the  present  year,  the  Petersburg  Republi- 
can made  its  first  appearance.  The  salutatory  is  signed  by  Martin  &  Davis, 
and  from  it  we  make  the  following  extract :  "  We  expect  to  do  our  utmost  to 
maintain  and  build  up  the  Republican  Party  as  well  as  the  interests  of  Peters- 
burg and  Menard  County,  and,  in  return  therefor,  simply  ask  a  liberal  share 
of  the  public's  patronage."  The  late  hour  at  which  this  newspaper  was  born 
into  the  world,  had  well-nigh  excluded  a  notice  of  it  from  this  work,  and  these 
few  lines  are  all  the  history  of  it  that  we  were  able  to  obtain. 

MISCELLANEOUS    ITEMS. 

The  Harris  Guards,  comprising  Co.  E,  of  the  Fifth  Regiment  of  I.  N.  G., 
with  headquarters  at  Springfield,  was  organized  originally,  in  October,  1874. 
md  re-organized  under  the  militia  law,  in  July,  1877.  The  commissioned 
officers  under  re-organization,  and  who  still  maintain  their  positions,  are  C.  E. 
McDougall,  Captain ;  John  M.  Walker,  First  Lieutenant ;  and  James  H.  Car- 
man, Second  Lieutenant.  The  three  commissioned  officers  served  in  the  late 
war.  Capt.  McDougall  entered  the  army  as  a  private,  and,  after  nearly  four 
years'  service,  retired  as  Captain  of  his  company.  The  Harris  Guards  consist, 
at  present,  of  about  fifty-five,  rank  and  file,  and  are  well  drilled,  and  present  a 
very  soldierly  appearance.  In  connection  with  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  of  Peters- 
burg, they  are,  at  the  present  writing,  erecting  a  building,,  the  first  story  of 
which  belong  to  them,  and  will  be  so  constructed  as  to  equally  adapt  it  to  their 
use  as  an  armory,  or,  with  a  few  minutes'  work,  change  it  to  an  elegant  Opera 
House.  The  building,  when  completed  as  designed,  will  be  not  only  an  orna- 
ment to  the  town,  but  an  honor  to  the  Harris  Guards,  and  the  Masonic  Fraternity. 
The  estimated  cost  of  that  part  of  the  building  belonging  to  the  military  includ- 
ing the  ground,  is  about  $5,200,  while  the  Masonic  part  will  cost  nearly  as 
much  more. 

Petersburg  was  incorporated  as  a  village  a  number  of  years  ago,  but,  as  we 
were  unable  to  get  hold  of  the  early  records,  cannot  give  the  exact  date  of  its 
first  organization.  Although  it  now  claims  a  population  greater  than  many 
incorporated  cities,  it  is  still  under  village  organization.  The  question  of 
incorporating  it  as  a  city  was  agitated  some  years  ago.  The  project,  however, 
was  voted  down,  and  thus  it  still  remains  a  village,  subject  to  village  laws,  and 
governed  by  a  Board  of  Trustees.  The  following  is  the  present  Board  :  Dr. 
F.  P.  Antle,  Philip  Rainey,  D.  S.  Eicher,  John  F.  Miller  and  Isaac  McDougall. 
F.  P.  Antle  is  President  of  the  Board  ;  Philip  Rainey,  Treasurer ;  and  


310  HISTORY   OF   MENARD    COUNTY. 

Black,  Clerk.  W.  P.  Elam  is  Police  Magistrate ;  W.  B.  Vaughn,  Town  Con- 
stable ;  and  A.  J.  Bless,  Night  Policeman. 

The  first  bank  was  established  in  Petersburg  by  Brahra  &  Greene,  in  1866. 
The  bank  is  still  in  operation,  and  in  the  hands  of  the  original  proprietors, 
who  conduct  a  general  banking  business  in  all  its  branches.  Another  bank  is 
carried  on  by  D.  S.  Frackelton,  so  that  the  town  and  surrounding  country 
have  no  lack  of  facilities  of  a  financial  character. 

The  bar  of  Menard  County  is  represented  by  a  body  of  gentlemen  who,  in 
ability  and  legal  lore,  will  compare  favorably  with  any  of  the  surrounding 
counties.  In  a  work  of  this  character,  we  cannot  devote  space  to  extravagant 
panegyrics,  however  deserving,  nor  to  criticisms,  as  one  might  indulge  in  in  a 
newspaper  article.  But  we  may  mention  in  connection  with  the  bar  of  Peters- 
burg, the  name  of  Hon.  T.  W.  McNeely,  who  has  represented  his  district  two 
terms  in  Congress,  and  Hon.  N.  W.  Branson,  who  has  served  with  distinction 
in  the  State  Legislature.  There  may  be  others  who  have  served  their  country 
with  honor  and  ability,  but  of  whom  we  failed  to  obtain  the  facts.  The  health 
of  the  city  and  neighboring  country,  is  in  charge  of  a  corps  of  able  physicians, 
who  are  zealous  in  their  chosen  profession,  and  watchful  of  the  welfare  of  the 
people,  whose  health  is  trusted  to  their  care. 

There  are  four  cemeteries  around  Petersburg.  The  first  is  known  as  "  The 
Old  Burying  Ground,"  which  is  free  to  all,  and  is  supervised  by  the  Town 
Board.  It  contains  the  remains  of  many  of  the  pioneers,  who  reduced  the 
country  from  a  wild  and  savage  wilderness  and  laid  the  foundations  of  the  pres- 
sent  state  of  civilization.  The  Calvary  Cemetery  is  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church.  Oakland  Cemetery  is  a  lovely  spot  adjacent  to  the 
city.  But  the  most  beautiful  of  all  is  Rose  Hill  Cemetery.  It  was  laid  out  in 
1858,  and  incorporated  in  1859,  with  the  following  officers :  J.  M.  Greene, 
President ;  Directors,  Tilford  Clarke,  W.  M.  Cowgill,  W.  P.  Elam  and  W.  S. 
Conant.  The  present  officers  are :  N.  W.  Branson,  President ;  W.  P.  Elam, 
James  Robbins,  Con.  Rourke,  Directors ;  and  W.  S.  Conant,  Treasurer.  To 
the  latter  gentleman,  piore  than  to  any  other,  is  the  town  indebted  for  this 
beautiful  little  city  of  the  dead. 

"OLD  SALEM." 

This  ancient  village  of  Menard  County,  now  a  pile  of  moldering  ruins, 
was  once  the  center  of  business  for  a  large  scope  of  country.  Before  the  birth 
of  Petersburg,  it  was  the  principal  trading-point  in  the  present  limits  of  the 
county.  It  is,  or  was,  situated  on  the  "  Heights  of  Abraham,"  some  hundred 
feet  or  so  above  the  level  o£  the  raging  Sangamon,  and  about  two  miles  from 
Petersburg.  It  was  surveyed  and  laid  out  on  the  13th  of  October,  1829,  by 
Reuben  Harrison,  for  Rutledge  &  Cameron,  the  owners  of  the  land.  The  first 
dwellings  erected  were  a  couple  of  cabins  built  for  John  Cameron  and  James 
Rutledge.  The  first  storehouse  was  put  up  by  Samuel  Hill  and  John  McNamar, 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  311 

in  which  they  opened  a  stock  of  goods,  probably  the  first  store  within  the 
present  bounds  of  the  county.  The  next  store  opened  was  by  George  Warbur- 
ton,  who,  in  a  short  time,  removed  to  Petersburg,  and  became  one  of  the  original 
proprietors  of  that  town,  as  noted  in  its  history.  It  is  said  that  he  was  a  man 
of  fine  business  qualities,  an  excellent  scholar,  and  without  an  enemy,  except 
his  appetite  for  strong  drink.  At  Salem,  he  sold  out  to  two  brothers  named 
Crisman,  who  came  from  Virginia.  After  remaining  a  short  time,  they  dis- 
posed of  their  possessions  and  moved  away. 

A  post  office  was  established  at  Salem,  and  was  the  first  (or  the  second)  in 
the  county.  John  McNamar  was  the  first  Postmaster.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Abraham  Lincoln,  who  held  the  office  until  his  removal  to  Springfield.  The 
following  story  is  told  of  this  pioneer  office.  There  was  a  man  who  lived  in  the 
settlement,  who  was  never  known  to  get  a  letter,  or  mail-matter  of  any  kind, 
and  was  in  the  habit  of  coming  to  the  office  every  day  and,  to  annoy  the  postmaster, 
inquiring  for  letters.  One  day  Hill  and  some  others  prepared  a  letter,  couched 
in  the  most  endearing  terms,  to  which  they  appended  the  name  of  a  swarthy 
female  of  "African  descent,"  living  in  the  neighborhood,  and  when  he  again 
inquired  for  letters,  it  was  given  him  in  the  most  matter-of-fact  way.  He  was 
never  known  to  ask  for  mail-matter  at  that  office  afterward. 

Dr.  John  Allen,  as  noticed  in  the  history  of  Petersburg,  first  located  at 
this  place;  a  brother  also  came  here  with  him.  Dr.  Allen  was  the  first  prac- 
ticing physician  in  the  village.  Dr.  Duncan  was  another  of  the  early  practi- 
tioners of  this  section.  Joshua  Miller  was  the  first  blacksmith.  Edmund 
Greer,  "learned  in  the  law,"  dealt  out  justice  to  the  guilty  as  the  first 
magistrate,  and  when  "law  business"  was  at  a  low  ebb,  he  filled  in  the 
time  teaching  school,  and  was  the  first  pedagogue,  as  well  as  the  first 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  A  hotel  was  opened  by  John  Kelso,  and  within  its  hos- 
pitable walls  were  entertained  the  wayfaring  men  who  chanced  to  pass  through 
the  village.  Rutledge  &  Cameron  built  a  mill  here  at  an  early  period,  which 
was  patronized  by  the  people  living  within  a  circuit  of  fifty  miles.  This  is  the 
mill  over  the  dam  of  which  Abraham  Lincoln  piloted  the  flatboat,  and,  with  a, 
display  of  tact  and  ingenuity  wholly  astonishing  to  those  who  beheld  the  opera- 
tion, relieved  the  boat  of  water  by  a  new  style  of  pump  not  much  in  use  on 
board  of  vessels  at  that  day.  The  story,  however,  is  so  familiar  to  the  people 
of  Menard  County  that  we  will  pass  'over  it  in  this  chapter.  The  Old  Salem 
mill  was  known  far  and  near,  and,  as  already  stated,  was  patronized  by  a  large 
district.  It  was  a  very  rude  affair,  and  stood  just  under  the  bluff"  upon'which 
the  town  was  located,  and  is  thus  described  by  a  local  writer  of  the  period  :  "It 
consisted  of  two  or  three  log  pens,  anchored  with  rocks,  upon  which  was 
erected  a  platform,  where  a  pair  of  rough  stones  were  placed,  and  driven  by  a 
water-wheel  attached  to  an  upright  shaft."  It  was,  however,  considerably 
improved  before  Salem  became  extinct,  and,  in  1852,  was  purchased  by  Abra- 
ham Bale.  He  set  in  to  repair  it,  but  died  before  accomplishing  his  purpose. 


312  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

His  sons  finally  put  it  in  order,  and  one  of  them,  T.  V.  Bale,  still  owns  and 
operates  it. 

This  is  a  synopsis  of  the  early  history  of  Salem,  except  the  connection  with 
it  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  And  upon  this  point  there  has  been  so  much  written 
that  we  will  not  dwell  upon  it  now.  With  a  brief  notice  of  him  and  his  res- 
idence here,  we  will  close  the  chapter.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  native-born  Ken- 
tuckian.  Stuve,  in  his  history  of  Illinois,  says  :  "Abraham  Lincoln  was  born 
in  La  Rue  (now  Hardin)  County,  Ky.,  about  two  miles  south  of  the  village  of 
Hodgensville,  February  12,  1809.  Here  his  father  had  taken  up  a  land  claim 
of  300  acres,  rough,  broken  and  poor,  containing  a  fine  spring,  known  to  this 
day  as  the  "  Linkum  Spring."  Unable  to  pay  for  the  unproductive  land,  the 
claim  was  abandoned,  and  the  family  moved  from  place  to  place  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, being  very  destitute.  These  removals,  occurring  while  Abraham  was 
scarcely  more  than  an  infant,  have  given  rise  to  different  statements  as  to  the 
exact  place  of  his  birth.  It  is  said  that  in  that  part  of  Kentucky,  four  places 
now  claim  the  honor. 

"  Thomas  Lincoln,  the  father  of  Abraham,  moved  to  Spencer  County,  Ind., 
in  1816.  Here  he  remained  until  1830,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled 
in  Macon  County,  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Sangamon  River,  ten  miles  south- 
west of  Decatur.  In  1833,  he  removed  to  Coles  County,  where,  years  later,  he 
died.  There,  in  a  quiet  little  cemetery,  known  as  "  Gordon's  Graveyard," 
he  sleeps,  without  stone  or  lettered  monument  to  mark  the  spot.  As  appropri- 
ate in  this  place,  we  give  a  poem,  written  by  a  citizen  of  Coles  County,  on  his 
death,  which  went  the  rounds  of  the  press  at  the  time,  and  appeared  in  several 
leading  magazines,  entitled  the  "  Grave  of  the  Father  of  Abraham  Lincoln :  " 

"  In  a  low  sweet  vale  by  a  murmuring  rill, 

The  pioneer's  ashes  are  sleeping  ; 
Where  the  white  marble  slabs  so  lonely  and  still, 
In  silence  their  vigils  are  keeping. 

"  On  their  sad,  lonely  faces  are  words  of  fame, 

But  none  of  them  speak  of  his  glory  ; 
When  the  pioneer  died,  his  age  and  his  name, 
No  monument  whispers  the  story. 

"  No  myrtle,  nor  ivy,  nor  hyacinth  blows 

O'er  the  lonely  grave  where  they  laid  him  ; 
No  cedar,  nor  holly,  nor  almond-tree  grows 
Near  the  plebeian's  grave  to  shade  him. 

"  Bright  evergreens  wave  over  many  a  grave, 

O'er  some  bow  the  sad  weeping-willow  ; 
But  no  willow-tree  bows,  nor  e'ver-greens  wave, 
Where  the  pioneer  sleeps  on  his  pillow. 

"  Some  are  inhumed  with  the  honors  of  State, 

And  laid  beneath  temples  to  molder ; 
The  grave  of  the  father  of  Lincoln  the  Great, 
Is  known  by  a  hillock  and  bowlder. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  315 

"  Let  him  take  his  lone  sleep,  and  gently  rest, 

With  naught  to  disturb  or  awake  him, 
When  the  angels  shall  come  to  gather  the  blest 
To  Abraham's  bosom  they'll  take  him." 

While  engaged  in  writing  the  history  of  Livingston  County,  we  met  a  gen- 
tleman, Hon.  A.  A.  Burton,  a  native  Kentuckian,  who  was  a  great  admirer  of 
Mr.  Lincoln,  and  who  was  a  Lincoln  Elector,  in  Kentucky,  in  1860,  for  the 
State  at  large,  a  position  that  at  that  time  required  considerable  grit  to  assume. 
Judge  Burton  had  a  rail  draped  in  mourning,  carefully  preserved  in  his  library, 
to  which  was  attached  the  following  certificate  : 

DECATUR,  111.,  June  1,  1860. 

I  do  hereby  certify,  that  the  piece  of  rail  this  day  delivered  to  Dr.  G.  W.  McMillan,  to  be 
by  him  sent  to  A.  A.  Burton,  of  Lancaster,  Ky.,  is  from  a  lot  of  3,000  made  by  Abraham  Lin- 
coln and  myself  in  this  cdunty,  and  that  I  have  resided  in  this  county  ever  since  that  time. 

his 

Attest:  R.  J.  OGLESBY.  JOHN  X    HANKS. 

mark. 

It  was  on  this  place,  settled  by  his  father  in  Macon  County,  that  Lincoln 
spent  his  first  winter  in  Illinois,  and  "from  this  place,"  says  Mr.  Stuve,  "  the 
rails  which  played  so  important  a  part  in  the  campaign  of  1860,  were  procured." 
In  the  following  spring,  having  attained  his  majority,  he  came  to  Salem,  where 
the  history  of  his  residence  is  familiar  to  every  school-boy  in  Menard  County. 
His  employment  as  clerk,  and  with  a  partner,  his  succession  to  the  business, 
their  subsequent  failure,  are  so  well  known  as  to  require  no  repetition.  After 
the  failure  of  his  firm  as  merchants,  Lincoln  turned  his  attention  to  surveying, 
and,  as  stated  elsewhere  in  this  work,  surveyed  much  of  .the  lands,  both  in 
Menard  and  Mason  Counties.  When  the  Black  Hawk  war  broke  out,  in  1832, 
Lincoln  volunteered  his  services,  and  was  elected  Captain  of  his  company. 
The  same  year,  after  the  close  of  the  war,  he  became  a  candidate  for  the  Legis- 
lature, and  from  that  time,  his  life,  until  terminated  by  the  assassin's  hand,  was 
closely  intertwined  with  State  and  national  history. 

With  the  laying-out  of  Petersburg,  the  glory  of  "  Old  Salem  "  began  to 
wane,  and  the  location  of  the  county  seat  at  that  place  sealed  its  doom.  The 
leading  business  men  removed  to  the  new  metropolis,  and  Salem  became  another 
edition  of  Goldsmith's  "  Deserted  Village."  But  little  remains  to, designate 
the  spot  where  it  once  stood.  The  mill  is  still  there,  but  improved,  renovated 
and  changed,  until  it  is  a  very  different  establishment  from  that  which  Old  Salem 
knew,  and  which  used  to  "crack  corn"  for  the  pioneers  of  the  Sangamon 
bottom. 

Tice's  Station  is  on  the  Springfield  &  North-Western  Railroad,  about  four 
miles  from  Petersburg.  It  consists  merely  of  a  shipping-point  for  grain,  a 
post  office,  depot  and  small  store,  together  with  a  schoolhouse  and  church. 
The  place  has  never  been  laid  out  as  a  village.  It  is  located  on  the  old  Tice 
farm,  and  at  Oak  Ridge  Post  Office.  This  office  was  established  about  twenty- 
five  years  ago,  with  Hampton  Woodruff  as  Postmaster.  He  was  succeeded  by 


316  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

Seneca  Winters,  and  he  in  turn  by  A.  W.  Tice,  the  present  incumbent,  and 
who  is  a  brother  of  Judge  Tice,  of  Petersburg.  The  first  and  the  only  store  at 
the  place  is  kept  by  Mr.  ,Tice.  There  is  considerable  grain  bought  here,  and 
shipped  from  this  little  station.  The  present  buyers  are  Fischer,  Gault  & 
Conover,  of  Petersburg,  and  Low  &  Foster,  of  Havana.  A  saw-mill  is  in  oper- 
ation near  the  station,  owned  by  Seneca  Winters,  a  prominent  business  man  of 
the  neighborhood.  A  large  and  flourishing  school  is  located  near  the  station. 
The  teacher,  for  the  present  year,  is  Prof.  W.  H.  Berry,  formerly  County  Super- 
intendent of  Schools.  The  school  has  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  it  is 
thought  that  an  assistant  teacher  will  be  required  for  the  year  just  beginning. 
Within  sight  of  the  station  is  the  Methodist  Church,  built  about  1849-50r 
on  land  given  for  the  purpose  by  Judge  Tice.  It  is  a  frame  building,  and  cost, 
perhaps,  about  $1,000  or  $1,200.  Rev.  Mr.  Eckman,  of  Athens,  is  the  present 
Pastor,  the  Church  being  included  within  the  Athens  circuit.  A  Sunday 
school  is  maintained  during  the  summer  season,  of  which  Seneca  Winters  is 
Superintendent.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Curry,  the  veteran  Baptist  Minister  of  Menard 
County,  resides  in  this  immediate  neighborhood. 

TALLULA   PRECINCT. 

This  is  sometimes  termed  the  banner  township  of  Menard  County.  The 
section  of  country  lying  within  its  borders  is  one  of  the  finest  in  this  part  of 
the  State ;  mostly  fine  rolling  prairie,  and,  without  being  hilly  or  broken,  is 
sufficiently  undulating  to  drain  well.  Besides  Clary's  Grove,  there  was  orig- 
inally little  timber  in  what  is  now  Tallula  Precinct.  It  is  likewise  nearly 
devoid  of  water-courses.  Clary's  Creek  and  Rock  Creek  have  their  source  in 
the  central  or  southern  part,  but  are  so  small  as  scarcely  to  deserve  even  the 
name  of  creeks.  The  Jacksonville  Division  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad 
runs  diagonally  through  from  northeast  to  southwest,  and  has  been  of  incalcu- 
lable benefit,  as  elsewhere  noted.  Tallula  is  the  southwestern  precinct  of  the 
county,  and  contains  three  sections  less  than  a  regular  Congressional  town.  It 
is  divided  into  four  parts  by  the  township  and  range  lines  which  cross  each 
other  one  mile  north  of  the  village  of  Tallula,  thus  throwing  a  tier  of  sections 
more  in  the  two  southern,  divisions  than  in  the  northern,  the  west  one  of  the 
latter  being  three  sections  short,  OAving  to  a  jog  in  the  line.  The  precinct  i& 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Petersburg  and  Rock  Creek  Precincts,  on  the  south  by 
Morgan  County,  on  th'e  west  by  Cass  County,  and  on  the  north  by  Petersburg 
Precinct.  No  large  cities  or  towns,  nor  extensive  manufactories  exist,  but 
farming  and  stock-raising  are  the  principal  sources  of  business  enterprise. 
The  beautiful  little  village  of  Tallula  is  the  only  town  in  the  precinct,  and  will 
be  noticed  more  fully  farther  on  in  this  chapter.  This  section  produces  coal  of 
an  excellent  quality,  and  mining  is  carried  on  to  some  extent  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  village. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  317 

Notwithstanding  Tallula  Precinct  is  the  very  perfection  of  civilization,  and 
the  home  of  wealth  and  refinement,  the  time  was  when  it  might  have  boasted 
of  the  other  extreme.  Something  over  half  a  century  ago,  the  name  of 
Clary's  Grove  was  synonymous  with  all  the  deviltry  and  mischief  that 
occurred  within  a  radius  of  fifty  miles,  and  the  few  honorable  men  whose  mis- 
fortune it  was  to  live  among  the  "  border  ruffians  ",  of  that  remote  date,  say 
they  were  ashamed  to  tell  where  they  were  from  when  they  went  to  Spring- 
field. The  settlement  was  composed  chiefly  of  the  "'rag,  tag  and  bob-tail" 
who  leave  the  more  civilized  sections  for  their  own  and  the  country's  good,  seek 
the  frontier  where  they  are  unrestrained  by  law  and  order,  and  again  take  up 
their  line  of  march  as  the  star  of  empire  wends  its  way  westward.  So  it  was 
here.  As  civilization  advanced,  these  roughs  pulled  up  stakes  and  moved  on 
to  other  frontier  localities,  and  Clary's  Grove  developed  into  one  of  the  most 
quiet  and  respectable  neighborhoods  in  all  the  surrounding  country,  and  to-day 
it  is  looked  on  as  the  very  paradise  of  Menard  County.  The  ill  name  given  it 
by  the  lawless  deeds  of  the  ".Clary's  Grove  boys"  is  almost  forgotten,  or 
remains  only  as  the  last  lingering  memories  of  a  hideous  nightmare.  But 
we  would  not  have  our  readers  impressed  with  the  idea  that  we  include  the 
Clary  family,  than  whom  none  better  exists  in  the  county,  with  these  hard 
characters.  As  we  have  stated,  they  were,  the  rough  element  always  found  in 
frontier  settlements.  . 

SETTLEMENT    OF   THE    PRECINCT. 

The  first  settlement  made  in  Tallula  Precinct  was  in  Clary's  Grove,  by  a 
man  named  John  Clary,  from  whom  the  grove  derived  its  name.  Clary  was 
from  Tennessee,  and  squatted  here  about  the  year  1819.  For  three  years,  he 
spent  the  winters  in  a  kind  of  camp,  made  of  poles,  with  three  sides  built  up, 
the  fourth  left  open,  and  where  a  huge  log  heap  was  kept  burning  night  and 
day  during  the  winter  season,  while  his  family  reposed  and  were  sheltered  in  the 
camp  attached  to  this  burning  pile.  He  sold  his  claim  to  a  man  named  Wat- 
kins,  and  he  sold  it  to  George  Spears,  who  now  lives  upon  the  site  of  this 
original  settlement  of  Clary's  Grove.  After  selling  his  claim  to  Watkins, 
Clary  removed  to  Arkansas,  but  many  relatives  and  descendants  are  living  still 
in  the  county.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  participated  in 
many  of  the  fierce  battles  with  u  King  George's  red-coats."  By  nature  a 
pioneer,  he  sought  the  wilds  of  Illinois,  and,  as  people  crowded  him  too  close, 
removed  to  Arkansas  as  above  slated.  Thomas  Watkins  was  from  Kentucky, 
and  settled  in  Clary's  Grove  as  early  perhaps  as  1820-21,  and  bought  the 
claim  of  Clary,  as  stated  above.  He  sold  out  to  George  Spears  upon  his  arrival 
in  the  country  in  1824,  and  removed  into  the  river  timber  near  the  present 
city  of  Petersburg,  where  he  died  at  a  later  day.  He  has  two  sons  and  per- 
haps other  descendants  living  in  the  county.  Absalom  Mounts  was  here  also 
about  1820-21.  He  built  a  mill  here  in  a  very  early  day,  which  was  of  the 


318  HISTORY   OF   MENARD    COUNTY. 

most  primitive  pattern,  dimensions  and  capacity.  Whence  he  came,  no  one 
seems  to  know,  but  he  afterward  went  to  Mason  County,  as  we  hear  of  him 
there  in  the  milling  business  very  early. 

James  White  and  Robert  Conover  were  brothers-in-law  to  George  Spears, 
and  came  from  Green  County,  Ky.     White  settled  here  in  1820,  and  Conover 
in  1822.     They  both  married  sisters  to  Spears,  and  they,  as  well  as  their  wives, 
are  dead.     They  died  on  the  farms  they  originally  settled,  but  have  left  behind 
them  numerous  descendants.     Solomon  Matthews  was  another  of  the    early 
comers,  and  was  from  Tennessee.     He  came  about  1821  or  1822,  but  was  one 
•  of  the  transient  settlers  to  be  found  in  all  new  countries,  who,  as  game  thins 
out  and  becomes  scarce,  follow  it.     Matthews  left  after  a  few  years,  and  what 
became  of  him  no  one  seems  to  know  or  care.     Another  of  these  very  early 
ones  was  Bannister  Bond,  who  was  also  from  Tennessee.     He  remained  here 
some  twenty  or  twenty-five  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Iowa,  where 
he  li^ed  at  the  last  account  of  him.     Cyrus  Kirby  came  from  Kentucky  about 
1822  or  1823,  and  settled  in  the  grove.     He  was  rather  poor,  and  had  no  team 
to  plow  and  break  his  ground,  but  took  a  mattock  and  dug  up  two  acres  of 
prairie,  and  planted  it  in  corn.     Think  of  this,  ye  "  silk-stockinged  "  farmers, 
as  you  ride  over  your  broad  fields  upon  your  sulky  plows,  and  watch  with  pride 
your  reapers  and  "  headers  "  gliding  through  the  golden  grain,  and  remember 
that  half  a  century  ago,  perhaps,  some  indigent  farmer  Avas  toiling  upon  the 
same  spot,  like  Cyrus  Kirby,  to  make  bread  for  his  little  ones.     When  Kirby 
died  here  some  years  ago,  this  memorable  mattock  was  sold  at  his  sale  and 
bought  by  one'of  his  sons,  who  still  keeps  it  as  a  relic  of  the  pioneer  days. 
Solomon  Speer  is  another  of  the  pioneers  who  came  to  the  grove  in  1820.     He 
came  with  White,  and  was  a  brother-in-law  to  him.     After  remaining  here  a 
number  of  years,  he  moved  to  Cass  County  where  he  died.     He  has  two  grand- 
daughters living  in  the  village  of  Tallula ;  one  of  them — the  amiable  landlady 
of  the  Wathen  House,  arid  the  other — Mrs.  Lovesey.     Jacob  and  Jesse  Gum 
came  in   1821-22,  and  were  also  from  Kentuqky,  where  most  of  the   early 
settlers  of  this  section  came  from.     Jesse  died  in  the  neighborhood  where  he 
settled ;  Jacob  moved  to  Knox  County  and  died  there  some  years  ago.     William 
Clary  was  here  as  early  as  1822-23,  and  came  from  ^ennessee.     He  sold  his 
claim  to  George  Spears  when  he  came  in  1824,  and  removed  to  Arkansas* 
Andrew  Beard  came  about  the  same  time,  and  also  sold  out  his  claim  to  Spears, 
— is  the  place  where  John  Q.  Spears  now  lives.     He  came  from  Kentucky, 
and  after  selling  his  claim  to  Spears,  moved  over  on  the  west  side  of  the  grove, 
where  he  remained  a  few  years,  sold  out  and  started  to  remove  to  Oregon,  but 
died  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  on  his  way  to  his  intended  home.     Burton  Lytton, 
another  Kentuckian,  sold  his  claim  to  Spears  in  1824,  and  removed  to  what  is 
now  Cass  County.     It  is  not  known  what  year  he  settled  in  the  grove,  but  he 
was  here  when  Spears  came.     William  Revis  came  here  about  1822-23,  but 
did  not  remain  long.     He  sold  out  to  Conover  and  followed  the  star  of  empire. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 


319 


Mrs.  Jane  Vaughn,  a  widow  lady,  came  about  the  same  time  as  Revis,  but  sold 
out  some  years  later  and  moved  to  Knox  County.  Joseph  Watkins  was  also 
here  as  early  as  1820-21.  He  moved  to  Little  Grove,  where  he  afterward  died. 
John  Gum,  Sr.,  came  in  1822,  and  was  from  Kentucky.  He  afterward  removed 
to  Knox  County,  where  he  was  living  at  the  last  known  of  him. 

The  pioneers  named  above  settled  in  the  grove  previous  to  1824 — the  year 
that  George  Spears  came  to  the  settlement.  Some  had  even  moved  away  before 
he  came,  and  others  left  soon  after.  They  were  mostly  of  that  character  who 
squat  in  the  wilderness  where  game  is  plenty,  and  when  that  begins  to  fail, 

they,  like  the  Arabs, 

"  fold  their  tents, 
And  as  silently  steal  away." 

Mr.  Spears  came  from  Kentucky  in  1824,  and,  as  already  noted,  bought 
the  claims  of  several  of  the  parties,  whose  setttlement  in  the  grove  has  b$en 
mentioned  in  the  preceding  pages.  His  father  and  mother  came  here  with  him, 
far  advanced  in  years  at  the  time,  and  died  in  a  ripe  old  age,  as  noticed  in  the 
biographical  department  of  this  work.  George  Spears  bought  the  claims  of 
these  squatters,  which  were  squatter's  claims  only,  and  then  entered  the  land 
when  it  came  into  market.  He  has,  since  he  came  here  in  1824,  entered  and 
opened  up  over  three  thousand  acres  of  land  and  settled  his  children  around 
him  upon  good  farms.  He  has  seen  the  wilderness  transformed  into  the  excel- 
lent state  of  cultivation  we  find  to-day.  When  he  came  here,  the  few  scat- 
-  i 

tering  voters  had  to  go  to  Springfield  to  exercise  that  right  of  American  free- 
men. He  built  the  second  brick  residence,  in  1829,  erected  in  Sangamon 
County,  which  then  embraced  Menard,  Cass,  Mason  and  perhaps  as  many 
others.  That  brick  residence  has  been  his  home  for  fifty  years,  and  in  it,  a 
few  years  ago,  he  celebrated,  with  his  beloved  helpmeet  and  a  circle  of  friends, 
their  golden  wedding.  Since  then  she  has  left  him  for  a  home  up  yonder. 
He  is  still  in  vigorous  health,  both  mentally  and  physically,  and  to  him 
we  acknowledge  our  indebtedness  for  many  facts  pertaining  to  the  early 
settlement  of  this  section.  An  earnest  and  zealous  Christian  of  the  Baptist 
type,  he  has  contributed  liberally  ro  the  support,  and  to  the  building  of  the  ele- 
gant church  in  Tallula.  Coleman  and  John  Gaddie,  with  their  widowed 
mother  came  in  1824.  and  were  from  Kentucky.  John  Workman  was  among 
the  early  settlers  who  came  in  1824-25.  He  died  soon  after,  and  a  man  named 
Simpson  bought  out  the  widow.  Simpson  died  some  years  later,  and  his  family 
remained  on  the  place  until  last  year,  when  they  sold  it  and  removed  to  Kansas. 
John  Jones  was  another  of  the  pioneers  of  1824.  He  came  from  Kentucky, 
and  died  in  Little  Grove  a  number  of  years  ago.  Mrs.  Rebecca  Spears,  a 
widow  lady,  came  here  with  her  family  about  1826,  and  settled  in  the  grove, 
where  all  the  first  settlements  were  made. 

Elias  Conover  was  the  first  man  who  settled  out  on  the  prairie.  He  built 
his  residence  four  miles  from  the  timber,  and  was  supposed  at  the  time  to  be 


320  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

crazy.  He  was  from  New  Jersey,  and  possessed  the  idea  that  by  locating  out 
on  the  prairie  he  would  always  have  an  uninterrupted  range  for  his  stock  on 
"nature's  waving  meadows,"  as  it  was  the  universal  supposition  that  those  then 
living  would  never  see  the  prairies  settled  up.  How  nearly  correct  they 
were  in  their  estimation  of  things,  the  present  state  of  the  country  goes  to  show. 
Mr.  Conover  settled  his  family  around  him  and  died  some  years  ago  on  the 
place  of  his  original  settlement.  Thomas  Arnold  was  from  Tennessee,  and 
came  to  the  settlement  in  1826-27.  He  was  very  poor  when  he  came,  and 
lived  on  Spears'  land  until  able  to  buy  land,  and  finally  accumulated  a  fail- 
property.  John  Sewell  was  a  brother-in-law  to  Arnold  and  came  at  the  same 
time.  He  brought  his  aged  mother  to  the  settlement  Avith  him.  William  Tip- 
pett  came  about  the  same  time,  and  both  lived  on  Spears'  land  until  able  to 
buy  land.  They  are  mentioned  as  extremely  honest,  hard-working  men,  and 
finally  secured  comfortable  homes. 

Samuel  B.  Neely  came  from  Tennessee  and  settled  in  the  grove  in  1828. 
He  removed  to  Mason  County,  where  he  died  recently.  Abraham  Burgin  was 
from  New  Jersey  and  came  to  the  settlement  in  1825—26.  He  was  a  man  of 
some  prominence  and  died  near  Galesburg  several  years  ago.  Abraham  B. 
Bell  came  from  Kentucky  in  1826  and  settled  in  the  neighborhood,  where  he 
died  a  few  years  ago.  He  has  two  sons  who  are  merchants  in  the  village  of 
Tallula  and  among  the  live  business  men  of  the  place.  John  Kinner  was 
from  Virginia  and  came  to  the  settlement  at  the  same  time  as  did  Bell.  He  is 
still  living  in  the  grove.  William  T.  Beekman  came  from  New  Jersey.  He  is 
a  son-in-law  of  George  Spears,  and  is  still  living  near  the  village.  Robert 
Conover,  brother  of  Elias  Conover,  came  a  few  years  before  the  latter  and  set- 
tled in  the  grove.  Other  early  settlers  in  what  is  Jiow  Tallula  Precinct  are 
George,  Jacob  and  Jesse  Greene,  William  Smedley,  Samuel  Colwell,  Joseph  Cot- 
tingtonj  Theodore  Baker,  Isaac  N.  Reding  and  William  G.  Greene.  The  latter  is 
a  native  of  Kentucky  and  came  here  at  a  very  early  day  with  his  parents,  who 
settled  near  the  village  of  Old  Salem,  where  they  died  many  years  later.  William 
G.  Greene  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  this  section  and  has  accumulated  a  large 
fortune.  As  a  full  and  complete  history  of  his  career  is  given  in  the  biograph- 
ical portion  of  this  work,  we  will  not  repeat  it  here.  There  are  probably 
other  old  settlers  who  deserve  mention  in  this  chapter,  but  a  long  period  has 
'  elapsed  since  the  first  settlements  were  made  in  what  is  now  Tallula  Pre- 
cinct, and  so  few  of  the  early  pioneers  are  left,  that  it  is  simply  an  impossibility 
to  collect  the  names  of  all  who,  by  right,  come  under  the  head  of  early  settlers. 

EARLY    PRIVATIONS. 

As  we  look  back  over  a  period  of  sixty  years  to  the  beginning  of  the 
century  which  is  now  rapidly  reeling  off  the  last  quarter  of  its  existence,  we 
are  struck  with  wonder  at  the  great  change  wrought  in  this  flourishing  region. 
In  1819,  the  first  Anglo-Saxon  pitched  his  tent  in  the  little,  grove  of  timber  in 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  321 

this  portion  of  the  county,  standing  in  the  prairie  like  an  oasis  in  the  great 
desert ;  while  far  beyond,  to  the  east  and  the  west,  and  the  north  and  the  south, 
naught  met  his  eye  but  the  vast -and  gloomy  wilderness,  infested  with  wild 
beasts  and  savages.  As  other  white  people  flocked  to  the  grove  with  undaunted 
jurage,  they  met  the  ancient  possessors  of  the  soil,  whether  savage  beasts  or 
savage  men,  and,  despite  their  strongly  contested  right  to  it,  succeeded  in 
gaining  a  foothold  that  has  developed  into  the  state  of  civilization  we  find 
around  us  to-day.  These  people  knew  nothing  of  railroads ;  they  had  never 
heard  of  a  locomotive,  and  had  any  one  prophesied  the  railroad  system  of  the 
present  day,  he  would  have  been  treated  as  a  lunatic.  Steam  threshers,  sulky 
plows,  mowers  and  reapers  were  alike  unknown  to  these  pioneers,  and  are 
inventions  that  had  never  entered  into  their  wildest  dreams.  The  old  sod,  or 
Gary  plow,  drawn  by  two  or  three  yoke  of  oxen,  was  their  mode  of  subjecting 
the  soil  to  cultivation.  Their  nearest  trading-point  was  Springfield,  and  the 
supply  of  goods  kept  there  was  limited,  and  often,  for  the  lack  of  funds,  beyond 
their  means  to  obtain.  Springfield  was  likewise  their  post  office,  and  a 
letter  from  the  old  home  cost  25  cents,  and  sometimes  laid  in  the  office  for 
months  before  the  requisite  "  quarter"  could  be  obtained  to  compensate  Uncle 
Sam  for  its  transportation,  as  the  old  gentleman  had  a  peculiarity  of  usually 
requiring  his  little  fees  in  advance.  Milling  was  a  great  source  of  inconven- 
ience, to  say  the  least,  and,  at  times,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  obtain  meal 
except  by  pounding  the  corn  in  a  mortar,  sifting  it,  making  bread  of  the  finest 
and  hominy  of  the  coarser  part  of  it.  When  they  went  to  the  horse  or  ox 
mills,  it  was  with  an  uncertainty  as  to  when  they  would  get  their  "grinding." 
The  prairie  fires,  and  the  prairie-wolves,  the  "  deep  snow,"  the  sudden  "  cold 
snap,"  and  hundreds  of  other  troubles  and  trials  met  them,  of  which  the 
present  generation  know  nothing,  except  as  they  gather  around  some  old  grand- 
mother or  grandfather  and  listen  to  their  stories  of  the  pioneer  days.  But  little 
more  than  half  a  century  has  passed,  and  lo  !  the  change  that  has  come  over  all. 
Upon  the  face  of  nature  the  rolling  years  have  written  their  record,  and  the 
wilderness  is  transformed  into  a  very  garden  of  Eden.  The  railroad  train  has 
supplanted  the  ox-wagon ;  in  fact,  the  country  is  a  perfect  network  of  rail- 
roads, as  an  evidence  of  which  an  old  settler,  who  has  witnessed  all  these 
changes,  informed  us  that  he  could  stand  in  his  dooryard  and  hear  the  locomo- 
tives whistle  on  five  different  railroads.  The  horse  and  ox  mill  have  given  place 
to  magnificent  steam-mills,  while  inventions  and  improvements  in  farm 
machinery  have  kept  pace  with  everything  else.  What  the  next  fifty  years 
•may  produce  we  dare  not  conjecture  ;  but,  judging  of  the  future  from  the  past, 
it  is  not  extravagant  to  predict  that,  fifty  years  hence,  we  will  be  flying  through 
the  air  as  we  now  fly  over  the  prairies  at  the  heels  of  the  iron  horse. 

The  first  mill  in  this  section  of  the  country  was  built  by  Absalom  Mounts, 
and  was  a  rather  small  affair,  but  was  of  great  convenience  to  the  few  residents 
then  in  the  country.  Its  capacity  was  limited,  the  buhrs  being  not  larger  in 


322  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

diameter  than  a  half-bushel  measure.  This  supplied  the  people  until  the  erec- 
tion of  the  mill  at  Old  Salem,  described  in  another  page.  The  precinct  of 
Tallula,  as  bounded  at  present,  has  not  a  mill  within  its  limits,  and  its  citizens 
patronize  the  mills  of  Petersburg  and  Pleasant  Plain.  The  village  of  Tallula, 
situated,  as  it  is,  in  the  midst  of  a  fertile  region,  seems  to  us  to  present  an 
excellent  opening  for  a  first-class  mill,  and  that  some  enterprising  individual 
will,  erelong,  discover  the  fact,  we  have  no  doubt. 

The  first  practicing  physicians  in  this  section  of  the  country  were  Dr.  Allen, 
of  Petersburg,  and  Dr.  Renier,  who  settled  in  this  precinct  about  1828-29. 
The  latter  was  a  bachelor  when  he  came  here,  and,  for  a  period  of  some  four 
years,  boarded  with  George  Spears.  He  then  became  a  Benedict,  and  went  to 
housekeeping.  In  those  early  days,  people  could  not  afford  to  get  sick,  and 
hence  doctors  were  not  such  important  personages  as  they  are  now.  A  man 
who  owned  a  mill  or  a  blacksmith  shop  was  a  "  bigger  man  "  than  any  doctor, 
as  it  was  supposed  that  the  good  wives  could  do  all  the  "  doctoring  "  with  cat- 
nip tea  and  "yarbs." 

Robert  Armstrong  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and,  as  we  are 
informed,  possessed  but  little  legal  knowledge.  His  familiarity  with  legal 
technicalities  wes  limited  in  the  extreme,  and  his  courts  the  theater  of  many 
humorous  scenes,  as  the  following  will  show  :  A  case  came  before  him  one 
day,  upon  which  a  couple  of  lawyers  were  employed.  After  the  case  was 
decided,  the  defeated  lawyer  gave  notice  that  he  appealed  the  case  from  his 
decision,  when  the  other  lawyer  nudged  him,  and  whispered  in  his  ear,  "  Don't 
allow  an  appeal."  The  Justice  drew  himself  up  with  all  the  dignity  embodied 
in  the  ponderous  form  of  David  Davis,  and  replied,  "  There  is  no  appeal ;  I 
allow  no  appeal  from  this  court,  sir." 

The  first  blacksmith  in  Clary's  Grove  is  not  now  remembered,  although  the 
blacksmith  is  usually  a  necessary  character  in  a  frontier  settlement.  The  first 
stores  in  the  present  limits  of  the  precinct  were  opened  at  the  ancient  and  now 
extinct  village  of  Rushaway,  as  will  be  noticed  further  on.  The  first  post  office 
established  was  also  at  this  village.  The  first  birth,  death  and  marriage  are  now 
lost  in  the  lapse  of  time,  but  are  supposed  to  have  occurred  among  the  early  set- 
tlers who  came  here,  and  many  of  whom  left  the  settlement  previous  to  1824, 
at  which  date  we  reach  a  period  within  the  memory  of  those  still  living. 

EDUCATIONAL    AND    RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  school  in  the  grove  was  taught  by  James  Fletcher,  in  a  little  log 
cabin  erected  on  the  land  of  George  Spears,  about  1824-25,  for  school  purposes. 
Fletcher  taught  a  school  in  this  cabin  the  first  winter  after  it  was  erected,  and 
which  was  the  first  in  Clary's  Grove,  as  noted  above.  He  was  not  an  efficient 
teacher,  according  to  the  standard  rules  of  the  present  day,  but  we  are 
informed  that  he  could  spell  in  two  syllables,  and  read  a  little,  by  jumping 
over  the  hard  words.  He  was  the  best,  however,  to  be  obtained  in  those 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  323 

2arly  times,  and  with  him  the  people  were  forced  to  be  satisfied.  This  log 
cabin  served  the  grove  as  a  temple  of  learning  several  years,  when  it  was 
burned  to  the  ground.  The  people  then  erected  a  hewed-log  house,  which 
was  used  many  years  for  church  and  school  purposes.  Now  the  precinct 
has  some  half-dozen  neat  frame  schoolhouses,  besides  the  elegant  brick  one  in 
the  village  of  Tallula,  in  which  good  schools  are  conducted  by  accomplished 
teachers  for  the  usual  period  each  year. 

The  first  church  organized  in  what  is  now  Tallula  Precinct  was  the 
Clary's  Grove  Baptist  Church,  and  is  one- of  the  oldest,  if  not  the  oldest, 
church  organization  in  Menard  County.  In  regard  to  this  venerable  Church, 
we  make  the  following  extract  from  the  "County  Atlas,"  which  Mr.  Spears 
informs  us  is  as  correct  as  is  possible  to  get  its  early  history,  after  the 
lapse  of  so  many  years  : 

"  This  Church  was  organized  on  the  25th  of  December  (Christmas  Day), 
1824,  the  Ordaining  Presbytery  consisting  of  William  P.  Crow,  William  Rol- 
lin  and  James  Bradly.  The  constituent  members  were  thirteen  in  number, 
viz. :  George  Spears,  Sr.,  Mary  Spears,  Rev.  Jacob  Gum,  Samuel  Combs, 
Sr.,  Jane  Combs,  Ezekiel  Harrison  and  wife,  M.  Houghton  and  wife,  Elijah 
Houghton,  Catharine  Houghton,  Robert  Conover  and  Hannah  White.  The 
first  Pastor  of  this  now  venerable  Church  was  Rev.  Jacob  Gum,  with  Robert 
Conover  as  Clerk  of  the  Session.  The  first  church-book  was  made  of  foolscap 
paper,  and  bound  with  pasteboard.  The  early  meetings  of  the  society  were 
held,  for  the  most  part,  alternately  at  the  residences  of  George  Spears,  Sr., 
and  Robert  Conover.  From  a  period  a  few  years  after  its  organization  until 
1845,  a  log  schoolhouse  (the  one  referred  to  above)  was  used  by  the  society  as 
a  place  of  worship.  During  the  year  last  mentioned,  the  society  erected  a 
substantial  frame  building,  thirty  by  forty  feet  in  dimensions,  which  was  used 
as  a  church  building  until  1871.  This  building  is  thought  to  have  cost  about 
$2,000,  and  was  built  under  a  contract  with  W.  T.  Beekman,  who  did  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  the  carpenter  work." 

After  the  building  of  the  new  brick  church,  the  old  frame  building  was 
sold  to  Mr.  Bell,  of  the  village  of  Tallula,  who  converted  it  into  a  residence. 
The  new  church  will  be  noticed  in  connection  with  the  village,  as  it  stands 
within  the  corporate  limits.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Berry  was  also  an  early  preacher 
in  this  vicinity,  and  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  faith.  He  lived  in  what 
is  now  Rock  Creek  Precinct,  but  preached  in  Clary's  Grove  occasionally. 

A  Christian  Church  was  organized  in  the  grove  in  October,  1834,  with 
the  following  members  :  John  Wilson,  William  G.  White,  Jane  White,  Jesse 
L.  Trailer,  Obedience  Trailor  and  Lydia  A.  Caldwell.  Services  were  held  in 
private  residences  until  1847,  when  a  comfortable  little  church  was  built 
on  the  farm  of  William  Smedly.  In  this  house  they  worshiped  until  1864, 
when  they  sold  it  and  erected  a  church  in  the  village,  as  noticed  in  that  con- 
nection. 


324  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

The  Methodist  circuit  riders  used  sometimes  to  pass  this  way,  but  seem 
never  to  have  obtained  a  foothold,  as  there  is  no  Methodist  Church,  nor  ever  has 
been,  in  the  present  limits  of  the  precinct.  We  believe  there  is  a  society  of 
*'  sanctified  "  Methodists,  or  some  members  of  that  peculiar  faith,  but  of  them 
we  know  nothing.  They  have  no  church  building. 

Tallula  Precinct  is  Republican  in  politics,  in  fact  it  is  one  of  the  Republi- 
can strongholds.  During  the  war,  and  for  some  time  after,  there  were  but  eight- 
een Democratic  votes  in  the  precinct.  It  was,  as  a  natural  consequence,  and  as 
one  would  judge  from  the  color  of  its  political  faith,  loyal  to  the  core,  and  fur- 
nished many  soldiers  to  the  armies  of  the  Union.  Failing,  however,  to  get 
credit  for  all  of  its  recruits,  it  was  subjected  to  a  draft  before  the  struggle  was 
over,  though  we  understood  that  but  one  man  was  drafted,  and  he,  with  a  loyal 
devotion  to  his  country,  furnished  a  substitute.  In  addition  to  the  rank  and 
file  from  this  precinct,  we  have  the  names  of  the  following  commissioned  offi- 
cers :  J.  W.  Judy,  Colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infan- 
try; R.  V.  Black,  Captain  of  Company  H,  same  regiment;  J.  T.  Workman, 
Lieutenant  in  Company  F,  same  regiment,  and  J.  F.  Wilson,  Assistant  Surgeon 
of  same  regiment.  Also,  Capt.  Gibson  of  the  Sixty-first  Regiment  Illinois 
Infantry,  but  the  letter  of  his  company  could  not  be  obtained.  The  Fourteenth, 
as  well  as  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth,  drew  many  recruits  from  this  pre- 
cinct. What  the  history  of  these  regiments  was  during  the  war,  it  is  not  our 
purpose  to  give  in  this  connection.  We  have  not  taken  the  trouble  to  look  it 
up,  but  doubt  not  it  was  glorious  as  that  of  all  Illinois  soldiers. 

This  precinct  originally  embraced  a  part  of  Petersburg  and  all  of  Rock 
Creek,  extending  to  the  Sangamon  River,  with  the  voting-place  at  Old  Salem. 
But  the  voting-place  being  remote  from  some  of  the  inhabitants,  after  the  laying- 
out  of  Tallula,  boundary  lines  were  changed,  the  precinct  of  Rock  Creek  laid 
off,  and  the  voting-place  of  this  precinct  established  at  the  village  of  Tallula. 
The  fact  that  Old  Salem,  the  venerated  spot  where  once  lived  the  martyred  Lin- 
coln, was  embraced  in  this  precinct,  is  still  cherished  by  many  of  the  citizens. 
But  as  Salem  is  more  particularly  referred  to  elsewhere,  we  will  not  dwell  upon 
it  here. 

The  Jacksonville  Division  of  the  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  as 
already  noted,  passes  through  this  precinct,  and  was  completed  during  the  war. 
As  stated  in  our  general  county  history,  this  road  was  begun  under  the  title  of 
the  Tonica  &  Petersburg  Railroad,  but  was  afterward  leased  or  bought  by  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  Company.  A  full  history  of  the  railroads  of  the 
county  is  given  under  another  head,  and  for  full  information  on  the  subject  the 
reader' is  referred  to  that  chapter.  This  road  has  been  of  much  benefit  in 
developing  this  section  of  the  county,  and,  during  the  last  years  of  the  war, 
much  grain  and  forage  was  shipped  over  it  to  our  army.  In  building  the 
road,  in  addition  to  the  stock  voted  by  the  county,  the  people  individually  took 
considerable  stock,  some  subscribing  for  as  much  as  twenty  shares. 

O  v 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  325 


VILLAGE    OF    TALLULA. 

This  little  gem  of  a  village  is  situated  in  the  center  of  Tallula  Precinct, 
id  on  the  Jacksonville  Division  of  the  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis  Railroad, 
about  eight  miles  from  Petersburg,  the  county  seat.  It  is  in  the  midst  of  a 
fine  rolling  prairie,  surrounded  by  a  splendid  agricultural  region  in  all  direc- 
tions. It  was  laid  out  in  the  latter  part  of  1857,  by  W.  G.  Greene,  J.  G. 
Greene,  Richard  Yates,  T.  Baker  and  W.  G.  Spears.  The  name  of  Tallula 
was  given  by  the  latter  gentleman,, and  is  said  to  be  an  Indian  word  signifying 
"dropping  water,"  though  what  relation  the  word  or  its  signification  bears  to 
the  village,  we  are  unable  to  discover.  There  is  no  dropping  water  near  the 
place,  except  when  it  rains,  and  water  drops  from  the  trees  and  eaves  of  the 
houses.  Nevertheless,  it  is  a  pretty  name,  whether  appropriate  or  not,  and  its 
sound  is  as  musical  as  the  country  around  the  village  is  beautiful.  The  first 
house  was  erected  by  W.  G.  Spears,  soon  after  it  was  laid  out,  and  is  now 
owned  by  R.  B.  Thrapp.  The  next  building  was  put  up  by  Robert  M.  Ewing, 
and  so  nearly  at  the  same  time  with  that  of  Spears,  that  it  is  not  easy  to  say 
which  was  first.  It  is  now  occupied  by  Dr.  Sandford.  The  first  store  was 
opened  in  January,  1858,  by  Thrapp  <fe  Spears,  which  continued  about  eight 
months,  when  Spears  retired  and  Thrapp  continued  the  business  alone.  Mr. 
Thrapp  is  still  in  business  in  the  village,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  business  men 
of  the  county.  A  post  office  was  established  in  1858,  with  F.  S.  Thrapp  as 
Postmaster.  C.  C.  Smedley  is  at  present  the  representative  of  the  Post-Office 
Department  in  Tallula.  Hugh  Hicks  opened  the  first  blacksmith- shop  in 
1859,  and  still  pounds  away  at  his  anvil.  Dr.  J.  F.  Wilson  was  the  first  prac- 
ticing physician  to  hang  out  his  shingle  in  the  new  village. 

The  first  grain-buyer  was  F.  S.  Thrapp,  who  commenced  the  business  as 
soon  as  the  railroad  was  opened.  He  bought  and  shipped  mostly  from  wagons, 
but  finally  built  a  grain  warehouse.  A.  T.  Gaylord  built  an  excellent  grain 
elevator  here  two  years  ago,  which  cost  about  $4,000,  but  is  at  present  stand- 
ing idle.  It  has  all  the  modern  improvements  of  steam  power,  cribs,  shellers, 
grain-dumps,  etc.  F.  S.  Thrapp,  Bell  Brothers  and  C.  B.  Laning  &  Co.,  of 
Petersburg,  are  at  present  in  the  grain  trade,  and  a  large  amount  is  handled 
annually.  The  first  tavern  in  Tallula  was  kept  by  Mrs.  E.  Brooks ;  but  the 
first  building  erected  purposely  for  a  hotel  was  put  up  by  Frank  Spears,  who 
ran  it  for  some  time  as  such.  The  village  has  two  hotels  at  present.  The 
^  athen  House — J.  F.  Wathen,  proprietor — is  one  of  the  best  and  most  per- 
fectly kept  hotels  in  Central  Illinois.  The  Revere  House  is  kept  by  Mrs. 
Zolman.  A  bank  was  established  here  in  May,  1877,  by.  Wilson  &  Greene, 
which  still  continues  under  the  same  firm.  A  coal  shaft  was  sunk  some  four 
years  ago  by  Charles  Greene  and  a  man  named  Deal.  It  was  finally  sold  in 
bankruptcy,  and  bought  by  C.  B.  Laning  &  Co.,  of  Petersburg,  who  are  now 
operating  it.  The  shaft  is  about  200  feet  deep,  at  which  depth  an  excellent 


326  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

vein  of  coal  is  reached,  some  six  feet  in  thickness.  The  trains  going  nortl 
take  coal  at  this  point ;  besides  this,  much  is  shipped  over  the  road  to  other 
points. 

The  first  church  erected  in  the  corporate  limits  of  the  village  was  the  Cum- 
berland  Presbyterian   Church,  which  was  built  in  1861.     It  is  a  frame  build- 
ing, and  cost  about  $3,000.     Their  first  preacher  was  Rev.  J.  G.  White,  who? 
greatest  forte  seems  to  have  been  in  fighting  the  Catholics,   not  with  fisticuffs 
but  with  his   tongue.     The  Church  is  without  a  regular  Pastor  at  present,  anc 
has  but  a  small  membership.     Quite  a  flourishing  Sunday  school  is  maintainec 
The  next  church  edifice  was  the  Christian   Church,  erected  in  1864.     It  ws 
built  under  the  pastorate  of  Elder  H.  Osborne ;  is  a  frame  building,  and  cost 
about  $4,000.     The  present  Pastor  is  Elder  H.  0.  Breeden.     A  Sunday  schoc 
is  carried  on,  of  which,   Dr.  Metcalf  is  the  Superintendent.     There  was 
church,  at  one  time,  of  the  German   Reformed,   but  their  society  dwindlec 
down  and  finally  became  extinct,  and  they  sold  their  church  building.     The 
Baptist   Church  was  erected  in  1871,  at  a  cost  of  $8,500,   and  is  a  handsome 
brick  edifice.     This  is  the  original   Clary's  Grove  Baptist  Church,   already 
noticed  as  having  been  organized  in  the  little  log  schoolhouse,  in  1824.     Sine 
that  time,  it  has  had  fifteen  pastors,  viz. :  Revs.  Joseph  Cogsdall,  Williamson, 
Trent,  J.  H.   Daniel,  William   Spencer,   Tannehill,   Evens,   Theodore   Sweet 
Abraham  Bale,  J.  L.  Turner,  'Gouldsby,  Winn,  Gross,  Jones  and  H.,P.  Curry. 
From  this   patriarchal   Church  have  grown   nine  of  flhe  Baptist  churches  of 
this  county,  besides  some  located  in  the  adjoining  counties.     Since  its  organi- 
zation, nearly  fifty-five  years  ago,  more  than  2,000  members  have  been  receive 
into  fellowship.     There  is  no  regular  pastor  at  present.     A  large  and  flourish- 
ing  Sunday  school  is  carried  on,  of  which  George  W.  Bell  is  the   Superin- 
tendent.    There  is  no  Masonic  or  Odd  Fellows'  Lodge  in  Tallula,  a  circumstanc 
that  is  rarely  to  be  met  with  in  a  village  of  its  size  in  Illinois.     There  is,  how- 
ever, a  Lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Honor. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  village  of  Tallula  was  by  Miss  Sarah  Brocl 
man,  in  1859,  in  the  district  schoolhouse,  which  stood  just  without  the  corporate 
limits.  This  may  seem  an  Irish  bull,  but  it  was  termed  the  village  school,  and 
patronized  by  children  from  the  village.  The  German  Reformed  Church  was 
afterward  used  for  a  schoolhouse.  The  brick  school  building  erected  in  1868-69 
is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  county,  and  cost  between  $8,000  and  $10,000, 
besides  three  acres  of  land,  upon  which  it  is  located,  and  donated  by  Mr. 
Greene.  The  corps  of  teachers  employed  for  the  coming  year  is  as  follows : 
George  S.  Montgomery,  Principal,  assisted  by  Miss  Sallie  A.  Johnson,  Miss  Nellie 
Robertson  and  Miss  Mary  D.  Riley.  The  usual  attendance  at  the  school  is 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  pupils. 

Tallula  was  incorporated  as  a  village  under  the  general  law  in  1871-72. 
The  first  Board  of  Trustees  were  J.  F.  Wilson,  R.  H.  Bean,  J.  T.  Bush, 
J.  F.  Wathen  and  F.  S.  Thrapp,  who  organized  for  business  by  electing 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  327 


R.  H.  Bean  President  of  the  Board.  The  present  Board  is  J.  Q.  Spears,  S. 
T.  Carrico,  G.  Bullock,  Dr.  E.  T.  Metcalf  and  Frank  Wilkinson,  of  which 
John  Q.  Spears  is  President ;  C.  T.  Spears,  Clerk  ;  J.  F.  Wilson,  Treasurer, 
and  N.  L.  Randall,  Police  Magistrate.  The  population  is  about  eight  hundred, 
and  the  business  may  be  summarized  as  follows :  Eight  general  stores, 
embracing  dry  goods,  groceries,  hardware,  drugs,  etc.,  with  the  usual  supply  of 
blacksmith,  wagon,  shoe  and  harness  shops.  There  is  no  saloon  in  the  place, 
and  has  been  but  one  since  it  was  laid  out  as  a  town,  and  it  was  starved  out, 
which  speaks  well  for  the  high  standard  of  its  morals. 

The  cemetery  of  the  village  is  a  beautiful  and  well  cared-for  burying- 
ground.  It  has  been  carefully  laid  out  and  incorporated,  and  has  a  fund  of 
about  $1,500,  with  which  to  keep  it  in  order.  Col.  Judy  is  President  of  the 
Association,  and  F.  S.  Thrapp,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  About  one-fourth  of 
the  lots  have  been  sold,  and,  when  the  remainder  have  been  disposed  of,  it  is 
intended  to  .spend  the  proceeds  in  beautifying  the  grounds,  by  laying  out  walks, 
planting  trees  and  shrubbery  and  otherwise  improving  it.  Nothing  speaks 
more  highly  of  a  people  than  a  loving  care  of  their  dead,  and  Tallula's  pretty 
little  cemetery  bears  many  a  token  of  affection  to  the  loved  and  lost. 

The  village  of  Rushaway,  once  a  thriving  business  place,  almost  the  equal  of 
what  Tallula  now  is,,  has  rushed  away  among  the  things  that  were.  It  was 
laid  out  by  J.  T.  Rush  and  William  Workman  some  time  in  the  fifties,  but  just 
what  time  is  not  now  remembered.  The  first  store  was  kept  by  J.  T.  Rush  and 
a  man  named  Way.  These  two  names,  associated  in  business  and  combined 
together,  gave  the  name  of  Rushaway  to  the  village.  F.  S.  Thrapp  also  had  a 
store  there.  A  post  office  was  established,  with  Rush  as  Postmaster.  When 
the  railroad  was  built,  it  missed  the  town  a  few  miles,  and  on  the  laying-out  of 
Tallula,  a  portion  of  the  place  rushed  to  Tallula,  and  the  remainder  to  Ashland. 
The  post  office  was  moved  to  Tallula,  and  its  name  changed  to  its  new  location. 
The  proprietors  of  the  railroad,  it  is  said,  would  have  run  their  road  through 
the  village,  if  they  had  received  the  proper  encouragement,  but  the  people  of 
Rushaway,  believing  that  the  road  would  be  compelled  to  come  that  way,  stood 
upon  their  dignity  and  even  refused  to  give  the  right  of  way,  save  at  the  highest 
market  value.  As  a  consequence,  the  road  was  located  elsewhere,  and  Rush- 
away  was  left  out  in  the  cold.  The  completion  of  the  road  sealed  their  doom, 
and,  as  already  stated,  a  part  of  the  business  men  removed  to  Ashland,  and 
the  others  to  Tallula.  At  present,  there  is  nothing  left  to  designate  the  spot. 
The  original  site  of  the  town  is  a  flourishing  farm  and  orchard,  and  the  passing 
strangers  would  be  surprised  to  learn  that  the  place  was  once  a  thriving 
village. 


328  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 


ATHENS  PRECINCT. 

The  year  immediately  succeeding  the  admission  of  Illinois  Territory  to  a 
position  among  the  sisterhood  of  states,  immigration  commenced  to  flow  steadily 
into  the  Sangamon  country,  and  during  the  following  half-decade  quite  a  num- 
ber of  settlements  were  formed  within  the  present  limits  of  Menard  County. 
Settlements,  cotemporaneous  with  those  at  Clary's  Grove,  which  are  recorded 
as  the  first  made  in  the  county,  were  begun  in  the  present  precinct  of  Athens. 
But  first  as  to  its  position  and  topography.  It  is  situated  in  the  extreme  south- 
eastern portion  of  the  county,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Indian  Creek  and 
Sugar  Grove  Precincts,  east  and  south  by  Logan  and  Sangamon  Counties, 
respectively,  and  west  by  the  Sangamon  River  and  Petersburg  Precincts.  In 
shape,  it  very  closely  resembles  the  capital  letter  L,  being  ten  miles  along  its 
northern  boundary,  by  two  and  one-half  on  the  east,  and  five  and  one-half  on 
the  west.  The  surface  is  pretty  nearly  equally  divided  between  woodland  and 
prairie.  Congressionally,  the  precinct  is  included  in  Townships  17  and  18 
north,  Ranges  4,  5  and  6  west  of  the  Third  Principal  Meridian.  The  northern 
half  of  this  section  is  far  better  adapted  to  purposes  of  tillage  and  pasturage 
than  the  southern.  The  soil  is  of  the  finest  quality,  and  yields  abundant  har- 
vests of  the  various  cereals  commonly  cultivated  in  this  latitude.  Handsome 
and  costly  private  residences,  such  as  are  seen  mostly  in  the  suburbs  of  populous 
cities,  are  not  infrequently  met  with  in  traveling  through  this  part,  and  these 
along  with  the  finely  cultivated  farms  which  they  adorn,  bespeak  the  success 
which  has  attended  those  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  secure  a  firm  footing' 
here  in  an  early  day.  Nearly  the  entire  surface  is  sufficiently  elevated  and  roll- 
ing to  obviate  the  necessity  of  artificial  drainage.  The  timber  area  is  con- 
fined to  the  western  portion,  along  Indian  Creek  and  the  Sangamon.  The 
west  and  middle  fork  of  Fancy  Creek  crosses  the  eastern  portion,  and  affords 
drainage  to  a  vast  area  of  the  prairie  portion  of  the  precinct.  Indian  Creek 
flows  in  a  general  western  direction  through  the  northwest  part,  and  with 
streams  of  lesser  importance  on  the  west  side,  all  tributary  to  the  Sangamon, 
drains  effectually  the  woodland  district.  The  Springfield  &  North-Western 
Railroad  crosses  it  in  a  general  northwestern  direction.  Having  taken  this 
somewhat  cursory  glance  at  the  topography  of  this  section,  we  will  next  direct 
our  attention  to  its 

EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

As  was  the  unvarying  custom,  these  were  made  in  the  edge  of  the  timber, 
and  not  far  distant  from  the  water-courses.  And  here,  upon  the  very  thresh- 
old of  our  investigation,  we  are  environed  with  difficulties.  To  designate  any 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  as  being  the  first,  would  be  to  assume  a  risk  that 
we  do  not  feel  disposed  to  take  upon  our  shoulders.  A  number  came  in  at  so 


HISTORY   OF    MENARD   COUNTY.  329 

nearly  the  same  date,  and  the  testimony  is  so  evenly  balanced  in  making  each 
first,  that  we  are  rather  inclined  to  think  that  that  honor  cannot,  at  this  late 
date,  with  safety,  be  accorded  to  any  single  individual.  Among  the  earliest, 
however,  we  may  chronicle  the  arrival  of  Robert  White  and  William  B.  Short. 
Both  were  from  Green  County,  Ky.,and  settled  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
precinct,  in  Indian  Point  timber.  They  are  said  to  have  staked  off  their  claims 
and  commenced  their  improvements  in  the  fall  of  1819.  Short  settled  near  the 
creek,  while  White  laid  his  claim  a  short  distance  north  and  west  of  him.  The 
claims  first  staked  off  they  improved  and  afterward  entered,  and  these  they  con- 
tinued to  hold  during  their  lifetime  Short  died  in  1863,  and  was  buried  at 
the  old  Lebanon  Cemetery,  near  his  place  of  residence.  He  was  the  "  most 
married  "  man  in  the  entire  community,  as  he  plighted  his  love  at  the  nuptial 
altar  no  less  than  five  times.  White's  decease  occurred  a  few  months  ago,  he 
having  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age.  The  old  homesteads  are  owned  and  occupied  by 
James  C.  Short  and  R.  F.  White,  sons  of  the  early  pioneers.  An  elm  tree, 
bearing  the  initials  "  W.  B.  S.,"  yet  stands  not  far  distant  from  the  family 
residence,  and  marks  the  corner  of  the  Short  claim  made  in  that  early  day. 
The  same  fall,  or  possibly  in  the  early  spring  of  1820,  Joseph  Smith,  who 
came  from  the  southern  part  of  Kentucky,  made  a  claim  on  the  south  side  of 
Indian  Point  timber.  Smith  was  a  wagon-builder  by  trade,  and,  as  he  had  a 
shop  at  his  residence  in  quite  an  early  day,  it  was,  beyond  question,  the  first  in 
the  precinct.  He  improved  the  farm  now  owned  by  Alfred  Turner.  He  died 
a  number  of  years  ago,  and  lies  buried  at  Indian  Point  Cemetery.  William 
Holland,  a  brother-in-law  of  Smith,  came  from  Ohio  and  laid  a  claim,  also  on 
the  south  side  of  the  creek.  Holland  was  a  blacksmith,  and,  like  Smith,  was 
the  first  mechanic  of  his  kind  in  this  entire  section  of  the  country.  He  was 
appointed  by  the  Government  blacksmith  to  the  Kickapoo  Indians  in  this  sec- 
tion, and  received  for  his  services  $500  per  annum.  Some  years  later,  by 
order  of  the  Government,  he  went  to  Peoria,  or  Fort  Clark,  as  it  then  was, 
where  he  was  similarly  employed  for  some  time.  He  finally  moved  to  Wash- 
ington, in  Tazewell  County,  where  he  died  several  years  ago.  Some  of  his 
descendants  are  still  living  in  and  around  the  city.  Matthew  Rogers,  from 
Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  built  a  log  cabin  one  mile  north  and  east  of  the  present 
village  of  Athens.  This  he  did  not  occupy,  however,  until  the  spring  of  1821. 
Four  years  later,  the  claim  was  surveyed,  and  as  soon  as  it  came  into  market, 
he  entered  quite  a  body  of  land.  The  closing  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in 
the  village  of  Athens,  where  he  closed  a  long  and  well-spent  life  in  1847. 
Three  of  his  children  are  yet  residents  of  the  precinct — Henry  C.,  its  oldest 
citizen,  Mrs.  Amsberry  Rankin  and  Mrs.  Harry  Riggin.  The  life  of  Mr. 
Rogers  was  so  prominently  connected  with  the  early  settlement  of  this  section, 
that  he  seems  worthy  of  more  than  a  passing  notice.  He  is  a  descendant  from 
the  same  stock  with  the  celebrated  John  Rogers,  who  was  burned  at  the  stake, 
a  martyr  to  his  devotion  to  religious  principles.  He  married  Anna,  daughter 


330  HISTORY   OF    MENARD   COUNTY. 

of  Timothy  and  Miriam  Lee  Morse,  through  whom  the  family  is  connected  with 
the  late  Professor  S.  F.  B.  Morse,  the  illustrious  inventor  of  the  electric  tele- 
graph. While  in  New** York,  Matthew  Rogers  occupied  a  prominent  position 
in  the  community,  and  was  a  colonel  of  militia.  The  family  emigrated  to 
Illinois  in  1818,  but  so  tedious  and  slow  were  the  means  of  travel  in  those  early 
days,  that,  leaving  home  in  September,  they  did  not  reach  Troy  until  the  fol- 
lowing February.  He  built  a  frame  barn  in  1825  or  1826,  and  this  is  said  to 
be  the  first  frame  building  erected  in  the  State  north  of  the  Sangamon  River. 
He  established  the  first  nursery  in  the  same  limits,  and  kept  the  first  post  office. 
In  the  fall  of  1819,  Thomas  Primm  came  from  St.  Clair  County,  and  laid  a 
claim  southeast  of  where  Athens  now  stands.  After  taking  the  preliminary 
steps  necessary  to  secure  his  claim,  he  returned  to  his  family.  He  returned  in 
the  summer  of  1820,  and  raised  a  crop,  but  did  not  bring  his  family  until  the 
fall  following.  On  his  first  visit,  he  sold  the  animal  on  which  he  rode,  to 
Stephen  England,  in  payment  for  which  England  was  to  build  him  a  cabin  and 
make  a  stipulated  amount  of  rails.  His  cabin  was  built  in  1819,  but  was  not 
occupied  till  the  fall  of  1820.  The  family  of  John  Primm,  his  brother,  was 
here  in  the  summer  of  1820.  The  advent  of  the  Primm  family  to  Illinois  dates 
back  to  a  very  early  day.  John,  the  father  of  Thomas  and  John  above  men- 
tioned, came  from  the  Old  Dominion  to  St.  Clair  County  in  1802.  The  date 
of  coming  on  their  mother's  side  reaches  even  farther  back.  Mrs.  Primm  was 
a  daughter  of  Abram  Stallings,  who  came  down  the  Ohio  River  from  Virginia, 
and  settled  in  the  present  bounds  of  St.  Clair  County  in  1796.  Their  father, 
with  his  three  brothers,  William,  James  and  Thomas,  were  soldiers  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary struggle,  and  fought  in  Washington's  command.  Thomas  Primm 
died  at  his  home,  near  Athens,  in  May,  1856,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four.  Three 
of  his  sons  still  reside  in  the  precinct,  viz. :  William,  Dr.  Thomas  L.  and  Abra- 
ham. Daniel,  Ninian,  James  and  John  died  after  arriving  at  manhood,  each 
having  acquired  considerable  property.  The  sons  of  John  still  living  are 
Elisha,  John  and  Enoch.  The  settlements  now  mentioned  were  the  very  first 
made  in  what  is  now  Athens  Precinct.  Orimal  Clark  laid  a  claim  on  the  site 
of  the  village  of  Athens  as  early  as  1820.  He  did  not  remain  long  before  he 
sold  out  to  Rev.  John  Overstreet,  and  moved  to  Fancy  Creek,  below  Williams- 
ville.  He  finally  moved  to  Springfield,  where  he  died  a  number  of  years  ago. 
A  number  were  added  to  the  citizenship  of  the  precinct  during  the  year  1820. 
Martin  Higgins,  John  Moore,  a  Mr.  Terry,  William  Armstrong,  James  Haynes 
and  John  Good,  all  came  during  the  last-mentioned  year.  Higgins  was  from 
New  York,  and  was  a  son-in-law  of  Matthew  Rogers.  He  settled  the  farm  on 
which  William  Primm  now  resides,  and  which,  in  an  early  day,  he  sold  to  his 
father,  Thomas  Primm.  Higgins  next  located  south  of  Indian  Creek,  and  con- 
tinued to  live  there  until  the  date  of  his  decease.  Moore  and  Terry  were  both 
from  Vermont,  and  settled  at  Indian  Point.  Moore  was  a  cabinet-maker  by 
trade,  and  had  the  first  cabinet-shop  in  this  section.  Terry  and  his  wife  were 


TALLULA 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  333 

finely  educated,  and  found  themselves  ill  at  ease  among  their  less  fortunate 
backwoods  neighbors.  Both  sold  to  Martin  Higgins,  and  moved  to  Springfield. 
Here  Moore  followed  his  trade  for  some  years,  and  then  located  in  Macomb, 
Schuyler  County.  The  last  that  was  seen  of  him  in  this  section,  he  was  trav-' 
eling  in  the  capacity  of  a  colporteur  for  the  Presbyterian  Book  Concern. 
Terry,  after  his  removal  to  Springfield,  engaged  in  clerking,  and  his  wife  in 
teaching  school.  A  few  years  later,  they  again  returned  to  their  native  State  and 
never  returned  West  subsequently.  William  Armstrong  settled  near  Indian  Creek, 
and  in  a  few  years  sold  to  Eli  Branson  and  moved  to  what  is  now  Sandridge 
Precinct,  near  the  present  village  of  Oakford.  A  number  of  his  family  reside 
there  at  present.  Pleasant  Armstrong,  a  single  brother,  lived  with  him  and 
was  an  early  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  this  section.  Haynes  and  Good  were  both 
Buckeyes.  The  former  settled  south  of  Indian  Creek,  and,  after  some  years, 
sold  to  Martin  Higgins  and  moved  to  Texas.  Good  settled  further  west  on 
the  prairie  between  Indian  Creek  and  Oak  Ridge  timber.  He  sold  to  the 
father  of  Judge  Tice,  and,  in  company  with  Haynes,  moved  to  Texas.  The 
name  of  James  Gardner,  also,  should  appear  among  those  of  the  settlers  of 
1820,  Gardner  was  from  the  Empire  State,  and  laid  a  claim  where  the  Widow 
Riggin  now  resides.  His  father,  quite  an  aged  man,  lived  with  him.  He 
remained  but  a  few  years,  then  sold  to  Harry  Riggin  and  moved  over  into  Ful- 
ton County.  In  1821,  Walter  Turner  made  a  claim  on  the  south  side  of  Indian 
Creek,  which  he  improved  and  occupied  until  the  date  of  his  demise.  His  son 
Walter  now  occupies  the  old  homestead.  Harry  Riggin  also  came  the  same  year, 
purchased  land  and  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil.  His  ancestry  dates  back  to 
Ireland,  and  there  bore  the  name  of  0' Regan.  Soon  after  coming  to  America,' 
having  renounced  Catholicism  and  espoused  Protestantism,  the  family  name  was 
changed  to  Riggin,  the  form  it  has  since  borne.  During  his  lifetime,  he  was 
often  heard  to  express  himself  sorry  that  a  change  in  the  name  should  ever  have 
been  deemed  necessary.  He  was  an  enterprising  and  useful  citizen,  and  his 
name  was  many  times  prominently  before  the  people.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  first  Board  of  County  Commissioners  for  Sangamon  County,  whose  duty  it 
was  to  locate  the  county  seat.  He  was  at  different  times  a  candidate  for  office, 
but  was  defeated,  his  competitors  for  popular  favor  being  such  men  as  Stephen 
F.  Logan,  Ninian  Edwards  and  Abraham  Lincoln — men  who  afterward  achieved 
success  in  a  wider  field  of  fame.  His  long  and  public-spirited  life  closed  in 
1874,  after  he  had  attained  to  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-one  years  and  six  months. 
Elisha,  Abner  and  James  Hall,  brothers,  came  from  Ohio  and  settled  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  present  village  of  Athens  as  early  as  1822.  Some  of  their 
descendants  are  still  living  in  and  around  the  village.  Phillip  Smith  was  a 
Buckeye,  also,  who  made  an  improvement  where  Theophilus  Turner  now  lives. 
Smith  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  followed  his  profession  in  connection  with 
farming.  William  Johnson  and  James  Williams  were  from  Bath  County,  Ky., 
and  made  settlements  in  1823,  north  of  Indian  Creek.  Johnson  died  in  1843. 


334  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

His  wife,  having  reached  the  seventy-fourth  milestone  on  life's  journey,  is  yet 
living,  and  is  passing  her  few  remaining  years  in  the  families  of  her  children. 
Her  son  Jefferson  now  owns  the  old  homestead,  and  a  naked  spot  in  the  yard, 
but  a  few  feet  distant  from  his  excellent  farmhouse,  marks  the  location  from 
which  but  very  recently  the  pioneer  cabin  of  his  father  and  family  has  been 
removed.  Williams  located  west  of  Johnson  and  further  down  the  creek.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  tanner  by  trade.  He  reared  a  large  family,  and  amassed  a 
goodly  amount  of  this  world's  goods.  He  died  in  1837,  and  was  buried  on  the 
farm  which  he  improved  and  which  is  now  owned  by  Col.  John  Williams,  his 
son.  Although  Col.  Williams  has  been  a  citizen  of  Athens  Precinct  only  for 
the  past  three  years,  still  we  deem  it  apropos  to  give  a  short  sketch  of  his  life 
in  this  connection.  At  the  time  of  his  father's  removal  from  Kentucky,  he  was 
a  lad  of  some  sixteen  or  seventeen  summers,  and  was  engaged  in  clerking  in  a 
village  store.  His  employer  was  unwilling  to  release  him,  and,  consequently, 
he  did  not  come  until  the  year  following.  He  made  the  trip  on  horseback, 
bringing  the  sale-money  of  his  father,  and,  as  the  currency  at  that  time  was 
almost  exclusively  silver,  to  successfully  conceal  it  and  bring  it  safely  to  its  des- 
tination was  no  small  feat  for  a  boy  of  his  age  to  accomplish.  This,  however, 
he  did,  after  a  long,  tedious  journey.  John's  inclinations  were  for  the  life  oft 
a  merchant  and  soon  after  coming  he  obtained  a  situation  as  clerk  in  Springfield, 
afterward  became  partner  and  finally  proprietor.  His  success  fully  attests  the 
wisdom  of  his  choice.  He  continued  to  make  Springfield  his  home  until  about 
three  years  ago,  when  he  erected  his  splendid  mansion  on  his  father's  old  home- 
stead and  brought  his  family  from  the  city  to  enjoy  the  retreats  of  his  quiet 
country  home.  In  a  business  way,  he  is  largely  identified  with  the  city  of 
Springfield  to-day,  and  is  one  of  the  solid  business  men  of  the  capital.  To  him 
more  than  to  any  other  one  individual  is  Menard  County  indebted  for  the  suc- 
cessful completion  of  the  railroad  which  links  with  iron  bands  her  county  seat 
to  the  State  capital.  John  H.  Moore,  from  Kentucky,  was  here  as  early  as 
the  fall  of  1823,  possibly  a  year  earlier.  Included  among  those  who  came  prior 
to  1830,  we  find  the  names  of.  John  Turner,  William  Stanley,  Scott  Rawlins, 
Jonathan  Dunn,  Asa  Canterberry,  John  S.  Alexander,  William  McDougal, 
Theophilus  Bracken,  Allen  Turner,  Amberry  A.  Rankin  and  Fleming  Hall. 
They  were  mostly  from  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  and  settled  near  Indian  Creek  and 
in  the  vicinity  of  Athens.  Fleming  Hall  had  emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Mis- 
souri, in  1828,  and,  in  1829,  he  came  to  Menard  and  pre-empted  the  land  on 
wkich  the  village  of  Athens  now  stands.  He  remained  two  years  upon  his 
pre-emption  claim,  then  entered  it  and  sold  it  to  Abner  Hall  and  a  Mr.  Catter- 
lin.  Mr.  Hall  removed  to  his  present  place  of  residence,  a  short  distance  from 
the  village,  some  forty-eight  years  ago.  Here,  in  the  family  of  his  son  Elihu, 
the  father,  having  attained  the  age  of  eighty-five  and  the  mother  the  more 
advanced  age  of  ninety-one,  are  passing  quietly  their  few  remaining  days. 
When  Mr.  Hall  and  Benjamin  and  John  Wiseman  were  laying  off  the  school 


HISTORY    OF   MENARD    COUNTY.  335 

section  into  small  lots  for  sale,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  their  surveyor,  and  the  tall, 
athletic  form  of  the  future  President,  passing  silently  through  the  deep  ponds 
which  the  others  were  glad  to  avoid,  is  recollected  as  something  edifying. 
Canterberry  and  Alexander  were  both  from  Kentucky,  and  settled  in  the  south 
part  of  the  precinct.  Some  of  the  descendants  of  Canterberry  are  still  resi- 
dents of  the  neighborhood  in  which  he  settled.  Scott  Rawlins  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  W.  L.  Rankins.  He  was  a  kind  of  horse  doctor  and  horse 
jockey  professionally,  and  withal  was  not  very  popular  with  his  neighbors. 
Indeed,  his  sudden  accumulation  of  large  numbers  of  horses  at  different  times, 
warranted  the  suspicion  that  they  were  not  always  obtained  by  strictly  legiti- 
mate means.  His  increasing  unpopularity  led  him  to  dispose  of  his  land  in  an 
early  day.  He  moved  to  an  island  in  the  Illinois  River,  not  far  from  Bath, 
where  he  died  a  number  of  years  ago.  McDougal  and  Bracken  are  both  dead, 
but  have  a  number  of  representatives  yet  living  in  the  precinct.  Amberry  A. 
Rankin  is  still  living,  and  having  accumulated  a  fine  competency,  has  retired  from 
active  business  pursuits,  and  is  quietly  passing  his  declining  years  in  the  village 
of  Athens.  During  the  years  1830—31—32,  but  few  were  added  to  the  settle- 
ments already  made.  The  excitement  incident  upon  the  Black  Hawk  war  had 
a  tendency  to  check  emigration  for  a  time.  In  the  spring  of  1832,  J.  Kennedy 
Kincaid,  then  a  young  man,  came  from  Bath  County,  Ky.,  and  located  in  the 
neighborhood  where  he  at  present  resides.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and 
found  here  a  fine  field  for  operating  his  mechanical  genius.  Landing  at  Beards- 
town,  he  walked  from  there  to  Springfield,  in  order  to  save  his  scanty  means 
for  the  purchase  of  a  kit  of  tools.  By  dint  of  industry,  he  soon  secured  means 
enough  to  enter  a  small  piece  of  land,  and  this  he  improved  and  still  owns.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  early  pedagogues  of  this  section.  In  the  fall  of  1833,  his 
father,  Andrew  Kincaid,  came  through  on  horseback  to  visit  his  son  and  pros- 
pect the  country.  In  the  fall  of  1834,  he  came  with  his  family  and  settled 
where  his  son  Thomas  Kincaid  now  lives.  After  a  long  and  useful  career,  he 
terminated  his  life  in  1872,  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-seven.  His  wife  lingered 
ion  the  shores  of  time  tilt  March,  1879,  when  she  followed  that  beckoning  hand 
at  the  more  advanced  age  of  ninety-one.  They  left  a  large  family  of  children, 
and  their  sons  are  among  the  wealthy  and  influential  farmers  of  the  section  in 
which  they  reside.  James  -Rankin,  also  from  Kentucky,  settled  in  the  vicinity 
in  1833.  As  early  as  1840,  further  settlements  were  made  by  Jesse  G.  Hurt, 
David  and  James  K.  Hurt,  Jesse  Preston,  Josiah  Francis,  Thomas  Hargus, 
William  Strawbridge,  Charles  Robinson,  R.  L.  Wilson,  Neal  and  Archibald 
Johnson  and  others,  doubtless,  whose  names  have  passed  from  memory.  But 
time  and  space  forbid  that  we  shall  particularize  in  regard  to  all  these.  Suffice 
it  to  say  that  they  were  all  good  citizens,  and  aided  in  the  improvement  and  devel- 
opment of  the  country  of  which,  at  an  early  day,  they  became  citizens. 


336  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 


EARLY   TRIALS   AND   DIFFICULTIES. 

The  early  pioneers  found  none  of  the  conveniences  by  which  they  are  to-day 
surrounded.  Naught  but  wild  waste  of  country,  fertile  indeed,  yet  unsubdued. 
It  was  unbroken  by  the  single  habitation  of  civilized  man,  and  was  yet  the  hunt- 
ing-place of  the  red  man  of  the  forest.  Without  roads  and  without  bridges, 
and  far  removed  from  the  public  marts,  the  incentives  to  engage  in  the  tilling 
of  the  soil  were  few.  Yet  surrounded  by  the  manifold  annoyances  which  ever 
attend  the  early  pioneer,  in  the  love  of  that  liberty  which  they  earnestly  desired 
to  transmit  to  their  children,  and  in  the  fond  hope  of  one  day  possessing  them- 
selves of  many  of  these  broad,  fertile  acres,  they  erected  their  rude  cabins  and 
began  their  life-work.  One  thing  which  contributed  largely  to  the  success  of 
the  early  settlers  of  this  section  was  the  inflexibility  of  purpose  with  which 
they  set  about  making  a  home  for  themselves  and  their  families.  Though  most 
of  them  were  men  of  limited  means,  they  were  not  of  that  class  often  found  in 
the  first  settlement  of  a  country,  who,  having  made  a  slight  improvement,  are 
ever  ready  and  waiting  for  an  offer  to  sell  out  and  again  move  forward  to  the 
frontier. 

There  are  many  here  to-day,  an  abstract  of  whose  title  is  couched  simply  in 
the  patent  from  the  Government  to  their  father,  and  in  the  deed  from  father 
to  son.  Not  a  few  hold  their  title  direct  from  the  Government,  over  the 
signature  of  John  Quincy  Adams.  The  difficulties  and  inconveniences  endured 
by  these  early  settlers  were  such  as  would  appall  the  heart  of  the  stoutest  of  the 
present  generation.  Their  milling  was  obtained  at  points  100  miles  distant, 
and  supplies  for  the  family  were  obtained  from  a  like  distance.  Mr.  William 
Primm  relates  that  his  father  used  to  go  to  mill  at  St.  Louis,  distant  120  miles. 
Mills,  however,  were  established  in  quite  an  early  day  on  Salt  Creek,  and  at 
points  on  the  Sangamon.  The  history  of  the  earliest  mill  in  the  precinct 
belongs  in  the  history  of  the  village  of  Athens  and  Avill  be  given  in  that  connec- 
tion. 

The  first  post  office,  established  north  of  the  Sangamon,  was  at  the  house 
of  Matthew  Rogers,  and  was  known  as  Rogers'  Post  Office.  The  exact  date 
of  its  establishment  cannot  now  be  ascertained,  but  was  probably  not  later  than 
1826-27.  The  mail  at  that  time  was  carried  on  horseback  from  Springfield 
to  Lewistown  by  way  of  Rogers,  Walker's  Grove  and  Havana,  and  was  known 
as  the  Spoon  River  Route.  John  Renfro  was  mail  carrier  on  this  route  for  a 
long  time.  At  that  date,  four  weeks  were  consumed  in  the  transmission  of  a 
letter  from  New  York  to  this  point.  The  office  continued  to  be  kept  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Rogers  until  the  laying-out  of  Athens,  when  the  name  was 
changed  from  Rogers  to  that  of  the  village,  and  it  was  removed  there.  Henry 
C.  Rogers,  after  attaining  his  majority,  succeeded  his  father  as  Postmaster  and 
held  the  position  a  number  of  years.  At  this  office,  among  others  who  received 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  337 

mail  matter  for  quite  a  while  was  our  late  martyred  President,  Abraham  Lincoln. 
He  came  to  the  office  from  Salem  on  horseback,  when  he  did  not  make  the 
trip  on  foot,  which  he  often  did.  Mr.  Rogers  says,  if  he  had  been  at  that  time 
commanded  to  shoct  at  a  future  President  of  America  from  among  the  number 
that  frequented  the  office,  he  should  have  turned  his  gun  upon  many  another 
before  singling  out  the  long,  lank  youth  from  Salem. 

The  first  school  in  the  precinct  was  kept  by  J.  A.  Mendall,  in  a  cabin  near 
the  residence  of  Henry  C.  Rogers.  Mendall  was  an  Eastern  man,  finely  edu- 
cated and  a  successful  teacher.  The  only  drawback  to  his  usefulness  in  the 
community  was  the  fact  that  he  was  too  fond  of  the  flowing  bowl,  and  often 
indulged  in  a  spree  to  the  annoyance  of  his  patrons.  The  last  account  had  of 
him  here  he  had  located  in  Peoria  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  study  of  law. 
Henry  C.  Rogers  was  himself  an  early  pedagogue  in  this  section,  and  taught  in 
the  days  when  it  was  fashionable  for  the  "Master  "  to  "board  around  "  and 
when  scraps  of  old  copy-books  greased  with  lard  were  used  for  the  admission  of 
light.  But  these  primitive  temples  of  learning  have  long  since  passed  away, 
and  we  find  the  precinct  dotted  over  to-day  with  houses  well  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  the  age,  and  more  advanced  and  cultivated  tastes  of  society.  The  cit- 
izens in  and  around  Indian  Creek,  recognizing  the  need  of  a  higher  education 
for  their  children  than  could  be  obtained  at  the  common  schools,  conceived 
the  idea  of  establishing  a  school  of  a  high  grade  in  their  midst.  To  this  end, 
individual  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  $3,000  were  secured,  and,  in  1856, 
the  North  Sangamon  Academy  was  erected.  The  building  is  a  substantial  brick, 
two  stories  high,  and  situated  most  eligibly  in  the  edge  of  Indian  Creek  timber. 
Located  as  it  is  in  a  grove  of  native  forest-trees  and  where  there  are 

"  Books  in  the  running  brooks,  sermons  in  stones, 
And  good  in  everything." 

one  would  naturally  infer  that  the  enterprise  would  meet  with  merited  success. 
Such,  we  are  glad  to  state,  has  been  its  history  so  far.  During  the  first 
years  of  its  existence,  it  drew  patronage  from  points  as  far  distant  as  Jacksqn- 
ville.  A  boarding-house  was  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  foreign  students, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  was  well  patronized.  Prof.  D.  J.  Strain  was  the 
first  Principal  and  held  the  position  nine  years.  The  interests  of  the  school 
have  been  in  charge  of  Prof.  W.  B.  Thompson  for  the  past  year,  in  whose  hands 
its  former  good  reputation  has  not  been  permitted  to  suffer.  A  neat  cottage 
residence  for  the  use  of  the  Principal  was  erected  a  few  years  ago  at  a  cost  of 
some  $1,400.  The  first  merchant  in  the  precinct  was  Harry  Riggin,  who 
opened  a  small  stock  of  goods  at  his  farm  residence  as  early  as  1825—26.  This 
was  a  matter  of  great  convenience,  as,  prior  to  its  establishment,  the  nearest 
trading-point  was  Springfield.  To  that  point  and  to  Beardstown  the  produce 
of  the  farmer  was  taken  to  market  and  the  supplies  for  family  consumption 
were  obtained.  But  as  year  succeeded  year  in  rapid  flight,  population  increased, 
villages  sprang  into  existence  as  if  by  magic,  conveniences  multiplied  on  every 


338  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

hand  and  the  trials  and  difficulties  with  which   the   early  pioneer  was  wont  to 
contend  became  things  of  the  past. 

CHURCHES    OF    THE    PRECINCT. 

Religion  was  one  of  the  first  interests  that  claimed  the  attention  of  the 
early  settlers  of  this  section,  and  the  first  religious  society  formed  was  upon  a 
voluntary  basis,  to  meet  the  existing  spiritual  wants  of  the  period.  As  early 
as  1820,  Joseph  Smith  and  wife,  James  Haynes  and  wife  and  William  Holland 
and  wife  organized  themselves  into  a  class  of  the  Methodist  order,  under  the 
leadership  of  Mr.  Holland.  This  was  the  first  religious  society  formed  in  this 
entire  section,  and  constituted  the  .basis  of  the  first  M.  E.  Church  in  the  county. 
Soon  after  its  formation,  Rev.  James  Simms,  the  first  "circuit  rider,"  took 
charge  of  this  interest.  The  Cumberland  Presbyterians  were  in  the  field  in 
quite  an  early  day.  The  first  church  building  erected  in  the  present  limits  of 
Athens  Precinct  was  the  Lebanon  C.  P.  Church  in  the  extreme  northwest 
corner.  The  first  was  a  log  house,  quite  primitive  in  style  of  architecture  and 
in  its  various  appointments.  This  building  was  constructed  near  the  close  of 
1824  or  early  in  the  beginning  of  1825.  Having  served  its  day  and  genera- 
tion, it  was  removed  out  of  the  way  and  superseded  by  a  commodious  frame 
structure.  This  in  turn  gave  place  in  1866-67  to  the  present  substantial  brick 
building  which  occupies  the  spot  to-day.  Rev.  John  M.  Berry,  the  great 
apostle  of  Cumberland  Presbyterianism  in  Menard  County,  was  the  first  min- 
ister and  labored  for  the  congregation  a  number  of  years.  Revs.  Thomas 
Campbell  and  Gilbert  Dodds  also  preached  here  in  an  early  day.  Among  the 
early  communicants  were  the  families  of  Robert  White,  William  B.  Short, 
Francis  Ray  burn,  James  Williams,  Harry  Riggin  and  Martin  Higgins.  The 
Uorth  Sangamon  Presbyterian  society  was  organized  at  Springfield  in  1832. 
Among  the  first  members  of  the  organization  were  John  Moore  and  family, 
Elijah  Scott,  John  N.  Moore,  a  Mr.  Stillman  and  J.  Kennedy  Kincaid.  The 
members  from  Indian  Creek  attended  services  for  a  time  at  Springfield.  After 
the  building  of  the  frame  house  above  alluded  to,  the  society  worshiped  some  years 
with  the  Cumberlands.  Finally,  they  erected  a  substantial  brick  building  about 
two  miles  "east  of  the  old  Lebanon  Church,  in  which  the  society  has  since  held 
its  meetings.  As  a  full  and  complete  history  of  the  Church  has  been  prepared 
for  the  general  county  history  by  Rev.  William  Crozier,  the  present  Pastor,  we 
deem  it  unnecessary  to  trace  it  in  detail  in  this  portion  of  the  work.  A  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  at  the  residence  of  Richard  Fulker- 
son,  in  the  summer  of  1867,  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Van  Patton,  of  Springfield.  R. 
Fulkerson,  James  Estile  and  William  Price  were  chosen  Elders,  and  A.  A. 
Fulkerson  and  John  Woods,  Deacons.  A  neat  church  building  was  erected  in 
the  fall  of  1867  and  has  been  regularly  occupied  since  the  society  was  organ- 
ized. The*present  membership  is  about  fifty.  Rev.  George  Flowers  was  the 
first  regular  Pastor  for  the  congregation.  Rev.  J.  Stephenson  is  laboring  for 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  339 

the  society  at  present.  Not  only  have(the  citizens  in  and  around  Indian  Point 
manifested  an  interest  in  whatever  has  had  a  tendency  to  increase  the  happi- 
ness and  welfare  of  the  living,  but  in  the  provision  made  for  the  dead  they  have 
exhibited  a  spirit  of  enterprise  not  often  met  with  in  the  country.  Indian 
Point  Cemetery,  as  a  corporate  body,  was  organized  February  14,  1870.  It 
incloses  seven  acres,  beautifully  situated  for  burial  purposes.  It  occupies 
a  commanding  position  overlooking  Indian  Creek  and  the  surrounding 
country.  It  is  tastefully  laid  in  blocks,  drives  and  avenues,  and  the  lots  are 
ornamented  with  various  kinds  of  shrubbery.  All  moneys  arising  from  the  sale 
of  cemetery  squares  or  lots,  by  the  terms  of  the  organization,  are  kept  in  an 
•endowment  fund,  the  interest  thereof  to  be  expended  in  improving  and  ornament- 
ing the  cemetery.  The  present  value  of  this  fund  is  not  far  from  $3,000.  The 
object  of  those  engaged  in  organizing  this  cemetery  has  been  to  endow  the 
corporation  and  not  themselves,  to  provide  and  leave  guarded  a  fund  for  its 
maintenance  through  all  future  time.  Many  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  sec- 
tion have  here  found  a  last  resting-place,  and  the  chiseled  marble  shaft  erected 
by  surviving  love  to  their  memory  attests  the  veneration  in  which  they  were  held 
while  living.  The  interests  of  the  cemetery  are  intrusted  to  the  hands  of  a 
board  of  directors,  who  are  chosen  at  stated  periods. 

Among  the  first  to  sit  in  judgment  upon  matters  of  litigation  between  their 
fellow-citizens  were  Matthew  Rogers  and  John  N.  Moore.  Henry  C.  Rogers, 
following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  has  long  hehl  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  The  first  death  of  which  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  any  reliable 
information  was  that  of  Capt.  Hathaway,  which  occurred  in  1822.  John  Jen- 
nison  and  Martha  McNabb  were  the  first  to  plight  their  vows  to  each  other 
before  the  hymeneal  altar.  The  first  birth  has  been  lost  in  the  mists  of  antiq- 
uity though  it  is  an  event  that  doubtless  occurred.  While  the  railroad  interests 
of  the  county  have  been  given  in  detail  in  the  general  county  history,  yet  the 
prominent  part  taken  by  Col.  John  Williams,  a  citizen  of  this  section,  in  the 
completion  and  operation  of  the  Springfield  and  North- Western  Railroad,  by 
means  of  which  he  has  placed  the  citizens  of  this  precinct  under  lasting  obli- 
gations to  himself,  renders  it  altogether  proper  that  mention  of  it  should  again 
be  made  in  connection  with  this  part  of  the  history.  The  original  charter  for 
the  road  leading  from  Springfield  via  Petersburg,  Havana  and  Lewistown  to 
Keithsburg  or  Rock  Island  on  the  Mississippi,  was  granted  in  1853.  Sanga- 
mon  County  failed  to  vote  her  allotted  amount  of  the  stock,  and  this  in  con- 
nection with  other  untoward  events  so  discouraged  the  company  that  the  enter- 
prise was  wholly  abandoned.  By  special  act  of  Legislature,  the  charter  was 
revived  in  1869,  and  late  in  the  fall  of  1870,  work  was  commenced  at  Havana, 
and  vigorously  pushed  through  Mason  and  a  part  of  Menard.  It  was  completed 
to  Petersburg  in  1872,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1873,  reached  Athens  and  Cantrall. 
At  the  last  named  point  (eight  miles  north  of  the  capital)  the  panic  struck  the 
company,  and  further  operations  looking  to  the  completion  of  the  road  ceased. 


340  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

In  1874,  Col.  Williams,  who  had  been  treasurer  of  the  road  since  the  revival 
of  its  charter,  by  the  use  mainly  of  his  own  private  means,  completed  the  line 
to  Springfield.  It  was  operated  under  the  management  of  contractors  until 
1875,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  G.  N.  Black  as  Receiver,  and  was  thus 
controlled  until  1878,  when  it  was  sold  and  bid  in  by  Col.  John  Williams,  who 
thus  became  President,  and  under  whose  efficient  direction  and  management  it 
is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  operated  with  care. 

ATHENS    VILLAGE. 

In  that  classic  land  which  holds  the  most  conspicuous  place  in  the  pages  of 
early  history,  a  land  abounding  in  fine  natural  objects  and  picturesque  scenery 
— alternate  mountain  peaks  and  ravines,  hills  and  valleys,  wooded  headlands 
and  shaded  torrent  streams,  sat — 

"Athens,  the  eye  of  Greece,  mother  of  arts 
And  eloquence,  native  to  famous  wits." 

While,  under  the  all-conquering  hand  of  Rome,  she  saw  every  trace  of 
her  political  importance  vanish,  she  rose  to  an  empire  scarcely  less  flattering, 
to  which  Rome  itself  was  compelled  to  bow,  and  she  became  to  her  conqueror 
the  teacher  and  arbiter  of  taste,  philosophy  and  science.  It  is  not  our  purpose 
to  trace  the  history  of  the  far-famed  city,  but  of  one  of  far  more  humble  pre- 
tensions, and  which,  though  bearing  the  same  name,  is  different  in  every  other 
respect.  The  village  of  Athens  is  situated  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
county,  and,  next  to  extinct  Salem  and  Petersburg,  is  the  oldest  town  in 
Menard.  The  village  site  is  an  eligible  one,  the  country  adjacent  being  finely 
adapted  to  agricultural  and  horticultural  pursuits.  Woodland,  comprising  as- 
fine  oak  timber  as  can  be  found  in  any  section  of  Illinois,  adjoins  the  place, 
and  coal  of  a  superior  quality  abounds  in  almost  inexhaustible  quantities,  at  a 
depth  of  less  than  one  hundred  feet  beneath  the  surface  upon  which  the  town  is 
founded.  It  was  surveyed  and  platted  in  1831,  by  James  Stevenson,  County 
Surveyor,  for  Rev.  John  Overstreet.  The  original  plat  contained  about  forty 
acres,  to  which  some  four  additions  have  subsequently  been  made.  Two 
cabins,  one  for  a  residence,  and  the  other  for  a  blacksmith-shop,  had  been  erected 
by  Orimal  Clark,  who  had  laid  a  claim  here  a  year  or  two  previous  to  the  lay- 
ing-out of  the  town,  and  from  whom  Overstreet  purchased  the  original  town- 
site.  A  small  band-mill,  operated  by  horse-power,  was  also  here  at  the  date  of 
the  laying-out  of  the  village.  About  the  year  1832  or  1833,  Col.  Matthew 
Rogers  became  a  citizen  of  the  town,  and  made  the  first  permanent  improve- 
ments, the  large  and  commodious  building  now  occupied  by  L.  Salzenstein  as  a 
store  being  one  of  the  results  of  his  enterprise.  John  Overstreet  was  the  first 
merchant  of  the  village,  having  purchased  the  remnant  of  a  stock  of  goods 
which  had  been  kept  by  Harry  Riggin,  at  his  farm  residence ;  he  made  some 
additional  purchases,  and  opened  out  a  small  stock,  soon  after  the  laying-out  of 
the  village.  Jonathan  Dunn  was  the  second  merchant  in  the  field,  but 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  341 

remained  in  the  mercantile  business  but  a  short  time.  In  the  latter  part  of 
1832,  or  the  beginning  of  1833,  Harry  Riggin  and  Amberry  A.  Rankin 
opened  a  store,  and,  after  two  years,  sold  their  stock  to  Martin  M.  Morgan. 
During  the  year,  James  D.  Allen  and  Simeon  Clark  became  merchants  of  the 
village  as  did  Abner  and  Elisha  Hall.  In  1836,  Sebastian  Stone  became  a 
partner  with  Allen,  and  that  firm  remained  in  business  a  number  of  years. 
The  early  merchants  received  their  goods  from  St.  Louis,  a  distance  of  120 
miles,  by  ox  team,  a  master  means  of  transportation  at  that  day.  The  arrival 
of  a  new  supply  of  goods  for  the  merchants  created  almost  as  much  excitement 
among  the  villagers  as  the  pageantry  of  Barnum's  own  and  only  show  on  earth 
does  in  our  cities  at  the  present  day.  The  bustle  and  hum  that  was  seen  and 
heard  upon  her  streets  at  one  time,  betokened  for  her  a  bright  and  glorious 
future.  But  alas  for  human  hopes  and  prophecies !  The  tidal  wave  of  adver- 
sity set  in  hard  against  her  in  the  spring  of  1839.  She  entered  the  list  for 
county  seat  honors,  and,  though  she  played  her  hand  skillfully,  Petersburg 
over-reached  her  and  left  her  to  weep  over  blasted  hopes  and  blighted  prospects. 
The  failure  to  secure  railroad  communication  with  the  outside  world,  until  quite 
recently ;  the  establishment  of  the  county  seat  at  Petersburg,  and  the  capital 
at  Springfield  all  contributed  to  check  the  growth  of  Athens  and  to  give  to 
her.  as  early  as  1841,  the  appearance  of  a  finished  town.  But  to  return  to 
her  early  history.  As  early  as  1826,  Elijah  Estep  had  erected  a  small  band- 
mill  on  the  present  site  of  Petersburg.  Owing  to  the  high  rates  charged  for 
grinding,  and  the  difficulty  oftentimes  experienced  in  reaching  the  mill,  those 
living  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  present  village  of  Athens,  in  the  fall  of 
1829,  joined  in  the  purchase  and  removal  of  the  mill  to  this  point.  After  the 
mill  was  brought  and  put  in  running  order,  John  Overstreet  took  charge  of  it, 
taking  toll  from  each  and  every  one  using  it,  the  same  as  if  he  had  been  the 
individual  owner.  He  was  to  keep  up  the  necessary  repairs  and  superintend 
the  "  mammoth  concern  "  for  the  term  of  four  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  the  property  was  to  pass  into  his  hands.  Two  classes  of  individual  inter- 
ests were  represented  in  the  mill,  viz.,  money-signers  and  work-signers.  There 
were  rules  and  regulations  governing  the  rights  of  each,  and  so  strictly  were 
they  observed  that  but  few  difficulties  ever  occurred.  The  moneyed  aristocracy 
in  those  days,  as  well  as  at  the  present,  belonged  to  the  privileged  class.  If  A 
had  contributed  $5  in  work  toward  securing  the  mill,  and  B  had  contributed 
fifty  cents  in  cash,  it  was  B's  privilege,  whenever  he  came  to  the  mill,  though 
A  might  be  using  it  at  the  time,  to  take  full  possession  as  soon  as  the  hopper 
was  empty,  and  grind  out  his  grist.  If,  in  the  mean  time,  no  other  money- 
signers  came,  A  could  resume  operations,  but  not  otherwise.  It  thus  hap- 
pened that  sometimes  a  work-signer  would  go  early  and  remain  all  day, 
returning  home  at  night  without  having  had  the  privilege  of  cracking  a  grain 
of  his  grist.  While  this  worked  a  hardship  to  many,  yet  none  knew  better 
how  to  observe  both  the  spirit  and  letter  of  the  law  than  did  the  early 


342  HISTORY    OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

pioneers.  About  the  year  1834,  Overstreet  ground  a  flat-boat  load  of  flour  on 
this  mill,  and,  in  company  with  Jesse  Gr.  and  David  Hurt,  took  it  to  the 
New  Orleans  market.  Some  two  or  three  months  were  consumed  in  manu- 
facturing the  load,  the  bolting  being  done  by  hand.  From  that  trip,  Over- 
street  and  David  Hurt  never  returned.  Both  were  stricken  with  disease  and 
died  in  the  Crescent  City.  Jonathan  Dunn  built  a  steam  grist-mill  here  in 
an  early  day,  and,  after  operating  it  a  year  or  two,  sold  out  to  Strawbridge  & 
Croft,  who  attached  a  distillery  and  ran  the  two  conjointly  for  some  time. 
This  enterprise,  however,  has  long  since  become  a  thing  of  the  past.  In  1856. 
John  Overstreet,  a  relative  of  the  pioneer,  and  Alexander  Hale,  built  a  brick 
steam  grist-mill,  at  a  cost  of  $11,000,  and  began  operating  it  in  1857.  It  has 
a  run  of  two  buhrs  and  is  capable  of  grinding  fifteen  bushels  per  hour.  It  is 
at  present  in  successful  operation.  Charles  P.  Smith  opened  a  blacksmith 
shop  in  1832,  and  soon  afterward  Thomas  Tabor  and  William  Brown  followed 
in  this  business.  Smith  was  the  first  on  the  ground  after  the  laying-out  of  the 
village.  After  a  short  residence,  he  moved  to  Texas,  and  later,  started  for  the 
gold  regions  of  California.  Like  many  others,  he  failed  to  reach  what  he  no 
doubt  deemed  the  land  of  promise,  and  his  bones  were  left  to  bleach  on  the  sandy 
plains  with  those  of  others  of  his  unfortunate  companions.  A  pottery  was 
established  here  in  quite  an  early  day  by  John  Pierson.  and  for  a  time  did  quite 
a  paying  business.  Goble  £  Sackett  and  likewise  Ramsey  followed  in  a  like 
enterprise  at  a  later  date.  Tradition  informs  us  that  a  cotton-gin  was  once 
operated  here,  and,  if  so,  it  must  have  been  not  later  than  1827-28,  as  this 
article  of  merchandise  was  not  cultivated  in  this  section  subsequent  to  the  win- 
ter of  the  "deep  snow." 

CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    ETC. 

The  Methodists  were  the  pioneer  organization  of  the  village.  Their  house 
of  worship,  erected  in  1835,  is  still  standing,  though,  from  outward  appear- 
ances, it  is  rather  the  worse  for  wear.  The  original  organization  was  effected 
by  Rev.  Asahel  E.  Phelps,  with  seventy  members.  It  has  always  held  a  lead- 
ing position  in  the  religious  element  of  the  village.  Rev.  J.  W.  Eckman  is 
now  completing  his  second  year  as  pastor.  The  Christian  Church  was  built 
in  1851,  and  is  the  only  brick  church  building  in  the  town.  The  congregation 
has  never  been  large,  and  has  prospered  indifferently  well.  Among  the  early 
ministers  were  Elders  Robert  Foster  and  John  A.  Powell.  The  Church  is  at 
present  without  a  regular  Pastor,  though  Elder  Claiborne  Hall  often  officiates 
in  that  capacity.  The  Free  Methodists  have  recently  erected  a  neat  frame 
building,  and  the  congregation  connected  therewith,  though  small,  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition.  A  Sunday  school  is  held  in  connection  with  each  of  the 
churches. 

The  first  public  school  kept  in  the  village  was,  probably,  presided  over  by 
Rev.  Carman  Clark,  though  some  are  inclined  to  award  that  honor  to  a  Mrs. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  343 

Rowe.  It  was  taught  in  a  diminutive  farm  house  which  formerly  stood  on  the 
site  of  Charles  Salzenstein's  store.  A  large  frame  school  building  was  erected 
southeast  of  the  present  edifice,  and  served  the  double  purpose  of  schoolhouse 
and  church  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1873,  a  substantial  and  commodious 
brick  building  was  constructed,  at  a  cost  of  $7,000,  which  is  an  ornament  to  the 
village  and  a  source  of  just  pride  to  her  citizens.  James  Steel  was  the  first 
Principal,  and  Prof.  Nye  at  present  holds  the  reins  of  government.  Among 
her  early  physicians  were  Drs.  Winn,  Abbott,  Lee  and  Eatey.  Of  these,  all 
but  one  are  long  since  gone.  Dr.  Lee  is  yet  in  the  precinct,  and  resides  on  his 
farm  near  Indian  Creek.  The  medical  fraternity  is  at  present  represented  by 
Drs.  T.  J.  Primm,  E.  D.  Thomas  and  William  F.  Roberts.  Each  enjoys  a 
reputation  for  skillfulness  and  proficiency  in  his  profession. 

Floral  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  No.  647,  was  organized  under  dispensation, 
November  16,  1877.  A  charter  was  issued  from  the  Grand  Lodge,  bearing 
the  signatures  of  John  Lake,  G.  M.,  and  N.  C.  Wason,  G.  S.,  in  October,  1878. 
The  charter  members  were  C.  C.  Scott,  T.  B.  Turner,  Jacob  Boyd,  Louis  Sal- 
zenstein, Charles  Bair,  W.  C.  Fisk  and  Julius  Kerst.  The  first  officers  were  : 
C.  C.  Scott,  N.  G. ;  T.  B.  Turner,  V.  G. ;  Jacob  Boyd,  Secretary,  and  Louis 
Salzenstein,  Treasurer.  The  regular  meetings  of  the  Lodge  are  holden  on 
Friday  evening  of  each  week,  in  a  room  in  the  school  building.  A  new  hall, 
26x60,  will  soon  be  erected.  Present  officers  are :  Jacob  Boyd,  N.  G.  ;  John 
Ekberry,  V.  G.  ;  Henry  Heilhower,  Secretary,  and  Louis  Salzenstein,  Treas- 
urer. The  present  membership  of  the  Lodge  is  twenty -five. 

VILLAGE    INCORPORATED. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  held  at  the  cabinet  work-shop  of  James  Mott, 
January  25,  1859,  John  M.  Ward  was  chosen  President,  and  Joel  Hall,  Clerk. 
The  vote  being  canvassed,  it  appeared  that  thirty-one  votes  had  been  cast  for, 
to  eight  against  an  act  incorporating  the  village.  February  8,  the  following 
Board  of  Trustees  was  chosen :  Seneca  Winters,  Nathaniel  F.  Stone,  Stephen 
England,  Levi  Gibbs  and  Robert  C.  Arnold.  February  25,  the  Board  organ- 
ized by  electing  Seneca  Winters,  President,  and  Joel  Hall,  Town  Clerk.  March 
7,  the  Board  met  and  elected  the  following  officers  :  John  M.  Ward,  Town 
Attorney  ;  John  V.  Freeman,  Town  Treasurer  ;  John  F.  Whitney,  Constable  ; 
Joseph  W.  Center,  Street  Commissioner.  In  its  corporate  capacity  it  did 
much  in  the  way  of  improving  the  village.  Since  the  building  of  the  Spring- 
field &  North- Western  Railroad  new  life  has  been  infused  into  the  village,  and 
her  business  has  revived  to  a  considerable  extent.  Some  substantial  improve- 
ments have  been  made  in  the  past  year  or  two,  both  in  the  erection  of  business 
houses  and  private  residences.  The  ravages  of  the  remorseless  tooth  of  time 
are,  however,  plainly  discoverable  on  many  of  her  fast  decaying  buildings.  Her 
business  interests  at  present  comprise  four  general  stores,  two  drug  stores,  one 
cabinet  shop,  one  saddle  and  harness  shop,  two  or  three  general  wagon  and 


344  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

repair  shops.  Quite  an  amount  of  grain  and  live  stock  is  also  shipping  from 
this  point.  The  moral  status  of  the  place  is  not  surpassed  by  any  of  her  sister 
towns.  Such  is  the  Athens  of  Menard  to-day,  venerable  for  her  age,  and  for 
the  important  part  she  played  in  affording  conveniences  to  the  early  settlers  of 
this  portion  of  the  county. 

FANCY    PRAIRIE, 

a  village  in  embryo,  is  located  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  precinct,  and  is 
surrounded  by  a  beautiful  belt  of  prairie  bearing  the  same  name.  In  the  fall 
of  1867,  a  neat  little  church  was  erected  here  by  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
society.  In  1875,  a  general  store  was  opened  by  B.  Fulkerson.  About  the 
same  date,  T.  Baker  opened  a  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop.  The  post  office, 
Fancy  Prairie,  was  established  in  1875,  with  B.  Fulkerson  as  Postmaster. 
The  present  Postmaster  is  A.  B.  Waters,  who  also  operates  the  store.  L. 
Shuck  at  present  shapes  iron  for  the  villagers,  and  those  living  in  the  vicinity. 
These  improvements,  with  some  half-dozen  private  residences,  make  up  the 
village,  which  is  simply  a  point  of  interest  to  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  is 
situated. 

GREENVIEW  PRECINCT. 

Greenview,  as  a  precinct,  is  one  of  the  youngest  in  Menard  County. 
Until  some  six  or  eight  years  ago,  it  was  included  in  what  is  now  Sugar  Grove 
Precinct,  with  the  voting-place  at  the  village  of  Sweetwater.  The  latter  was 
remote  from  the  people  in  the  extreme  northern  part,  and  the  intelligent  voter, 
from  this  little  drawback,  often  neglected  to  exercise  the  right  of  franchise. 
Hence  the  result  was  a  division  of  Sugar  Grove,  or  Sweetwater,  as  it  was  then 
called,  and  the  creation  of  a  new  precinct,  now  known  as  Greenview.  This 
precinct  lies  in  the  extreme  northeast  part  of  the  county,  and  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Mason  County,  or  Salt  Creek,  on  the  west  by  Indian  Creek  Pre- 
cinct, on  the  south  by  Sugar  Grove,  and  on  the  east  by  Logan  County.  At 
least  three-fourths  of  the  precinct  is  the  finest  of  prairie  land,  the  timber  being 
confined  to.  the  creek  bottom  and  to  Bee  Grove,  Ash  Grove  and  Irish  Grove, 
about  half  of  the  latter  grove  lying  in  Greenview.  It  is  well  drained  by  Salt 
Creek  and  its  tributaries,  of  which  Pike  and  Greene  Creeks,  with  other  smaller 
branches  and  brooks,  flow  through  it,  carrying  away  the  surface  water.  As  an 
agricultural  region,  Greenview  is  not  surpassed  in  the  county,  and  its  farmers 
are  among  the  most  thrifty  and  energetic  in  all  the  surrounding  community. 
The  completion  of  the  Jacksonville  Division  of  the  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis 
Railroad,  which  runs  through  the  western  part  of  the  precinct,  capped  the  cli- 
max of  their  prosperity,  by  placing  the  market  for  all  their  surplus  produce  at 
their  very  doors.  The  village  of  Greenview,  the  metropolis  of  this  flourishing 
region,  is  an  enterprising  little  village  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  pre- 
cinct on  the  railroad  mentioned  above,  and  will  be  more  fully  described  in 
another  page. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  345 


THE    EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

Although  the  youngest  precinct  in  Menard  County,  white  people  were 
within  the  present  limits  of  Greenview  as  long  ago  as  1823.  Fifty-six  years 
stand  between  then  and  now,  and,  in  that  period,  what  changes  have  been 
wrought,  not  only  in  this  spot  but  throughout  the  world.  Ancient  palaces,  in 
whose  spacious  halls  the  mightiest  monarchs  proudly  trod,  show  "  the  ivy 
clinging  to  their  moldering  walls."  Thrones,  tottering,  have  crumbled  into 
dust ;  empires  have  fallen,  and  their  place  on  the  map  been  blotted  out  forever. 
In  our  own  great  country,  the  war  of  revolution  has  raged  with  a  tornado- 
like  fury,  shaking  the  republic  from  its  center  to  its  circumference,  and  threat- 
ening for  a  time  its  total  destruction.  Four  millions  of  human  beings  have 
been  liberated  from  a  worse  than  Egyptian  bondage,  and  placed  upon  an 
equality  with  the  enlightened  citizens  of  the  "greatest  country  upon  which  the 
sun  ever  shone,"  together  with  hundreds  of  other  mighty  events  beyond  our 
limited  space  to  chronicle.  And  in  these  fifty-six  years  the  territory  of  Green- 
view  Precinct,  one  of  the  small  particles  that  go  to  make  up  our  great  country, 
has,  from  a  wilderness,  been  metamorphosed  into  a  paradise  as  compared  to  its 
original  state.  In  the  year  above  mentioned  (1823),  James  Meadows  settled 
in  the  present  limits  of  Greenview  on  the  place  now  owned  by  Mr.  Marbold. 
He  came  from  Ohio  to  the  neighborhood  of  Alton  in  1818,  the  year  that 
Illinois  was  admitted  into  the  sisterhood  of  States.  •  The  next  year,  he 
removed  to  what  is  now  Sugar  Grove  Precinct,  where  he  resided  until 
1823,  when  he  removed  into  this  precinct  as  already  stated.  A  son  of 
this  early  pioneer,  Alexander  Meadows,  now  lives  in  the  village  of  Green- 
view,  and  has  an  excellent  recollection  of  early  scenes  and  events.  He 
came  to  Illinois  sixty-one  years  ago,  a  mere  boy  ;  now  he  is  an  old  man,  broken 
down  in  bodily  health  by  a  life  of  toil.  The  history  of  this  family  is  more 
particularly  given  in  Sugar  Grove,  where  they  first  settled  after  coming  to  the 
county.  The  elder  Meadows  built  a  mill  on  the  Marbold  place,  which  was  the 
second  mill  in  the  eastern  part  of  Menard  County,  and  is  again  alluded  to  in 
another  page.  Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Meadows  in  this  precinct,  George 
Blane  and  his  mother  came  here.  Like  Meadows,  they  first  settled  on  the 
other  side  of  Sugar  Grove,  but  sold  out  there  to  Leonard  Alkire  in  1823. 
They  are  mentioned  further  in  the  history  of  Sugar  Grove  Precinct,  where 
they  first  located. 

Most  of  the  first  batch  of  settlers  in  this  precinct  were  Buckeyes,  and  set- 
tled in  Irish  Grove,  a  body  of  timber  already  mentioned  in  this  chapter. 
From  Ohio,  the  native  State  of  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  nation,  the  precinct 
received  the  following  recruits,  viz.,  Joseph  Lucas,  George  Borders,  John 
Martin,  George  and  Peter  Price,  John  Waldron  and  John  Hamill.  Lucas 
squatted  down  in  the  grove  about  1825-26.  He  was  a  genuine  frontiersman, 
and  remained  in  this  community  no  longer  than  game  abounded.  When  that 


346  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

failed  and  the  Indians  left  the  country,  he  followed  in  the  wake  of  the  red  men 
and  died  a  few  years  later  in  the  Mackinaw  settlement.  The  next  settlers 
found  his  cabin,  with  three  acres  of  ground  cleared  around  it  and  fenced.  He 
had  two  sons,  Peter  and  George,  who  settled  in  Logan  County ;  the  latter  i& 
still  living,  but  Peter  died  there  some  years  ago.  Abraham,  another  son, 
settled  near  his  father  in  Irish  Grove,  where  he  died  at  an  early  day.  Borders 
and  Martin  came  in  1827.  The  former  died  about  1872,  on  the  place  where 
he  originally  settled,  and  the  family  is  nearly  extinct.  One  daughter  was  liv- 
ing in  Logan  County  at  the  last  account  of  her,  and  is  the  only  surviving 
member  of  the  Borders  family,  so  far  as  known.  Martin  remained  here  a  few 
years  and  then  moved  to  Logan  County,  where  he  died.*  His  son  Samuel,  liv- 
ing in  the  city  of  Lincoln,  is  the  last  survivor  of  this  family,  so  far  as  the 
pioneers  of  this  section  know  to  the  contrary.  George  Price  came  to  the 
grove  in  1826,  and  his  brother,  Peter  Price,  in  1829.  They  were  of  the  reg- 
ular frontier  type  and  followed  the  Indians  and  the  game,  as  they  meandered 
on  toward  the  setting  sun.  William  Walker  bought  Peter  Price's  claim  when 
he  came  to  the  settlement  in  1830.  Waldron  settled  here  in  1827-28,  and 
was  another  frontiersman  who  folded  his  tent  and  moved  away  on  the  trail  of 
the  Indians.  John  Hamill  came  about  1842,  and  is  still  living  in  the  settle- 
ment, a  prosperous  farmer. 

Following  close  upon  the  heels  of  this  delegation  of  Buckeyes,  cornea  an 
importation  from  the  "  dark  and  bloody  ground."  From  Kentucky  came 
William  Walker,  his  son  Joseph  M.  Walker,  his  brother-in-law  David  Walker, 
William  Stotts,  William  Patterson,  Alexander  Gilmer,  William  A.  Stone,  John 
W.  Patterson  and  Robert  Rayburn.  The  latter  gentleman  was  born  in  the 
Old  Dominion,  but  emigrated  to  Kentucky  when  it  was  the  hunting-ground  of 
numerous  tribes  of  hostile  savages.  From  Kentucky  he  came  to  Illinois,  in 
1827,  and  settled  in  Irish  Grove,  now  in  Greenview  Precinct.  His  son,  Joseph 
H.,  came  here  with  him,  and  he  is  now  an  old  man.  Next  to  Alexander 
Meadows,  he  is  the  oldest  living  resident  of  this  precinct,  and  resides  upon  the 
old  homestead  where  his  father  settled  fifty-two  years  ago.  The  elder  Rayburn 
died  in  1836,  and  Joseph  is  the  only  one  of  his  family  now  living.  His 
mother,  the  wife  of  Robert  Rayburn,  was  a  Logan,  and  of  the  family  of 
Logans  so  celebrated  in  the  Indian  wars  of  Kentucky.  She  died  in  giving 
birth  to  twin  boys — Joseph  and  David  L.  Rayburn.  Robert  Rayburn  is  else- 
where mentioned  as  the  pioneer  school  teacher  of  this  section  of  the  country. 
Walker  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1828,  and  stopped  in  Morgan  County, 
and,  after  spending  three  weeks  on  horseback,  in  search  of  a  cabin  to  shelter 
his  family  for  the  winter,  and  failing  in  his  endeavor,  went  back  to  Clarke  Co., 
Ind.,  and  wintered  there.  In  the  fall  of  1829,  he  returned  to  the  Rock  Creek 
settlement  in  this  county,  where  he  spent  a  part  of  the  winter  in  his  wagon  and 
about  a  month  in  a  vacant  cabin.  In  February,  1830,  he  came  to  this  neigh- 
borhood, and,  as  already  stated,  bought  the  claim  of  Peter  Price.  He  died  here 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  o47 

on  the  29th  of  August,  1836,  and  his  son,  Joseph  M.  Walker,  lives  on  the 
place  where  his  father  then  settled.  His  residence  stands  upon  the  identical 
spot  his  father's  cabin  occupied.  David  Walker,  a  brother  to  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Walker,  and  who  came  to  the  settlement  soon  after  the  latter,  bought  the 
claim  of  Joseph  Lucas,  upon  which  he  remained  until  1837,  when  he  removed 
to  Iowa,  where  he  died  in  1876.  Capt.  William  A.  Stone  was  also  born  in 
Virginia,  but  taken  to  Kentucky  by  his  parents  when  quite  young,  whence 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1830.  His  father,  Moses  Stone,  came  to  the  settle- 
ment at  the  same  time,  and  was  the  head  of  a  large  family.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  died  the  next  year,  leaving  their  twelve  children,  of  whom  William  A.,  men- 
tioned above,  was  one,  to  battle  with  life  alone.  Five  of  the  twelve  children  are 
still  living,  but  none,  except  William  A.,  reside  in  this  precinct.  John  W.  Patter- 
son came  in  1830,  and  William  Patterson  about  1832.  The  latter  gentleman 
bought  the  claim  of  John  Martin  upon  his  arrival  in  the  neighborhood.  He 
did  not  remain  long,  but  sold  out  and  removed  to  Iowa  in  1837,  and  now  lives 
.  in  the  city  of  Keokuk.  John  W.  Patterson  bought  the  claim  of  George  Price, 
upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  took  place  about  1844.  The  farm 
upon  which  he  originally  settled  is  still  owned  by  his  family.  Gilmer  came  in 
1833-34,  and  made  a  permanent  settlement.  He  had  been  here,  however, 
several  years  before,  and  married  a  Miss  Walker,  as  noticed  in  another  page, 
after  which  he  returned  to  Kentucky,  remaining  until  the  date  given  above. 
He  died  upon  the  place  of  his  settlement,  as  did  all  of  the  family,  except  one 
son,  who  is  still  living,  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  Stotts  came  to  the 
settlement  in  1830,  and  removed  to  Iowa  in  1840,  where  he  was  still  living  at 
the  last  account  of  him.  William  Eldridge  came  to  the  grove  in  1840.  He 
was  from  the  chalky  cliffs  of  old  England,  and  is  still  living  in  the  precinct. 

This  comprises  all  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  precinct  whose  names  we 
have  been  able  to  obtain.  As  Greenview  contains  but  little  timber-land,  it  was 
not  settled  until  the  virtues  of  the  prairies  were  discovered,  which  was  at  a  date 
so  recent  as  scarcely  to  entitle  the  people  to  the  name  of  "  old  settlers."  And 
then,  too,  Irish  Grove,  where  most  of  the  first  settlements  were  made,  is  partly 
in  the  present  precinct  of  Sugar  Grove,  and  the  history  of  that  portion  of  it 
is  there  given. 

THE    HISTORY    OF   THE    PAST. 

The  winter  of  the  "deep  snow"  (1830-31)  is  an  era  of  the  past  that  is 
vividly  remembered  by  the  few  survivors  of  that  gloomy  period.  The  snow 
began  to  fall  about  the  middle  of  December,  continued  until  nearly  four  feet 
deep  on  a  level,  and  remained  on  the  ground  until  the  following  March.  Much 
of  the  game  in  the  country  starved  to  death,  and  many  people  came  near 
sharing  the  same  fate.  We  were  informed  by  Joseph  Walker  that,  in  his  father's 
family,  the  snow  caught  them  without  meal  or  flour.  They  had  laid  in  their 
winter's  supply  of  meat,  and  this,  with  corn  pounded  into  hominy,  sustained 
them  for  six  weeks.  Their  corn  was  standing  in  the  field  in  shocks,  and  every 


348  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

day  they  would  shovel  away  the  snow  to  a  shock  of  corn,  in  order  to  procure 
their  supply  of  hominy  and  to  feed  their  limited  amount  of  stock.  The  sudden 
freeze  of  1837  is  another  event  that  will  be  remembered  by  all  who  were  of  a 
sufficient  age  to  note  such  an  occurrence.  It  was  in  the  month  of  November, 
and  several  inches  of  snow  had  already  fallen.  The  weather  had  become  rather 
warm,  the  snow  was  melting,  and.  aided  by  a  drizzling  rain,  it  was  a  perfect 
mass  of  slush,  when,  without  premonitions  of  its  approach,  a  great  "  Manitoba 
wave  "  swept  over  the  country,  and  apparently  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  the 
slush  congealed,  and,  in  the  language  of  the  Song  of  Hiawatha  : 
"  As  hard  as  stone  became  the  waters." 

The  suffering  was  great.  We  have  heard  of  no  loss  of  human  life  in  this  sec- 
tion; but  in  other  localities  where  our  duties  have  called  us,  people  were  not  so 
fortunate.  In  this  "  cold  snap  "  much  stock  perished  from  the  sudden  change 
and  the  intensity  of  the  cold.  Another  event  of  the  past  history  of  this  part 
of  the  country,  was  the  great  hailstorm  of  1851.  It  came  in  the  month  of 
May,  and  we  were  informed  by  one  old  settler  that  they  had  plenty  of  it  to  cool 
their  mint-juleps  on  the  4th  of  July.  In  its  course,  it  left  the  trees  with  the 
appearance  (in  their  nakedness)  of  midwinter,  and  all  vegetation  was  literally 
beaten  into  the  ground.  It  was  destructive  to  stock,  where  exposed  to  its  fury, 
and  many  animals,  hogs  particularly,  were  killed  outright. 

In  further  illustrations  of  past  history,  we  will  take  a  glance  at  the  early 
mills  of  this  section.  James  Meadows  built  a  small  grist-mill  on  his  place 
(where  Marbold  now  lives),  which  was  the  second  or  third  mill  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Menard'  County.  This  was  in  1831,  the  year  following  the  "  deep 
snow."  He  was  a  millwright  by  trade,  and  built  this  mill  himself.  It  was 
of  the  old-fashioned  tread-mill  style,  but  was  much  better  than  pounding 
corn  into  meal  in  a  mortar,  as  many  an  old  settler  can  testify.  It  continued 
in  active  operation  about  eight  years,  when  mill  facilities  were  much  improved 
by  water-mills,  and  this  primitive  affair  became  obsolete.  The  mill  at  "  Old 
Salem  "  received  most  of  the  patronage  from  this  section  after  its  erection,  but 
even  it  had  its  inconveniences  of  low  and  high  water,  etc.  Many  people  went 
to  Springfield  to  mill  after  the  erection  of  a  steam  mill  at  that  place,  and  when 
a  mill  was  built  at  Petersburg  it  brought  accommodations  to  their  doors. 

The  pedagogue  and  the  Methodist  circuit-rider  were  in  the  field  in  'an 
early  day.  Robert  Rayburn  taught  the  first  school  in  Irish  Grove.  He  had 
taught  in  Kentucky  before  coming  to  this  section.  It  was  a  subscription  school 
and  taught  in  a  little  log  cabin  in  the  grove,  before  the  building  of  regular 
schoolhouses,  or  before  the  adoption  of  the  present  system  of  free  schools. 
Greenview  Precinct  has  now  six  schoolhouses  besides  the  elegant  building  in 
the  village.  Four  of  these  are  comfortable  frames,  and  the  other  two  are  brick. 
In  these  temples  of  learning,  schools  are  conducted  for  the  usual  period  each 
year  by  competent  teachers.  No  precinct  in  the  county  pays  more  attention  to 
education,  nor  has  more  extended  educational  facilities  than  Greenview. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  351 

That  old  Methodist  pioneer,  Peter  Cartwright,  is  supposed  to  have  preached 
the  first  sermon  in  Irish  Grove,  at  an  early  period  of  the  settlement,  probably 
as  early  as  1830.  He  used  to  preach  at  the  cabin  of  Mr.  Stone,  not  only 
before  the  building  of  churches,  but  also  before  there  were  any  schoolhouses  in 
the  neighborhoods.  Many  stories  and  anecdotes  are  still  told  of  the  eccentric 
old  preacher.  The  following,  related  to  us  a  few  days  ago,  is  characteristic  of 
the  man  :  He  was  present  at  the  dedication  of  a  certain  Methodist  Church  in 
the  county,  and  preached  one  of  his  peculiar  sermons.  At  the  close  of  it, 
before  taking  up  a  collection  (the  church  was  not  quite  paid  for),  he  said  : 
"  The  people  of  the  country  are  excited  over  the  erection  of  a  monument  to 
Abe  Lincoln  at  Springfield  (it  was  about  the  time  that  move  was  on  foot)  arid 
are  contributing  liberally  of  their  means  for  its  completion.  This  is  all  very 
well ;  but,  my  friends,  I  am  engaged  in  building  a  monument  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  This  monument  is  the  house  in  which  we  are  assembled,  and  I  want 
you  to  contribute  enough  to  complete  it."  Revs.  Hargus  and  McLemore  were 
also  Methodist  itinerants,  and  were  early  in  the  field. 

Rev.  John  G.  Burgin,  of  Springfield,  organized  the  Old  School  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Irish  Grove,  about  1831-32,  in  a  little  log  schoolhouse  built 
about  that  time.  The  society  thus  organized  is  still  in  existence,  and  worships 
in  the  brick  church  located  on  Section  23,  in  the  midst  of  which  the  early  set- 
tlements were  made.  The  present  brick  edifice  was  erected  in  1865,  and  cost 
from  $2,500  to  $3,000.  It  has  about  one  hundred  members,  and  is  under  the 
pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  Mr.  Braden.  The  Church  supports  an  excellent  Sun- 
day school,  of  which  Robert  Gilmer,  the  last  survivor  of  the  Gilmer  family,  is 
Superintendent.  The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  is  on  Section  24, 
about  one  and  one-half  miles  from  the  church  mentioned  above,  and  was  built 
about  1850,  at  a  cost  of  $1,000  ar  $1,200,  and  is  a  neat  frame  edifice.  It  was 
built  at  a  time  when  labor  and  material  were  as  cheap  as  they  are  now.  Ten  or 
twelve  years  later,  it  would  have  cost  nearly  twice  as  much.  It  has  a  large 
congregation,  of  which  Rev.  Mr.  May  is  Pastor;  and  a  flourishing  ,  Sunday 
school  is  maintained  during  the  summer  season.  Charles  Reed  is  its  present 
Superintendent. 

BIRTHS,    DEATHS,    MARRIAGES,    ETC.  - 

The  first  death  in  the  settlement  remembered  with  any  degree  of  certainty 
was  Mary  Ann  Walker,  who  died  September  8, 1830.  But  there  are  supposed 
to  have  been  deaths  among  the  earlier  pioneers  prior  to  this  date.  A  son  of 
Mr.  Lucas  died  here  very  early,  though  the  date  of  his  death  is  not  definitely 
known,  but  is  thought  to  have  been  before  that  of  Mr.  Walker's  daughter. 
Moses  Stone  and  his  wife,  mentioned  in  the  catalogue  of  early  settlers,  died  in 
1831,  within  two  weeks  of  each  other.  They  left  a  family  of  twelve  children, 
two  of  whom  died  soon  after  the  parents,  and  two  others  died  the  next  year. 
These  burials  were  in  Irish  Grove  Cemetery,  a  regularly  laid-out  burying-ground 
on  Section  24,  and  where  most  of  the  pioneers  of  the  grove,  u  sleep  the  sleep 


352  HISTORY   OF   MENARi)   COUNTY. 

that  knows  no  waking."     The  grounds  have  recently  been   enlarged,  put  in 
excellent  order  and  Trustees  appointed  to  care  for  them. 

The  first  birth  in  the  neighborhood  was  George  Borders,  but  the  date  could 
not  be  obtained. 

The  first  marriage  on  record  was  that  of  Alexander  Gilmer  and  Jane 
Walker,  November  4,  1830.  They  were  married  by  Rev.  Mr.  Burgin,  and 
went  to  Kentucky  immediately  after  their  marriage,  resided  there  several  years, 
and  then  returned  to  this  settlement,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 

Dr.  Morgan,  at  "  Old  Sangamon  Town,"  was  the  first  physician  who  prac- 
ticed medicine  in  this  neighborhood.  In  those  days,  there  was  not  a  doctor's 
shingle  swinging  in  the  breeze  at  every  cross-roads  and  country  store,  as  at  the 
present  day.  Nor  did  the  hardy  pioneers  get  sick  so  often  or  so  easy  as  we  do 
now.  They  fought  the  malarial  fevers  with  little  aid  from  the  medical  frater- 
nity, and,  if  they  did  not  conquer,  succumbed  without  the  expense  of  doctor's 
bills.  The  fever  ancl  ague  was  looked  upon  as  a  natural  consequence,  and 
received  but  little  attention  at  their  hands.  The  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  was 
John  W.  Patterson,  but  several  years  before  his  appointment  to  the  office,  there 
were  some  of  these  dispensers  of  justice  in  that  part  of  the  Grove,  now  in 
Sugar  Grove  Precinct.  The  Jacksonville  Division  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad  was  completed  through  this  section  in  1867.  It  had  H>een  running 
from  Petersburg  south  several  years  before  this  portion  of  it  was  finished.  It 
enters  the  precinct  on  Section  23,  near  the  village  of  Greenview,  and  from 
thence  in  a  direction  almost  due  north,  passes  out  through  Section  31,  giving 
Greenview  about  five  miles  of  road.  It  has  proved  quite  valuable  to  the  com- 
munity as  a  highway  of  travel,  and  a  means  of  transportation  of  their  "exports 
and  imports." 

Politically,  Greenview  Precinct  is  Republican,  usually  giving  a  small  Repub- 
lican majority.  In  the  late  war,  it  did  its  whole  duty,  turning  out  a  large  number 
of  soldiers.  An  entire  company  was  raised  in  Irish  Grove  at  an  early  period  of 
the  war,  but,  by  some  means,  was  credited  to  Logan  County.  By  failing  to 
get  credit  for  recruits  in  this  manner,  the  precinct  had  to  stand  a  draft,  as  a 
result  of  its  negligence.  The  draft,  however,  was  small,  as  most  of  the  quotas 
were  filled  in  advance.  Samuel  Blane  enlisted  as  a  private,  and  rose  to  the 
rank  of  Captain  in. Company  K,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  of 
Illinois  Infantry.  Owing  to  ill  health,  he  was  forced  to  resign,  and  G.  S. 
Gritman  was  promoted  to  Captain  in  his  place.  Both  of  these  were  from  Irish 
Grove,  in  this  precinct,  and,  so  far  as  we  could  learn,  were  the  only  com- 
missioned officers  it  claims.  The  private  soldiers  'were  of  the  sturdy  sons  of 
the  soil,  who  gallantly  sustained  the  reputation  of  Illinois'  soldiers  on  many 
hard-fought  fields. 

VILLAGE    OF    GREENVIEW. 

This  little  village  is  eligibly  located  in  the  midst  of  a  fertile  and  productive 
region,  on  the  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  about  eight  miles  from. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  353 

Petersburg.  It  is  on  Section  23,  of  Town  19  north,  Range  6  west  of  the 
Third  Principal  Meridian,  according  to  Government  survey,  and  was  laid  out 
October  2,  1857,  by  William  Engle,  elsewhere  mentioned  as  one  of  the  pioneers- 
of  the  county.  The  land  upon  which  the  village  stands  was  originally  owned 
by  Charles  L.  Montgomery.  The  name  of  Greenview  was  given  in  honor  of 
William  G.  Greene,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Menard  County,  residing  in  the  pre- 
cinct of  Tallula.  The  first  dwelling-house  erected  in  the  village  was  put  up  by 
Robert  McReynolds,  soon  after  it  was  laid  out,  and  very  soon  after  this,  James 
Stone  erected  a  dwelling.  The  first  brick  house  was  built  by  John  Wilkinson,, 
and  is  now  used  as  a  hotel.  One  of  the  first  business  houses  of  importance 
was  built  by  McReynolds,  and  afterward  occupied  by  him  as  a  store.  There  is 
some  question  at  the  present  day  as  to  whether  McReynolds  was  the  first 
merchant  in  the  place,  or  whether  Emanuel  Meyer  &  Bro.  deserve  the  honor. 
These  were,  probably,  the  two  first  stores  in  the  village.  Silas  Beekman  had  a 
store  here  the  fall  the  railroad  was  completed  through  the  town.  The  first 
tavern  was  kept  by  John  Wilkinson,  and  is  still  in  existence  (in  the  brick  house 
mentioned  above),  but  is  now  conducted  by  the  widow  of  Mr.  Wilkinson  and 
their  son.  It  is  an  excellent  hotel  for  a  village  of  the  size  of  Greenview.  The 
first  blacksmith  was  Jacob  Propst,  who  opened  a  shop  soon  after  the  laying-out 
of  the  village.  The  first  physicians  were  Drs.  Davis  and  Galloway.  At 
present,  the  practitioners  of  the  place  are  Drs.  S.  T.  Hurst  and  W.  A.  Mudd~ 
A  mill  was  built  some  years  ago  (the  exact  date  we  could  not  obtain),  by 
McCormick  Brothers.  In  January  of  the  present  year,  it  was  burned  to  the 
ground.  It  was  a  frame  building,  two  stories  high,  with  two  run  of  buhrs 
originally,  but  a  third  run  was  added  at  a  later  day,,  and  the  entire  structure 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $10,000.  It  has  not  been  rebuilt,  which  leaves 
quite  a  large  scope  of  country  between  Petersburg  and  Mason  City  without  a 
mill.  Harvey  Yeaman  was  the  first  man  who  handled  grain  at  this  point.  He 
built  a  part  of  the  present  grain  elevator,  and  then  sold  out  to  Morse  &  Co., 
who  raised  the  elevator  and  built  another  story  under  it.  This  seems  to  have 
been  on  the  principle  of  the  Irishman's  mode  of  building  a  chimney,  viz.  r 
"Laying  down  a  brick  and  putting  some  others  under  it."  While  it  is  quite* 
common  to  build  another  story  on  a  house,  it  is  rarely  we  hear  of  one  having  a 
story  built  under  it.  They  also  added  cribs,  machinery  and  all  modern 
improvements.  It  is  now  owned  by  Petrie  &  Co.,  who  are  the  only  grain- 
buyers  in  the  village. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  Greenview  in  the  fall  of 
1858.  This  Church  was  originally  formed  at  New  Market,  but,  upon  the  lay- 
ing-out of  the  village,  was  moved,  or  rather  re-organized  within  the  corporation^ 
and  the  church  building  erected  the  same  year.  It  is  a  frame  edifice  and  cost 
about  $3,000.  The  present  minister  in  charge  is  Rev.  S.  H.  Martin,  with  a» 
active  membership  of  about  twenty-five  persons.  Its  members  have  been 
greatly  reduced  in  number  by  death  and  removals.  About  thirty-five  children 


354 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 


regularly   attend   the    Sunday  school,    under   the   superintendence   of  Hugh 
Foster. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in  the  village  in  1858, 
or  rather,  was  moved  from  the  Knowles'  Schoolhouse  in  Indian  Creek,  and  was 
originally  organized  in  the  now  extinct  village  of  New  Market.  The  society 
erected  a  church  edifice  in  Greenview  in  the  year  named  above,  which  cost 
about  $1,200,  and  is  a  substantial  frame  building.  The  first  Trustees  were 
Thomas  Stone,  Allen  Knowles,  Robert  McReynolds  and  Luther  Jenison.  The 
congregation  at  present  numbers  about  one  hundred,  members,  but  has  been 
much  larger.  A  flourishing  Sunday  school  is  maintained.  For  the  early  his- 
tory of  this  venerable  Church,  our  readers  are  referred  to  Indian  Creek  Pre- 
cinct. 

The  Baptist  Church  was  built  in  1868,  and  is  occupied  jointly  by  the  Bap- 
tists and  Christians,  the  latter  denomination  having  no  sanctuary  of  their  own. 
The  building  cost  about  $2,000  and  is  a  substantial  frame.  The  Baptists  have 
no  regular  pastor  at  present  and  their  membership  is  rather  small.  The 
Christians  organized  their  society  in  the  fall  of  1869,  and  have  a  membership 
at  present  of  about  sixty,  under  the  ministerial  charge  of  Elder  D.  T.  Hughes. 
A  union  Sunday  school  of  the  Baptist  and  Christian  denominations  is  car- 
ried on,  under  the  superintendence  of  M.  M.  Engle,  with  a  regular  attendance 
of  about  forty  children. 

The  Catholics  have  an  organized  Church  society,  which  meets  for  worship 
in  Hatch's  Hall,  and  has  been  ministered  to  by  Father  Sauer,  of  Petersbug. 
But,  as  he  has  very  recently  resigned  the  charge  at  the  latter  place,  the  society 
here  is  without  a  minister  until  other  provisions  are  made  for  their  spiritual 
welfare. 

Greenview  Lodge  No.  653,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  organized  under  dispensa- 
tion May  12,  1870,  and  chartered  at  the  following  session  of  the  Grand  Lodge. 
The  charter  members  were  F.  E.  Wilson,  W.  H.  Crites,  H.  K.  Rule,  Charles 
Atterberry,  W.  S.  Morse,  J.  A.  Rule,  Abner  Engle,  Jacob  Propst,  Jr.,  Fred 
Wilkinson,  M.  S.  Eby,  William  Houston,  D.  A.  Petrie,  Robert  Hornback,  Jacob 
Killion,  John  Johnson,  F.  A.  Craig,  C.  R.  Pierce,  R.  B.  Godby,  A.  H.  Whit- 
ney and  Hosea  Dockum,  of  whom  the  following  were  the  first  set  of  officers  : ' 
F.  E.Wilson,  Master;  William  H.  Crites,  Senior  Warden;  H.  K.  Rule, 
Junior  Warden ;  Charles  Atterberry,  Treasurer ;  W.  S.  Morse,  Secretary ;  John 
A.  Rule,  Senior  Deacon  :  F.  A.  Craig,  Junior  Deacon,  and  Jacob  Propst,  Tiler. 
The  present  officers  are :  W.  H.  Williamson,  Master ;  H.  K.  Rule,  Senior 
Warden ;  Edward  Johnson,  Junior  Warden  ;  Alexander  Montgomery,  Treas- 
urer ;  E.  D.  Taylor,  Secretary ;  D.  A.  Petrie,  Senior  Deacon ;  Samuel  Rogers, 
Junior  Deacon,  and  Thomas  Robinson,  Tiler.  The  roll  contains  the  names  of 
thirty-six  members,  but  has  greatly  decreased  by  removals,  as  at  one  time  the 
lodge  numbered  over  sixty  members.  The  hall  is  an  elegant  one  for  a  country 
town,  and  is  handsomely  furnished,  but  the  building  does  not  belong  to  the 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  355 

fraternity.  The  Odd  Fellows  had  a  Lodge  here  at  one  time,  but  from  some 
cause  it  has  ceased  to  exist. 

There  was  no  school  taught  in  the  village  until  after  the  completion  of  the 
new  schoolhouse  in  September,  1870.  The  following  winter,  Prof.  Harris 
taught  a  school  in  the  new  building.  Previous  to  the  erection  of  this  building, 
the  children  of  the  village  patronized  the  district  schoolhouso  which  stood  just 
outside  of  the  corporate  limits.  There  was,  we  believe,  a  private  or  subscrip- 
tion school  taught  in  the  village,  in  a  vacant  building  somewhere,  before  the 
new  building  was  erected,  but  of  it  we  could  learn  nothing  definite.  The 
elegant  brick  schoolhouse  which  adorns  the  village  was  completed,  as  we  have 
said,  in  1870,  and  cost  about  $10,000.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  school  edifices 
in  the  county.  The  corps  of  teachers  for  the  coming  year  is  as  follows,  viz. : 
Prof.  W.  H.  Williamson,  Principal  (his  third  year  in  that  position);  Miss 
Fuller,  Intermediate  Department,  and  Miss  H.  A.  May  field,  Primary  Depart- 
ment. The  average  attendance  during  the  school  year  is  not  far  short  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  pupils. 

Greenview  was  incorporated  as  a  village,  under  special  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, and  its  charter  dated  6th  of  May,  1869.  The  first  Board  of  Trustees 
were  C.  R.  Pierce,  G.  W.  Hatch,  John  Anderson,  Fred  Wilkerson  and  A.  H. 
Bogardus.  This  was  the  Board  upon  organization  under  the  charter,  but  as 
far  back  as  March,  1868,  the  records  show  regular  proceedings  of  a  Board  of 
Trustees,  which  were  as  follows :  C.  R.  Pierce,  J.  W.  Guyer,  John  Anderson, 
Fred  Wilkerson  and  A.  H.  Bogardus,  and  were  sworn  in  by  H.  H.  Marbold. 
Of  the  first  Board  under  the  charter,  C.  R.  Pierce  was  President  and  W.  S. 
Morse,  Clerk.  On  the  7th  of  March,  1877,  it  was  re-incorporated  under  the 
general  law  of  the  State.  The  following  is  the  present  Board  of  Trustees :  T. 
C.  Pond,  J.  D.  Alkire,  James  A.  Bracken,  J.  L.  Knoles,  P.  J.  Palmquest  and 
M.  M.  Engle.  T.  C.  Pond  is  President  of  the  Board;  A.  P.  Blane,  Clerk; 
A.  A.  Fickes,  Police  Magistrate;  H.  K.  Rule,  Treasurer,  and  George  W. 
Chamberlain,  Town  Marshal. 

It  may  be  an  object  of  interest  to  some  of  our  readers  to  know  that  A.  H. 
Bogardus,  the  champion  shot,  was  once  a  resident  of  this  little  village.  For  a 
number  of  years,  this  was  his  home,  and,  as  he  moved  about  among  the  quiet 
citizens  of  the  place,  they  appeared  wholly  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  their  town 
contained  "more  than  Caesar  and  his  fortunes."  For  several  years  past,  news- 
paper writers  have  made  the  world  familiar  with  "Captain"  Bogardus. 

The  village  of  Greenview  is  a  flourishing  place,  containing  some  500  or 
600  inhabitants,  and,  considering  its  proximity  to  Petersburg  on  one  side  and 
Mason  City  on  the  other,  enjoys  quite  a  large  trade.  Its  business  is  about  as 
follows:  Two  dry-goods  stores  with  groceries  added,  one  store  of  groceries 
exclusively,  one  drug  store,  one  store  of  hardware  and  stoves,  two  blacksmith 
and  wagon  shops,  one  harness  shop,  one  shoe  shop,  two  saloons,  two  carpenter 
shops,  one  undertaker,  one  livery  stable,  one  jeweler,  one  bank,  two  lumber 


356  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

yards,  two  physicians,  one  hotel,  one  butcher  shop  and  one  grain  elevator. 
Marbold,  Alkire  &  Co.,  carry  on  the  banking  business  in  all  its  details.  A 
very  handsome  public  square  has  been  set  apart  in  the  center  of  the  village  and 
inclosed  with  a  substantial  fence.  It  is  well  set  in  trees  and  grass,  and  it  is 
intended,  we  learn,  to  lay  it  out  in  walks,  plant  shrubbery  and  arrange  rustic 
seats.  When  this  is  done,  it  will  be  a  spot  of  which  the  citizens  of  Greenview 
may  well  feel  proud. 

A  strange  feature  in  the  history  of  the  village  is  the  fact  that  it  has  no 
cemetery.  Its  dead  are  taken  mostly  to  Petersburg  for  burial.  There  are  also 
several  burying-grounds  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  where  repose  many  of  the 
early  dead,  and  these  cemeteries  receive  additions,  now  and  then,  from  the  vil- 
lage ;  but,  as  we  said,  most  of  its  dead  are  taken  to  the  cemetery  at  Petersburg. 
But  the  village,  in  our  mind,  should  have  a  cemetery  of  its  own.  Such  a  place, 
kept  as  it  should  be,  adds  much  to  the  interest  of  a  town. 

"A  prophet  is  without  honor  in  his  own  country,"  has  grown  into  a  common 
saying,  and  often  bears  upon  its  face  more  truth  than  poetry.  In  proof  of  this, 
the  little  village  of  Greenview  contains  a  genius,  of  whose  existence  its  citizens 
seem  almost  wholly  ignorant.  We  allude  to  the  eminent  lecturer,  Miss  Righter. 
She  is  a  lady  of  commanding  intellect,  a  lecturer  of  considerable  note,  and  has 
a  reputation  in  the  lecture-field  that  is  rapidly  increasing.  A  graduate  in  the 
science  of  phrenology,  she  used  to  devote  much  time  to  the  subject,  but  recently, 
we  learn,  has  laid  it  aside,  and  is  now  giving  her  time  and  talents  to  the  sub- 
jects of  metaphysics  and  of  temperance.  She  is  well  known  in  many  portions 
of  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Iowa  as  a  pleasing  and  fluent  speaker.  A  feeling  of 
pride  in  home  talent  should  prompt  the  people  of  Menard  County  to  highly 
cherish  this  gifted  woman. 


SUGAR  GROVE  PRECINCT. 

If  the  garden  of  Eden  was  not  in  Sugar  Grove  Precinct,  then  we  are 
inclined  to  believe  that  there  was  some  mistake  as  to  the  place  of  its  location. 
So  must  have  thought  the  early  comers  to  this  land  of  "  corn  and  wine  and 
oil,"  as  they  beheld 

"  Earth's  unnumbered  flowers 
All  turning  up  their  gentle  eyes  to  heaven  ; 
The  birds,  with  bright  wings  glancing  in  the  sun, 
Filling  the  air  with  rainbow  miniatures," 

and  combining  to  restore,  in  all  its  loveliness,  "lost  Eden's  faded  glory."  No  finer 
section  of  country  should  mortal  crave  than  is  embodied  in  this  division  of  Menard 
County.  Fine  rolling  prairie,  rich  in  soil,  with  here  and  there  a  grove  of  timber, 
scattered  over  the  broad  plains  like  "  the  islands  that  slumber  in  the  ocean,"  is 
no  untrue  description  of  Sugar  Grove  Precinct,  and,  but  for  the  absence  of  the 
4 '  apples  and  fig-leaves,"  might  have  been  mistaken  for  the  original  garden. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  357 

The  hand  of  civilization  has  been  laid  upon  it  to  improve,  and  not  to  destroy, 
its  virgin  beauty.  It  has  but  improved  under  the  sway  of  man,  as  the  pro- 
ductive fields  and  handsome  residences  abundantly  show.  The  wild  prairie 
grass  and  the  myriads  of  wild  flowers  have  given  place  to  the  corn  and  wheat,  and 
to  the  shrubbery  and  cultivated  flowers  of  men  (or  women,  rather),  and  the 
orchards  of  luscious  fruits  are  to  be  found  on  nearly  every  plantation.  And  so 
on,  ad  finem. 

Sugar  Grove  Precinct  lies  in  the  eastern  part  of  Menard  County,  south  of 
Greenview  Precinct,  east  of  Indian  Creek,  north  of  Athens  and  west  of  Logan 
County.  By  Government  Survey,  it  is  located  in  Townships  18  and  19  north, 
and  Ranges  4,  5  and  6  west  of  the  Third  Principal  Meridian,  and  contains 
about  thirty-five  sections  of  land.  Some  three-fourths  or  perhaps  four-fifths  is 
prairie  land,  sufficiently  rolling  to  need  little  artificial  draining.  The  timber  is 
principally  in  what  is  known  as  Sugar  Grove  and  Irish  Grove ;  the  latter  grove 
being  about  half  in  this  precinct  and  the  other  half  in  Greenview.  Sugar  Grove 
Creek  is  the  only  water-course  and  is  but  a  small  stream  the  greater  part  of  the 
year ;  but  several  fine  springs  are  found  here,  which  is  a  rare  occurrence  in  this 
portion  of  Illinois.  The  name  Sugar  »Grove  is  obtained  from  the  little  body  of 
timber  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  precinct,  and  in  which  the  sugar-maple 
predominates.  Formerly,  Greenview  was  included  in  this  precinct,  and  was 
called  Sweetwater,  after  the  little  village  by  that  name,  but,  being  large  in  extent, 
a  division  was  made  about  1871—72  and  Greenview  created  into  a  separate  pre- 
cinct. The  name  of  this  one  was  then  changed  to  Sugar  Grove.  No  railroads 
mar  its  soil,  but  the  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  comes  so  near  its 
borders  that  it  serves  all  the  purposes  of  its  people  almost  as  well  as  if  it  ran 
through  the  center  of  the  precinct.  The  village  of  Sweetwater  is  a  small  place 
in  the  edge  of  Sugar  Grove  timber,  and  is  scarcely  large  enough  to  entitle  it 
to  the  name  of  village. 

THE    SETTLEMENT. 

One  of  the  first  settlements  in  Menard  County  was  made  in  what  is  now 
Sugar  Grove  Precinct.  In  1819,  the  same  year  that  the  Clarys  settled  in 
Clary's  Grove,  James  Meadows  settled  on  the  eastern  side  of  Sugar  Grove  tim- 
ber on  the  place  owned  by  J.  Alkire.  He  came  from  Ohio,  and  located  first 
in  the  vicinity  of  Alton,  in  1818,  and  the  next  season  came  to  this  place.  He 
remained  here  until  1823,  when  he  sold  out  to  Leonard  Alkire,  and  removed 
to  the  west  side  of  the  grove,  where  he  lived  until  a  few  years  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  the  village  of  Greenview  in  1869.  This  last  settlement  was 
on  the  place  now  owned  by  H.  H.  Marbold.  a  banker  of  Greenview,  and  one 
of  the  prominent  men  of  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Meadows  was  a  millwright, 
and  built  a  mill  on  this  place,  which  accommodated  the  neighbors  for  a  period  of 
about  eight  years.  It  was  of  the  tread-wheel  pattern,  and  is  more  particularly 
mentioned  in  the  history  of  Greenview.  There  are  but  two  representatives  of 
the  Meadows  family  now  living,  viz.,  Alexander  Meadows,  living  in  the  village  of 


358 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 


Greenview,  and  Mrs.  0.  P.  Bracken.  Jacob  Boyer  came  with  Meadows,  and 
their  first  night  in  this  region  they  encamped  at  a  spring  on  the  present  farm  of 
Milem  Alkire,  near  Sugar  Grove  Cemetery.  The  next  morning,  being  struck 
with  the  beauty  of  the  surroundings,  and  the  abundance  of  pure  water  afforded 
by 'the  spring,  Mr.  Boyer  remarked,  "this  is  my  future  home,"  and  proceeded 
at  once  to  stake  off  his  claim.  Meadows  moved  on  to  the  place  as  noticed  above 
(the  Jack  Alkire  place),  where  he,  too,  located  at  a  fine  spring.  Boyer  also 
sold  out  to  Leonard  Alkire,  upon  his  removal  to  the  country  in  1823.  A  few 
days  after  the  settlement  of  Meadows  and  Boyer,  the  Blanes  came  to  Sugar 
Grove.  "  There  were  four  brothers,  viz.,  Robert,  William,  John  and  George, 
their  mother  and  a  sister.  They  were  from  the  "  Gim  of  the  Say,"  and, 
being  the  first  Irishmen  in  the  neighborhood,  Irish  Grove,  a  part  of  which  is 
in  this  precinct,  received  its  name  from  them.  William  died  in  an  early  day ; 
John  soon  returned  to  Ireland,  and  remained  there  some  twenty-five  years,  then 
<;ame  back  to  this  settlement.  He  raised  quite  a  large  family,  most  of  whom 
are  still  living  in  the  county.  Robert  and  the  sister  removed  to  Wisconsin, 
leaving  George  and  his  mother  on  the  place  of  their  original  settlement.  This 
place  they  sold  to  Leonard  Alkire,  in  1823,  and  moved  to  the  opposite  side  of 
the  grove,  in  what  is  now  Greenview  Precinct,  where  they  both  finally  died. 
The  Blanes  were  well  educated,  and  George,  in  the  early  time,  held  many  offices 
of  trust  and  honor.  He  was  an  Old-Line  Whig,  and  afterward  Republican  in 
politics.  In  1820,  Roland  Grant  came  to  Sugar  Grove,  and  brought  with  him 
a  number  of  sheep,  the  first  of  these  animals  introduced  in  this  section  of 
Illinois.  He  was  from  £)hio  here,  but  originally  from  Kentucky,  and  when  the 
Alkires  came  a  few  years  later,  sold  out  to  them  and  removed  to  Island  Grove, 
in  Sangamon  County.  William  Grant,  a  brother,  came  with  him,  and  also  sold 
his  claim  to  Alkire,  and  moved  away  with  his  brother. 

As  in  the  different  settlements  of  Menard  County,  many  of  the  pioneers  of 
Sugar  Grove  were  from  Virginia  and  Kentucky.  The  following  Kentuckians 
came  here  among  the  early  settlers  :  Leonard  Alkire  and  family,  William  Engle, 
Lemuel  Oifille,  the  Hugheses,  Westley  Whipp,  Samuel  McNabb,  the  Pentecosts, 
John  and  George  Stone,  a  man  named  Parsons,  Matthew  Bracken,  William 
Douglas,  and  perhaps  a  number  of  others.  The  Alkires  and  Engles  came  from 
Ohio  here,  but  were  from  Kentucky  to  the  Buckeye  State,  and  originially  from 
Virginia  to  Kentucky.  William  Engle  came  in  the  spring  of  1823,  raised  a 
crop  and  then  went  back  to  Ohio,  and  brought  out  the  family  of  Leonard  Alkire. 
Mr.  Engle  was  a  bachelor  at  this  time,  but  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Alkires, 
he  married  the  daughter  of  Leonard  Alkire.  He  was  a  prominent  and  leading 
man  in  the  community  for  a  period  of  nearly  fifty  years ;  he  died  in  March, 
1870.  He  took  an  active  part  in  organizing  the  county  of  Menard,  was  one  of  the 
first  County  Commissioners,  represented  the  county  in  the  Legislature,  and  was 
the  first  merchant  in  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Sugar  Grove,  Greenview 
and  Indian  Creek.  Was  liberal  in  his  views,  an  ardent  supporter  of  Christianity, 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  359 

and  a  zealous  advocate  of  education.  As  stated,  he  married  a  daughter  of 
Leonard  Alkire,  and  their  first  winter  was  passed  in  a  small  cabin  near  the  vil- 
lage. He  then  built  a  cabin  where  his  son,  John  Engle,  now  lives.  His  widow, 
is  still  living  on  the  same  place,  and  is'  an  active  old  lady  for  her  years.  The 
mother  of  William  Engle  (a  widow  at  the  time),  came  to  the  settlement  about 
ten  years  after  her  son.  She  was  a  genuine  pioneer  lady,  large  and  stout  almost 
as  a  man,  kind  and  benevolent  to  all,  and  a  great  nurse  and  friend  in  cases  of 
sickness.  William  Engle  has  eight  children  still  living ;  one  daughter  in  Lin- 
coln, a  son  in  Decatur  and  the  remainder  of  the  family  (including  his  widow) 
in  this  county. 

Leonard  Alkire,  as  already  stated,  was  a  native  Virginian,  but  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  or  was  taken  there  by  his  parents,  more  properly  speaking,  when 
very  young.  Arriving  at  man's  estate,  and  taking  to  himself  a  wife,  he  removed 
to  Ohio,  where  he  resided  until  his  removal  to  Illinois,  in  1823.  While  a  resi- 
dent of  Ohio,  he  followed,  to  some  extent,  the  buying-up  of  cattle  and  driving 
them  to  Eastern  markets ;  a  business  at  that  day  exposed  to  considerable 
danger.  On  one  of  his  trips  home,  after  having  disposed  of  his  drove,  he 
traveled  on  horseback  at  the  rate  of  eighty  miles  a  day,  carrying  the  cash, 
mostly  in  silver,  received  for  his  cattle,  in  his  saddle-bags.  "  In  swimming  the 
Ohio  River,"  says  a  local  writer,  "  perched  upon  his  hands  and  feet  on  the  top 
of  his  saddle,  his  sturdy  and  fleet  roadster  stemming  the  rapid  current  with 
great  power  and  speed,  when  nearing  the  opposite  shore,  suddenly  went  down ; 
but  with  a  terrible  struggle  for  life  finally  succeeded  in  landing  his  precious 
freight  on  terra  firma,  when  Mr.  Alkire  made  the  discovery  that  his  saddle- 
bags (tilled  with  silver)  had  drifted  back  by  force  of  the  current,  remained 
suspended  by  the  stirrups,  the  whole  weight  resting  on  the  hocks  of  the  noble 
animal  and  cramping  his  movements,  thus  jeopardizing  his  life  as  well  as  the 
life  and  hard-earned  treasure  of  his  master."  Hearing  frequent  stories  of  the 
beauty  and  richness  of  the  "Far  West,"  as  Illinois  was  then,  he  made  a  trip  of 
inspection  to  this  country.  Alone  and  on  horseback,  he  explored  this  then 
almost  unbroken  wilderness.  His  route  led  him  to  Sugar  Grove.  Entering 
it  upon  the  south  side,  and  upon  obtaining  a  favorable  view  of  the  surrounding 
country,  he  stopped  his  horse  and  "viewed  the  landscape  o'er."  When  fully 
comprehending  the  scene,  he  shouted  out  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Hurrah  for 
old  Kentuck,  the  garden  spot  of  the  world.!"  He  soon  came  upon  the  cabin 
of  James  Meadows,  already  referred  to,  and  being  highly  pleased  with  the  sur- 
rounding country,  he  finally  struck  a  bargain  with  Mr.  Meadows,  buying  his 
claim.  He  returned  home,  sold  his  farm  in  Ohio,  and  the  following  year 
removed  to  Illinois,  locating  in  this  precinct,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life 
was  spent.  John  Alkire,  his  father,  came  a  few  years  later.  He  had  removed 
from  Virginia  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  day,  during  the  bloody  wars  then  with 
the  Indians,  which  gave  rise  to  the  appellation  the  State  still  bears,  that  of  the 
"Dark  and  Bloody  Ground,"  and,  like  all  the  other  pioneers  of  the  time,  he 


360  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

bore  an  active  part  in  those  wars.  He  died  here,  and  was  buried  in  what  is 
called  the  Blane  Graveyard.  Leonard  Alkire  built  the  first  brick  house  in  the 
then  county  of  Sangamon  (now  Menard)  in  1828,  just  fifty-one  years  ago.  It 
is  still  standing,  though  a  more  elegant  and  modern  brick  has  been  reared 
upon  the  farm  where  this  original  brick  house  was  erected.  Three  daughters 
and  two  sons  are  still  living  in  this  county,  a  son  in  Denver  and  one  in  Missouri. 
To  his  son  Milem  Alkire,  we  are  indebted  for  much  of  the  early  history  of  this 
precinct,  as  well  as  to  John  Engle  and  Jesse  England.  Without  their  aid,  and 
that  of  Alexander  Meadows,  our  history  of  Sugar  Grove,  the  early  part  of  it 
at  least,  would  have  been  rather  meager.  William  Alkire,  of  Greenview,  is  a 
brother  to  Leonard,  and  is  also  an  old  settler  of  this  section.  Leonard  Alkire 
died  in  1877.  The  following  will  show  the  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
man :  About  1828-30,  he  was  appointed  Road  Supervisor  of  his  district,  by 
the  Sangamon  County  Commissioners,  which  was  then  larger  than  Menard 
County  at  the  present  day,  and  ordered  to  open  a  public  road  from  near  the 
mouth  of  Salt  Creek  to  Havana,  on  the  Illinois  River.  A  serious  difficulty  to 
travel  at  the  time  was  the  Crane  Creek  Swamp.  He  called  together  all  the 
able-bodied  men,  and  proceeded  to  the  place  with  wagon,  tools,  provisions,  etc.,  • 
and  set  to  work  making  rails  in  the  forest  and  hauling  them  to  the  swamp. 
Then  he  would  cut  down  a  large  quantity  of  the  swamp  grass,  which  grew  in 
great  abundance  and  luxuriance.  With  this  he  would  spread  a  thick  bed  on 
which  to  lay  the  rails.  After  laying  down  the  rails  he  would  place  long  poles 
across  the  ends  of  them,  which  would  be  secured  by  driving  forked  limbs  astride 
of  them,  to  prevent  the  water  from  floating  them  off.  Then  put  on  more  grass, 
covering  it  finally  with  two  or  three  inches  of  sand.  He  thus  built  a  road  over 
the  swamp,  which  lasted  many  years  without  repair. 

Lemuel  Offille  and  the  Hugheses  came  among  the  early  settlers  and  about  the 
same  time.  James  Hughes  was  a  Christian  preacher,  and  one  of  the  first  of  that 
denomination  in  this  part  of  the  country.  A  son.  Daniel  T.  Hughes,  now  living 
in  the  village  of  Greenview,  is  also  a  Christian  preacher.  James  Hughes'  family 
moved  into  Greenview  in  1839,  he  having  died  several  years  previously.  Hugh 
D.  Hughes,  his  son,  was  one  of  the  first  residents  of  the  village  of  Sweetwater, 
and  one  of  the  builders  of  the  mill  at  that  place,  as  noticed  in  the  history  of 
the  village.  Offille  and  the  Hugheses  came  to  this  settlement  from  Indiana,  but, 
as  stated,  were  originally  from  Kentucky.  One  of  OflBlle's  daughters  married 
Hugh  D.  Hughes.  Offille  died  some  years  ago,  and  none  of  his  family,  we 
believe,  are  here  now.  Westley  Whipp  came  about  the  time  of  the  "  deep  snow.'' 
He  married  a  daughter  of  Leonard  Alkire,  and  died  several  years  ago,  and  is 
buried  in  Sugar  Grove  Cemetery.  Two  sons  are  living  in  Petersburg.  Samuel 
McNabb  was  a  brother-in-law  of  John  Jenison  and  came  previous  to  1824,  and 
has  been  dead  some  time.  Pentecost  and  his  sons,  William,  John  and  George, 
came  in  1824—25.  The  old  gentleman's  first  name  is  not  remembered  ;  all  of  them 
are  gone  from  the  neighborhood.  John  Stone  came  about  the  "deep  snow," 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  361 

and  had  several  sons,  viz.,  William,  James,  Stephen,  Henry,  Boyd  and  Oliver. 
James  lives  in  Green  view  Precinct,  the  others  in  Sugar  Grove.  Henry  lives  on 
the  old  homestead  with  his  father,  who  is  still  living.  George  Stone,  a  brother 
to  John  Stone,  was  an  early  settler,  but  is  long  since  dead.  A  man  named 
Parsons  was  a  brother-in-law  to  the  Stones,  and  came  to  the  country  about  the 
same  time.  He  had  two  sons,  William  and  Joseph,  the  former  of  which  is  dead, 
as  well  as  the  old  gentleman,  but  Joseph  is  living,  and  is  the  mail-carrier  between 
Greenview  and  Sweetwater.  William  Douglas  was  here  as  early  as  1881-32, 
and  settled  in  Irish  Grove,  and  is  still  living.  Matthew  Bracken  came  in 
1824-25,  afterward  sold  out  to  Nicholas  Propst,  and  removed  to  Woodford 
County,  where  he  died.  A  man  named  McKinney  ranks  among  the  old  settlers, 
but  there  could  be  very  little  learned  in  regard  to  him.  He,  with  several 
others,  had  been  to  a  horse- race,  one  day,  and  on  their  way  home  got  up  a 
little  race  of  their  own,  when  McKinney  was  thrown  from  his  horse  and  injured 
to  such  an  extent  that  he  died  from  the  effects  soon  after. 

Enoch  B.  Smith  came  to  the  settlement  in  Irish  Grove  in  1821,  and  Josiah 
B.  Smith,  a  nephew,  came  in  1824.  The  latter  was  an  old  Whig,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  politics.  Enoch  Smith  settled  in  the  south  end  of  Irish  Grove, 
and  a  son,  Jordan  Smith,  settled  in  the  same  vicinity.  Enoch  Smith  died  in 
1841.  His  sons  are  also  dead,  and  the  entire  family,  except  Mrs.  Jesse  England, 
who  is  his  daughter.  Jesse  England  also  settled  in  Irish  Grove  in  1834. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  Enoch  Smith,  and  is  still  living  on  the  place  where 
he  originally  settled.  His  father  came  from  Ohio  to  Sangamon  County  in 
1819,  and  was  the  first  white  man  who  came  north  of  the  Sangamon  River, 
and  his  daughter  the  first  white  woman. 

John  S.  Jenison  was  a  native  of  the  Old  Bay  State,  and  came  to  Sugar 
Grove  about  1822-23.  He  sold  his  claim  to  Leonard  Alkire,  and  moved  into 
the  present  precinct  of  Indian  Creek.  A  son,  Luther  Jenison,  now  lives  near 
the  village  of  Greenview.  Joseph  and  Samuel  Powell,  two  brothers  and  broth- 
ers-in-law to  Leonard  Alkire,  came  about  1825.  They  were  from  Ohio  here, 
but  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion.  They  raised  large  families,  finally  died  here, 
and  their  families  scattered  and  moved  away,  some  of  them  to  Fulton  County, 
and  some  to  the  State  of  Oregon.  Nicholas  Propst  came  from  Virginia,  and 
settled  in  Sugar  Grove  prior  to  the  "  deep  snow,"  that  epoch  from  which  the 
pioneer  dates  so  many  events  in  his  early  history.  He  died  here  a  number  of 
years  ago,  and  was  an  eccentric  old  gentleman  of  German  descent.  A  cabinet- 
maker in  the  neighborhood  owed  him  a  debt,  and  not  having  the  requisite  funds 
on  hand  to  cancel  the  obligation,  told  Propst  that  he  would  make  him,  anything 
in  the  furniture  line  that  he  might  need.  Propst  said  he  did  not  need  any- 
thing just  then,  but  that  he  would  some  day  need  a  coffin,  and,  if  he  chose  to 
do  so,  he  might  make  him  one.  The  cabinet-maker  went  to  work  on  the  coffin, 
and  Propst  superintended  it,  and  had  it  made  according  to  his  own  taste.  When 
finished,  there  was  still  a  small  balance  due  Propst,  so  he  had  the  man  make  a 


362  HISTORY   OF   MENARD    COUNTY. 

long  bench  to  lay  him  out  on  when  the  time  came,  and  he  had  "shuffled  off  the 
mortal  coil."  Being  thus  far  prepared  for  final  dissolution,  he  went  still 
farther,  and  had  a  tombstone  cut  out  of  a  limestone  rock,  nicely  dressed,  and 
the  single  words,  "Nicholas  Propst,"  cut  in  it.  When  he  finally  died,  this 
stone  marked  his  resting-place  in  the  Sugar  Grove  graveyard,  until  the  effacing 
hand  of  time  crumbled  it  to  pieces,  without  other  words  or  letters.  After  his 
coffin  was  completed,  he  got  into  it  to  try  iti?  and,  as  he  said,  "  to  see  how  it 
would  fit."  He  afterward  told  Rev.  John  Alkire  that  it  scared  him  like  h — 1 
when  he  got  into  it. 

John  Wright  came  some  time  previous  to  1830,  and  was,  it  is  believed,  from 
Ohio,  though  it  is  not  remembered  with  certainty.  He  bought  out  one  Samuel 
Alkire,  a  cousin  to  Leonard  Alkire,  who  had  settled  here  about  1824—25,  and 
removed  to  Indiana  after  selling  out  to  Wright.  After  living  in  Sugar  Grove 
several  years,  Wright  sold  out  and  removed  to  Petersburg,  and  built  the  first 
bridge  over  the  Sangamon  River  at  that  place.  William  Gibbs  came  from  Bal- 
timore, but  was  an  Englishman.  He  bought  out  Wright  when  he  went  to 
Petersburg,  as  above  stated.  His  oldest  son  lives  in  the  village  of  Sweetwater. 
Reuben  D.  Black  came  from  Ohio,  and,  after  living  here  "awhile,  married  a 
daughter  of  Leonard  Alkire.  He  was  a  physician,  and,  at  last  accounts,  was 
living  in  Missouri. 

1819  —  1879. 

Sixty  years  !  But  a  little  space,  as  reckoned  in  the  six  thousand  years 
since  the  creation  of  the  world ;  even  time  itself  is  only 

— "  a  brief  arc, 

Cut  from  eternity's  mysterious  orb, 
And  cast  beneath  the  skies" — 

and  yet  what  a  vast  record  these  sixty  years  have  borne  with  them  from  the 
world.  Revolutions  have  swept  over  the  earth,  as  troubled  visions  sweep  over 
the  breast  of  dreaming  sorrow.  Cities  have  arisen  and  flourished  for  a  little  sea- 
son, then  disappeared,  leaving  no  trace  to  tell  where  or  when  or  how  they  sunk. 
New  empires  have  sprung  into  existence,  gathering  in  a  brief  time  the  strength 
of  centuries,  and  then  suddenly  sunk  from  the  world  forever.  The  changes  and 
mighty  events  that  have  occurred  in  our  own  country  in  those  years  are  equally 
astounding.  The  building  of  railroads  and  steamboats,  and  the  invention  of  the 
telegraph,  are  but  a  few  of  these  great  events.  Sixty  years  ago,  when  James 
Meadows  erected  a  cabin  in  Sugar  Grove,  he  would  not  have  believed  that 
to-day  would  present  all  the  changes  and  improvements  that  it  has  presented, 
"  though  one  had  risen  from  the  dead  "  to  proclaim  it  to  him.  The  wild  prai- 
ries, and  the  timbered  groves  and  dells,  inhabited  then  by  Indians,  deer,  wolves, 
panthers  and  other  savage  animals,  are  now  vast  fields  of  waving  grain  ;  and  the 
farmers'  palatial  dwellings  are  seen  now  where  there  were  the  hunter's  cabin  and 
the  Indian's  wigwam.  All  these  changes  are  difficult  of  realization  by  others 
than  those  who  have  witnessed  them. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  363 

The  pioneers  of  this  section  had  the  same  difficulties  in  procuring  meal  and 
flour  as  the  new-comer  had  in  other  localities.  Sometimes  a  trip  was  made  to 
St.  Louis  for  such  supplies  as  flour,  salt,  and  sugar  and  coffee  when  the  settlers 
could  afford  such  luxuries.  James  Meadows  made  more  than  one  trip  to  that 
city  in  a  canoe  via  the  Sangamon,  Illinois  and  Mississippi  Rivers.  He  built  a 
mill  also  in  1823,  which  was  a  great  convenience  to  the  people  in  the  Sugar 
Grove  end  of  the  precinct.  Those  in  the  Irish  Grove  end  used  to  go  to  Athens 
to  mill,  and  even  to  Springfield,  until  a  mill  was  erected  in  the  village  of 
Sweetwater,  which  will  again  be  referred  to.  The  erection  of  this  mill  secured 
to  this  district  the  best  of  facilities  for  obtaining  the  "staff  of  life."  Jacob 
Boyer  was  the  first  blacksmith,  who  followed  the  trade  for  the  benefit  of  others. 
Leonard  Alkire  kept  a  forge  for  his  own  benefit,  as  did  Propst  and  James 
Meadows.  Meadows  was  a  wheelwright,  but  also  kept  a  blacksmith-shop,  prin- 
cipally for  his  own  work.  Josiah  B.  Smith  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  the  Irish  Grove  end  of  the  precinct.  Who  was  the  first  in  Sugar  Grove  we 
did  not  learn. 

James  McNabb  taught  the  first  school  in  the  limits  of  the  present  precinct 
of  Sugar  Grove  in  a  small  log  cabin  near  where  Gregory  Lukins  now  lives.  He 
is  still  living,  and  the  cabin  in  which  he  taught  was  erected  for  school  purposes 
— the  first  temple  of  learning  built  in  the  precinct.  As  his  old  pupils  look  back 
to  the  days  when  he  ruled  them  with  rod  of  iron  they  call  to  mind,  no  doubt, 
Goldsmith's  familiar  lines : 

"  Beside  yon  straggling  fence  that  skirts  the  way, 
With  blossomed  furze  unprofitably  gay, 
There,  in  his  noisy  mansion,  skilled  to  rule, 
The  village  master  taught  his  little  school ; 
A  man  severe  he  was,  and  stern  to  view, 
I  knew  him  well,  and  every  truant  knew  ; 
Well  had  the  boding  tremblers  learned  to  trace 
The  day's  disaster  in  his  morning  face  ; 
Full  well  they  laughed  with  counterfeited  glee 
At  all  his  jokes,  for  many  a  joke  had  he ; 
Full  well  the  busy  whisper  circling  round 
Conveyed  the  dismal  tidings  when  he  frowned  ; 
Yet  he  was  kind,  or  if  severe  in  aught, 
The  love  he  bore  to  learning  was  in  fault. 
****** 

Amazed  the  gazing  rustics  ranged  around  ; 
And  still  they  gazed,  and  still  the  wonder  grew 
That  one  small  head  could  carry  all  he  knew." 

The  precinct  has  now  six  schoolhouses,  including  the  one  in  the  village. 
These  schoolhouses  are  commodious  and  comfortable,  and  furnished  with  all  the 
modern  improvements.  Good  schools  are  taught  during  the  usual  school  term 
by  competent  teachers,  and  every  facility  is  offered  to  the  youth  of  the  neigh- 
borhood for  obtaining  an  education. 


364  HISTORY   OF    MENARD   COUNTY. 

The  religious  history  of  Sugar  Grove  is  somewhat  complicated,  as  related  to 
us  by  those  who  have  been  close  observers  of  its  mission  in  this  region.  It  will 
be  more  fully  given  in  connection  with  the  village.  Rev.  John  Alkire  and  Rev. 
Hughes  were  two  of  the  early  divines  of  the  Christian  Church  in  the  precinct; 
also  Rev.  Abner  Peeler,  who  afterward  removed  to  Woodford  County.  A 
Christian  Church  was  erected  at  an  early  day  near  where  Gregory  Lukins  now 
lives.  It  was  built  of  logs  with  puncheon  floor,  clapboard  roof  and  a  stick 
chimney  at  each  end  of  the  building.  This  served  the  double  purpose  of  church 
and  schoolhouse  until  1838,  when  a  frame  building  was  put  up  18x20  feet,  and 
alpo  used  for  church  and  school  purposes.  About  the  year  1848,  a  brick  church 
was  built  on  the  site  of  the  original  house.  It  was  quite  an  edifice  for  that  day 
and  was  built  upon  a  stone  foundation.  After  the  laying-out  of  the  village  of 
Sweetwater,  the  society  moved  their  quarters,  and  built  a  church  in  the  village. 
This  building  was  then  remodeled  and  changed  into  a  dwelling-house. 

William  Engle  and  Elizabeth  Alkire  were  married  in  1823  and  this  was  the  first 
marriage  in  the  present  bounds  of  Sugar  Grove  Precinct,  or  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Menard  County.  The  first  birth  and  death  are  not  remembered.  But  in  proof  that 
there  have  been  a  number  of  both,  we  refer  the  reader  to  the  present  population, 
and  to  Sugar  Grove  Cemetery.  In  its  quiet  shades  sleep  many  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  neighborhood,  as  well  as  those  who  were  cut  down  in  the  bloom 
of  youth.  It  has  been  incorporated,  and  is  beautifully  situated  on  an  elevated 
piece  of  ground  about  two  miles  from  the  village ;  is  substantially  inclosed  and 
well  cared  for. 

William  Engle  kept  the  first  store  in  the  precinct,  and  the  first  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  Menard  County,  except  at  Athens.  He  opened  a  store  on  his  farm 
(where  John  Engle  now  lives)  several  years  before  the  laying-out  of  Sweetwater. 
After  the  village  was  laid  out  he  moved  his  store  into  the  corporation,  where  it 
is  again  alluded  to.  In  politics,  Sugar  Grove  is  pretty  evenly  divided  upon  the 
great  questions  of  the  day.  At  one  time,  Irish  Grove,  lying  partly  in  this  pre- 
cinct and  partly  in  Greenview,  gave  but  one  Democratic  vote,  but  the  sentiment 
has  somewhat  changed  since  then.  The  precinct  taken  altogether,  is  perhaps, 
Republican  by  a  small  majority.  During  the  late  war,  it  did  its  full  share  in 
furnishing  troops  to  maintain  the  Union.  If  it  had  a  draft  at  all,  it  was  for  but 
a  very  few  men,  as  all  calls  were  promptly  filled.  Our  space  will  not  admit  of 
an  extended  sketch  of  the  precinct's  war  record,  and  we  pass  with  the  tribute, 
that  its  soldiers  did  their  duty. 

VILLAGE    OF    SWEETWATER. 

Sweetwater  was  laid  out  by  William  Engle  and  the  Alkires  on  Sections  31 
and  32,  of  Township  19.  about  the  year  1853.  It  is  located  in  Sugar  Grove, 
a  beautiful  body  of  timber,  some  three  miles  from  the  village  of  Greenview.  It 
is  surrounded  by  a  fine  farming  community,  and  has  a  large  trade  for  so  small 
a  place.  The  first  store  was  opened  by  the  Alkires,  and  about  the  same  time 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  365 

William  Engle  moved  his  store  from  his  farm,  and  opened  up  in  the  village.  A 
post  office  was  established  with  William  Engle  as  Postmaster.  Just  here  arises 
the  name  of  Sweetwater.  P.  M.  Harris  was  the  representative  of  this  district 
in  Congress  at  the  time,  and  through  him  the  post  office  was  obtained,  and  des- 
ignated in  the  petition  Sugar  Grove.  But  it  was  found  that  there  was  already 
a  Sugar  Grove  in  the  State,  and  Harris  wrote  Mr.  Engle  to  select  another 
name.  After  some  deliberation  with  those  interested,  Sweetwater  was  decided 
upon  as  being  nearest  Sugar  Grove — the  water  of  the  sugar  maple  being  sweet, 
and  thus  the  name  of  Sweetwater  was  obtained.  The  present  Postmaster  is 
Joseph  Schofield.  When  the  office  was  first  established,  the  mail  was  received 
on  the  line  from  Petersburg  to  Elkhart,  mostly  on  horseback.  It  is  received  now 
from  Greenview.  Jacob  Propst,  Jr.,  was  the  first  blacksmith  in  the  village,  and 
Dr.  John  H.  Hughes  was  the  first  physician.  A  mill  was  built  soon  after  the 
village  was  laid  out,  by  Deal  &  Hughes.  It  is  still  in  operation  and  doing 
excellent  work,  though  the  building  shows  the  ravages  of  time.  The  firm  name 
of  Deal  &  Hughes  has  never  changed  since  the  mill  was  first  built ;  the  present 
Hughes,  however,  being  a  son  of  the  one  concerned  in  its  erection.  It  is  a 
frame  edifice,  operated  by  steam,  with  two  run  of  buhrs,  and  it  is  said  makes  as 
good  flour  as  any  mill  in  the  county.  The  business  of  the  village  may  be  thus 
summarized:  Two  general  stores,  including  in  their  stocks  dry  goods,  groceries'^ 
drugs,  hardware,  etc.,  etc.;  one  shoe-shop;  one  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop; 
one  post  office;  one  mill;  one  schoolhouse;  one  physician  (Dr.  Hurst)  and  two 
churches. 

The  schoolhouse  was  built  about  1868  or  1870,  is  an  elegant  two-story 
brick,  and  cost  something  like  $4,500.  James  Steele  taught  the  first  school  in 
it.  Prof.  Ayers  has  been  the  teacher  for  the  past  two  years,  and  is  engaged 
for  the  coming  year.  It  is  conducted  as  a  graded  school,  and  is  fully  up  to  the 
average  standard  of  that  class  of  schools. 

If  we  could  write  the  church  history  of  Sweetwater  in  the  same  language 
in  which  it  was  told  us,  it  would  be  highly  entertaining,  no  doubt,  to  many  of 
our  readers,  at  least.  But  we  feel  inadequate  to  the  task,  and  hence  we  give  it 
in  our  own  words.  The  first  church  built  in  village  was  that  of  the  Christians, 
or  New  Lights,  and  is  a  sort  of  continuation  of  the  one  mentioned  in  the  history  of 
the  precinct  as  erected  near  Gregory  Lukins'.  It  is  a  spacious  brick  edifice, 
and  cost  about  $3,500  at  the  time  it  was  built.  There  is  no  regular  pastor  at 
present,  but  transient  ministers  frequently  call  and  preach  to  the  flock  who  are 
wont  to  worship  within  its  Walls.  The  original  society  underwent  several 
changes,  as  we  understand  it — that  is,  New  Lights,  Campbellites  and  then  Apos- 
tles, or  Christians.  It  finally  became  somewhat  stirred  up  as  Adventists,  or  a  part 
of  the  congregation  did,  when  they  sold  their  interest  in  the  building  and 
erected  the  present  frame  church,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,500.  When  the  Advent- 
ists went  up,  or,  more  correctly  speaking,  failed  to  go  up,  some  got  disgusted, 
and,  as  a  result,  the  church  was  sold  to  the  Methodists,  who  worshiped  in  it  for 


366  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

a  time,  with  services  held  occasionally  by  the  Presbyterians.  The  Methodists, 
eventually,  broke  down,  and,  as  our  informant  expressed  it,  "  all  went  into  the 
mush-pot  together."  The  church  was  again  sold,  and  this  time  was  bought 
by  the  Old-School  Presbyterians,  who  still  own  it  and  hold  regular  services, 
though  the  congregation  is  composed  of  several  creeds.  It  was  re-organized 
under  the  Presbyterians  by  Rev.  Mr.  Crosier,  of  Indian  Point.  A  union  Sun- 
day school  of  the  two  churches  is  carried  on,  but  the  Superintendent's  name  we 
did  not  learn. 

This  village  used  to  go  by  the  pseudonym  of  Chloeville,  and  when  we 
inquired  of  an  old  gentleman  why  it  was  so  called,  he  said  it  was  for  an  old 
lady  who  once  lived  in  it,  whose  first  name  was  Chloe,  "  and  some  one,  in 
acknowledgment,"  said  he,  "of  her  general  cussedness,  as  a  burlesque,  called 
the  town  after  her." 


INDIAN  CREEK  PRECINCT. 

The  prairies  of  the  West,  though  favored  with  a  soil  scarcely  equaled  in  the 
world,  and  possessed  of  climate  and  water  unsurpassed,  yet,  apparently,  lacking 
in  the  means  of  producing  warmth,  were  slow  to  attract  the  emigrant ;  while 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  United  States,  though  not  so  highly  favored  in  these 
respects,  was  settled  two  hundred  years  earlier  than  those  vast  Western  plains. 
When  Illinois  began  to  fill  up  with  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  we  find  its  first  occu- 
pants steering  their  "prairie  schooners"  for  the  groves  of  timber  and  the 
streams  of  water,  where  they  rightly  concluded  lay,  with  a  productive  soil,  also 
plenty  of  fuel  and  water.  It  was  not  until  nearly  every  acre  of  timber-land 
lying  adjacent  to  water-courses  had  been  "  claimed,"  that  people  in  this  section 
of  the  country  turned  their  attention  to  the  prairies.  With  the  utmost  caution, 
they  ventured  out  beyond  the  protecting  shelter  of  the  forest,  and,  as  cabins 
rose  up  on  the  broad  plains,  the  croakers,  who  are  ever  ready  to  prophesy  evil, 
indulged  in  all  manner  of  predictions  in  regard  to  the  fearless  pioneers — such 
as  freezing  to  death,  and  being  blown  away  by  storms.  This  was  the  case  in 
this  county  and  in  this  precinct,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  and  no  settlements  were 
made  beyond  the  timber,  until  necessity  compelled  the  increasing  population  to 
'•  move  on." 

Indian  Creek  Precinct,  the  subject  of  this  chapter,  is  as  fine  a  body  of  land 
asfto  use  a  familiar  expression,  "a  crow  ever  flew  over."  The  greater  portion 
of  it  is  fine  rolling  prairie,  neither  hills  nor  bluffs,  nor  low,  flat  levels,  but  more 
resembling  the  swells  of  the  ocean.  It  is  well  watered  and  drained  by  Salt 
Creek  on  the  north  boundary,  Sangamon  River  on  the  west  boundary,  Indian 
Creek  on  the  south  boundary,  and  Little  Grove  and  Sugar  Grove  Creeks  flow- 
ing through  it,  so  that  it  has  no  lack  of  water  facilities.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Mason  County,  on  the  west  by  Sandridge  Precinct,  on  the  south  by 


•;.; 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  369 

Petersburg  and  Athens,  and  on  the  east  by  Sugar  Grove  and  Greenview  Pre- 
cincts, and  lies  in  Townships  18  and  19  north,  Range  6  west  of  the  Third 
Principal  Meridian,  according  to  Government  survey.  No  villages  or  towns 
break  the  monotony  of  its  vast  productive  fields  at  the  present  day,  though 
quite  a  village  /  at  one  time  existed  in  its  territory,  as  noticed  in  another  page. 
The  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  runs  through  from  southwest  to 
northeast,  and,  while  it  is  a  vast  benefit  to  the  precinct  as  a  means  of  trans- 
portation, yet  there  is  no  station  within  its  borders.  The  shipping  point  is 
'Greenview,  principally,  which  is  but  a  mile  or  so  from  the  line.  This  is  the 
smallest  precinct  in  Menard  County  except  Rock  Creek,  having  but  about 
twenty-nine  sections  of  land.  But  while  the  land  of  Rock  Creek  is  rather 
inferior  in  quality,  taken  altogether,  that  of  Indian  Creek  is  of  the  best,  and 
its  farmers,  judging  from  their  spacious  farms  and  elegant  residences,  are  among 
the  most  prosperous  in  the  county. 

SETTLEMENTS   OF   INDIAN   CREEK. 

This  precinct  was  settled  mostly  from  Kentucky,  with  a  few  Virginians 
thrown  in  to  perfect  the  state  of  society.  The  following  recruits  were  received 
from  the  old  Blue  Grass  State :  James  Short,  Solomon  Taylor,  Robert  and 
James  Bracken,  Andrew  Trumbo,  John  Moore  and  sons,  Robert  White,  William 
McDougall,  Abraham  Hornback  and  sons,  Elijah  Scott,  Francis  Rayburn, 
William  Brewer  and  son,  Samuel  Rogers  and  son,  Alexander  Crawford,  David 
Onstott,  John  Pentecost  and  sons,  Michael  Killion,  William  Denton,  William 
and  James  Estill,  Coleman  Smoot,  Hamilton  Elliott,  Isaiah  Low,  and,  perhaps, 
others.  James  Short  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  white  man  to  settle  in 
the  present  precincts  of  Indian  Creek.  He  located  here  in  1824,  and,  in  1828, 
removed  to  Sangamon  County.  Solomon  Taylor  came  in  about  1828.  He  is 
still  living;  resides  in  the  village  of  Greenview,  and  is,  perhaps,  the  second 
oldest  living  settler  of  this  precinct.  Robert  and  James  Bracken,  brothers, 
came  in  1826—27.  Robert  died  here,  but  his  widow  is  still  living  on  the  place 
where  her  husband  settled  more  than  fifty  years  ago,  and  is  in  her  eighty-first 
year.  She  is  a  sister  to  Walter  Turner,  in  Athens  Precinct.  James  Bracken 
removed  to  Missouri.  Andrew  Trumbo  came  in  1828-29,  and  died  in  the  neigh- 

O 

borhood  some  years  ago.  Solomon  Taylor's  wife  having  also  died,  Mr.  Taylor 
and  Mrs.  Trumbo  were  recently  married,  and  though  a  rather  aged  couple  to 
embark,  or,  rather,  to  re-embark  on  the  sea  of  matrimony,  it  is  said  to  have 
been  an  excellent  arrangement  for  both,  and  that  they  are  living  comfortably 
together  in  Greenview.  John  Moore  and  his  five  stalwart  sons,  John,  Joseph, 
Andrew,  Samuel  and  William,  came  in  1828.  They  were  a  fine  family,  and 
ranked  among  the  prominent  people  of  the  neighborhood.  The  old  gentleman 
and  most  of  the  family  are  dead.  William  and  Joseph,  we  Relieve,  are  all  that 
are  left.  The  latter  lives  in  De  Witt  County,  and  Joseph  in  this  county. 

Robert  White  came  about  1826-27,  and  was  monarch  of  all  he  surveyed,  from 

K 


370  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

where  he  located  to  the  mouth  of  Salt  Creek,  no  family  having  squatted 
between  the  two  points.  He  died  here  many  years  ago.  William  McDougall 
came  about  the  same  time,  and  was  a  son-in-law  of  White.  He  died  a  few 
months  ago  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  Elijah  Scott  came  about  1825-26. 
He  moved  away  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ago.  Abraham  Hornback  and 
his  sons,  John,  Jesse  and  Andrew,  came  about  1826.  The  old  gentleman  is 
long  since  dead,  as  well  as  most  of  the  others,  except  Andrew,  who  lives  in  this 
precinct.  Francis  Rayburn  came  in  1828.  He  finally  died  in  Iowa,  to  which 
State  he  removed  some  time  before.  William  Brewer  and  his  son,  John  Brewer, 
came  about  1827-28.  Both  died  in  this  precinct.  Samuel  Rogers  and  his 
son,  Joseph  Rogers,  came  about  l£2i>.  They  also  died  in  the  precinct. 
Squire  Godby  relates  the  following  anecdote  in  which  he  and  Joseph  Rogers 
were  actors :  Rogers  was  a  Captain  of  the  militia,  and,  as  such,  used  to  call 
the  "able-bodied  citizens"  together  for  the  purpose  of  "muster."  At  one  of 
these  periodical  musters,  Godby  failed  to  put  in  an  appearance,  for  which 
delinquency,  Rogers  had  him  appointed  Fourth  Corporal  in  his  company.  Soon 
after  this,  Rogers  returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  some  time. 
Several  other  officers  died,  moved  away  or  resigned,  so  that  Godby,  the  Fourth 
Corporal  of  the  company,  became  the  senior  officer.  In  this  state  of  affairs, 
the  Black  Hawk  war  broke  out,  and  the  Governor  made  his  call  for  troopsr 
when  this  company  presented  the  novel  spectacle  of  being  commanded  by  its 
Fourth  Corporal.  But,  bearing  his  "  blushing  honors  "  with  becoming  dignity, 
he  summoned  the  company  together,  called  for  volunteers,  made  up  the  requisite 
number,  sent  them  to  the  front,  and  then,  Cincinnatus-like,  returned  to  his 
plow. 

Alexander  Crawford  came  in  1827,  and  died  here  some  twenty-five  or  thirty 
yeatrs  ago.  David  Onstott  came  as  early  as  1825,  and  erected  a  mill  and  dis- 
tillery, which  is  noticed  on  another  page.  He  was  a  character  that  could  not 
be  surrounded,  as  an  old  gentleman  expressed  it  to  us,  and  as  people  moved  in, 
he  gathered  together  his  worldly  goods  and  took  up  his  journey  to  a  far  coun- 
try— to  Arkansas,  it  is  believed.  He  said  he  had  waded  through  h — 1  to  get 
here,  and  did  not  propose  to  be  crowded,  so  he  again  struck  out  for  the  wilder- 
ness when  people  got  too  thick  around  him.  Coleman  Smoot  bought  him  out  in 
this  settlement.  John  Pentecost  and  three  sons,  William,  Henry  and  John, 
came  in  1827.  They  were  originally  from  Virginia,  but  emigrated  to  Ken- 
tucky in  early  times,  whence  they  came  to  Illinois,  as  above.  They  are 
all  dead  or  moved  away  from  the  precinct.  William  Denton  came  in  1830, 
and  died  here  many  years  ago.  Michael  Killion  came  in  1830.  He  lived  in 
the  Moore  neighborhood,  and  came  from  the  same  section  that  they  came  from. 
He  died  here  years  ago.  When  Squire  Godby  settled  here,  in  1830,  he  built 
his  cabin  on  the  prairie,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  timber,  and  Killion  remarked 

that  'that fool  Virginian   would  freeze  to  death  so  far  from  the  timber.' 

William  Estill,  a  brother-in-law  of  Killion's,  came  about  1825-26.     He  is  still 


HISTORY   OF    MENARD   COUNTY.  371 

living,  and  in  his  eighty-fifth  year,  quite  an  active  old  man,  and  the  oldest  liv- 
ing settler  in  the  precinct.  James  Estill,  his  brother,  was  also  among  the  early 
settlers,  and  died  long  ago.  Hamilton  Elliott  and  two  sons,  Richard  and  Had- 
den,  came  in  1830-31.  Richard  removed  to  Fulton  County.  He  is  described 
as  an  enterprising  man,  speculated  considerably,  and,  as  our  informant  expressed 
it,  "would  risk  his  life  for  a  coon-skin."  He  finally  went  to  California,  and 
amassed  quite  a  fortune.  Hiram  Chapin  and  Benjamin  Day  came  very  early, 
but  did  not  remain  long  in  the  settlement.  William  Day  was  another  of  the 
early  ones.  He  was  a  brother  to  Benjamin.  The  latter  gentleman  had  entered 
the  ferry  on  Salt  Creek,  where  the  State  road  from  Springfield  to  Havana 
crossed,  and  when  William  came  a  few  years  later,  he  took  charge  of  this  place. 
He  finally  moved  to  Iowa.  Coleman  Smoot  came  about  1831,  and  bought  out 
Onstott.  He  is  dead,  and  his  son,  William  C.  Smoot,  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead. The  elder  Smoot  was  an  enterprising  farmer,  a  prominent  man,  and 
accumulated  a  handsome  property.  His  son  is  also  a  man  of  wealth  and  influ- 
ence in  the  community.  Isaiah  Low  came  in  1831-32,  and  a  few  years  ago 
moved  to  Iowa.  These  settlers,  so  far  as  names  are  given,  all  came  from  Ken- 
tucky to  Illinois,  though  some  of  them,  and  perhaps  a  majority,  were  originally 
from  Virginia,  as  Kentucky  was  settled  principally  by  Virginians.  Squire 
Godby  informed  us  that  when  he  came  to  the  country,  he  "  squatted  right  in  a 
nest  of  Kentuckians,  and  as  jolly  good  fellows,  too,  as  ever  lived." 

From  Virginia,  the  venerable  mother  of  Presidents,  the  following  additions 
were  made  to  the  Indian  Creek  settlement :  Russell  Godby,  Isaac  Snodgrass 
Fielding  Ballard,  William  Sampson,  with,  probably,  a  few  others.  Godby 
came  in  the  spring  of  1830,  and  his  first  winter  here  was  that  of  the  "deep 
snow,"  which  cast  something  of  a  damper  (particularly  when  it  began  to  melt 
off  in  the  spring)  upon  the  feelings  with  which  he  had  regarded  the  fine  prairies 
of  Illinois,  as  compared  to  the  red  hills  of  "  Old  Virginny."  He  was  the  first 
man  in  the  present  precinct  of  Indian  Creek  who  settled  outside  of  the  timber, 
and  he  did  not  venture  very  far  from  its  shelter.  He  still  lives  upon  the  place 
of  his  original  settlement,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  leading  men  of  the 
neighborhood,  and  was  one  of  the  early  Justices  of  the  Peace.  Although  his 
bodily  health  is  failing,  his  mental  condition  appears  as  strong  as  if  still  in  the 
noontide  of  manhood,  and  we  acknowledge  our  indebtedness  to  him  for  many 
facts  connected  with  this  precinct  and  its  early  settlement.  Messrs.  Snodgrass 
and  Ballard  were  brothers-in-law  to  Godby,  and  came  the  same  year.  The 
former  gentleman  lives  now  in  Salt  Creek  Township,  in  Mason  County.  Bal- 
lard, though  originally  from  Virginia,  had  emigrated  to  Indiana,  where  he 
resided  for  a  few  years  before  coming  to  this  county,  and,  upon  his  arrival  here, 
bought  the  claim  of  Joseph  Rogers.  He  died  in  this  precinct.  Sampson  came 
to  the  Indian  Creek  settlement  several  years  before  Godby,  Snodgrass  and  Bal- 
lard, probably  about  1826-27.  He  remained  a  resident  of  the  precinct  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  about  1870.  Philip  Barnett  was  an  Eastern  man, 


372  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

and  a  brother-in-law  to  Godby.  These  four  gentlemen,  viz.,  Godby,  Snodgrass, 
Ballard  and  Barnett,  married  sisters.  Barnett  died  a  few  years  ago  in  Fulton 
County. 

John  King  came  from  North  Carolina  in  1826-27.  He  was  born  in  1775, 
and  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  one  hundred  and  one  years  and  twenty-nine 
days.  A  soldier  of  1812,  and  of  the  Indian  wars  of  the  South,  under  Gen. 
Jackson,  he  was  a  firm  believer  in  and  a  devoted  admirer  of  Old  Hickory  to  the 
end  of  his  life.  When  he  first  came  to  Illinois  (1821),  he  settled  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  State,  where  he  resided  until  his  settlement  in  this  section,  as 
given  above.  Before  his  death,  he  and  Tarlton  Lloyd,  of  Rock  Creek  Precinct, 
were  the  only  relics  left  in  Menard  County  of  the  war  of  1812.  His  death 
leaves  Mr.  Lloyd  like  "the  last  rose  of  summer,  blooming  alone."  Dedman 
Powers  was  an  early  settler,  but  of  him  not  much  could  be  learned.  William 
Duff  came  in  1827—28,  but  where  from  no  one  could  tell.  He  is  mentioned  as 
a  "  hard  old  customer,"  rough,  profane,  and  a  poor  acquisition  to  the  settle- 
ment, any  way.  He  remained  but  a  few  years,  and  then  moved  away.  John 
Clary  came  to  the  settlement  very  early,  and  was  attending  Onstott's  mill  when 
'Squire  Godby  came  in.  •  He  was  probably  from  Tennessee  ;  has  a  son  still 
living  in  Menard  County,  but  the  old  gentleman  has  been  dead  several  years. 
This  brings  the  settlement  of  Indian  Creek  down  to  a  period  when  the  tide  of 
immigration  poured  in  with  such  volume  and  force  as  to  baffle  the  historian's 
skill  to  keep  pace  with  it,  and  we  will  not  attempt  it  further,  but  turn  our 
attention  to  other  items  in  its  history. 

EDUCATIONAL    AND    RELIGIOUS. 

f 

One  of  the  first  moves  made  by  the  pioneer,  after  securing  a  claim  and 
erecting  a  cabin  to  shelter  his  family,  was  in  the  direction  of  education  and 
religious  worship.  A  school  was  taught  in  this  settlement  as  early  as  the  sum- 
mer of  1830,  in  a  vacant  cabin  on  the  premises  of  Samuel  Rogers.  It  was 
taught  by  John  Pentecost,  who  walked  a  distance  of  three  and  a  half  miles  to 
and  from  the  scene  of  his  labors.  The  next  school  was  by  Dr.  David  Meeker, 
who  taught  in  an  old  house  belonging  to  Coleman  Smoot.  The  first  regular 
schoolhouse  built  in  the  present  bounds  of  Indian  Creek  Precinct  was  on  land 
belonging  now  to  William  Smoot,  and  was  of  the  primitive  pioneer  schoolhouse 
pattern.  It  was  built  about  1833,  and  Silas  Alexander  Avas  the  first  pedagogue 
who  presided  over  the  young  ideas  within  its  classic  walls.  In  this  log  cabin, 
known  as  the  "  Smoot  Schoolhouse,"  many  of  the  youth  of  the  neighborhood 
(now  old  men)  took  their  first  lessons  in  Webster's  spelling-book,  and  in  the  art 
of  shooting  paper  wads.  The  precinct  now  has  five  excellent  brick  schoolhouses 
conveniently  located  in  its  territory,  in  which  every  child  may  receive  a 
good  English  education,  sufficient  to  fit  him  for  the  ordinary  walks  of  life. 

The  first  minister  who  proclaimed  the  Gospel  in  this  section  was  the  Rev. 
John  Berry,  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  preacher  from  the  Rock  Creek 


HISTORY    OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  373 

settlement.  He  was  Pastor  of  the  New  Lebanon  Church,  near  the  line  of  the  pre- 
cinct, which  was  one  of  the  first  places  of  worship  of  the  people  of  this  settlement. 
In  1843,  a  society  of  this  denomination  was  organized  at  New  Market,  avillage 
now  extinct,  but  at  one  time  entertaining  rather  lofty  pretensions.  This  soci- 
ety was  organized  by  Revs.  J.  R.  Torrence  and  A.  II.  Goodpasture,  with  the 
latter  preacher  as  its  first  spiritual,  director.  It  was  known  as  the  "New 
Market  Congregation"  for  a  period  of  five  years,  and  increased  during  the 
time  from  a  membership  of  thirty  to  seventy  communicants.  It  was  then 
moved  to  the  Knowles  Schoolhouse,  and  from  that  time  until  its  removal  to 
the  village  of  Greenview,  about  1858-60,  was  known  as  the  "  Bethel  Con- 
gregation." The  remainder  of  its  history  is  given  in  the  chapter  devoted 
to  Greenview.  A  society  of  Baptists  was  organized  in  the  precinct  before 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  organization,  above  described,  by  the  Rev.  John 
Antle,  who  was  the  first  divine  of  that  denomination  in  this  section.  It  was 
originally  held  in  a  schoolhouse,  but,  like  the  Presbyterians,  removed  to 
Gpeenview  upon  the  laying-out  of  that  village.  These  are  all  the  church 
organizations  of  Indian  Creek  Precinct.  Although  there  are  no  church  edi- 
fices within  its  borders,  there  are  a  number  scattered  around  it  in  other  and 
adjoining  precincts. 

The  first  mill  in  this  immediate  vicinity  was  built  by  David  Onstott, 
away  back  in  the  twenties,  but  just  what  time  we  could  not  learn.  Squire 
Godby  says  it  was  in  full  blast  when  he  came  to  the  settlement  in  the  spring 
of  1830,  and  had  a  small  copper  still  attached,  such,  perhaps,  as  are  used 
by  the  "moonshiners"  of  the  present  day  in  Tennessee  and  North  Carolina. 
It  was  a  small  affair,  and  worked  up  the  superfluous  corn  into  spiritus  fru- 
menti,  which  was  consumed  by  the  pioneers  nearly  as  fast  as  it  was  made, 
as  an  antidote  (!)  for  snake-bites.  The  mill  was  propelled  by  horse-power, 
and  served  the  purpose  of  making  hominy  and  meal  for  the  neighborhood. 
This,  we  believe,  is  the  extent  of  the  mill  business  in  this  precinct.  Since 
the  burning  of  the  Greenview  mills,  most  of  the  people  of  this  community 
patronize  the  mills  of  Petersburg. 

The  first  birth  and  marriage  are  forgotten,  but  as  eyery thing  must  have  a 
beginning,  these  had  a  beginning  in  Indian  Creek  Precinct,  as  the  present 
population  will  go  to  show.  The  first  death  is  supposed  to  have  been  the 
mother  of  Fielding  Ballard,  who  came  to  the  settlement  in  1830.  He  brought 
his  mother  with  him,  who  was  quite  aged,  and  who  died  the  next  year.  The 
first  physician  in  the  settlement  was  a  Dr.  Walker,  but  he  did  not  remain  very 
long.  Whence  he  came  or  whither  he  went,  we  did  not  learn.  Dr.  David 
Meeker  was  the  next  doctor,  and  combined  school  teaching  with  the  practice 
of  medicine.  In  those  days,  people  did  not  send  for  a  doctor  on  all  occasions, 
as  they  do  now ;  consequently  had  less  sickness — no  offense  to  the  medical  fra- 
ternity intended — and  fewer  doctors'  bills  to  pay.  The  first  blacksmith-shop 
in  the  neighborhood  was  opened  in  the  now  extinct  village  of  New  Market  by 


374  HISTORY   OF    MENARD   COUNTY. 

two  men  named  George  Saunders  and  William  F.  Rogers.  Coleman  Smoot 
was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  Russell  Godby  the  second  in  the  pre- 
cinct. The  name  of  Indian  Creek  was  obtained  from  the  creek  flowing  along 
the  southwest  boundary,  and  emptying  into  the  Sangamon  River  at  the  corner 
of  this  precinct,  Sandridge  and  Petersburg.  The  name  was  applied  to  the 
creek  in  memory  of  some  of  the  tribes  of  Indians  that  once  occupied  the 
country. 

Politically,  Indian  Creek  Precinct  is  Democratic.  During  the  late  war,  it 
was  patriotic,  as  all  other  portions  of  Menard  County,  and  turned  out  a  large 
number  of  soldiers — shoulder-straps  as  well  as  muskets.  Company  K,  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infantry,  was  raised  principally  in  this 
precinct.  The  Captain  of  the  company  was  Samuel  Estill;  Lucian  Terhune, 
First  Lieutenant,  and  Henry  Roggy,  Second  Lieutenant.  Company  F,  of  the 
Twenty-eighth  Regiment  of  Illinois  Infantry,  also  drew  a  few  men  from  this 
precinct.  William  J.  Estill,  of  Petersburg,  a  brother  of  Capt.  Estill  of  Com- 
pany K,  mentioned  above,  was  Captain  of  a  company,  and  was  wounded  on 
the  second  day's  fight  at  Pittsburg ;  Landing,  and  came  home,  leaving  the  com- 
mand of  the  company  to  Isaac  Estill,  the  First  Lieutenant,  also  a  brother. 
The  latter  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Hatchie,  Tennessee.  Capt.  Estill's  wound 
not  permitting  his  return  to  the  army,  he  finally  resigned,  and  a  gentleman 
from  Athens  Precinct  became  Captain  of  the  company. 

THE    VILLAGE    OF    NEW    MARKET. 

i  Doubtless  many  of  our  readers  are  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  a  village  bear- 
ing the  above  name  once  existed  in  their  midst.  It  not  only  did  exist,  but 
even  aspired,  we  are  told,  to  the  dignity  of  becoming  the  seat  of  government 
for  the  State  of  Illinois,  as  well  as  the  capital  of  Menard  County.  It  was  laid 
out  by  Dr.  Ballard  and  a  man  named  Speer.  Ballard  put  up  a  large  two-story 
building,  intended  for  a  tavern  ;  but  the  glory  of  the  new  town  waned  so  soon 
that  it  was  never  needed  or  used  for  the  purpose.  A  store  was  opened  by  one 
Clarke,  who  afterward  sold  out  to  Ballard  &  Speer.  A  blacksmith-shop  was 
opened,  as  before  noted,  by  George  Saunders  and  William  F.  Rogers,  and  the 
place  presented  quite  as  much  the  appearance  of  a  town  as  did  Petersburg  at 
the  time  the  county  seat  was  located  there.  In  establishing  the  county  seat,  it 
was  "  entered  for  the  race"  against  the  latter  place  for  that  dignified  position, 
and  it  is  even  stated  that  it  was  a  competitor  with  Springfield  for  the  State 
capital.  This  may  be  a  joke,  but  we  give  it  as  we  heard  it.  If  true,  it  played 
for  a  high  stake,  and — lost.  With  the  location  of  the  seat  of  justice  at  Peters- 
burg, it  faded  away  into  nothingness.  It  became  a  village  of  the  dead  rather 
than  of  the  living  ;  "a  grave  for  ambition — an  antidote  for  pride."  The  ruins 
of  Baalbec  are  in  many  respects  a  mystery  ;  Palmyra,  at  least  in  vastness,  sur- 
passes even  Baalbec ;  Athens,  Rome,  Jerusalem,  and  other  scenes  of  decay, 
appeal  to  our  pity  and  touch  our  hearts  ;  but  for  New  Market,  the  "  mighty  city 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  375 

of  lofty  aspirations,"  we  can  only,  like  the  Hebrew  captives  of  old,  "hang  our 
harps  upon  the  willows"  and  weep.  It  owed  its  origin  to  a  rather  wild  ambi- 
tion, and  waned  to  its  extinction  when  fate  decided  adversely  to  its  hopes  and 

Wishes.  (,  gweet  8minng  village,  loveliest  of  the  lawn, 

Thy  sports  are  fled,  and  all  thy  charms  withdrawn  ; 

Amidst  thy  bowers  the  tyrant's  hand  is  seen, 

And  desolation  saddens  all  thy  green  ; 

One  only  master  grasps  the  whole  domain, 

And  half  a  tillage  stints  thy  smiling  plain  ; 

No  more  thy  glassy  brook  reflects  the  day, 

But,  choked  with  sedges,  works  its  weedy  way  ; 

Along  thy  glades,  a  solitary  guest — 

The  hollow-sounding  bittern  guards  its  nest ; 

Amidst  thy  desert-walks  the  lapwing  flies, 

And  tires  their  echoes  with  unvaried  cries. 

Sunk  are  thy  bowers  in  shapeless  ruin  all, 

And  the  long  grass  o'ertops  the  moldering  wall, 

And  trembling,"shrinking  from  the  spoiler's  hand, 

Far,  far  away  thy  children  leave  the  land." 

Finally,  when  the  fact  was  ascertained  beyond  any  shadow  of  doubt  that 
it  was  "  born  to  blush  unseen,  and  waste  its  sweetness  upon  the  desert  air,"  it 
was  vacated,  by  legislative  enactment,  and  nothing  now  remains  to  point  out 
the  spot  where  once  it  stood.  Its  original  site  is  a  productive  farm. 


SANDRIDGE  PRECINCT. 

This  division  of  the  county  lies  in  the  extreme  northwest  corner  and  com- 
prises within  its  limits  a  little  more  than  fifty-four  sections,  or  a  township  and 
one-half.  It  is  designated  Congressionally  as  Township  19  north,  Ranges  7 
and  8  west  of  the  Third  Principal  Meridian.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  and 
east  by  the  Sangamon  River,  south  by  Petersburg  Precinct,  and  west  by  Cass 
County.  Originally,  its  surface  was  about  equally  divided  between  woodland 
and  prairie.  The  timber  was  of  a  fine  quality  and,  untouched  as  yet  by  the 
woodman's  ax,  was  heavier  than  the  third  or  fourth  growth  of  our  day.  Much 
of  its  surface  is  sufficiently  elevated  and  rolling  to  obviate  the  necessity  of 
artificial  drainage.  Small  portions  contiguous  to  the  Sangamon  on  the  east 
and  north  are  subject  to  overflow,  but  afford  excellent  pasturage.  Concord 
Creek  on  the  east,  Clary's  and  Little  Grove  on  the  southwest,  tributaries  of  the 
Sangamon,  afford  outlets  for  the  surface  waters  of  a  large  area.  The  Spring- 
field &  North- Western  Railroad  crosses  the  precinct  in  a  general  northwestern 
direction.  The  Jacksonville  branch  of  the  C.,  A.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.  touches  the 
southeastern  boundary  of  the  precinct.  The  villages  of  Oakford  and  Atter- 
berry,  whose  history  will  be  given  at  the  close  of  this  chapter,  are  stations  on 
the  first-mentioned  road.  A  belt  of  woodland  extending  in  a  general  north- 
eastern direction,  elevated  considerably  above  the  adjacent  prairie,  and  with 
quite  a  sandy  soil,  gives  to  the  precinct  the  name  which  it  bears. 


376  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 


EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

Few,  indeed,  in  the  county  antedate  the  first  settlements  made  within  the 
limits  of  this  precinct.  An  apparent  mist  of  doubt  appears  to  gather  about 
the  answer  to  the  question,  "  Who  was  the  first  settler  in  Sandridge  ?  "  Jesse 
Armstrong,  William  Sampson  and  Royal  Potter  were  the  first  to  make  perma- 
nent settlements,  but  just  which  of  these  three  pioneers  was  first  on  the  ground 
is  a  matter  not  very  readily  determined.  All  were  in  the  precinct  in  1819.  If 
there  be  a  preponderance  of  evidence  in  favor  of  either,  it  points  more  clearly 
to  Armstrong  than  either  of  the  others,  and,  for  this  reason,  we  are  inclined  to 
confer  upon  him  the  honor  of  making  the  first  improvement.  Armstrong  was 
from  Tennessee,  and  laid  a  claim  in  the  southeastern  part  of  this  section  on 
land  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Grady  Rutledge.  After  a  few  years,  he 
moved  to  Arkansas,  and  thence  to  Texas,  where,  some  years  later,  he 
died.  William  Sampson  was  from  Kentucky,  and  made  an  improvement  not 
far  from  where  John  A.  Clary  now  lives.  He  kept  bachelor's  hall  for  a  time, 
but  was  married  as  early  as  1821-22,  to  Hannah  Schmick.  After  living  and 
making  improvements  at  various  points  in  Sandridge,  he  finally  crossed  the 
Sangamon  and  settled  in  Greenview  Precinct,  where  he  died.  Some  of  his 
immediate  family  are  still  citizens  of  this  section.  Potter  was  from  Tennessee 
or  Kentucky,  and  made  an  improvement  on  land  now  owned  by  Henry  B. 
Shipley.  This  he  afterward  sold  to  Sampson  and  he  to  Reason  Shipley. 
George  and  Jesse  Miller  were  here  not  later  than  1820,  and  established  them- 
selves in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  precinct.  They  kept  the  ferry  across  the 
river  known  to  this  day  as  Miller's  Ferry.  The  town  of  Huron,  the  history 
of  which  is  given  in  the  general  history  of  Mason  County,  was  located  at  this 
point.  Bannister  Bond  came  from  Tennessee  and  made  an  improvement  on 
what  is  known  as  the  Dolman  place,  in  1821.  Here  he  lived  but  a  short  time, 
and  next  located  in  Clary's  Grove.  He  finally  moved  to  Iowa,  and,  at  last 
accounts,  was  living.  If  still  an  inhabitant  of  terra  firma,  he  is  not  far  from 
his  centennial  birthday.  He  was  a  man  of  powerful  muscular  development 
and  great  physical  endurance.  He  would  cut  his  timber  and  manufacture  rails 
by  day  and  then  carry  them  upon  his  shoulders  and  make  them  into  a  fence  by 
night.  George  Kirby  and  William  Watkins  became  citizens  the  same  year. 
Kirby  came  from  Madison  County.  His  father,  Cyrus  Kirbj,  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  came  to  this  State  in  1811.  The  first  settlement  of  the  family 
was  at  Clary's  Grove.  The  exact  year  of  removal  to  Sandridge  we  have  not 
been  able  to  ascertain.  Watkins,  who  by  way  of  distinction  is  known  as 
"Fiddler  Bill,"  acquired  his  citizenship  by  birth,  and  is  the  oldest  living 
native-born  citizen-  of  Menard  County.  His  finely  improved  farm  and  the 
large  accumulation  of  this  world's  goods  by  which  he  is  surrounded,  afford 
abundant  evidence  that  life  with  him  has  been  a  grand  success.  George  Hud- 
speth,  from  Monroe  County,  Ala.,  came  in  1823,  and  though  now  quite  feeble, 


HISTORY   OF   MKNARD   COUNTY.  377 

is  still  an  honored  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  the  precinct.  Elias  Hohi- 
raer,  Reasdn  Shipley,  Jacob  Short  and  his  sons  Obadiah,  James  and  Harrison, 
were  added  to  the  settlement  during  1824.  Hohimer  and  Shipley  were  from  th& 
"  dark  and  bloody  ground,"  and  became  permanent  settlers  of  this  section  from 
the  time  of  their  first  arrival.  Short  and  sons  were  from  Madison  County,  and 
settled  in  Petersburg  Precinct,  whence  they  came  to  this  section.  The 
elder  Short  died  the  year  following  his  removal  to  this  section.  Of  his  sons, 
Obadiah  died  at  Nauvoo,  James  in  Iowa,  and  Harrison  here.  Jacob  Short,  as 
were  a  number  of  the  other  early  pioneers  of  this  part,  was  a  ranger  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  did  good  work  in  the  service  of  his  country.  The  year 
1825  brought  in  a  large  number  of  settlers.  John  Clary,  who  had  settled  at 
Clary's  Grove  in  1819  with  his  sons,  John  A.  and  Hugh,  still  citizens  of  the 
precinct,  came  in  at  this  date.  William  Armstrong  and  his  brother  Pleasant, 
Isaac  Colson,  William  and  James  Rutledge,  John  Cameron,  Charles  Revis 
and  his  sons  Isham  and  Alexander,  Absalom  Mounts  and  his  son  James,  Rob- 
ert Davis,  and  doubtless  some  others,  were  here  before  the  close  of  1825.  The 
Armstrongs  were  from  Kentucky,  and  had  settled  prior  to  coming  to  Sand- 
ridge  on  Indian  Creek.  Pleasant,  who  maintained  a  state  of  celibacy,  died 
here  a  number  of  years  ago.  William  moved  to  Fulton  County,  and  is  still 
living.  Colson  was  from  Maine,  and  settled  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
precinct.  •  The  Rutledges  and  Cameron  were  originally  from  South  Carolina, 
but  they  lived  some  time  in  White  County  before  coming  here.  Cameron  was 
a  brother-in-law  to  William  Rutledge,  and,  with  them,  settled  in  the  southeast- 
ern part  of  this  section.  They  remained  citizens  till  removed  by  death,  and 
many  of  their  descendants  are  yet  to  be  found  here.  The  Revises  were  from 
Tennessee.  Alexander  became  an  early  citizen  of  Crane  Creek  Township, 
Mason  County.  Absalom  Mounts,  whose  name  has  become  inseparably  con- 
nected with  pioneer  milling  in  Menard  and  Mason  Counties,  came  into  the  pre- 
cinct during  the  year.  He  finally  moved  to  Arkansas,  where  he  engaged  in 
his  favorite  pursuit,  and,  during  the  late  civil  war,  lost  his  life  at  the  hands  of 
federal  soldiers.  James  Pantier  and  his  son  David  M.,  came  in  the  winter  of 
1826.  The  elder  Pantier  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  the  second  male 
white  child  born  in  the  State,  his  father  having  accompanied  Daniel  Boone  in 
his  earliest  adventures  in  hunting  and  warring  with  the  savage  red-skins  on  the 
"dark  and  bloody  ground."  He  settled  near  the  site  of  old  Concord  Church, 
purchasing  a  claim  of  William  Armstrong.  Here  he  continued  to  reside  till 
near  the  close  of  his  earthly  career,  when  he  made  his  home  with  his  son.  He 
died  in  1859,  and,  with  many  of  the  other  pioneer  settlers,  lies  buried  in  the 
cemetery,  on  land  owned  by  W.  Goodpasture.  Among  the  arrivals  of  1827, 
we  note  the  names  of  Thomas  Dowell,  John  and  James  Yardley,  Solomon  Nor- 
ris,  James  Runnels,  George  Bowman  and  John  Braham.  Dowell  was  from 
the  South,  and  settled  on  the  Sangamon  bottom  not  far  from  where  the  village 
of  Oakford  now  stands.  The  Yardleys  and  Norris  soon  crossed  into  Mason 


378  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

County,  and  a  notice  of  their  early  settlement  is  found  in  the  history  of  Crane 
Creek  Township.  James  Hudspeth,  Mathias  Young  and  John  B.  Colson  were 
here  prior  to  the  "deep  snow."  Hudspeth  and  Young  may  possibly  have 
come  as  early  as  1827,  but  Colson  did  not  locate  prior  to  1829.  The  fall  and 
winter  succeeding  the  "  deep  snow,"  quite  a  large  settlement  was  made  in  and 
around  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Oakford.  Julius  Simmons,  Legrande 
Winton,  Amos  Ogden,  Isaac  White,  William  Edwards,  Alvin  Smith,  Matthew 
Lownsberry  and  sons  Jonathan  and  Matthew,  Jacob  and  Lee  Brown  were 
among  the  arrivals.  Nearly  all  the  early  settlers  before  mentioned  were  from 
the  South.  These,  however,  were  from  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States,  and 
the  settlement  made  by  them  was  termed  "Yankee  Settlement,"  by  way  of 
distinction.  They  were  a  thrifty,  industrious  and  energetic  class  of  citizens, 
and  many  of  them  acquired  a  competency  for  themselves  and  family.  Most  of 
them  have  followed  the  beckoning  hand  across  the  "dark  waters,"  while  a  few 
yet  linger  on  the  shores  of  time.  During  the  two  decades  immediately  suc- 
ceeding the  first  settlements,  many  were  scattered  here  and  there  throughout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  precinct ;  some  became  permanent  fixtures, 
while  others  improved  a  small  claim,  sold  out  at  first  offer,  and  moved  farther 
out  on  the  borders  of  civilization.  As  was  the  invariable  custom,  the  first  set- 
tlers reared  their  cabins  in  and  near  the  timber.  The  rich  prairie  lands  out  of 
which  farms  could  be  made  in  a  day,  were  left  for  those  coming  at  a  later  date. 
Passing  down  through  the  years,  we  find  the  list  already  given  increased  by 
the  names  of  William  B.  Cloe,  Samuel  Lownsberry,  Isaac  Ogden,  Hayden 
Thomas,  John  Waldridge,  John  Kirby,  Milton'G.  Combs,  James  Altig,  George 
R.  Watkins,  J.  L.  Short,  James  Potter  and  E.  C.  Stith.  These  were  all 
here  prior  to  1840,  and  many  of  them  settled  in  the  prairie.  Many  of  these 
yet  remain  citizens  of  the  precinct,  and  some  on  the  very  farms  on  which  they 
began  life's  battle  forty-odd  years  ago.  Passing  now  from  the  early  settle- 
ments, we  come  to  notice  some  of  the  inconveniences  and  disadvantages  with 
which  the  pioneer  was  forced  to  contend. 

Some  one  has  asserted  that  the  pioneer  settlers  of  almost  every  section  have 
been  men  of  a  roving  disposition,  given  largely  to  hunting,  fishing,  and  such  like 
amusements,  with  strong  aversions  to  agricultural  pursuits.  While  many  an  old 
pioneer  refers  with  a  just  pride  to  the  gala  days  of  yore,  when  all  was  "  fun  and 
frolic,"  when  hunting  and  trapping  was  his  daily  occupation,  we  must  not  for- 
get that  the  comfort  and  welfare  of  the  family  depended  largely  upon  the  skill 
and  prowess  of  the  huntsman.  Most  of  the  pioneers  of  every  section  are  men 
of  limited  means,  and,  in  opening  up  their  farms,  underwent  many  hardships. 
It  is  related  of  Mr.  Kirby  that  he  planted  his  first  crop  of  cereals  by  digging 
up  the  ground  with  a  common  mattock.  The  "  wooden  mold-board  plow  " 
which  merely  rooted  up  the  surface  was  a  luxury  at  that  period  that  was  not 
within  the  reach  of  many.  Farming,  in  those  days,  we  are  assured,  was 
comparatively  a  slavish  occupation,  and  when  we  take  into  consideration  the 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  379 

indifferent  implements  with  which  they  were  compelled  to  labor,  we  can  pardon 
much  of  the  evident  aversion  of  the  hardy  pioneers  to  farm  labor.  Reaping 
wheat  with  a  sickle,  threshing  it  with  a  flail,  or  tramping  it  out  with  horses,  win- 
nowing it  with  a  sheet,  and  grinding  it  in  a  hand-mill,  or,  in  the  case  of  corn, 
beating  it  in  a  mortar,  were  not  operations  in  and  of  themselves  that  were  cal- 
culated to  impress  the  early  farmers  with  a  fondness  for  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  those  early  days  the  women  dressed  almost  exclusively  in  home-made  woolens, 
cottons  and  linens  of  their  own  manufacture,  and  wore  moccasins  (when  they 
wore  anything)  on  their  feet.  Men  wore  leather  shoes  considerably,  with  pants 
of  buckskin,  and  generally  a  hunting  shirt.  Dandies  affected  a  blanket  coat 
and  a  fox-skin  cap,  with  the  tail  turned  up  over  the  top.  We  mention  these 
incidents  that  the  youth  who  con  over  these  pages  may  understand  something  of 
the  habits,  customs  and  inconveniences  to  which  the  first  settlers  were  subjected, 
and  that  those  who  read  may,  by  comparison,  more  fully  appreciate  the  grand 
strides  that  have  been  made  in  our  civilization  within  the  last  half-century. 
While  the  senior  members  of  our  population,  against  whom  we  jostle  in  our 
daily  walks,  are,  for  the  most  part,  unskilled  in  "book  larnin,"  they  have 
a  fund  of  wisdom  gathered  from  experience  and  observation  which  would 
do  credit  to  the  head  and  heart  of  many  a  book-worm  of  the  present  day.  They 
were  scrupulously  honest,  and  had  not  learned  the  "  tricks  of  the  trade." 
When  the  Rev.  Thomas  Plasters  was  called  upon  to  recommend  a  horse  which 
his  son-in-law  had  for  sale,  he  said  to  the  would-be  purchaser,  "  The  horse  has 
two  pints  about  him  that  well  nigh  spiles  him  in  my  estimation.  The 
first  is,  he  is  very  hard  to  ketch,  and  secondly,  when  you  have  ketched 
him  he  is  of  no  earthly  account."  It  is  needless  to  add  that  this  brilliant 
recommendation,  coming  as  it  did  from  the  reverend  old  gentleman,  completely 
put  an  end  to  the  trade. 

EARLY    MILLING,  BLACKSMITHING.  ETC. 

Primarily,  the  hominy  mortar  was  the  instrument  used  for  the  production  of 
breadstuff.  When  wheat  began  to  be  raised,  a  trip,  occupying  two  weeks,  to 
Madison  County  for  grinding,  was  no  uncommon  thing  among  the  early  settlers, 
and  at  a  point  on  the  Sangamon,  near  Springfield,  was  for  a  number  of.  years 
their  nearest  mill.  Early  blacksmithing  was  obtained  at  Springfield.  If  an  ox- 
ring  was  needed,  or  a  log-chain  was  to  be  mended,  it  necessitated  a  pilgrimage 
to  the  present  capital.  After  the  founding  of  Salem,  many  of  these  incon- 
veniences became  things  of  the  past.  Money,  as  a  medium  of  barter  and 
exchange,  was  but  little  used  by  the  early  settlers.  Indeed,  as  was  remarked 
by  one  of  the  pioneers,  it  was  "  truck  for  truck,"  even  to  the  paying  of  the 
the  minister  for  his  labors.  All  the  money  they  needed  was  the  small  amount 
necessary  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  Government  in  the  way  of  taxes,  and 
this  required  but  a  nominal  sum.  One  old  settler  informed  us  that  on  the  same 
quarter-section  on  which  in  recent  years  he  has  paid  $75  in  taxes,  in  those 


380  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

early  days  $1.75  was  amply  sufficient  to  satisfy  all  demands.  In  the  matter  of 
church  organization,  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians  were  the  first  in  the  field. 
Their  first  church  was  organized  in  1826,  and  for  some  time  services  were  held, 
as  was  the  custom,  at  private  houses  and  in  the  groves.  Old  Concord  Church, 
on  the  creek  of  the  same  name  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  precinct,  was 
erected  about  the  year  1830.  It  was  a.  substantial  frame  building  and  served 
the  congregation  a,s  a  house  of  worship  for  about  thirty  years.  John  M.  Berry 
was  the  early  Pastor  of  the  flock.  James  Pantier  and  wife,  William  and 
James  Rutledge  and  wives,  Samuel  Berry  and  wife  were  the  original  members. 
Jesse  Armstrong  was  the  first  received  into  membership.  The  denomination 
has  prospered  remarkably  and  has  a  large  membership  throughout  the  county. 
The  present  church  edifice  was  built  about  1862-63,  and  is  a  model  of  neatness 
for  a  country  church.  The  Baptist  society  effected  an  organization  in  the  pre- 
cinct as  early  as  1833.  Revs.  Thomas  Plasters  and  John  Antle  were  among 
the  early  Baptist  ministers  of  this  section.  Their  first  church  was  doubtless 
erected  near  the  site  of  Robinson's  Mill,  but  the  date  of  its  building  we  were 
not  able  to  ascertain.  New  Hope  Church,  built  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
Section  16,  was  the  result  of  the  united  efforts  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians 
and  Baptists,  who  occupy  it  alternately  for  public  services.  The  building  is 
a  neat  frame  and  was  erected  about  1861—62.  A  German  church  has  recently 
been  built  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  10,  but  of  these  last  we  were 
able  to  obtain  but  very  meager  statistics.  Robinson's  Mill  was  built  on 
Clary's  Creek,  not  far  below  the  confluence  of  Little  Grove  Creek  and  the  first- 
mentioned  stream.  It  was  a  water-mill  and  did  work  for  a  large  scope  of  terri- 
tory. Though  the  exact  time  of  its  establishment  cannot  be  given,  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  it  was  not  far  from  1840.  A  town  site  was  surveyed  and  platted,  but, 
from  some  hindrances,  failed  to  develop  into  much  of  a  village,  and  is  now  num- 
bered with  the  dead.  The  only  post  office  ever  established  in  the  precinct  out- 
side of  the  ones  now  found  in  Oakford  and  Atterberry  was  at  this  point 
about  the  year  1844-45.  Over  this,  John  Bonnet  presided  as  Postmaster. 
The  place  is  now  deserted ;  no  mark  or  vestige  of  its  former  greatness  remains. 
The  mill  has  long  since  been  abandoned,  and  the  merchants  and  mechanics  of 
"  Bobtown  "  have  given  her  over  to  the  moles  and  bats. 

Dr.  John  Allen  was  the  first  practicing  physician  in  this  section.  He 
came  from  the  Green  Mountain  State  and  located  in  Salem  at  an  early  day. 
He  was  thoroughly  qualified  and  became  eminent  in  his  profession.  Dr.  Dun- 
can was  also  early  in  the  field,  and,  like  Allen,  was  a  resident  of  Salem.  He 
afterward  moved  to  Warsaw.  He  is  spoken  of  as  being  a  well-read  and  suc- 
cessful practitioner.  Early  mail  matter  was  received  at  Springfield,  when  the 
settler  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  able  to  lift  the  billet-doux,  or  a  line  from 
the  loved  ones  at  home,  from  the  office,  for  this  luxury  cost  the  sum  of  25 
cents,  an  amount  of.  cash  not  at  all  times  readily  obtained.  Among  those 
clothed  with  legal  authority  in  an  early  day,  we  may  record  the  names  of 


HISTORY   OF   MENARU   COUNTY.  381 

Samuel  Berry  and  Robert  Armstrong  as  the  first  Justices  of  the  Peace.  William 
Armstrong  was,  perhaps,  the  first  to  serve  in  this  capacity  after  the  present 
precinct  organization  was  effected.  S.  D.  Masters  was  also  quite  an  early 
Justice,  and,  in  1855,  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Legislature.  It  was  dur- 
ing this  session  that  Abraham  Lincoln  first  figured  prominently  as  a  candidate 
for  a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate.  The  history  of  this  precinct  has,  as 
regards  its  early  settlement,  been  so  intimately  connected  with  other  portions 
of  the  county  that  should  the  date  given  as  to  the  coming  of  some  of  its  citi- 
zens fall  wide  of  the  mark,  we  can  only  offer  in  palliation  of  the  offense,  that 
we  have  closely  adhered  to  the  testimony  of  the  oldest  and  best-posted  citizens 
now  living  within  her  borders,  guided,  also,  by  an  earnest  desire  to  present  the 
record  in  as  perfect  and  complete  a  manner  as  possible. 

VILLAGE    OF    OAKFORD. 

This  is  a  small  village  on  the  S.  &  N.-W.  R.  R.,  and  was  surveyed  and 
platted  by  A.  J.  Kelly,  County  Surveyor,  for  the  proprietors,  William  Oakford 
and  William  Colson,  in  March,  1872.  The  town  plat  contains  sixty  acres  and 
is  in  the  midst  of  a  fine  agricultural  district.  The  land  on  which  the  town  is 
situated  belonged  to  Colson,  and  Oakford  acquired  a  half-interest  for  his 
influence  in  securing  a  station.  A  public  sale  of  lots  was  made  April  11, 

1872,  at  which   time  some  $2,000   worth   were  disposed  of,   and  soon  after 
improvements  began  to  be  made.     The  first  building  or  shanty  on  the  town 
site  was  what  was  known  as  the  railroad  store,  a  kind  of  portable  affair  carry- 
ing chiefly  in  stock  a  supply  for  the  railroad  hands.     Soon  after  the  village  was 
laid  out,  William  Oakford  built  a  storeroom  and  opened  out  a  stock  of  grocer- 
ies.    In  the  summer  of  1872,  a  general  store  was  opened  by  Calvin  Atterberry, 
who  had  been  in   business  at   "Bobtown."     This  was  purchased  in  1873,  by 
Isaac  Ogden  and  A.  G.  Colson.     In  January,  1874,  L.  W.  Roberts  bought  out 
Colson,  and  the  firm  became  that  of  Ogden  &  Roberts.    In  October,  1875,  they 
sold  out  to  Sutton  Bros.,  who  operated  the  store  three  years  and  then  sold  to 
S.  L.  Watkins  &   Bro.,  who  have  since  conducted  the  business.     In  June, 

1873,  H.  A.  Bennett,  from  Petersburg,  opened  out  a  stock  of  drugs  and  shelf 
goods  in  the  old  railroad  storeroom.     This  he  soon  after  sold  to  William  Col- 
son, and  he  in  turn  to  A.  G.  Colson  and  J.  H.  Green.     In  January,  1876,  S. 
L.  Watkins,  the  present  proprietor,  bought  the  establishment.     In  the  spring 
of  1875,  Dr.  J.  D.  Whitney  and  W.  C.  Roberts  erected  a  building  and  opened 
a  drug  store.     T.  P.  Renshaw  &  Co.  began  the  operation  of  a  branch  store 
with  a  general  stock  in  August,  1878.     They  occupy   the  room   erected  by 
Watkins  &  Colson,  and  formerly  occupied  by  Moon  &  Gault,  of  Petersburg. 
Their  main  store  is  located  at  Chandlerville,  Cass  County.     Oliver  J.  Moltby  and 
J.  W.  Walker  started  a  harness-shop  in  1876.     This  branch  of  business  is  at 
present  operated  by  Berget  Guist,  from  Virginia,  Cass  County.     A  confection- 
ery  and   restaurant  is   operated  semi-occasionally   by  C.  P.  Stith.     James  S. 


382  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

Carter,  from  Petersburg,  opened  a  furniture  store  here  in  1877,  but  did  not 
continue  the  business  long.  Dr.  J.  D.  Whitney  and  Charles  Meyers  built  the 
first  dwellings  in  the  village  in  the  summer  of  1872.  Meyers  had  formerly 
kept  a  doggery  at  Robinson's  Mills  and  supplied  the  villagers  and  surrounding 
inhabitants  of  the  infant  Oakford  with  fire-water  for  the  space  of  two  years. 
James  P.  Thomas,  familiarly  known  as  "Porky  Thomas,"  now  issues  out 
rations  to  the  "boys"  in  the  way  of  "smiles."  James  S.  Carter,  after  closing 
out  his  furniture  store,  opened  a  saloon  and  still  operates  it.  Gilbert  Skaggs, 
now  editor  of  the  Chandlerville  Independent,  built  the  first  blacksmith-shop  in 
the  village.  This  was  purchased  by  James  McElhern,  who  came  from  Canada, 
and  was  the  first  blacksmith  in  the  place.  L.  W.  Roberts,  Isaac  Ogden, 
William  Jackson,  A.  G.  Colson,  Henry  Garter,  James  McElhern,  and  perhaps 
others,  built  dwellings  in  the  summer  of  1874,  and  for  a  time  the  village 
seemed  to  be  well  out  on  the  highway  to  prosperity.  But  as  the  storm  is  ever 
succeeded  by  the  calm,  so  the  spirit  of  improvement  gradually  subsided  and 
the  village  has  pretty  much  since  remained  in  statu  quo.  The  first  practitioner 
to  locate  in  the  village  was  Dr.  J.  D.  Whitney,  who  has  recently  taken  up  his 
residence  in  Petersburg.  Jacob  A.  Bolinger,  M.  D.,  is  the  present  resident 
physician.  He  has  but  recently  located  here  and  is  a  young  man  of  much 
promise  in  his  profession.  He  is  an  alumnus  of  Missouri  Medical  College. 
Rev.  John  Kennedy,  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  persuasion,  preached  here  in 
quite  an  early  period  of  the  village  history.  No  schoolhouse  or  church  build- 
ing has  ever  been  erected  in  the  village  limits.  Services  are  held  occasionally 
by  the  different  denominations  of  the  vicinity,  in  the  hall  orer  the  storeroom 
of  Renshaw  &  Co.  The  mortality  among  the  children  of  the  village  and 
neighborhood  in  the  summer  of  1873,  was  very  great.  Five  interments  some- 
times occurred  in  a  single  day  at  the  Oakford  Cemetery.  The  first  death 
among  the  adult  population,  was  that  of  Horace  Purdy,  whose  decease  occurred 
in  the  winter  of  1872.  His  wife  also  died  a  few  weeks  later.  The  first  birth 
was  that  of  a  son  of  John  Whitley,  born  in  September,  1872.  The  marriage 
of  A.  G.  Colson  and  Rachel  Skaggs,  in  November,  1872,  and  that  of  L.  W. 
Roberts  and  Carrie  C.  Ogden,  in  March,  1873,  were  the ^  first  weddings  that 
occurred  in  the  village.  The  post  office  was  established  soon  after  the  village 
was  started.  It  is  at  present  presided  over  by  S.  L.  Watkins.  Low  &  Foster 
built  a  small  elevator  in  1877,  and  handle  the  grain  shipped  from  this  point. 
A  case  of  justifiable  homicide  occurred  in  the  village  during  the  summer  of 
1876.  James  McElhern,  who  has  already  been  mentioned  as  the  first  black- 
smith, lost  his  life  at  the  hands  of  one  A.  J.  McDonald.  McElhern  was  a 
man  of  great  physical  strength  and  of  rather  a  quarrelsome  disposition,  espe- 
cially when  under  the  influence  of  intoxicants.  It  was  clearly  proven  at  the 
preliminary  examination  that  McDonald  was  making  every  effort  possible  to 
avoid  an  encounter,  but  finding  every  avenue  of  escape  cut  off,  suddenly  turned 
upon  him  and  delivered  a  pistol  shot  which  proved  fatal.  The  grand  jury 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  383 

failed  to  find  a  bill  of  indictment  and  so  the  matter  ended.  The  business  interests 
of  the  village  to-day  are  represented  as  follows :  Two  general  stores,  one  drug 
store,  one  harness-shop,  one  boot  and  shoe  shop,  one  barber-shop,  one  flour  and 
feed  store,  one  butcher-shop,  two  saloons  and  one  grain  elevator.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  village  does  not  exceed  two  hundred. 

Atterberry,  a  station  on  the  S.  &  N.-W.  Railroad,  midway  between  Peters- 
burg and  Oakford,  was  laid  out  by  Daniel  Atterberry,  in  March,  1872.  By 
birth,  it  is  one  day  younger  than  Oakford.  An  acre  of  ground  was  donated  to 
the  road  for  depot  purposes.  The  town  site  is  in  the  midst  of  a  rich  farming 
community,  but  from  some  cause  the  growth  of  the  village  has  failed  thus  far 
to  meet  the  expectations  of  its  founder.  Not  to  exceed  half  a  dozen  dwellings 
mark  the  spot  to-day.  A  post  office,  which  is  a  mere  neighborhood  conven- 
ience, is  presided  over  by  Mr.  Colburn,  the  gentlemanly  agent  of  the  S.«&  N. 
W.  R.  R.  at  this  point.  As  a  point  from  which  to  ship  grain  and  live  stock, 
it  pays  the  railroad  to  keep  a  station  here.  Few  points  on  the  road  show  a 
larger  shipment  of  live  stock,  and  the  grain  trade  is  rapidly  increasing.  There 
is  some  talk  of  erecting  a  steam  elevator  and  mill  combined  at  the  town,  and 
should  this  be  made  an  accomplished  fact,  no  doubt  a  spirit  of  enterprise  and 
improvement  would  spring  up  in  the  village. 


ROCK  CREEK  PRECINCT. 

"  Time  writes  no  wrinkles  upon  the  brow  of  Old  Ocean,  as  upon  those  of 
the  fading  race  of  men."  With  some  degree  of  truth,  the  same  might  be  said 
of  Rock  Creek  Precinct.  The  last  fifty  years  have  produced  far  less  change  in 
it  than  in  many  other  portions  of  Menard  County.  The  "storms  and  sunshine  " 
of  more  than  three-score  years  have  "  flung  their  light  and  shade  "  over  its  hills 
and  vales  since  the  first  people  (whom  God  made  white)  laid  their  claims  in  ita 
sheltering  timber.  Numbers  of  those  log  cabins  may  yet  be  found  upon  the 
summit  of  the  little  hills,  or  nestled  away  in  the  valleys  and  dells,  as  if  hiding 
from  the  storms.  The  log  cabins  and  the  old-style  rail  fences  do  not  show  the 
advance  in  the  "  fine  arts  "  displayed  by  some  of  Rock  Creek's  sister  precincts, 
but  still  bear  many  of  the  traces  of  pioneer  times.  Much  of  the  land,  too,  in 
quality  falls  below  the  average  standard  of  the  land  in  the  county.  There  are 
some  very  fine  spots,  however,  and  upon  these  may  be  found  the  flourishing, 
well-to-do  farmers  of  the  precinct. 

Rock  Creek  is  the  smallest  division  of  Menard  County,  and,  taken  as  a 
whole,  is,  perhaps,  one  of  the  poorest  in  worldly  wealth.  The  larger  portion 
of  it  is  timber,  and  much  of  it  rough  and  broken  in  surface.  The  heaviest  tim- 
ber is,  perhaps,  along  Rock  Creek,  which  meanders  through  it,  bearing  a  little 
to  the  northeast  after  passing  the  center  of  the  precinct,  and  emptying  into  the 
Sangamon  River  through  Section  4.  Timber  borders  the  Sangamon  Riveiv 


384  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

which  forms  the  boundary  line  between  this  and  Athens  Precinct  with  numer- 
ous little  groves  besides,  leaving  but  little  prairie  land.  Geographically,  Rock 
Creek  Precinct  lies  south  of  Petersburg  Precinct,  east  of  Tallula,  north  of  San- 
gamon County  and  west  of  Athens  Precinct.  Its  only  water-courses  are  Rock 
Creek  and  branches,  and  the  Sangamon  River — flowing  along  its  eastern  bound- 
ary, as  noted  above.  According  to  Government  survey,  it  is  pretty  equally 
divided  in  Ranges  6  and  7  of  Township  17  north,  and  contains  but  about 
twenty-three  full  sections  of  land.  It  has  no  cities  or  towns,  neither  has  the 
snort  of  the  iron  horse  ever  echoed  through  its  forests,  disturbing  the  cattle 
grazing  upon  its  "thousand  hills."  It  is  decidedly  a  rural  district,  devoted 
wholly  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  home  industries.  In  early  times,  it  received 
the  soubriquet  of  "  Wolf  County,"  but  just  why  the  name  was  .given  we  could 
not  learn.  Whether  it  was  owing  to  the  fact  that  wolves  abounded  among  its 
hills  and  brakes,  or  from  some  other  fancied  resemblance  to  something  or  some- 
body, we  leave  it  to  our  readers  to  find  out,  and  will  now  turn  our  attention  to 

ITS    EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  cabin  erected  in  what  now  forms  Rock  Creek  Precinct,  is  said  to  have 
been  built  by  a  man  named  Amor  Batterton.  In  1819,  the  year  after  Illinois 
became  a  State,  he  settled  in  this  precinct  on  the  place  now  owned  by  Jonas 
Combs.  He  had,  it  is  stated,  made  a  claim  and  built  a  cabin  the  previous 
autumn,  but  did  not  permanently  locate  until  during  the  early  part  of  1819. 
He  came  from  Kentucky,  raised  quite  a  large  family,  and  has  descendants  still 
residing  in  the  precinct.  The  same  year  that  Batterton  settled  here,  a  man 
named  Ratliff  and  four  sons — James,  Job,  William  and  Joshua — James  Fisher 
and  George  Gamerel  settled  in  the  timber  along  the  Creek.  Jacob  Miller 
settled  at  what  is  called  Farmer's  Point  in  1819.  Solomon  Keltner  and  William 
Stephenson  came  also  in  1819-20,  and  made  settlements  in  this  neighborhood. 
Rev.  James  Simms  and  his  son-in-law,  James  Black,  also  came  in  1819-20. 
They  were  from  Kentucky,  and  of  Mr.  Simms  we  learned  the  following,  which 
we  give  for  what  it  is  worth  without  vouching  for  its  correctness :  "  That  he 
was  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  minister,  a  great  revivalist  and  leader  at  camp- 
meetings.  He  established  a  "  camp-ground"  soon  after  he  came  to  the  neigh- 
borhood, which,  for  many  years,  was  the  scene  of  an  annual  camp-meeting,  and 
that  some  of  the  old  remains  are  still  to  be  seen  on  the  sacred  spot."  Mr. 
Simms  seems  to  have  taken  an  active  part  in  temporal  as  well  as  spiritual  affairs, 
as  we  are  told  he  was  the  first. Representative  in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon 
County.  At  the  early  period  of  which  we  write,  Sangamon  included  in  its 
territory  not  only  Menard  but  several  other  of  the  surrounding  counties.  He 
finally  moved  West,  but  to  what  point  we  did  not  learn.  Absalom  Matthews 
came  also  this  year.  Little,  however,  is  remembered  of  him  now.  This  com- 
prised the  settlement  up  to  the  beginning  of  the  year  1821,  when  the  following 
recruits  were  added  to  the  number  already  here  :  Tarleton  Lloyd,  George 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  387 

Miller,  Marshall  Duncan,  David  S.  Taylor,  Mathias,  James  and  William 
Yoakum,  and,  perhaps,  others  whose  names  are  forgotten.  Lloyd  came  from 
Virginia,  and  was  born  in  1784,  and  is  now  ninety-five  years  of  age.  He  set- 
tled where  he  still  lives,  and  says  there  were  two  log  cabins  on  the  place  at  the 
time.  Into  one  of  these,  which  was  12x16  feet,  he  moved  his  family.  Two 
years  after,  he  built  a  log  house  18x20  feet,  which  has  since  been  "  weather- 
boarded,"  and  a  frame  addition  built  to  it.  The  house  is  fifty -six  years  old, 
and,  like  its  venerable  owner,  begins  to  show  the  ravages  of  time.  Mr.  Lloyd 
says  he  had  nothing  when  he  came  here  but  his  household  effects,  etc.  He 
bought  a  cow  from  a  man  named  Shipley,  for  which  he  gave  a  wagon,  and  also 
a  cow  from  George  Greene,  giving  therefor  a  feather  bed.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812  ;  served  under  Capt.  Henry  West,  Fourth  Regiment,  and  was 
in  the  battle  at  New  Orleans.  Miller  settled  in  the  Sangamon  River  bottom, 
and  Duncan,  on  what  is  known  as  Garden  Prairie.  Taylor  bought  the  place 
settled  originally  by  Batterton,  also  the  claim  of  Matthews.  The  Yoakums 
came  originally  from  Virginia,  but  had  emigrated  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  day, 
whence  they  came  to  Illinois,  first  stopping  in  Madison  County,  athen  in 
Montgomery,  and  finally  locating  in  this  neighborhood,  as  above  stated.  Samuel 
Combs  settled  here  in  1824,  and  Jonas  Combs,  a  brother,  in  1826.  They  came 
from  Kentucky.  Samuel  died  here  years  ago,  and  Jonas  is  still  living  on  the 
place  of  his  original  settlement  at  an  advanced  age.  Ekhu  Bone  came  from 
Tennessee  in  1824,  and  bought  out  a  man  named  Flynn,  on  Rock  Creek.  He 
died  here  in  1856.  Isaac  Cogdall  is  from  Kentucky,  and  came  to  the  country 
in  1826.  He  still  lives  on  his  original  settlement,  and  is  quite  a  prominent 
man  in  the  community.  Joseph  Cogdall,  the  father  of  Isaac,  and  a  Baptist 
minister,  carne  as  early  as  1823.  He  died  in  1828,  and  was  one  of  the  early 
deaths  in  the  little  settlement.  Rev.  John  Berry,  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
minister,  came  as  early  as  1821.  He  organized  a  church  society  at  a  very  early 
day,  as  elsewhere  noticed. 

Elijah  Houghton  came  in  1824  and  settled  on  Rock  Creek,  in  this  precinct. 
His  father,  Aaron  Houghton,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  though  of  English  origin.  He  emigrated  to  Kentucky 
when  it  was,  in  reality,  the  "dark  and  bloody  ground"  and  the  battle-field 
between  the  Northern  and  Southern  Indians,  as  in  after  years  it  became  the 
battle-field  between  Northern  and  Southern  whites.  Elijah  Houghton  was  a 
man  of  considerable  prominence  in  the  settlement,  and  died  in  1852.  A.  M. 
Houghton,  a  son,  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  Charles  Houghton,  a  brother 
of  Elijah  Houghton,  came  in  1824.  He  settled  on  the  place  now  owned  by 
Isaac  Cogdall.  Robert  Johnson,  Jesse  Vowell,  Michael  Davis  and  William 
Irwin  came  about  1826  to  1828.  J.  H.  Smith  was  also  an  early  settler  in  this 
neighborhood.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Smith,  of  Rhode  Island.  The  latter 
gentleman  married  a  Rhodes,  of  the  family  of  Rhodeses  for  whom,  it  is  said, 
Rhode  Island  was  originally  named.  J.  H.  Smith  is  still  on  his  original 

L 


388  HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 

settlement.  C.  J.  F.  Clarke  may  also  be  ranked  among  the  early  settlers. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  County  Commissioners,  and  claims  to  have  been  the  first 
County  Judge  of  Menard  County.  He  served  eight  years  in  the  latter  office, 
and  four  years  as  County  Commissioner.  He  died  some  years  ago  in  Cass 
County. 

This  includes  all  the  early  settlers  whose  names  we  have  been  able  to  obtain. 
There  were,  doubtless,  others  who  are  entitled  to  mention  in  this  connection ; 
but  when  we  look  back  over  a  period  of  sixty  years,  it  is  not  strange  that  many 
of  the  pioneers  who  came  to  the  wilderness  then  and  remained  but  a  short  time, 
or  died  early,  are  forgotten  by  the  few  still  left.  We  are  not  remembered  long 
after  we  pass  from  the  stage  of  action. 

"  If  you  or  I  to-day  should  die, 

The  birds  would  sing  as  sweet  to-morrow  ; 
The  vernal  Spring  her  flowers  would  bring, 
And  few  would  think  of  us  with  sorrow. 

"  '  Yes,  he  is  dead,'  would  then  be  said  ; 

The  corn  would  floss,  the  grass  yield  hay, 
The  cattle  low,  and  summer  go, 

And  few  would  heed  us  passed  away. 

"  How  soon  we  pass  !    how  few,  alas  ! 

Remember  those  who  turn  to  mold  ! 
Whose  faces  fade,  with  autumn's  shade, 
Beneath  the  sodded  churchyard  cold  ! 

"  Yes  it  is  so.     We  come,  we  go — 

They  hail  our  birth,  they  mourn  us  dead, 
A  day  or  more,  the  winter  o'er, 
Another  takes  our  place  instead." 

It  is  with  no  intention  of  injustice  to  any  one  that  we  quote  the  above  lines. 
They  are  beautifully  pathetic,  and  as  true  as  beautiful.  None  miss  us  when  we 
pass  away  but  our  immediate  relatives,  and  in  a  short  time  they  forget  us,  and 
laugh  as  merrily  as  when  we  sat  beside  them.  Such  is  life,  and  such  is  human 
nature. 

As  we  have  already  noticed,  Rock  Creek  is  the  smallest  precinct  in  the 
county,  containing  a  little  less  than  two-thirds  of  the  surface  area  of  a  Con- 
gressional township.  Many  of  its  first  settlers  were  from  Kentucky  and  Vir- 
ginia, where  timber  and  running  water  abounded  in  the  most  plentiful  profusion, 
and  hence  looked  upon  the  timbered  borders  of  Rock  Creek  and  the  Sangamon 
as  a  second  paradise.  The  prairies  then  were  supposed  to  be  "  barren  wastes  " 
that  would  always  be  useless  except  for  pasturage.  Thus  it  was  that  the  early 
settlements , were  all  made  in  the  timber  and  along  the  water-courses.  "  Drive- 
wells"  had  not  then  been  invented,  and  to  have  settled  out  on  the  prairie  at 
that,  early  time  would  have  appeared  as  rash  as  to  attempt  to  cross  the  Great 
Desert  without  water. 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY.  389 

CHURCHES.    SCHOOLS,    SHOPS,    ETC. 

One  of  the  very  first  church  societies  formed  in  what  is  now  Menard  County 
was  the  Rock  Creek  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  as  it  is  known  at  the 
present  day.  The  society  was  originally  organized  by  Rev.  John  Berry,  in 
1821  or  1822.  Rev.  John  Simms  came  a  short  time  prior,  and  these  two 
pioneer  preachers  laid  out  a  camp-ground,  as  elsewhere  noticed,  in  the  foresta 
of  Rock  Creek,  held  camp-meetings  for  a  number  of  years,  and  the  "  seed  sown 
in  good  ground"  here  has  developed  into  the  present  Rock  Creek  Church, 
which  stands  near  the  line  between  Sections  14  and  15.  The  first  start  toward 
a  church  was  a  shed  put  up  for  the  purposes  of  holding  camp-meetings,  as 
above  mentioned.  The  next  was  a  little  log  building  used  for  both  church  and 
school  exercises.  It  was,  some  years  later,  rebuilt  on  a  more  extensive  scale, 
and,  finally,  the  present  elegant  frame  church  succeeded  these  primitive  edifices, 
and  now  the  people  of  Rock  Creek  Precinct  have  quite  a  handsome  temple  or 
worship.  Revs.  Berry  and  Simms  were  the  first  preachers  of  this  denomina- 
tion, and  laid  the  foundation  of  this  prosperous  church  almost  sixty  years  ago. 
The  present  Pastor  of  the  Rock  Creek  Church  is  Rev.  J.  C.  Momeyer.  A 
Sunday  school  is  conducted  during  the  summer  season.  This  is  the  only  church 
edifice  in  the  precinct.  A  neat  little  parsonage  is  attached  to  it  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  minister.  There  is  also  a  cemetery  adjacent,  in  which  repose 
many  of  the  pioneers  both  of  the  Church  and  the  neighborhood.  It  is  laid  out 
with  taste,  well  kept,  and  inclosed  with  a  substantial  fence.  Rev.  Joseph  Cog- 
dall  was  also  an  early  preacher  in  this  settlement,  and  belonged  to  the  Baptist 
denomination. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  present  precinct  of  Rock  Creek,  is  said  to  have- 
been  taught  by  a  man  named  Cumpton,  in  1824—25,  in  a  little  log  cabin,  on 
the  place  settled  by  Tarleton  Lloyd.  Another  of  the  pioneer  pedagogues  was 
Ira  McGlasson,  who  taught  in  a  log  cabin,  near  Andrew  Houghton's,  probably 
the  next  year  after  Humphreys.  The  precinct,  at  present,  has  five,  comfort- 
able and  commodious  schoolhouses,  all  of  which  are  brick  or  frame,  and  in 
which  schools  are  maintained  during  the  usual  term  each  year.  The  people  are- 
alive  to  the  benefits  of  education,  and  have  secured  ample  facilities  for  educating 
their  children.  The  following,  which  is  said  to  have  occurred  in  this  precinct, 
will  illustrate  the  early  educational  advantages  of  a  new  country :  A  young  man 
applied  to  the  proper  authority  (an  old  farmer)  for  a  school  in  the  neighborhood. 
The  old  gentleman  deeming  an  examination  necessary,  put  him  to  reading  the 
Bible  as  a  test  of  his  qualifications.  It  so  happened  that  the  young  man  opened 
the  book  in  Genesis,  at  the  genealogical  record,  and,  after  reading  for  a  time  in 
those  jaw-breaking  names,  the  old  fellow  stopped  him,  and  said,  "he  guessed! 
he'd  do  to  keep  school  thar,"  and  that  he  might  write  out  a  certificate.  The- 
young  man  complied,  and,  after  writing  the  certificate,  handed  it  to  the  old  man 
to  sign,  who  remarked,  "  you  sign  my  name  and  I'll  make  my  mark,  I  can't 
write  it  myself." 


390 


HISTORY   OF   MENARD   COUNTY. 


Tarleton  Lloyd  was  the  first  blacksmith,  and  opened  a  shop  as  early  as 
1822—23,  and  did  the  work  in  this  line  for  the  surrounding  country.  A  mill 
was  built  by  Rev.  Mr.  Simms,  in  1823,  the  first  in  this  region.  It  was  a  prim- 
itive affair,  and  propelled  by  horse-power,  but  served  to  crack  corn  for  hominy, 
and  even  wheat  was  "  mashed  "  on  it  sometimes,  as  an  old  settler  informed  us. 
But  it  has  long  since  passed  away,  and  milling  is  now  done  at  other  points. 

The  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  man  of  the  name 
of  Syniard,  who  was  among  the  early  settlers.  One  of  the  Bones  was  also  an 
«arly  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  "  Wolf  County,"  as  this  precinct  is  familiarly 
called.  In  illustration  of  these  early  courts,  the  following  is  told  at  the  expense 
of  Squire  Syniard :  Two  of  his  neighbors  got  into  a,  wrangle  over  a  debt  which 
one  owed  the  other,  and  which  he  had  promised  to  pay  in  hogs.  In  the  fall, 
when  the  debt  was  to  have  been  paid,  hogs  happened  to  be  a  good  price,  so  the 
debtor  sold  his  fat  hogs,  and  delivered  to  his  creditor  a  sow  and  pigs,  which  he 
contended  fulfilled  his  obligation,  as  they  were  hogs.  The  creditor  demurred, 
and  a  suit  was  the  result.  It  came  up  before  Squire  Syniard  for  trial,  and, 
after  patiently  hearing  both  sides  of  the  question,  he  rendered  judgment  in  favor 
of  the  creditor,  deciding  that,  legally,  a  sow  and  pigs  were  not  hogs.  A  post 
office  was  established  in  the  precinct  in  1877,  called  Lloyd  Post  Office,  after 
the  oldest  living  settler.  It  is  on  the  creek,  east  of  Isaac  Cogdall's,  and  is  kept 
by  L.  B.  Conover. 

Politically,  Rock  Creek  is  Democratic  to  the  backbone.  Farmer's  Point  is 
the  voting-place.  During  the  late  war,  it  was  loyal,  and  turned  out  as  large  a 
number  of  soldiers  to  its  population,  as  any  neighborhood  in  the  county.  The 
men  of  Rock  Creek  volunteered  into  the  regiments  raised  in  this  section,  which 
drew  their  chief  strength  from  Menard,  and  among  which  were  the  Fourteenth 
and  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Regiments,  Illinois  Infantry.  This  precinct 
receives  its  name  from  Rock  Creek,  which  meanders  through  it  from  east  to 
west.  Whether  the  creek  was  named  for  the  rock  in  and  about  it,  or  because 
all  things  must  have  a  name,  we  do  not  know,  but  leave  it  to  our  readers  to  find 
out.  This  comprises  the  history  of  this  little  precinct.  The  territory  being 
small,  and  without  villages  and  towns,  there  is  little  history  beyond  the  settle- 
ments made  within  its  borders. 


HISTORY  OF  MASON  COUNTY. 


BY   GEN.    JAMES    M.    RUGGLES. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


History  is  but  the  footprints  upon  the  sands  of  time,  by  which  we  trace  the 
growth,  development  and  advancement  of  the  people  constituting  a  nation.  It 
takes  note  of  the  humblest  tiller  of  the  soil  as  well  as  of  the  scholar,  the  states- 
man, the  soldier,  and  the  great  and  good  men  and  women  who  build  the 
imperishable  monuments  of  a  country's  greatness. 

Tradition  tells  us  of  the  glories  of  the  garden  of  Eden,  and  the  purity  and 
happiness  of  the  first  pair,  and  also  of  their  transgression  and  fall  from  their 
high  and  happy  estate.  Of  the  men  and  things  that  existed  in  the  world 
during  the  many  dark  centuries  that  precede  the  historic  period,  we  know 
nothing,  except  through  rude  hieroglyphics  and  vague  traditions,  handed  down 
through  the  beclouded  minds  of  unlettered  and  superstitious  people. 

Beginning  with  the  age  of  letters  and  improvements  in  the  languages 
of  the  world,  followed  by  the  modern  inventions  of  printing  types  and  presses, 
and  the  immense  institution  of  the  daily  newspaper  and  telegraph,  minute  and 
reliable  records  of  the  world's  daily  doings  are  chronicled,  and  out  of  these 
veritable  history  is  formulated. 

The  multiplicity  of  inventions  and  discoveries,  resulting  from  a  rapid  growth 
of  intelligence,  during  the  last  half-century,  has  produced  the  necessary  con- 
ditions for  the  production  of  a  more  perfected  type  of  the  genus  homo,  by 
whom  the  world  is  peopled,  and  through  whom  history  of  a  still  higher  order 
will  be  furnished  for  those  who  may  live  in  the  hereafter. 

The  events  that  make  up  the  annals  of  a  new  and  growing  country  will 
always  be  of  interest  to  the  seeker  after  knowledge,  who  may  in  them  learn  who 
has  lived  and  what  has  been  done  in  the  past  ages  of  the  world.  The  time  is 
approaching  when  ignorance  of  the  world's  historic  past  will  be  a  reproach, 
however  it  may  be  as  to  a  lack  of  knowledge  of  the  future  ! 

America  constitutes  a  great  nation  of  people,  made  up  from  the  populations 
of  many  other  nations,  and  Illinois  is  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  highly 
favored  by  nature  of  all  the  thirty-eight  States ;  extending  as  it  does  over  a 
range  of  five  and  a  half  degrees  of  latitude,  causing  a  more  varied  climate  than 


392  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

X 

any  other  State,  and  for  its  fertility  of  soil  is  unsurpassed  in  the  world  ;  thus 
making  Illinois  the  jeweled  crown  in  our  glorious  Union. 

MASON    COUNTY. 

Mason  is  one  of  the  hundred  and  two  counties  of  Illinois,  and  is  entitled 
to  her  place  in  the  local  history  that  makes  up  that  of  the  State,  in  its  intelli- 
gence, enterprise  and  industrial  wealth  and  prosperity.  The  patient  toil  and 
hardships  of  its  pioneers,  living  in  their  rude  huts  and  log  cabins,  as  well  as 
the  noble  and  patriotic  deeds  of  its  public  men  in  later  years,  and  the  gallantry 
of  its  soldiers  on  the  battle-field  are  a  part  of  the  pride  and  glory  of  the  State 
and  the  nation. 

The  territory  that  constitutes  the  county  of  Mason  has  been  subjected  to 
many  changes  since  the  discovery  and  settlement  of  America.  Originally,  or, 
rather,  as  far  back  as  we  know,  it  belonged  to  Mr. 

"  Lo,  the  poor  Indian,  whose  untutored  mind, 
Sees  God  in  clouds  and  hears  Him  in  the  wind  !  " 

Who  Mr.  Lo  got  it  from  we  may  never  know  ;  that  once  the  red  men  lived 
here  in  their  homes  we  do  know.  On  the  bluff  banks  of  the  Illinois  River,  at 
Havana  and  Bath,  they  occupied  their  villages,  and  builded  their  mounds  (pro- 
viding always  that  they  were  not  built  by  some  other  people  who  lived  here 
before  them)  in  which  they  buried  their  dead  and  deposited  their  wares  and 
implements  of  war,  where  these  trophies  of  the  ages  of  the  past  may  still  be 
found.  Undisturbed  in  those  days  by  the  pale-faced  race,  beneath  the  shadows 
of  the  rude  wigwam, 

"  The  Indian  wooed  his  dusky  maid, 
And  the  red  fox  dug  his  hole  unscared." 

These  mounds,  and  the  relics  they  contain,  are  the  only  historic  chapters 
handed  down  to  us  to  tell  of  the  people  whose  moccasined  feet  once  pressed 
upon  the  sands  that  border  upon  our  beautiful  river.  With  those  people  there 
were  no  learned  men  to  chronicle  the  history  they  were  making,  though  among 
them  unlettered  sages  and  warriors  there  may  have  been. 

With  us,  how  different.  We  know  the  uses  of  letters,  printing  presses, 
books  and  telegraphs,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  we  should  die  and  leave  no 
sign.  The  history  we  are  making  can  be  handed  down  to  posterity,  in  the  ages 
that  are  to  come,  for  thousands  of  years,  when  other  and  higher  races  of  men 
shall  have  taken  our  places  in  populating  and  controlling  the  destinies  of  the 
great  American  continent. 

For  a  long  period,  the  territory  constituting  the  county  of  Mason  and  the 
State  of  Illinois,  was  dominated  by  the  French  nation,  whose  brave  pioneers 
were  the  first  of  the  white  race  to  tread  upon  its  soil  and  voyage  upon  its 
rivers. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  393 

EARLY    HISTORY. 

In  the  year  1678,  Louis  Joliet,  a  French  trader,  and  James  Marquette,  a 
Jesuit  missionary,  who  had  possibly  received  a  call,  started  out  from  Green 
Bay  on  a  voyage  of  successful  discovery  of  the  great  Father  of  Waters,  which 
the  Indians  informed  them  flowed  southward  through  the  great  west  country. 
Going  up  the  Fox  River  and  crossing  over  the  narrow  portage  into  the  Wiscon- 
sin, they  in  due  time  came  to  the  Mississippi,  on  the  ample  bosom  of  which 
they  floated  down  to  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas.  At  this  point,  they  became 
satisfied  that  the  great  river  emptied  itself  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and,  as 
they  were  satisfied  with  the  situation  and  did  not  propose  to  make  any  changes 
in  the  course  of  the  river,  or  put  any  jetties  in  its  mouth,  they  retraced  their 
voyage  up  to  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  River>  and  up  that  stream  to  Chicago, 
via  the  Des  Plaines,  passing  by  Havana,  and  perhaps  Bath,  on  their  way. 

Tradition  says  that  these  men  of  God  and  Mammon  stopped  upon  the  bluff 
where  Havana  now  stands,  and  had  a  grand  fish-fry,  but  it  does  not  inform  us 
that  they  had  the  incomparable  culinary  services  of  Judge  Mallory  on  that 
occasion!  In  their  piscatorial  exploits,  it  is  said  they  lost  a  "spoon  hook," 
and  from  this  little  incident,  the  river  coming  in  on  the  opposite  side  was  called 
Spoon  River ! 

As  the  writer  has  not  had  the  pleasure  of  interviewing  these  distinguished 
strangers,  or  of  examining  their  notes  of  travel,  he  cannot  vouch  for  the  truth 
of  the  incident ;  but  it  is  highly  probable  that  these  were  the  first  white  men 
that  trod  upon  the  soil  of  Mason  County,  while  passing  up  the  river  on  an 
excursion,  some  two  hundred  and  six  years  ago  ! 

A  few  years  after  this,  two  other  French  explorers — La  Salle,  a  trader  and 
explorer,  and  Father  Hennepin,  another  Jesuit  missionary — passed  from  the 
St.  Joseph  River  into  the  Kankakee,  and  down  that  river  into  the  Illinois. 

After  the  visits  of  these  four  French  gentlemen,  there  is  no  record  of  this 
portion  of  the  country  being  visited  by  a  white  man  for  nearly  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  !  It  was,  no  doubt,  a  favorite  hunting  and  fishing  ground  for 
the  Indians,  as  there  is  evidence  of  its  abounding  in  buffalo,  elk,  deer,  and 
other  choice  game,  as  well  as  fish  in  abundance,  making  it  the  land  of  "  the 
happy  hunting-grounds." 

In  the  year  1763,  the  French  nation,  after  a  long  and  exhaustive  war,  sur- 
rendered the  Northwest  Territory  (including  Mason  County  and  the  State  of 
Illinois)  to  England,  the  transfer  having  been  arranged  at  the  treaty  of  Paris. 

One  of  the  most  celebrated  Indians  of  history  was  Pontiac,  the  chief  of 
the  Ottawas,  of  Michigan.  After  the  surrender  of  the  Northwest,  by  the 
French,  Pontiac  for  awhile  contested  the  claims  of  the  English,  and  was  known 
as  their  most  bitter  and  formidable  foe. 

When  he  could  no  longer  maintain  the  contest,  he  left  the  vicinity  of 
Detroit,  where  he  was  born  and  had  always  lived,  and  with  the  remnant  of  his 


394  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

once  powerful  tribe  (about  two  hundred  warriors  and  their  families),  found 
refuge  on  the  banks  of  the  Kankakee,  near  Wilmington,  Will  County,  where 
he  merged  the  remnant  of  his  tribe  with  the  Pottawatomies. 

This  region  of  country  was  claimed  by  the  Illinois  tribe  of  Indians,  and  a 
conflict  arose  between  the  tribes  as  to  the  right  to  hunt  the  buffalo  on  the  west 
of  the  Illinois  River.  After  fighting  for  a  time  over  the  question,  a  council 
was  agreed  upon  to  settle  the  question. 

This  Council  met  at  Mount  Joliet  (near  the  city  of  Joliet),  in  1769.  Whilst 
Pontiac  was  making  a  speech  on  his  side  of  the  question,  he  was  treacherously 
assassinated  by  "Kineboo,"  the  head  chief  of  the  Illinois  tribe. 

This  treacherous  act  led  to  the  bloody  war  which  resulted  in  the  destruction 
of  the  great  Indian  city  "  La  Van  tarn,"  which  stood  upon  the  site  where  the 
little  town  of  Utica,  in  La  Salle  County,  is  now  built,  and  also  to  the  tragedy 
of  Starved  Rock,  not  far  distant,  and  to  the  final  extinction  of  the  once  great 
nation  of  Indians  from  whom  the  State  took  its  name. 

The  treaty  of  Paris,  in  1763,  terminated  the  rule  of  France  over  the  North- 
west, and  it  passed  into  the  British  possession,  which  circumstance  somewhat 
changed  the  type  of  religion  and  civilization  of  this  country*.  Many  of  the 
early  explorers,  missionaries  and  traders,  remained,  and  of  these  and  their 
descendants  it  is  estimated  that  two  thousand  were  still  within  the  boundaries 
of  the  State  at  the  time  of  its  admission  in  the  Union,  in  1818.  Now  there 
are  but  a  few  local  names  to  remind  us  that  the  French  nation  once  exercised 
the  right  of  eminent  domain  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

The  termination  of  the  Revolutionary  war — begun  in  1776,  and  ending  in  the 
treaty  with  England,  in  1783 — brought  the  Territory  of  the  Northwest  under 
the  dominion  of  the  United  States,  and  by  the  treaty  of  1833,  at  Chicago,  with 
the  Pottawatomies,  the  red  man  surrendered  his  right  of  domain  also.  In 
1835,  these  Indians,  numbering  five  thousand,  assembled  at  Chicago,  received 
their  annuity,  danced  their  last  war  dance  in  Illinois,  and  took  up  their  line  of 
march  toward  the  setting  sun,  on  the  far-off  Missouri  River. 

During  the  progress  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  Lieut.  Col.  George  Rogers 
Clark,  of  Virginia,  organized  a  military  expedition  to  subdue  and  capture  the 
Northwest  Territory,  then  inhabited  by  a  vast  horde  of  savage  Indians,  belong- 
ing to  many  tribes,  and  some  French  -settlements  along  the  river  borders.  On 
the  4th  day  of  July,  1778,  with  his  little  army  of  grim-visaged  warriors,  con- 
sisting of  300  men,  all  jaded  and  worn  down  with  the  fatigues  and  hardships  of 
forced  marches  across  the  country  from  the  Ohio  River,  wading  through  marshes, 
swamps  and  streams,  without  roads  or  supplies  in  the  country,  he  arrived  at  the 
French  town  of  Kaskaskia,  surprised  and  captured  the  town  and  military  fort* 
without  firing  a  gun/  The  capture  of  Cahokia  and  Fort  Vincent  (now  the  city 
of  Vincennes),  soon  followed,  and  thus,  without  the  shedding  of  blood,  but  with 
immense  suffering  and  hardships,  was  secured  the  whole  Northwest  Territory  as 
tKe  property  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  by  right  of  conquest,  and  so  remaining 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  395 

until,  by  the  Ordinance  of  1787,  passed  on  the  13th  of  July,  it  was  transferred 
to  the  United  States,  under  certain  conditions  as  to  the  formation  of  States  and 
other  matters. 

In  October,  1778,  the  Virginia  Assembly  erected  the  conquered  territory 
of  the  Northwest  into  the  county  of  Illinois:  a  pretty  extensive  county,  which 
has  since  been  carved  into  five  States — Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan  and 
Wisconsin — with  a  population  of  over  eight  millions  of  people ! 

On  the  5th  of  October,  1787,  Maj.  Gen.  Arthur  St.  Glair  was  by  Congress 
elected  Governor  of  the  Northwest  Territory.  In  February,  1788,  Gov.  St. 
Glair,  with  his  Secretary,  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  and  proceeded  to  organize  all 
of  the  State  lying  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Mackinaw,  in  Tazewell 
County,  into  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  thus  making  her  the  mother  of  all  the 
102  counties  of  the  State !  The  county  was  divided  into  three  Judicial  Dis- 
tricts, a  Court  of  Common  Pleas  established,  with  three  Judges  appointed,  viz : 
John  Edgar,  an  Englishman,  of  Kaskaskia,  John  Babtiste  Barbeau,  a  French- 
man, of  Prairie  du  Rocher,  and  John  D.  Moulin,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  of 
Cahokia,  each  to  hold  court  in  the  district  of  his  residence  every  three  months, 
making  what  was  called  the  "  Court  of  Quarterly  Sessions,"  the  first  court 
established  in  Illinois. 

By  act  o:  Congress,  May  7,  1800,  the  territory  constituting  the  States  of 
Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  then  containing  a  white  population 
of  4,875 ;  negro  slaves,  135,  and  an  estimated  population  of  100,000  Indians, 
was  organized  into  the  Territory  of  Indiana,  with  the  seat  of  government 
established  at  Vincennes,  and,  on  the  13th  of  May,  William  Henry  Harrison, 
afterward  President  of  the  United  States,  was  appointed  Governor  of  the  Ter- 
ritory, thus  dispensing  with  Gov.  St.  Clair,  who  had  become  very  unpopular. 

ORGANIZATION    OF   THE   TERRITORY   OF   ILLINOIS. 

On  the  llth  of  January,  1805,  Congress  passed  an  act  cutting  off  the 
peninsula  of  Michigan  from  the  Territory  of  Indiana  and  forming  the  Territory 
of  Michigan ;  and,  on  the  3d  of  February,  1809,  all  that  part  of  Indiana  Ter- 
ritory lying  west  of  the  Wabash  River  and  a  line  drawn  due  north  from  the 
river  at  Vincennes  to  the  line  between  the  United  States  and  Canada,  was,  by 
act  of  Congress,  set  apart  into  the  Territory  of  Illinois,  the  act  to  take  effect 
on  the  1st  of  March,  1809.  This  included  what  is  now  the  State  of  Wisconsin. 
The  population  at  that  time  was  estimated  at  9,000,  leaving  about  double  that 
number  in  Indiana.  The  entire  Territory  at  that  time  composed  but  two  coun- 
ties, St.  Clair  and  Randolph. 

The  formation  of  the  Territory  of  Illinois,  at  that  time,  was  due  to  the 
election  and  subsequent  efforts  of  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  (then  a  resident  of  Indi- 
ana), as  a  delegate  to  Congress.  By  pledging  himself  in  a  bond  to  procure  the 
formation  of  the  Territory,  he  secured  the  united  vote  of  Illinois,  and  after  a 


396  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

bitter  contest  he  was  elected  by  one  majority,  and  if  there  is  truth  in  history 
that  one  vote  which  made  the  majority  was  cast  by  himself! 

The  population  of  the  Territory  of  Illinois,  by  the  census  of  1810,  con- 
sisted of  11,501  whites,  168  slaves  and  613  of  all  others,  except  Indians. 

Ninian  Edwards,  then  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky, 
was  appointed  first  Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Illinois  by  President  Madison, 
his  commission  bearing  date  April  24,  1809 ;  and  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  Alexander 
Stuart  and  William  Sprigg  were  appointed  the  three  first  Judges  of  the  Ter- 
ritory. 

Gov.  Edwards  continued  in  office  as  Governor  until  the  organization  of  the 
State  in  1818 — the  act  providing  for  which  passed  on  the  18th  of  April,  and 
the  admission  of  which  was  on  the  3d  of  December. 

During  the  war  with  England,  in  1812,  Gov.  Edwards  headed  a  military 
expedition,  composed  of  350  men,  against  Peoria  Lake,  then  the  abode  of 
several  Indian  tribes — an  Indian  village  at  the  head  of  the  lake  and  a  French 
town  and  fort  at  the  lower  end,  where  Peoria  City  now  stands.  In  this  expedi- 
tion the  Indian  village  was  destroyed,  the  inhabitants  dispersed,  killed  and 
•captured,  and  the  town  was  also  burned  and  the  inhabitants  taken  prisoners 
down  the  river.  The  expedition  returned  to  Camp  Russell,  near  the  present 
town  of  Edwardsville,  from  which  it  had  marched  out  on  the  18th  of  October, 
after  an  absence  of  thirteen  days,  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

A  second  expedition  to  Peoria  left  Camp  Russell  in  1813,  passing  up  the 
Mississippi  to  where  the  city  of  Quincy  now  stands,  and  from  thence  across  to 
the  Illinois  River,  at  the  mouth  of  Spoon  River,  and  from  thence  to  Peoria, 
where  the  soldiers  built  Fort  Clark,  which  was  burned  down  in  1818,  and  the 
town  was  again  rebuilt  in  1819 — this  first  time  by  American  pioneers.  The 
French  fort,  Crevecosur,  was  built  in  1680,  and  the  first  European  settlement 
at  that  place  was  in  1778. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  State  in  1818,  Illinois  was  composed 
of  fifteen  counties,  viz. :  St.  Clair,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Johnson, 
Edwards,  White,  Monroe,  Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  and  contained  a  supposed  population  of  40,000  people. 

POPULATION    AND    REPRESENTATION. 

The  population  of  Illinois  in  1810  was  12,282,  and.  the  Territory  was 
represented  by  one  delegate  in  Congress. 

The  population  of  1820  was  55,211,  with  one  member  of  Congress — Daniel 
P.  Cook,  who  was  the  first  member  of  Congress  elected  from  the  State  of  Illinois. 

In  the  year  1830,  the  population  of  the  State  Was  157,445,  and  three  mem- 
bers of  Congress  were  accorded  to  the  State. 

In  1840,  the  population  of  the  State  was  476,183,  and  seven  members  were 
given  to  the  State. 


HISTORY   OF    MASON   COUNTY.  397 

In  1850,  the  population  was  851,470,  and  nine  members  of  Congress  were 
apportioned  to  the  State. 

In  1860,  the  population  was  1,711,951,  and  fourteen  members  of  Congress 
were  given  to  the  State. 

In  1870,  the  population  had  swelled  to  2,539,831,  and  the  State  is  repre- 
sented by  nineteen  members  of  Congress,  and  now  there  are  but  two  States  in 
the  Union  that  have  a  greater  population  or  more  wealth  than  the  State  of 
Illinois. 

GOVERNORS.  OF   ILLINOIS. 

As  a  matter  of  interest  to  those  who  are  interested  in  the  political  history 
of  the  State,  a  list  of  the  Governors  who  have  filled  the  executive  department 
of  Illinois  from  its  organization  as  a  Territory  down  to  the  present  date,  is  here 
given,  with  the  date  and  time  which  they  served. 

Ninian  Edwards  was  the  first  Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Illinois, 'serv- 
ing from  1809  to  1818. 

Shadrach  Bond  was  the  first  Governor  of  the  State,  serving  from  1818  to 
1822. 

Edward  Coles  was  the  second  Governor,  serving  from  1822  to  1826. 

Ninian  Edwards  was  the  third  Governor  of  the  State,  serving  from  1826 
to  1830. 

John  Reynolds,  the  Old  Ranger,  served  as  the  fourth  Governor,  from  1830 
to  1834. 

Joseph  Duncan  served  as  the  fifth  Governor,  from  1834  to  1838. 

Thomas  Carlin  served  as  the  sixth  Governor,  from  1838  to  1842. 

Thomas  Ford  was  the  seventh  Governor,  serving  from  1842  to  1846. 

Augustus  Caesar  French  was  the  eighth  Governor,  serving  from  1846  to 
1849,  when  the  new  Constitution  was  adopted,  and  after  which  he  was  again 
elected,  and  served  from  1849  'to  1 853. 

Joel  A.  Matteson  served  as  the  ninth  Governor,  from  1853  to  1857 — the 
last  of  the  line  of  Democratic  Governors. 

William  H.  Bissell,  the  tenth  Governor,  was  the  first  of  the  list  which  fol- 
lows of  Republican  Governors.  He  served  from  1857  to  the  llth  of  March, 
1860,  when  death  removed  him  from  the  executive  chair,  which  he  had  filled 
with  great  ability  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  people  who  elected  him. 
This  is  the  first  and  only  instance  of  a  Governor  dying  during  his  term  of 
office  in  Illinois. 

John  Wood,  Lieutenant  Governor,  served  out  the  balance  of  the  term  of 
Gov.  Bissell,  ending  with  1861. 

Richard  Yates,  the  great  war  Governor  of  Illinois,  served  as  the  eleventh 
Governor,  from  1861  to  1865. 

Richard  J.  Oglesby,  the  popular  soldier,  served  as  the  twelfth  Governor, 
from  1865  to  1869. 

John  M.  Palmer  was  the  thirteenth  Governor,  serving  from  1869  to  1873. 


398  HISTORY   OF   MASON    COUNTY. 

Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  elected  again,  as  the  fourteenth  Governor,  in  1872, 
but  declined  to  serve,  having  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

John  L.  Beveridge,  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  served  as  the  fourteenth 
Governor,  from  1873  to  1877. 

Shelby  M.  Cullom  was  elected  the  fifteenth  ^Governor  of  Illinois,  his  term 
beginning  in  1877  and  ending  in  1881. 

With  all  these  fifteen  Governors  of  Illinois  (except  the  first  three),  it  has  been 
the  privilege  of  the  writer  to  have  had  a  personal  acquaintance  and  more  or 
less  intimate  relations,  and  out  of  that  knowledge  has  grown  a  profound  respect 
for  the  high  qualities  generally  possessed  by  them. 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 

The  following  is  the  roll  of  United  States  Senators  who  have  represented 
the  State  of  Illinois  in  that  august  body  since  the  foundation  of  the  State  in 
1818.  It  is  complete,  and  contains  many  illustrious  names  that  stand  high  upon 
the  scroll  of  fame: 

Ninian  Edwards  was  elected  and  served  as  one  of  the  first  Senators  from 
Illinois  from  October  18,  1818,  to  the  4th  of  March,  1819. 

Jesse  B.  Thomas  was  also  elected  at  the  same  time  as  one  of  the  first  Sen- 
ators, serving  from  October  18,  1818,  to  March  4,  1823. 

Ninian  Edwards  was  elected  his  own  successor  from  March  4,  1819,  to 
March  4,  1825,  but,  having  resigned  in  1824,  to  accept  the  post  of  Minister  to 
Mexico,  John  McLean  was  elected  in  November,  1824,  to  fill  out  the  unex- 
pired  term  of  Gov.  Edwards. 

Jesse  B.  Thomas  was  rre-elected  as  his  own  successor,  and  served  from 
March  4,  1823,  to  March  4,  1829. 

Elias  Kent  Kane  was  elected  the  successor  of  John  McLean,  serving  from 
March  4,  1825,  to  March  4,  1831. 

John  McLean  was  elected  the  successor  of  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  and  served 
from  March  4,  1829,  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1830. 

John  M.  Robinson  was  elected '  December  11,  1830,  to  fill  the  unexpired 
term  of  Mr.  McLean,  and  served  until  March  4,  1835. 

Elias  K.  Kane  was  again  elected  as  his  own  successsor,  and  served  from  March 
4,  1831,  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  llth  of  December,  1835. 

William  Lee  D.  Ewing  was  elected  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Mr.  Kane, 
from  the  20th  of  December,  1835,  to  the  4th  of  March,  1837. 

John  M.  Robinson  was  again  elected  as  his  own  successor,  and  served  from 
March  4,  1835,  to  March  4,  1841. 

Richard  M.  Young  was  elected  as  the  successor  of  Gen.  Ewing,  and  served 
from  March  4,  1837,  to  March  4,  1843. 

Samuel  McRoberts,  the  first  native  Illinoisan  elected  to  the  Senate,  was 
elected  as  the  successor  of  Gen.  Robinson,  and  served  from  March  4,  1841,  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  22d  of  March,  1843. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  399 

Jarnes  Semple  was  elected  and  filled  the  unexpired  term  of  Mr.  McRoberts, 
ending  March  4,  1847. 

Sidney  Breese  was  elected  the  successor  of  Mr.  Young,  and  served  from 
March  4.  1843,  to  March  4,  1849. 

Stephen  Arnold  Douglas  was  elected  the  successor  of  James  Semple,  and 
served  from  March  4,  1847,  to  March  4,  1853. 

James  Shields  was  elected  the  successor  of  Sidney  Breese,  and  served  from 
March  4,  1849,  to  March  4,  1855.  Gen.  Shields  was  refused  a  seat  in  the 
Senate  on  account  of  not  having  been  naturalized  the  necessary  length  of  time. 
He  was  re-elected  and  admitted,  having  then  been  a  citizen  the  required  time. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  elected  his  own  successor,  serving  from  March  4, 
1853,  to  March  4,  1859. 

Lyman  Trumbull  was  elected  the  successor  of  Gen.  Shields,  and  served  from 
March  4,  1855,  to  March  4,  1861. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  for  the  third  and  last  time  elected  as  his  own 
successor,  from  the  4tb  of  March,  1859,  after  a  most  brilliant,  giant  contest  in 
1858  with  Abraham  Lincoln.  Mr.  Douglas  died  soon  after  the  opening  of  the 
war,  in  1861,  leaving  an  imperishable  name  as  the  most  illustrious  of  all  the 
Illinois  Senators. 

*0rville  H.  Browning  was,  in  1861,  appointed  by  Gov.  Yates  as  the  suc- 
cessor of  Mr.  Douglas.  •  .  •- 

Lyman  Trumbull  was  elected  his  own  successor,  and  served  from  March  4, 
1861,  to  March  4,  1867. 

William  A.  Richardson  was  elected,  in  1863,  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term 
of  Judge  Douglas,  ending  March  4,  1865. 

Richard  Yates  was  elected  the  successor  of  Mr.  Richardson,  and  served 
with  distinction  as  Senator  from  March  4,  1865,  to  March  4,  1871. 

Lyman  Trumbull  was  for  the  third  term  elected  his  own  successor,  and 
served  with  great  distinction  in  the  Senate  for  eighteen  years,  his  last  term 
beginning  March  4,  1867,  and  ending  March  4,  1873. 

John  A.  Logan  was  the  successor  of  Gov.  Yates,  and  was  the  second  native 
Illinoisan  elected  to  that  exalted  position,  which  he  held  from  March  4,  1871, 
to  March  4,  1877. 

Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  the  successor  of  Judge  Trumbull,  and  served  in 
the  Senate  from  March  4,  1873,  to  March  4,  1879. 

David  Davis  was  the  successor  of  Gen.  Logan,  and  was  elected  for  the  term 
beginning  March  4,  1877,  and  ending  March  4,  1883. 

John  A.  Logan  was  a  second  time  elected  to  the  Senate  as  the  successor 
of  Gov.  Oglesby.  His  term  began  on  the  4th  of  March,  1879,  and  will  end 
March  4,  188o.  Thus  ends  the  roll  of  illustrious  Senators  for  Illinois  up  to 
the  present  time.  Of  the  nineteen  men  who  have  filled  the  high  position,  the 
writer  was  honored  with  the  acquaintance  of  all  but  the  four  first-named,  and 
among  them  were  a  number  of  great  men,  and  none  of  small  caliber. 

o  o 


400  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


BOUNDARIES    AND    TOPOGRAPHY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Illinois  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  State  of  Wisconsin ;  on  the  east  by 
Lake  Michigan,  and  the  States  of  Indiana  and  Kentucky ;  on  the  south  by  Ken- 
tucky, and  on  the  west  by  Missouri  and  Iowa.  Its  extent  in  length  is  380  miles, 
and  in  breadth  at  the  north  end,  145  miles,  extending  in  the  middle  to  220 
miles,  and  thence  south  narrowing  to  a  point.  It  has  an  area  of  55,405 
miles  and  contains  35,459,200  acres  of  land,  nearly  all  of  which  is  fit  for  culti- 
vation. The  outline  of  the  State  is  about  1,160  miles  in  extent,  850  of  which 
consists  of  navigable  waters.  The  section  of  country  lying  near  the  southern 
limits  of  the  lake  country  forms  a  summit  from  which  the  plane  inclines  to  the 
south  and  west  to  the  lower  end  of  the  State,  at  Cairo,  where  the  lower  section 
of  the  plane  is  only  350  feet  above  the  sea  level,  whereas  at  the  upper,  or  north- 
ern end  of  the  plane  it  rises  as  high  as  900  feet.  This  incline  gives  a  southern 
or  southwestern  direction  to  the  principal  rivers  in  the  State.  The  general  sur- 
face of  this  plane  is  quite  level,  though  there  are  some  hills  in  the  two  ends  of 
the  State  and  along  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  Rivers.  The  arable  elevation 
of  the  plane  is  about  eight  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  the  mean 
height  is  about  five  hundred  and  fifty  feet. 

The  principal  river  of  the  State  is  the  Illinois,  formed  by  the  junction  of 
the  Rankakee,  taking  its  rise  in  Indiana,  and  the  Desplaines,  with  its  head  in 
Wisconsin,  and  uniting  in  Grundy  County,  and  flowing  from  thence  west  and 
south  to  its  entrance  into  the  Mississippi,  on  the  south  line  of  Jersey  County, 
at  an  elevation  of  about  four  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The 
banks  of  the  river  are  generally  low  and  subject  to  overflow  in  times  of  high 
water.  The  high  waters  of  the  Mississippi  have  backed  up  the  Illinois  as  far  as 
Havana — the  fall  from  thence  to  the  Mississippi  being  fifteen  feet.  The  tribu- 
taries of  the  Illinois  are  the  Fox  River,  which  comes  from  the  north,  in  Wiscon- 
sin, and  enters  the  Illinois  at  Ottawa,  forty  miles  below  the  head  of  the  river. 
Opposite  the  city  of  La  Salle,  the  Vermilion  enters  the  river — a  good,  large  mill 
stream,  coming  in  from  the  southeast.  Sixty  miles  further  down,  the  river  enters 
Peoria  Lake,  an  expansion  of  the  river  continuing  twenty  miles  to  the  city  of 
Peoria,  and  about  two  miles  in  width,  with  deep  clear  water,  and  no  perceptible 
current — making  it  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  abounding  with  fish,  and  lined 
on  either  side  by  high  and  grand-looking  bluffs.  Three  miles  below  the  city  of 
Pekin,  the  Mackinaw  comes  in  from  its  source,  some  eighty  miles  east,  a  turbu- 
lent stream  of  no  use  except  for  drainage.  Next  comes  in  the  beautiful  Quiver 
River,  a  small  stream  without  timber  belts — a  good  discharge  of  clear  water  fur- 
nishes fine  fish  and  two  very  good  flouring-mills — it  is  a  Mason  County  enter- 
prise— beginning  and  ending  in  the  county,  discharging  into  the  Illinois  two 
miles  above  Havana.  Opposite  Havana,  the  Spoon  River  enters.  It  is  quite  a 
large  river,  watering  a  large  portion  of  the  military  tract,  heading  some  eighty 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  401 

miles  north  and  meandering  through  several  counties  to  its  mouth  in  Fulton 
County.  Eight  miles  above  Beardstown  the  Sangamon  enters  from  the  east.  It 
is  the  largest  of  all  the  tributaries  of  the  Illinois,  some  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  in  length,  and  has  been  in  the  past  navigable  as  high  up  as  Springfield. 
On  its  bluff  banks  below  Petersburg  was  once  the  town  of  Salem,  the  home  of 
one  of  the  immortals — Abraham  Lincoln — who  navigated  the  river  as  a  flatboat- 
man.  It  forms  the  southern  boundary  of  Mason  County  up  to  the  mouth  of 
Salt  Creek,  a  large  tributary  of  the  Sangamon,  which  is  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  county  to  where  it  joins  on  to  Logan  County.  East  of  Springfield,  the 
river  divides  into  the  north  and  south  fork — the  former  passing  near  Decatur, 
through  Macon,  Piatt,  Champaign  and  Ford  Counties,  and  the  latter  south  through 
Christian  County — the  several  branches  watering  and  draining  an  immense  area  of 
the  most  fertile  soil  of  the  State.  It  has  wide  bottom  lands  subject  to  overflow, 
except  when  protected  by  levees,  which  is  being  done  extensively  in  Mason 
County.  On  its  banks  is  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  once  valuable  for  its  walnut,, 
oak,  hickory  and  other  kinds  of  trees.  These  bottoms  abound  in  wild  plums> 
pawpaws,  persimmons,  pecans,  and  other  fruits  and  nuts.  It  was  here  that  the 

poet  Bryant  found 

"  The  wild  cup  of  the  Sangamon," 

a  gorgeous  trumpet  flower  that  twines  about  the  trees  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 
Crooked  Creek  is  an  extensive  water-course  that  enters  the  Illinois  six  miles 
below  Beardstown,  and  waters  a  portion  of  the  military  tract.  Below  Crooked 
Creek,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  enters  Indian  Creek,  in  the  lower  end  of 
Cass  County ;  Mauvaisterre  and  Sandy,  in  Scott  County,  and  Apple  Creek  and 
Macoupin  Creek,  in  Greene  County.  McKee's  Creek,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  enters  opposite  Naples,  and  is  the  farthest  down  of  all  the  streams  that 
water  the  military  tract.  These  streams  generally  traverse  rich  portions  of  the 
State,  furnishing  necessary  drainage,  water  and  timber. 

The  Illinois  is  one  of  the  finest  navigable  streams  in  the  world  for  boats  of 
light  draft,  the  fall  being  only  about  one  inch  to  the  mile,  and  the  current  gentle, 
with  soft,  sandy  bottom,  securing  the  greatest  safety  and  ease  of  navigation.  It 
was  once  the  great  highway  of  commerce  for  a  vast  region  of  country  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  and  continued  so  until  the  introduction  of  railroads,  since  which 
there  has  been  a  great  decline  in  river  business.  The  navigation  of  the  river  by 
steamboats  began  in  1828,  and,  in  1836,  there  were  as  many  as  thirty-five  steam- 
boats navigating  the  river.  The  number  of  arrivals  and  departures  for  that 
year  at  the  port  of  Havana  was  450.  The  boating  business  increased  and 
improved  in  character  until  the  river  packets  became  immense  floating-palaces, 
carrying  immense  crowds  of  people  and  entertaining  them  in  the  most  sumptu- 
ous manner.  This  mode  of  travel  and  means  of  commerce  culminated  some 
twenty  years  ago,  and  dwindled  down  to  the  present  time,  when  one  semi-weekly 
packet  boat  does  the  entire  business  from  Peoria  to  St.  Louis,  with  the  help  of 
some  local  packets  from  points  below. 


402  HISTORY   OF   MASQN   COUNTY. 

The  improvement  of  the  river  by  locks,  dams  and  other  means  may  bring 
back  a  portion  of  this  vast  trade ;  but  at  the  present  time  the  railroads  have  it 
mostly  their  own  way. 

Canal-boating  on  the  river  was  once  a  business  of  large  proportions,  and  this 
was,  to  some  extent,  the  cause  of  decline  in  the  steamboating  business.  Canal- 
boats  used  to  line  the  river  and  block  up  the  ports  with  their  numbers  at  a  not 
very  remote  period,  and  they  took  in  the  corn,  wheat,  pork  and  other  products 
during  the  winter,  and  carried  them  to  market,  either  north  or  south,  when  the 
river  opened,  and  all  this  was  done  at  low  rates.  Now,  however,  they  are  not  fast 
enough  to  suit  the  age.  There  are  those,  in  these  degenerate  days,  who  would 
rather  "  go  to  hell  in  a  minute  "  than  spend  a  little  time  in  fitting  themselves  for 
heaven. 

THE    ILLINOIS    AND    MICHIGAN    CANAL. 

As  this  great  work  has  always  been  a  matter  of  especial  interest  to  the  peo- 
ple living  upon  the  borders  of  the  Illinois  River,  a  short  chapter  is  devoted  to 
that  subject. 

The  project  of  a  ship  canal  to  connect  the  waters,  of  Lake  Michigan  with 
the  navigable  waters  of  the  Illinois  River  was  first  suggested  during  the  war  of 
1812  by  a  writer  in  Ntles'  Register.  The  war  had  demonstrated  the  immense 
advantages  of  such  a  work  in  time  of  peace,  as  well  as  war.  It  was  one  of  the 
compensations  of  that  war,  to  the  West,  that  it  was  the  means  of  directing 
attention  to  this  portion  of  the  great  Western  country.  In  1816,  the  title  to  a 
strip  of  country  twenty  miles  wide  was  obtained  from  the  Indians  for  the  pur- 
pose of  securing  a  route  for  this  work.  In  1821,  an  appropriation  of  $10,000 
was  made  by  Congress  for  a  preliminary  survey  of  the  canal  and  for  a  survey  of 
the  twenty-mile  strip.  Shadrach  Bond,  first  Governor  of  Illinois,  in  his  first 
message,  called  attention  to  the  importance  and  feasibility  of  the  work.  A  sur- 
vey was  made,  in  accordance  with  .the  law  of  Congress,  and  the  project  pro- 
nounced feasible  and  highly  important. 

In  1826,  Congress  donated  to  the  State,  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  the 
canal,  every  alternate  section  of  land  within  a  strip  ten  miles  wide  along  the 
route  from  Chicago  to  La  Salle — a  magnificent  domain  of  300,000  acres.  In 
1829,  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  passed  an  act,  creating  a  Board  of 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  them — not  to  enter  upon  the  work  of  build- 
ing a  canal,  but  to  sell  the  lands  and  give  to  settlers  pre-emptions  on  the  same, 
by  which  many  old  settlers  obtained  their  homes.  Fortunately,  the  folly  of  tuis 
course  was  soon  discovered  and  the  act  repealed.  At  the  session  of  1834-35, 
another  act  was  passed,  creating  a  new  Canal  Board,  and  authorizing  the  Gov- 
ernor to  negotiate  bonds  for  construction,  and  pledging  the  canal  lands  for 
their  redemption.  At  that  time,  however,  the  immense  value  of  these  lands  was 
not  appreciated  by  the  capitalists  who  had  money  to  loan,  and  it  was  not  until  at 
a  special  session  of  the  Legislature,  in  1835,  through  the  great  exertions  of  Col. 
J.  M.  Strode,  of  Galena,  (who  then  represented  the  entire  region  north  of  Peoria 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  405 

in  the  State  Senate),  the  act  was  so  amended  as  to  pledge  the  faith  of  the  State 
for  their  redemption,  that  the  bonds  could  be  negotiated.  The  bonds  were  nego- 
tiated by  Gov.  Duncan  in  1836,  and  in  the  same  year  preparations  were  made 
for  active  work. 

William  B.  Archer,  Gurdon  S.  Hubbard  and  William  F.  Thornton,  all 
Colonels — as  most  men  were  in  those  days — were  the  first  Commissioners,  and 
they  fortunately  chose  William  Gooding  as  Chief  Engineer.  Subsequent  changes 
brought  James  B.  Fry — another  Colonel — into  the  Board.  The  first  ground 
was  broken  at  Bridgeport  on  the  4th  of  July,  1836,  and  the  event  was  celebra- 
ted in  grand  style,  with  an  address  from  Dr.  Egan.  The  work  was  begun  on 
the  "  deep-cut "  plan,  by  which  the  canal  was  to  be  fed  from  the  waters  of  the 
lake,  through  the  Chicago  River,  as  is  now  done. 

At  the  time  of  letting  the  first  contracts,  the  speculative  mania  was  at  its 
height,  and  labor  and  supplies  were  at  a  high  figure — laborers  getting  from  $20 
to  $30  per  month,  with  board ;  pork,  $20  to  $30  per  barrel ;  flour,  $9  to  $12  per 
barrel,  and  other  things  in  proportion — and  the  contracts  were  predicated  upon 
these  high  prices.  To  facilitate  the  transportation  of  supplies,  what  is  called 
the  "  Archer  Road"  was  built  from  Chicago  to  Lockport,  at  an  expense  of 
$40,000,  which  created  some  scandal,  on  account  of  Mr.  Archer  being  the  pro- 
prietor of  an  addition  to  Lockport.  The  work  was  continued  by  means  of  the 
money  raised  upon  the  bonds,  canal  lands  and  lots  in  Chicago,  Lockport,  Ottawa 
id  La  Salle,  until  the  year  1842,  when,  after  an  outlay  of  over  $5,000,000, 
the  work  was  suspended. 

The  enterprise  was  begun  when  everything  had  to  be  done  in  the  most 
expensive  way,  and  when  the  country  was  on  the  eve  of  a  financial  crash,  yet 
the  State  could  have  gone  through  with  it,  and  maintained  her  credit,  if  other 
wild  projects  had  not  been  connected  with  it. 

The  central  and  southern  portions  of  the  State,  jealous  of  their  own  imme- 
diate interests,  looked  upon  the  canal  as  a  northern  project,  got  up  for  its 
exclusive  benefit,  and  so  they  formed  a  syndicate,  as  it  were,  and  insisted  that, 
as  the  price  of  their  votes  for  further  appropriations  to  the  canal,  the  balance  of 
the  State  should  have  all  the  railroads  that  were  called  for  by  the  syndicate — 
and,  in  the  year  1837,  an  act  was  passed,  which  ultimately  ruined  the  credit  of 
the  State  and  ended  in  financial  disaster.  By  this  act,  a  loan  of  $8,000,000 
was  authorized,  on  the  faith  of  the  State,  for  the  purpose  of  gridironing  the 
State  with  railroads,  and  a  $4,000,000  loan  for  the  further  prosecution  of  the 
canal.  The  sum  pf  $200,000,  out  of  the  eight-million  loan,  was  to  be  given  out 
to  the  few  counties  that  got  no  promise  of  a  railroad,  for  the  ostensible  purpose 
of  constructing  roads  and  bridges. 

Absurd  as  this  scheme  was,  at  that  time,  loans  were  readily  obtained  to 
the  extent  of  nearly  $6,000,000,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  it  out.  As  a 
result  of  all  this  outlay,  the  only  railroad  ever  built  under  this  stupendous 
scheme  of  folly,  was  a  short  line  of  railroad  from  Springfield  to  the  Illinois 


406  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

River  at  Meredosia,  fifty-five  miles  of  road,  with  strap  iron  for  rails,  nine  miles 
of  which  were  completed  in  the  year  1838,  and  over  which  the  writer  of  this 
had  his  first  ride  upon  the  first  trip  of  this  first  railroad  built  in  Illinois  and  in 
the  Mississippi  Valley.  Much  work  was  done  on  other  roads,  but  before  any 
other  one  was  completed,  the  collapse  came,  and  the  work  on  the  roads  was  sus- 
pended— never  to  be  resumed. 

The  financial  and  commercial  prostration  that  struck  the  East  in  1837,  was 
held  in  check  for  a  time  by  the  enormous  expenditures  of  money  upon  our  public 
works,  and  the  work  was  continued  under  difficulties  on  the  canal,  by  the  help 
of  canal  scrip,  and  other  devices,  until  the  year  1842,  when  the  work  was 
stopped  entirely  for  want  of  means  to  continue  it.  By  great  exertion,  the 
interest  on  the  canal  debt  was  paid  for  the  year  1841,  but  no  provision  could  be 
made  for  anything  more. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1840,  a  debt  of  $14,237,348  had  been  con- 
tracted to  be  paid  by  a  population  of  478,929 — nearly  thirty  dollars  per  capita 
for  each  and  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  the  State.  The  canal  debt  was- 
over  five  millions,  at  the  time  the  work  ceased,  and  the  contractors  abandoned 
their  jobs,  and  claimed  heavy  damages,  and  things  began  to  look  pretty  blue  for 
the  State.  An  act  was  afterward  passed  providing  for  a  settlement  with  them 
and  limiting  the  amount  to  $230,000. 

The  canal  could  not,  of  course,  be  allowed  to  remain  long  in  this  condition 
— for  the  bondholders  were  equally  interested  with  us  in  devising  some  means 
for  its  early  completion — it  being  too  important  and  too  costly  an  enterprise  to 
be  abandoned.  At  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  1842—43,  an  act  was  passed 
which  accomplished  the  purpose.  By  the  provisions  of  this  act,  the  canal  itself 
and  all  the  unsold  lots  and  lands  were  transferred  to  a  Board  of  three  Trustees 
— two  to  be  chosen  by  the  bondholders  and  one  by  the  Governor  of  the  State. 
The  bondholders  agreed  to  advance  the  further  sum  of  $1,600,000  to  complete 
the  canal  on  the  cheaper  plan  of  a  high  level.  The  Trustees  were  to  prosecute 
the  work  and  retain  possession  of  the  canal  and  its  revenues  until  the  debt  and 
further  cost  of  completing  the  same,  with  the  interest  thereon,  should  be  fully 
paid  by  the  tolls  and  moneys  derived  from  sale  of  lands  and  lots.  The  Board 
was  organized  and  the  work  resumed  in  1845,  and  prosecuted  to  completion  in 
1848.  The  canal  debt,  interest  and  cost  of  construction,  were  paid  in  full  from 
these  resources,  in  the  year  1871,  and  the  canal  was  surrendered  to  the  State 
with  a  balance  on  hand  of  $95,742. 

In  the  year  1865,  an  arrangement  was  entered  into  by  the  Canal  Trustees,, 
with  the  Board  of  Public  Works  of  Chicago,  by  which  the  canal  was  completed 
on  the  original  deep-cut  plan  in  the  year  1871 — thus  letting  the  pure  waters  of 
Lake  Michigan  flow  through  the  canal  into  the  Illinois  River  and  thence  down 
to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  also  opening  the  way  for  the  beautiful  lake  perch 
and  other  fishes  to  run  down  into  the  Illinois,  sport  with  the  croppy,  listen  to 
the  catfish  sing,  and  assist  in  getting  up  fish-fries. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  407 

MATERIAL    WEALTH    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Perhaps  the  best  evidence  of  the  richness  and  productiveness  of  the  soil  of 
Illinois,  as  also  the  wealth  and  prosperity  of  the  State,  will  be  found  in  statistics 
— some  of  which  are  here  briefly  given. 

Of  the  35,459,200  acres  of  land  within  the  borders  of  the  State,  about 
twenty  millions  are  in  cultivation,  and  five  millions  in  woodland,  leaving  a  greater 
portion  of  the  remaining  ten  millions  of  acres  of  virgin  soil  yet  to  be  put  into 
cultivation,  which  is  rapidly  being  done  by  drainage,  levying  and  other  means. 
There  are  now  growing  within  the  State  8,965,760  acres  of  corn,  which,  at 
a  moderate  estimate  of  thirty-five  bushels  per  acre,  will  produce  313,801,600  of 
bushels,  and  valued  at  30  cents  per  bushel  will  be  $94,140,480.  In  1875,  the  corn 
produced  was  130,000,000  bushels,  which  was  at  that  time  more  than  double  the 
amount  raised  in  any  other  State,  and  one-sixth  the  entire  crop  of  all  the  States. 
The  acreage  of  wheat  for  1879,  is  2,365,798,  which,  at  an  estimate  of 
twenty  bushels  per  acre,  will  produce  47,315,960  bushels,  worth,  at  90  cents  per 
bushel,  $42,584,374.  There  were  thirty  millions  of  bushels  produced  ten  years 
ago,  and  that  was  more  than  any  other  State  produced  at  that  time. 

In  oats  there  are  1,448,562  acres. 

In  meadows  there  are  2,179,122  acres.  In  1875,  there  were  harvested 
2,747,000  tons  of  hay  in  Illinois,  which  was  more  than  one-tenth  of  that  pro- 
duced in  all  the  States,  and  its  value  was  more  than  all  the  cotton  raised  in 
Louisiana  or  any  other  State. 

The  pasturage,  at  present,  consists  of  4,157,320  acres,  and  its  value  is  more 
than  twenty  millions  of  dollars. 

The  number  of  cattle  in  the  State  this  year  is  1,722,057,  and  the  number 
estimated  for  market  this  year,  376,577. 

Of  hogs  now  on  hand  there  are  2,814,532,  of  which  2,013,718  are  doomed 
to  slaughter  this  year. 

The  number  of  sheep  is  762,788. 

Number  of  horses  on  hand  is  881,951. 

Number  of  mules,  122,348. 

The  number  of  hogs  slaughtered  in  1875,  was  2,113,845,  about  half  the 
entire  crop  of  the  United  States,  and  the  value  of  all  the  slaughtered  animals  in 
the  State  was  $57,000,000,  one-seventh  of  the  total  for  that  year. 

The  value  of  the  farm  implements  in  the  State  is  over  two  hundred  million 
dollars. 

The  value  of  the  annual  manufactures  of  the  State  is  about  two  hundred 
and  ten  millions  of  dollars. 

The  mineral,  wealth  of  the  State  is  beyond  computation,  as  there  are  41,000 
square  miles  of  coal,  over  forty  feet  in  thickness.  There  are  but  12,000  square 
miles  of  coal  in  all  Gfeat  Britain,  and  that  is  rapidly  being  exhausted.  At  the 
rate  which  England  is  using  coal  the  supply  in  Illinios  will  last  120,000  years. 


408  HISTORY   OF    MASON   COUNTY. 

Illinois  is  now  the  third  State  in  population,  and  in  railroads  far  ahead  of 
any  other  State,  having  at  present  7,579  miles  of  track  within  her  borders, 
valued  at  over  $600,000,000,  using  3,500  engines,  and  some  70,000  cars  in 
operating  them. 

Illinois  also  excels  all  other  States  in  miles  of  postal  service;  money  orders 
sold ;  internal  revenue  paid  into  the  National  treasury ;  in  the  amount  and  value 
of  her  lumber  trade,  grain  trade,  and  also  in  the  amount  of  whisky  which  she 
makes,  to  revive  the  drooping  spirits  of  the  people  of  other  States. 

Having  devoted  thus  much  to  matters  of  the  State,  the  affairs  of  the  county 
will  come  next  in  order. 

ORGANIZATION    OF    MASON    COUNTY. 

Mason  County  was  formed  out  of  parts  of  the  counties  of  Menard  and 
Tazewell,  and  organized  in  the  year  1841.  The  records  of  the  county  are  made 
up  in  part  from  Tazewell,  Menard  and  Sangamon.  Menard  was  taken  from  the 
northwestern  part  of  Sangamon  County  and  formed  into  a  county  in  the  year 
1838.  All  that  portion  of  territory  lying  between  the  Sangamon  River  an< 
Salt  Creek  on  the  south,  to  the  north  line  of  the  twentieth  tier  of  townships, 
including  what  is  now  Bath,  Lynchburg,  Kilbqurne,  Crane  Creek,  Salt  Creek  am 
Mason  City,  belonged  once  to  Sangamon — latterly  to  Menard  County — and  the 
remainder  of  the  county,  including  the  present  townships  of  Havana,  Sherman, 
Pennsylvania,  Allen's  Grove,  Manito,  Forest  City  and  Quiver,  belonged  to  the 
old  county  of  Tazewell,  which  contained  all  the  territory  north  of  the  line  just 
described,  as  far  east  as  the  west  line  of  McLean  County,  and  as  far  north  as  the 
south  line  of  Putnam  County,  and  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Illinois  River. 
The  original  county  seat  was  at  Mackinaw,  and  from  thence  it  was  removed  to 
Pekin,  and  in  1835  was  removed  to  Tremont,  and  from  thence  back  again  to 
Pekin,  where  it  has  been  for  many  years.  The  towns  in  old  Tazewell  wert 
Wesley  City,  Pekin,  Havana  and  Matanzas,  on  the  river,  and  Mackinaw,  Dillor 
Bloomingdale  and  Washington,  in  the  interior. 

Sangamon  County  was  taken  from  Madison  and  Bond,  and  was  organise 
in  the  year  1821.  In  the  year  1837,  it  was  the  largest  and  most  populoi 
county  in  the  State,  containing  sixty  full  townships— o ver  2,000  square  mil* 
of  territory.  At  the  time  of  the  admission  of  the  State  into  the  Union,  ther 
was  not  a  white  inhabitant  in  the  whole  of  Sangamon  County,  and  in  1837 
(nineteen  years  after),  the  population  was  estimated  at  over  20,000.  As  the 
capital  of  the  State,  the  home  of  Lincoln,  Baker,  and  other  illustrious  names, 
old  Sangamon  is  held  in  a  spirit  of  veneration  by  people  who  claim  to  be  her 
offspring. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

The  lands  within  the  present  county  of  Mason  were  first  surveyed  anc 
opened  for  settlement  in  the  years  1821-22-23-24,  by  'William  L.  May  and 
others.  For  many  years,  the  region  of  country  within  tbe  forks  of  the  Illinois 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  409 

and  Sangamon  Rivers  was  looked  upon  by  the  surrounding  inhabitants  in  other 
counties  as  a  sandy,  barren  waste,  fit  only  for  the  abode  of  hunters,  fishermen 
and  such  people  as  eared  not  for  musquitoes,  fleas  and  other  "varmints,"  arid 
who  were  not  afraid  of  the  ague  and  other  malarial  diseases  that  then  prevailed 
most  plenteously,  and  so  the  country  was  avoided  by  what  was  considered  the 
better  class  of  people.  These  prejudices  kept  back  the  settlement  of  the  country 
until  the  year  1827. 

On  the  17th  of  October,  1827,  Ossian  M.  Ross,  then  living  in  the  neighbor- 
ing town  of  Lewistown,  entered  the  first  land  in  the  county,  where  the  city  of 
Havana  now  stands,  and  on  the  12th  of  November,  1827,  the  town  was  laid  out 
by  Stephen  Dewey  for  Mr.  Ross,  the  proprietor.  The  plat  was  not  put  on  rec- 
ord until  June  2,  1835,  at  Pekin. 

The  first  settler  in  Havana,  and  in  the  county,  is  believed  to  have  been  James 
Hoakum,  who  kept  the  ferry  for  Mr.  Ross.  Henry  Sears  says  that  he  was  at 
his  house  in  1827,  he  thinks,  and  certainly  not  more  than  a  year  later.  He  had 
a  child  born  in  his  house  about  that  time — the  first  white  birth  in  the  county. 

In  1828,  John  Stuart  settled  on  the  head  of  Snicarte  Island,  now  in  Bath 
Township,  and  afterward  sold  out  to  Amos  Richardson,  who  afterward  sold  out  to 
John  Knight.  Some  of  the  Stuart  family  are  still  living  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood, and  one  of  them  is  now  languishing  in  the  county  jail  under  a  charge  of 
murder  !  John  Gillespie  settled  the  same  year  on  the  place  where  the  town  of 
Moscow  once  stood,  and  soon  left  it,  to  be  afterward  entered  by  0.  M.  Ross. 

In  1829,  0.  M.  Ross  built  the  Ross  Hotel,  which  stood  on  the  bluff,  south 
Bide  of  Market  street.  Moses  Freeman  &  Bros,  were  the  architects  and  .builders, 
and,  when  completed,  Mr.  Ross  moved  into  it  with  his  family  and  there  remained 
to  the  time  of  his  death — January  20,  1837.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  Mr.  Ross 
was  the  first  permanent  settler.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  (1829),  the  Havana 
Post  Office  was  established,  and  0.  M.  Ross  appointed  Postmaster,  making  the 
Havana  office  two  years  older  than  the  Chicago  Post  Office.  The  ferry  had  been 
established  some  time  before,  and  for  a  long  time  the  place  was  best  known  as 
"  Ross  Ferry."  Asa  Langford,  the  father  of  our  George,  was  interested  in  the 
ferry  at  a  later  time,  and  finally  settled  in  Havana — a  jolly  old  fellow. 

George  Gorman  and  brother  were  the  first  settlers  in  Walker's  Grove,  Crane 
Creek,  in  1829.  They  sold  out  to  Solomon  Norris. 

On  the  12th  of  August,  1829,  Leonard  Alkire  made  the  first  entry  of  land 
on  Salt  Creek,  in  Section  34,  Town  20,  Range  6,  where  the  Virgins  afterward 
lived. 

In  1830,  William  Hagan  settled  on  what  is  known  as  the  Montgomery  place, 
near  the  old  Salt  Creek  bridge,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1£47,  when 
he  sold  out  and  went  to  Missouri. 

Mr.  Allen,  for  whom  Allen's  Grove  was  named,  lived  in  Allen's  Grove  as 
early  as  1830,  and  that  year  he  had  a  crop  of  wheat  in  the  ground  during  the 
winter  of  the  "deep  snow  "  in  1830-31.  He  was  a  squatter,  and  soon  left  for 


410  HISTORY   0*    MASON   COUNTY. 

other  parts.  James  Price,  who  had  an  Indian  wife,  lived  in  Walker's  Grove  in 
1830,  and  sold  out  and  went  to  Lease's  Grove  in  1833,  and  afterward  sold  out  to 
William  Lease  and  went  West  to  live  with  the  red  men  and  his  red  woman.  We 
do  not  know  which  of  these  three  were  first  on  the  ground,  but  Hagan  stayed  the 
longest. 

In  the  year  1831  (possibly  a  year  later),  Absalom  Mounts  settled  on  Crane 
Creek  and  built  a  mill  on  the  land  now  owned  by  William  Webb.  The  mill  was 
built  to  run  by  water  conveyed  over  the  dam  through  a  hollow  sycamore  log  on  to 
a  flutter- wheel ;  but,  on  account  of  a  scarcity  of  water,  it  was  afterward  recon- 
structed so  as  to  run  a  part  of  the  time  by  horse  or  ox  power.  It  was  a  rude 
affair,  with  a  pair  of  10  or  12-inch  stones,  grinding  a  bushel  and  a  half  of  corn 
per  hour  when  doing  its  best.  Being  the  first  and  only  mill  in  the  county,  it 
was  considered  a  big  institution  in  those  days,  and  was  patronized  by  the  pioneer 
people  from  all  quarters.  John  Sidwell  bought  out  Mounts  in  1837,  and,  among 
other  valuable  improvements,  he  attached  a  pocket  distillery,  where  the  waiting 
and  weary  customer  at  the  mill  could  brace  up  the  inner  man  whilst  waiting  for 
his  grist.  This  was  the  first  mill  and  first  distillery  in  Mason  County.  Dock 
Field  says  that  Sidwell  used  to  take  the  stones  out  and  carry  one  under  his  arm 
to  dinner,  and,  to  save  time,  dressed  it  as  he  went. 

In  1832,  Austin  P.  and  Robert  Melton  located  at  Big  Grove,  and  afterward 
sold  out  to  George  Virgin. 

In  the  year  1832,  Benjamin  Kellogg  made  the  first  entry  of  land  in  Allen's 
Grove. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1832,  Henry  Shepherd  entered  the  southeast  quarter 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  Section  28,  Town  21,  Range  9,  and  became  one 
among  the  first  land  owners  and  settlers  in  the  -county.  He  afterward  made 
additional  entries  of  adjoining  land,  and  sold  a  portion  of  it  to  V.  B.  Holmes 
and  Watkin  Powell,  who,  on  the  10th  of  April,  1839,  had  the  town  of  Matan- 
zas  laid  out  by  Thomas  C.  Wilson,  County  Surveyor  of  Tazewell  County.  Mr. 
Westervelt  located  as  a  neighbor  to  Mr.  Shepherd  about  the  same  time,  and  Mr. 
Barnes  at  the  mounds,  north  of  Havana.  Mr.  Shepherd  continued  on  his  little 
farm  to  the  time  of  his  death,  some  thirty  years  ago.  His  land,  which  was  a 
high,  sandy  place,  is  now  cultivated  by  William  Riggins,  and,  although  it  has 
been  in  cultivation  over  fifty  years,  there  is  no  sign  of  its  giving  out.  It  has 
produced  good  crops  of  corn  and  wheat  for  all  these  fifty  years  without  fertilizers 
and  without  rest.  The  town  of  Matanzas,  like  unto  the  city  of  Moscow,  is  now 
among  the  defunct  towns  6f  Mason  County. 

In  the  year  1836,  Jesse  Baker  settled  on  Crane  Creek,  where  he  still  resides 
in  a  very  feeble  condition.  He  was  one  of  the  stalwart  pioneers,  born  in  Tenn- 
essee in  1798 ;  came  to  Illinois  in  1816  and  settled  in  Morgan  County. 

In  the  same  year,  J.  M.  Estep,  born  in  St.  Clair  County,  111.,  December  14, 
1819,  settled  on  Crane  Creek,  in  Mason  County,  where  his  sons  still  live,  highly 
respected.  He  and  Jesse  Baker  are  pioneers  in  the  Crane  Creek  .settlement. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  411 

In  the  year  1833,  William  Lease  bought  out  a  man  of  the  name  of  James 
Price,  who  was  the  first  settler  at  what  was  called  Lease's  Grove. 

Solomon  Norris  was  living  on  Salt  Creek  in  1833,  and  must  have  come  a 
year  or  two  before. 

Lewis  Clarkson  was  the  first  settler  of  Field's  Prairie,  and  came  there  in  the 
spring  of  1833'  and  located  on  what  is  now  the  Upp  place. 

Levi  Blunt,  with  his  family  of  boys,  Thomas  F.,  Samuel  (now  in  Kilbourne), 
Laben  and  Richard,  all  came  in  the  spring  of  1834  and  settled  on  the  west  side 
of  the  prairie,  where  some  of  the  family  still  live. 

Henry  Sears  settled  in  the  county  in  1834,  locating  first  in  Walker's 
Grove,  buying  land  of  Estep  and  selling  out  to  James  Walker  in  1836.  He 
was  one  of  the  solid  men  in  those  days,  remarkable  for  integrity  and  eccentricity, 
and  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead  on  Crane  Creek,  as  bright  and  queer  as 
ever. 

In  the  year  1834,  July  3,  Bernard  Krebaum,  a  native  of  Hesse- Cassel,  Germany, 
landed  in  Havana  via  New  Orleans.  His  was  the  third  family  in  town — Messrs. 
Ross  and  Myers  being  then  here — and  here  he  remained  until  his  death  in 
1853.  v  His  family  consisted  of  Frederick,  Adolph,  William,  Edward  and 
Charles  G. — the  latter  born  in  Havana,  and  the  oldest  native-born  white  person 
now  living  in  the  county.  Adolph,  William  and  C.  G.  are  the  surviving  ones 
of  the  family,  and  all  live  in  the  city  of  Havana,  highly  respected  and  well  con- 
ditioned. 

Stephen  Hilbert,  Mr.  Myers  and  Mr.  Blair  also  came  and  settled  here  that 
year. 

In  the  year  1835,  the  population  of  Havana  was  re-enforced  by  a  little  col- 
ony of  live,  active  men,  consisting  of  N.  J.  Rockwell,  A.  W.  Kemp,  Daniel 
Adams  and  0.  E.  Foster,  who  came  from  Demorestville,  Upper  Canada.  Mr. 
Foster  kept  hotel  in  Havana  until  his  death,  in  1843.  Mr.  Adams  met  a 
violent  death  on  the  Ohio  River,  near  Louisville,  on  a  trip  East.  Judge  Rock- 
well, after  filling  a  prominent  position  among  enterprising  public  men  in  Mason 
County  for  many  years,  went  into  business  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died 
in  1878,  and  where  his  wife  died  the  present  year.  Mr.  Kemp  is  the  only  sur- 
vivor of  this  colony,  and  is  now,  at  a  ripe  old  age,  living  in  the  city  of  Sparta, 
Wis. 

John  H.  Neteler,  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  settled  below  Havana  that 
year.  He  was  an  educated,  upright  man,  and  assisted  Mr.  Lincoln  in  his  early 
surveys  in  Mason  County,  where  he  resided  to  the  time  of  his  death,  December 
4,  1863.  He  left  a  good  estate  to  his  children. 

Daniel  Clark  came  from  Ohio  and  settled  near  Mr.  Hagan,  on  Salt  Creek, 
in  this  year,  and  remained  until  his  death,  in  1854. 

George  Close,  John  Close,  Jr.,  and  Josiah  Dobson,  each  bought  tracts  of 
land  in  Crane  Creek  in  1835,  and  became  a  part  of  the  pioneer  population  of 
the  county. 


412  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

During  this  year,  John  Grigg,  of  Philadelphia,  made  large  entries  of  land 
on  Field's  Prairie,  which  he  sold  out  in  about  ten  years  to  settlers  at  $3  per  acre. 

The  year  1836  brought  a  still  larger  number  of  pioneer  settlers  into  the 
county.  On  the  16th  of  March,  1836,  Abraham  Lincoln  entered  the  north 
half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section  3,  Town  19,  Range  7,  containing  forty- 
seven  acres,  and  in  1837  sold  an  undivided  half  of  the  same  for  $30 — not  a 
very  great  speculation  for  those  times.  This  land  lies  about  a  mile  above  Mil- 
ler's Ferry,  on  the  Sangamon,  near  where  the  famous  town  of  Huron  was  laid 
out  soon  after,  and  the  location  of  which  is  not  marked  by  a  single  house  or 
habitation  at  this  date. 

On  the  1st  day  of  November,  1836,  the  original  plat  of  the  town  of  Bath 
was  laid  out  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  Deputy  Surveyor  of  Sangamon  County,  for 
John  Kerton,  proprietor,  and,  on  the  30th  of  November,  the  plat  was  recorded 
in  Springfield,  the  county  seat  of  the  county,  in  which  the  town  was  then  situ- 
ated. The  original  plat  made  by«Mr.  Lincoln  is  still  extant,  in  the  hands  of 
Maj.  Gatton,  of  Bath. 

Pulaski  Scoville  removed  from  Cincinnati  to  Warren  County,  111.,  in  1834, 
and  into  Havana  in  1836.  He  was  an  active,  go-ahead  man,  and  the  same  year 
of  his  coming  to  Havana,  he,  in  company  with  the  three  Low  brothers,  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  steam  saw-mill,  in  which  lumber  was  manufactured  for 
the  first  railroad  built  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  from  Springfield  to  Meredosia, 
and  also  timbers  for  buildings  in  Alton  and  St.  Louis.  He  was  also  an  exten- 
sive operator  in  real  estate  and  other  business  enterprises,  and  now  lives  with  his 
fifth  wife  on  his  beautiful  farm,  not  far  from  Teheran. 

In  the  spring  of  1836,  Thomas  and  Eliphaz  Low  came  also  from  Cincinnati 
to  Havana,  and  afterward  bought  lands  near  the  Quiver  and  settled  on  them ; 
and  they  also  operated,  to  some  extent,  in  real  estate.  Thomas  Low  died  about 
1846,  and  Eliphaz  died  in  Havana  in  the  year  1864.  They  were  natives  of 
Massachusetts. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  their  brother,  Francis  Low,  came  to  Havana 
and  entered  into  active  business,  dabbling  in  real  estate,  buying  and  selling 
lands,  opening  and  improving  farms,  etc.  In  1838,  he  was  appointed  Deputy 
Sheriff  of  Tazewell  County,  and,  when  Mason  County  was  organized,  in  1841, 
he  was  elected  and  served  as  first  Sheriff  of  the  county.  He  also  assisted  in 
the  building  of  the  Illinois  River  Railroad,  the  first  built  in  the  county.  In 
the  year  1875,  he  was  active  in  the  organization  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Havana,  of  which  he  still  continues  to  be  President.  In  farming  and  other 
pursuits  he  has  been  successful,  as  an  ample  fortune  bears  evidence. 

In  the  year  1836,  Charles  P.  Richardson  became  the  first  settler  on  Grand 
Island,  opposite  the  town  of  Bath,  and  tradition  says  that  he  assisted  Mr.  Lin- 
coln in  laying  out  that  town. 

C.  W.  Andrus  came  from  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  early  in  the  year  1836,  to 
Havana,  where  he  has  lived  an  honored  life  to  the  present  time. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  41  $ 

Loring  Ames  came  also  the  same  year  and  settled  in  Mason  County.  He 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  1806.  Came  to  St.  Clair  County  in 
1818  ;  was  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  as  a  Lieutenant,  and  still  lives  on  a  farm 
near  Topeka. 

During  the  year,  the  Virgins  came  and  settled  on  Salt  Creek,  where  they 
remained  on  their  farms  until  removed  by  death,  which  events  occurred  as  fol- 
lows :  George  (one  of  the  first  County  Commissioners)  died  in  1855 ;  Kinsie, 
in  1853 ;  Regin,  in  1872,  and  Abraham  in  1873.  George  had  a  little  store, 
and  there  was  a  blacksmith  and  shoe  shop,  constituting  an  embryo  town,  which 
was  given  the  name  of  Hiawatha. 

Ephraim  Burnell  settled  near  the  Mounds,  above  Havana,  this  year.  He 
afterward  died  on  the  way  to  California. 

John  Ritter,  father  of  Col.  Richard  Ritter,  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood^ 
about  the  same  time,  and  remained  to  the  date  of  his  death. 

A.  C.  Gregory  also  settled  near  the  Mounds  this  year. 

In  the  early  spring  of  1836,  Vivian  B.  Holmes,  Albert  J.  Field  and  Benjamin 
F.  Wigginton  came  from  Tennessee  to  Mason  County.  Mr.  Holmes  came  as  the 
agent  of  Dr.  Drury  S.  Field  under  a  contract  to  purchase  10,000  acres  of  land.  In 
the  months  of  April  and  June,  he  entered  over  three  thousand  acres  for  Dr.  Field, 
and  some  in  the  name  of  his  brother  on  Field's  Prairie.  He  also  went  into- 
merchandising  the  same  year  in  a  part  of  Ross'  Hotel,  with  Wigginton  as  clerk. 
Col.  Holmes  was  an  eccentric  man  of  the  old  Virginia  stamp  ;  despised  work  as 
beneath  the  dignity  of  a  gentleman,  and  could  endure  a  vast  amount  of  comfort, 
which  he  sought  in  riding  his  horse  "  Pomp  "  over  the  country,  and  stopping  for 
indefinite  periods  wherever  there  was  good  fare  and  pleasant  people  to  chat  with. 
He  was  a  great  admirer  of  the  other  sex,  and  used  to  say,  in  a  devout  way, 
"  When  I  cease  to  love  the  women,  or  to  have  the  power  of  responding  to 
woman's  love,  I  hope  my  heavenly  Father  will  take  me  home  !  "  In  his  time,  he 
was  the  husband  of  four  wives,  and  he  used  to  say,  in  an  impressive  way,  u  It 
has  pleased  God  to  give  me  three  angels  and  but  one  devil !  "  and  then 
he  would  groan,  or  moan,  like  a  saint,  and,  in  the  next  breath,  per  chance, 
swear  like  a  trooper !  He  died  some  years  ago,  at  Tremont,  leaving  a  fifth 
wife.  i 

In  June,  1836,  Dr.  Drury  S.  Field  came  from  Tennessee  to  Mason  County 
and  settled  at  what  is  called  White  Hall  Point,  on  Field's  Prairie.  He  had  been 
an  extensive  slave  owner  and  planter  in  the  South,  sold  out  a  hundred  or  two 
negroes  and  came  North,  where  he  died  in  1838,  leaving  a  large  family,  all  of 
whom  are  now  dead,  except  two  sons — A.  J.  and  A.  E.  Field — and  two  daughters. 
At  the  time  he  settled  in  the  county,  and  for  years  afterward,  the  county  fairly 
swarmed  with  deer,  wild  turkeys,  prairie  chickens  and  wolves,  and  it  was  no 
uncommon  occurrence  to  shoot  a  deer  from  the  door  of  his  house.  As  late  as 
1844,  the  writer  saw  on  his  land,  out  in  the  prairie,  a  herd  of  from  fifty  to  sixty 
deer.  The  settlers,  in  those  times,  used  to  hunt  wolves  on  horseback,  run  them 


414  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

until  overtaken  and  then  dispatch  them  with  the  stirrup  of  the  saddle.  Turkey 
were  run  down  and  captured  on  horseback,  thus  saving  ammunition. 

From  the  most  reliable  sources,  we  hear  the  Garret  family  came  and  settled 
in  what  is  now  Kilbourne  Township  in  1836,  or,  perhaps,  two  years  before.  Gib- 
son Garret  and  Joshua  Garret  were  of  the  eld  stock  of  pioneers — regular  Nim- 
rods  and  wolf-killers.  Joel  Garret,  an  offspring,  died  on  the  old  hunting-grounds 
of  his  father  two  years  ago. 

James  Blakely  also  settled  in  what  is  now  Kilbourne  Township  in  1836,  and, 
without  moving,  was  an  inhabitant  of  three  counties — Sangamon,  Menard  and 
Mason.  He  died  a  few  years  ago,  leaving  A.  S.  Blakely  and  two  other  sons  in 
the  old  neighborhood. 

Aaron  Scott  also  settled,  the  same  year,  in  the  neighborhood  where  his  sons, 
Martin  and  Asher,  now  live. 

N.  R.  Murdock  also  came  from  New  Jersey  and  settled  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood with  the  Scotts  the  same  year.  Three  years  later  he  returned  to  New 
Jersey ;  but  the  Western  fever  was  in  him  and  he  had  to  come  back  again,  and 
now  lives,  an  honored  resident,  of  Crane  Creek. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  1837,  T.  M.  Neal,  Surveyor  of  Sangamon  County, 
laid  out,  for  John  Rea  and  William  May,  the  town  of  Lynchburg  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  Section  22  and  southwest  quarter  of  Section  27,  Town  19,  Range 
9.  The  proprietors  and  Pleasant  May,  and  probably  others,  had  already  settled 
in  that  neighborhood,  but  the  date  is  unknown  to  us,  and,  therefore,  not  given. 

In  this  year,  Joseph  Adkins  bought  lands  and  settled  near  where  Sadora  now 
is,  which  he  had  laid  out  some  years  ago.  Mr.  Adkins  died  within  a  year  past 
and  left  a  family  of  children  to  take  his  place. 

Among  the  first  settlers  in  Lynchburg  was  Nelson  Abbey,  in  1837.  He 
settled  near  where  Snicarte  now  k. 

James  Walker  settled  this  year  at  Walker's  Grove,  coming  from  Indiana,  and 
died  a  few  years  ago  at  a  very  old  age.  He  had  a  family  of  five  sons  and  four 
•daughters,  all  of  whom  have  been  connected,  in  many  prominent  ways,  with  the 
history  and  prosperity  of  the  county. 

Alexander  Stuart,  a  native  of  Ireland,  settled  in  Havana  this  year,  and  has 
ever  since  been  an  active  business  man. 

John  H.  Schulte,  from  Hanover,  Germany,  came  to  Mason  County  this  year 
and  opened  business  on  the  river,  which,  for  years,  overshadowed  all  other  places 
of  business.  He  died  in  the  year  1845,  leaving  two  sons,  of  whom  J.  H.  ia 
Deputy  County  Clerk. 

Thomas  McCarty  settled  in  the  county  this  year,  coming  from  Ohio,  and  still 
lives  in  Mason  Citj^  as  we  believe. 

Edward  Sikes  settled  on  Salt  Creek  this  year,  and  died  there  in  1855.  John 
Auxier,  Eli  Auxier,  John  Y.  Swarr  and  John  Young  all  came  at  the  same  time 
and  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood.  Of  these,  all  are  dead,  except,  perhaps, 
Mr.  Swarr. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  415 

Charles  Howell  came  from  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  Quiver  this  year. 
The  balance  of  the  Howell  family  came  some  three  years  later. 

John  H.  Havighorst,  from  Hanover,  Germany,  came  this  year  to  Mason 
County.  As  a  county  official,  he  has  made  his  mark  upon  the  records  of  the 
Bounty. 

On  the  7th  of  August,  1837,  there  was  an  election  held  in  Havana  Precinct 
to  vote  for  county  officers  of  Tazewell  County,  at  which  election  twelve  votes 
were  cast,  viz.:  Daniel  Adams,  Henry  Shepherd,  0.  E.  Foster,  N.  J.  Rockwell, 
Anson  C.  Gregory,  A.  W.  Kemp,  B.  F.  Wigginton,  V.  B.  Holmes,  C.  W. 
Andrus,  William  Hyde,  J.  H.  Netler  and  one  other.  This  constituted  the  voting 
population  of  Havana  and  many  miles  around  at  that  time. 

John  Rea  and  William  May  were,  at  this  time,  living  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Lynchburg ;  and  at  about  that  time  Pleasant  May,  George  Marshal  and  others 
settled  in  the  neighborhood.  Zephenia  Keath  was  also  an  early  settler  near  by, 
followed  by  George  Carpenter  and  John  Johnson,  making  quite  a  re-enforcement 
for  the  lower  end. 

Isaac  Parkhurst  came  from  New  Jersey  and  settled  in  Havana  in  the  year 

1837,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  leaving  representatives  still  in  the 
county. 

Moses  Ray  and  his  sons,  Aaron  and  James,  settled  on  the  east  side  of  Field's 
Prairie  in  1837.  The  old  man  died  in  1845.  He  was  a  backwoods  preacher,  of 
the  Hard-shell  Baptist  persuasion. 

In  1837,  Washington  Daniels  settled  on  Field's  Prairie,  where  his  sons,  Isley, 
Callaway,  Martin  and  George  still  live. 

Robert  McReynolds,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  settled  in  Mason  County  in 

1838,  and  died  in  Havana  in  1872.     He  held  the  office  of  County  Judge  and 
other  public  places. 

Thomas  K.  Falkner  came  from  Indiana,  and  settled  near  by  Judge  McRey- 
nolds the  same  year  and  began  the  first  improvements  in  what  is  Sherman  Town- 
ship. In  the  fall  of  that  year,  the  families  of  Hibbs,  Hampton  and  Dentler 
came  to  the  same  vicinity.  West  of  them,  toward  Havana,  were  eight  other 
families,  and  east  of  them  there  were  no  settlers  for  thirty  miles. 

J.  H.  Dierker,  from  Hanover,  Germany,  came  to  the  county  that  year,  and 
still  lives  near  the  city  of  Havana. 

The  same  year,  and  from  the  same  county,  came  Henry  Bishop,  and  settled 
where  Bishop's  Station  now  is.  He  still  lives  there  and  prospers. 

William  Atwater  also  came  in  1838,  and  settled  near  Quiver.  Also, 
William  Rodgers  and  John  Rodgers,  settling  in  Lynchburg. 

Amos  Smith,  Sr.,  Amos  Smith,  Jr.,  and  B.  F.  Smith,  came  that  year  from 
the  State  of  Vermont,  and  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood.  Soon  after,  came 
John  Camp,  first  Probate  Judge  of  the  county,  and  Richard  J.  Phelps,  fol- 
lowed soon  after  by  George  W.  Phelps,  James  D.  Reeves  and  William  Davis, 
making  quite  a  populous  neighborhood. 


416  HISTORY   OF   MASON    COUNTY. 

George  H.  Campbell  came  that  year  to  Mason  County,  and  began  to  improve 
his  father's  land,  six  miles  below  Bath.  He  was  highly  favored,  at  an  early 
day,  in  the  way  of  offices,  as  the  county  records  show,  and,  with  an  event- 
ful life^  "still  lives"  in  Mason  City.  W.  H.  Campbell,  present  Mayor  of 
Havana,  is  his  first  son,  born  in  Bath  in  the  year  1847. 

There  were  a  number  of  settlers  came  from  Greene  "County  that  year,  among 
them  Robert  Elkin  and  Isaac  H.  Hodge,  both  afterward  Sheriffs  of  the  county.* 

"Hall  Hodge,"  as  he  was  called,  was  the  second  Sheriff  of  the  county,  and 
in  strange  contrast  with  his  predecessor  in  all  respects.  He  was  a  diminutive, 
ill-favored,  illiterate  man,  lively  and  chatty  with  everybody,  using  an  abund- 
ance of  all  sorts  of  words,  of  the  meaning  of  .which  he  was  entirely  igno- 
rant. He  was  a  kind-hearted  man,  that  had  no  guile  in  him  (but  generally 
plenty  of  whisky,  which  suggested  the  calling  of  him  the  high- Sheriff ),  and  was 
a  great  favorite  of  the  people  in  those  days.  His  reading  of  a  summorfs  or 
court  paper  sounded  like  a  chapter  from  "Nasby  "  or  the  "  Innocents  Abroad." 
The  law  term  "versus"  which  usually  occurred  in  the  summons,  he  invariably 
called  "  vestigated,"  and  at  the  wind-up  of  reading  a  legal  paper,  he  always 
added,  with  a  grand  flourish,  "thus  and  so — the  measures  !"  In  calling  court, 
he  would  yell  out,  in  his  tenor  voice,  "  Oh,  yes  !  Oh,  yes !  the  court  has  met, 
subject  to  adjournment!"  At  one  time,  he  was  directed  by  the  court  to  call  the 
names  of  parties  on  a  criminal  bond,  and  declare  a  forfeiture,  on  account  of  the 
absence  of  the  criminal,  in  accordance  with  the  formula  of  those  days,  which  was 
long  and  precise.  The  Sheriff  was  very  much  excited  and  nonplused,  knowing 
it  impossible  for  him  to  repeat  so  many  words  correctly.  In  confusion  and 
despair,  he  rushed  to  the  window,  thrust  his  head  through  the  crashing  glass, 
and  called  the  names  of  the  parties  he  could  remember,  and  then  mumbled  and 
jumbled  a  lot  of  stuff  that  sounded  like  the  clatter  of  "four  and  twenty  black- 
birds," winding  up  with  the  words,  "You  will  come  into  court,  or  everything 
will  be  lost !"  The  Judge  laughed,  the  bar  roared,  and  the  people  were 
delighted  to  see  that  they  had  a  Sheriff  equal  to  any  emergency.  At  the  time 
of  his  last  election,  there  was  a  fierce  strife  between  the  upper  and  lower  end  of 
the  county  about  the  county  seat,  and  so  the  candidates  had  hard  work  to  "make 
both  ends  meet,"  and  secure  an  election.  On  the  eve  of  that  eventful  day,  a 
crowd  of  friends  gathered  around  the  Sheriff,  to  hear  what  he  had  to  say  about 
the  prospects.  •  He  was  very  jubilant  and  lavish  of  big  words,  saying,  "  I  know 
I  shall  be  sumptuously  elected,  for  I  have  ravished  the  whole  upper  end !"  As 
Hodge  was  a  virtuous  man,  the  presumption  is  that  he  meant  "  canvassed " 
"  triumphantly,"  and  nothing  more.  He  was  invincible  before  the  people,  until, 
in  his  kindness,  he  became  a  defaulter,  and  subsided  into  private  life. 

In  the  year  1839,  John  R.  Chancy,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  came  from  Greene 
County  to  Mason,  and  settled  near  the  east  line  of  Havana  Township,  where  he 
still  resides. 


*  Since  writing  this,  we  ^re  informed  that  this  Greene  County  colony  did  not  come  until  1841. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  417 

Mark  A.  Smith,  second  son  of  Amos  Smith,  Sr.,  came  from  Vermont  and 
settled  near  Snicarte,  which  he  laid  out  afterward,  and  where  he  now  resides. 

Joseph  Mowder  settled  near  the  center  of  Havana  Township  in  1839,  where 
he  has  lived  for  forty  years  of  upright  life. 

Abraham  Swing  came  from  Ohio  in  1839,  and  settled  in  Swing's  Grove, 
near  the  southeast  corner  of  the  county.  He  died  in  Mason  City  in  1866. 

John  W.  Holzgraffe  came  from  Hanover,  Germany,  and  settled  near  Havana 
in  1839,  Avhere  he  still  resides.  He  has  five  sons  in  business  in  Havana. 

John  Bowman  and  John  Cooper  came  from  Greene  County  and  settled  half- 
way between  Havana  and  Bath  this  same  year. 

In  1840,  Samuel  C.  Conwell  first  made  his  appearance  in  Havana,  coming 
from  Indiana,  but  a  native  of  the  little  State  of  Delaware.  He  has  lived  here 
long,  and  been  much  mixed  with  the  history  of  the  county,  as  the  land  records 
will  show.  S.  D.  Swing  also  came  from  Ohio  and  settled  at  the  Grove  with  his 
brother  this  year. 

Nathan  Howell  came  from  Pennsylvania  in  1840,  and  settled  near  his  son 
Charles,  who  preceded  him.  He  has  survivors  still  living  near  Havana. 

Solomon  Bales  also  entered  land  in  1840  on  Crane  Creek,  and  settled  there. 

Maj.  B.  H.  Gatton,  born  in  Kentucky  in  1808  ;  came  to  Morgan  County 
in  1824,  with  his  father's  family,  and  to  Bath,  Mason  County,  May  1,  1841. 
Since  that  date,  he  has  filled  a  large  place  in  the  business  and  enterprise  of  the 
lower  end  of  the  county,  making  and  losing  fortunes  by  turn,  in  the  vicissitudes 
of  the  grain  trade  and  merchandising.  He  was  the  first  Postmaster  in  Bath 
when  the  office  was  established  there  in  1842,  and  has  held  other  public  trusts. 
Maj.  Gatton  has  taken  Greeley's  advice,  and  in  the  month  of  July,  1879,  took  his 
family  to  Cass  County,  Mo.,  there  to  live  out  the  balance  of  his  days. 

R.  P.  Gatton  came  also  with  his  brother  from  Beardstown,  and  died  in  the 
*  year  1873,  leaving  a  wife  and  one  daughter  there. 

William  H.  Nelms,  brother-in-law  of  Maj.  Gatton,  and  also  from  Kentucky, 
came  also  from  Beardstown  about  the  same  time,  and  settled  in  Bath,  where  he 
lived  an  active  business  life  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  many  years  ago.  He 
was  the  Deputy  Circuit  Clerk  for  J.  A.  Phelps  for  some  years,  and  was  also 
engaged  in  trade  for  a  time.  His  only  living  son,  John  E.  Nelms  has  been  a 
prominent  business  man  in  Bath  and  Peoria,  and  is  now  retired  to  a  farm  in 
Lynchburg. 

In  the  year  1840,  the  question  of  making  a  new  county  was  agitated  by  the 
people  of  Havana,  and  decided  upon.  At  the  suggestion  of  John  Ritter,  it  was 
to  be  named  Mason  County.  On  the  20th  of  January,  1841,  the  act  was 
passed,  providing  for  the  organization  of  the  county  by  the  selection  of  a  county 
seat  and  also  the  election  of  the  necessary  number  of  county  officers. 

Having  traced  the  early  current  of  emigration  to  the  date  of  the  organ  i/a- 
tioii  of  the  county  as  correctly  as  we  have  the  means  of  testing  its  accuracy,  we 
leave  to  the  township  historian  the  task  of  following  up  the  work,  which  he 


418  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

can  do  more  fully  and  satisfactorily  than  can  be  done  in  the,  limited  time  we  can 
devote  to  it.  It  has  been  our  endeavor  to  be  accurate  and  impartial  in  all  per- 
sonal references,  still  there  may  be  errors  of  date  and  omissions  of  names  that 
should  have  had  a  place  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county. 

An  Act  for  the  formation  of  Mason  County  : 

SECTION  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  General 
Assembly,  That  all  that  part  of  the  counties  of  Menard  and  Tazewell  included  within  the  follow- 
boundaries,  to-wit :  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sangamon  River,  running  thence  with  the 
channel  of  said  river,  to  the  mouth  of  Salt  Creek,  running  thence  with  the  channel  of  said 
creek,  until  it  intersects  the  range  line  between  Ranges  4  and  5 ;  thence  north  with  said  range 
line,  to  the  north  line  of  Logan  County ;  thence  west  six  miles ;  thence  north  to  the  center  of 
Township  23  north.  Range  6  west  of  Third  Principal  Meridian  ;  thence  west  to  the  Illinois  River, 
to  the  place  of  beginning,  which  shall  constitute  a  county  to  be  called  the  county  of  Mason. 

SEC.  2.  All  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  Constables  heretofore  duly  elected  and  qualified  in 
and  for  the  counties  of  Menard  and  Tazewell,  and  who  now  reside  within  the  aforesaid  bound- 
aries of  the  county  of  Mason,  shall  hold  their  offices  in  and  for  the  said  county  of  Mason,  the 
game  as  if  no  division  had  taken  place. 

SEC.  3.  The  legal  voters  residing  within  the  limits  of  said  county  of  Mason,  shall  meet  at 
the  town  of  Havana,  in  said  county,  on  the  first  Monday  in  April  next,  appoint  Judges  and 
Clerks  of  Election,  and  proceed  to  elect  a  Sheriff,  Coroner,  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court,  Recorder,  Treasurer,  Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace,  School  Commissioner,  and  three 
County  Commissioners  for  said  county,  and  any  other  county  officers  provided  by  law,  to  be 
elected  for  counties,  and  the  returns  of  said  election  shall  be  made  by  said  Judges  and  Clerks  to 
the  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  said  county  of  Mason,  and  any  two  or  more  of  said  Justices  shall 
meet  at  Havana  at  any  time  within  five  days  after  said  election,  and  proceed  to  open  said 
returns,  make  out  abstracts  of  the  same,  and  transmit  one  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  and  file  one 
with  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  of  said  county  of  Mason,  and  to  do  and  per- 
form all  other  duties  now  required  by  law,  in  like  cases  of  the  Clerks  of  the  County  Commis- 
sioners' Courts  and  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

SEC.  4.  The  legal  voters  of  said  county  of  Mason  shall  also,  at  the  time  and  place,  and  in 
the  manner  specified  in  the  third  section  of  this  act,  vote  for  sites  or  places  at  which  to  locate 
and  establish  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  of  said  county  of  Mason,  and  the  site  or  place  which 
shall  receive  the  greatest  number  of  votes  shall  be  and  forever  remain  the  permanent  seat  of 
justice,  or  county  seat,  of  said  county  of  Mason,  and  the  Judges  and  Clerks  of  said  election  are 
hereby  authorized  to  open  columns  in  their  poll  books,  and  receive  votes  for  the  same ;  said 
election  to  be  conducted  in  all  respects,  and  returns  thereof  made  in  the  same  manner  as  provided 
for  in  the  third  section  of  this  act,  and  of  the  laws  of  this  State  in  relation  to  elections ;  Pro- 
vided, however,  That  the  Judges  and  Clerks  of  said  election  are  not  authorized  to  open  columns  or 
receive  votes  for  any  site  or  sites,  place  or  places,  for  said  county  seat,  unless  the  proprietors  or 
friends  of  said  site  or  place  shall  first  place  in  the  hands  of  the  Judges  of  said  election  their 
promissory  note  drawn  to  the  County  Commissioners  of  Mason  County,  or  their  successors  in 
office,  for  the  use  of  said  county  of  Mason,  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  payable  three 
months  after  date,  with  good  and  sufficient  security  for  the  payment  of  the  same,  to  be  approved 
by  the  Judges  of  said  election,  and  shall  also  place  in  the  hands  of  said  judges  a  bond  conditioned 
for  a  donation  of  real  estate  for  the  use  of  said  county,  on  which  to  erect  the  public  buildings, 
which  donation  shall  not  be  less  than  one  block  of  lots,  if  the  county  seat  is  located  at  a 
town  already  laid  off,  and  not  less  than  twenty  acres  if  on  land  not  heretofore  laid  off  in  town 
lots. 

SEC.  5.  The  Judges  of  the  aforesaid  election  shall  deposit  with  the  County  Commissioners 
of  said  county  of  Mason,  as  soon  as  said  court  shall  be  organized,  the  notes  and  bonds  which  may 
come  into  their  hands  in  the  manner  specified  in  the  proviso  to  the  fourth  section  of  this  act,  and 
said  Commissioners,  after  the  returns  of  said  election  shall  have  been  made  agreeable  to  the 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  419 

provisions  of  this  act,  and  it  shall  have  been  finally  decided  which  point  has  received  the  highest 
number  of  votes  for  the  county  seat,  all  the  aforesaid  notes  and  bonds  shall  be  returned  to  the 
persons  from  whom  they  were  received,  except  those  received  from  the  friends  or  proprietors  of 
that  point  at  which  the  county  seat  has  been  located. 

SEC.  6.  The  School  Commissioner  of  the  county  of  Mason,  as  soon  as  he  shall  be  duly 
elected,  qualified  and  commissioned,  according  to  law,  shall  call  upon  the  School  Commissioners 
of  the  county  of  Menard  and  Tazewell,  and  demand  of  and  receive  from  them  all  notes,  bonds, 
mortgages  or  other  writings  or  obligations  which  may  belong  or  be  coming  to  said  county  of 
Mason  ;  also  the  distributive  share  of  the  school,  college  and  seminary  fund,  which  said  county 
of  Mason  shall  be  entitled  to. 

SEC.  7.     The  said  county  of  Mason  shall  constitute  a  part  of  the Judicial  Circuit 

and  a  Circuit  Court  shall  be  held  for  said  county,  at  some  convenient  house  in  the  village  of 
Havana  until  the  public  buildings  shall  be  erected ;  the  tirade  of  holding  said  court  shall  be 
appointed  by  the  Judge  presiding  on  said  circuit.  This  act  to  take  effect  from  its  passage. 

Approved  January  20,  1841. 

After  the  passage  of  this  act,  it  becoming  known  that  Havana  was  the  only 
voting. place  named,  parties  not  in  the  Havana  interest  procured  the  passage  of 
the  following  supplemental  act,  providing  for  polls  being  opened  in  Salt  Creek 
and  Lynchburg  also. 

An  Art  supplemental  to  an  act  for  the  formation  of  the  county  of  Mason  : 

SECTION  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  General 
Assembly,  That  polls  shall  be  opened  at  the  town  of  Lynchburg,  and  at  the  house  of  .1  tunes 
Walker  (in  Walker's  Grove),  in  the  county  of  Mason  at  the  same  time,  and  for  the  same  objects, 
and  under  the  same  regulations  as  provided  for  at  the  town  of  Havana,  by  the  act  to  which  this- 
is  supplemental. 

Approved  February  '27,  1841. 

COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS'  COURT. 

As  the  legislative  and  controlling  power  of  the  county  resided  in  this  Court 
at  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the  county  and  down  to  the  year  1849,  we  shall 
devote  some  attention  to  their  acts  and  doings.  There  is  no  record  showing, the 
result  of  the  vote  which  elected  the  first  set  of  county  officers,  or  of  the  location 
of  the  county  seat,  but  the  record  shows  who  served  the  people  as  County  Clerk, 
Sheriif,  Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace,  School  Commissioner  and  County  Com- 
missioners— leavin^us  in  the  dark  as  to  who  was  the  first  Coroner  and  County 
Surveyor.  It  also  shows  that  the  county  seat  was  located  at  Havana,  at  that 
election,  which  was  held  in  Havana,  Salt  Creek  and  Texas  Precincts,  on  the  5th 
day  of  April,  1841. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Court,  in  April,  the  bond  of  J.  A.  Phelps, 
County  Clerk,  was  approved,  and  five  road  districts  were  laid  out  in  the  county. 
At  the  June  term,  the  number  of  road  districts  were  increased  to  nine,  and  the 
Supervisors  appointed  to  serve  therein  were  as  follows :  First  District,  Daniel 
Swing;  Second,  Abraham  Virgin;  Third,  Isaac  Teeter;  Fourth,  William 
McDaniel;  Fifth,  John  H.  Neteler;  Sixth,  Joseph  Lybarger;  Seventh,  Nelson  R. 
Ashurst;  Eighth,  William  Davis,  and  Ninth,  John  R.  Chaney.  The  location  of 
these  districts  may  be  known  from  the  residence  of  the  Supervisors.  It  was 


420  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

also  ordered  that  three  days'  road  labor  be  expended  on  the  roads  in  the  year 
1841,  by  all  persons  liable  to  do  such  work. 

Ira  Patterson  was  allowed  $2  for  services  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  open- 
ing the  poll  books  and  making  abstracts  of  the  first  election  for  county  officers 
and  county  seat. 

At  this  June  term  of  court,  it  was  also  ordered  that  a  new  Justice's  district 
be  formed  of  the  territory  lying  west  of  the  range  line  between  Nine  and  Ten, 
to  be  called  Lynchburg  District,  and  ordered  an  election  for  two  Justices  and  two 
Constables.  As  a  result  of  that  election  we  only  know  that  Amos  Smith  w.-is 
elected  one  of  the  Justices,  ^nd  continued  in  that  office  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  the  year  1851. 

.  The  Court  further  ordered  that  George  May  should  pay  $5  license  for  a  ferry 
across  the  Sangamon,  and  required  him  to  give  a  bond  of  $150,  conditioned  that 
he  should  "keep,  the  ferry  so  as  to  give  every  person  a  passage  in  reasonable 
time" — but  the  order  did  not  state  what  kind  of  physic  the  ferryman  should  use. 
In  those  days,  being  hemmed  in  from  the  outside  world  by  the  Illinois  and  San- 
gamon Rivers,  the  ferries  were  great  institutions,  and  there  were  plenty  of  them 
and  considerable  rivalry  for  business. 

The  Court  also  ordered  that  Francis  Low  be  appointed  Collector  of  Taxes 
for  the  year  1841,  and  that'  the  rate  of  taxes  should  be  50  cents  on  the  $100 
for  county  purposes,  and  30  cents  for  State  purposes. 

The  Court  ordered  that  the  following  named  persons  be  summoned  to  serve 
as  grand  jurors  at  the  first  term  of  the  Mason  County  Circuit  Court,  to  be  held 
on  Friday,  after  the  second  Monday  in  November,  1841,  viz.:  James  Walker, 
Daniel  Clark,  Sr.,  Ira  Halstead,  Michael  Swing,  Austin  P.  Melton,  P.  W. 
Campbell,  William  Dew,  John  G.  Conover,  Thomas  F.  Blunt,  Anderson  Young, 
Samuel  D.  Becket,  George  Marshall,  G.  W.  Phelps,  Edmund  Northern,  Ashley 
Hickey,  Hoag  Sherman,  William  Hibbs,  William  Atwater,  Thomas  Low,  John 
Rishel,  Daniel  Deffenbacker,  Pulaski  Scovil  and  David  Bell.  Of  all  these  men, 
we  know  but  four  now  in  the  county — Scovil,  Blunt,  Deffenbacker  and  John  G. 
Conover,  the  latter  still  an  active,  stout,  jolly  man,  as  he  has  always  been.  G. 
W.  Phelps  is  living  in  Kentucky,  but  most  of  them  have  been  summoned  to  a 
t-ourt  of  stern  decrees — the  court  of  death. 

The  Court  also  selected  the  following  named  persons  to  serve  as  travis  jurors 
at  the  same  term  of  Court,  viz. :  George  Close,  James  Yeardley,  Henry  Sears, 
John  Close,  Sr.,  Abel  W.  Kemp,  Jacob  H.  Cross,  James  Russell,  James  Ray, 
Laben  Blunt,  James  Lockerman,  Washington  Daniel,  Benjamin  Sisson,  Israel 
Carman,  John  Johnson,  Orin  E.  Foster,  Frederick  Buck,  Thomas  Faulkner, 
David  Coder,  William  Chainey,  Samuel  Patton,  James  Blakely,  William  Rodgers, 
Nelson  Abbey,  Henry  C.  Rowland. 

The  writer  was  acquainted  with  nearly  all  the  men  on  both  these  juries,  of 
whom  there  are  but  four  of  the  latter  known  to  be  living,  making  eight  out  of 
forty-seven. 


/  HAVANA  f 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  423 

The  Court  finished  up  its  business  for  that  term  with  the  following  interest- 
ing order,  or  decree,  which  goes  to  show  how  the  court  stood  (or  perhaps,  leaned), 
on  the  main  question ;  we  copy  literally : 

"  In  the  Mason  County  Comrs' .  Court: 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,  ) 
MASON  COUNTY.        j 

Be  it  remembered  that  permission  is  hereby  given  to  Richard  P.  Gatton,  to  retail  spirituous 
liquors,  by  any  quantity,  until  the  end  of  the  September  term  of  the  Co.  Com.  Court  of  said 
county,  for  which  permission  the  said  Gatton  has  paid  the  sum  of  $2.50. 

•'  In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  name  and  private  seal,  no  official  seal  having 
been  provided. 

"Dated  at  Havana,  June  the  12th,  A.  D.  1841. 

"  J.  A.  PHKLPS,  Clerk  Co.  Com.  Court,  M.  C." 

This  was  the  first  liquor  license  given  in  Mason  County,  and  the  demand  for 
it  was  so  pressing,  that  they  could  not  wait  for  a  seal  to  be  put  on  the  license, 
and  the  party  had  to  take  it  straight,  without  any  trimmings !  Bath  was  a  little 
behind  on  the  county  seat  question,  but  ahead  on  the  license  to  sell  the  stuff  that 
has  made  such  fearful  havoc  of  the  peace  and  morality  of  the  town.  With  bad 
whisky  "retailed  in  any  quantity,"  Bath  has  been  the  scene  of  several  bloody 
murders,  and  of  drunken  rows  and  orgies  without  number ! 

At  a  July  special  term  of  court,  it  was  ordered  that  the  Judges  and  Clerks 
of  the  April  election  be  allowed  $1  each  for  their  services,  viz. :  Salt  Creek — 
John  Young,  John  L.  Turner,  Abraham  Swing,  Ira  Halstead  and  John  Close ; 
Texas  Precinct — Joseph  Adkins,  George  Marshall,  James  May,  Mark  A.  Smith 
and  Howard  Campbell ;  Havana  Precinct — Isaac  Parkhurst,  Jesse  Brown,  John 
H.  Neteler,  Hoag  Sherman  and  Eliphaz  Low. 

It  was  also  ordered  that  the  sum  of  $146  be  paid,  with  12  per  cent  interest, 
semi-annually,  to  Robert  Faulkner,  George  T.  Virgin  and  A.  J.  Field,  County 
Commissioners,  for  money  advanced  for  books  for  county  offices. 

It  would  seem  that  the  county  started  in  business  on  borrowed  capital,  and 
at  a  pretty  high  rate  of  interest. 

It  was  further  ordered  at  this  term  of  court  that  the  bond  for  $1,000,  to  be 
donated  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  public  buildings,  signed  by  N.  J.  Rockwell, 
Pulaski  Scovil,  Louis  W.  Ross  and  H.  L.  Ross,  be  sued  upon  in  the  Circuit 
Court  of  Mason  County,  and  that  the  bond  of  L.  W.  &  H.  L.  Ross,  for  a  block 
of  lots  adjoining  the  public  square,  in  Havana,  for  the  use  of  the  county,  be  put 
in  suit  for  the  enforcement  of  the  conditions  of  the  bond. 

At  the  September  term  of  court,  it  appears  that  A.  J.  Field,  Amos  Smith 
and  Israel  Carman,  together  with  the  County  Clerk  (alj  in  the  Bath  interest), 
held  a  term  of  court,  claiming  to  have  been  elected  at  the  August  election,  and 
drew  lots,  Carman  drawing  for  three  years,  Field,  two  years,  and  Smith,  one  year. 

At  the  same  time,  another  court  was  being  held  by  the  other  two  Commis- 
sioners (Faulkner  and  Virgin),  at  which  time  J.  A.  Phelps,  County  Clerk,  was 
removed  from  office  '*  for  neglect  of  dutv  and  for  non-compliance"  of  the  County 

N 


424  HISTORY   OF   MASON    COUNTY. 

Commissioners  of  said  county,  and  George  W.  Fielding  is  appointed  bv  the 
Commissioners  in  his  room  until  another  is  elected  by  the  people  !  "  No  name 
appears  to  the  record  of  this  double-barreled  Returning  Board,  but  at  the  next 
meeting,  in  December,  the  record  is  signed  'by  Faulkner,  Virgin  and  Smith,  with 
Fielding  as  Clerk.  As  Phelps,  Field  and  Carman  disappear  from  the  records, 
and  their  official  acts  were  ignored,  the  presumption  is  that  these  three  members 
of  the  Returning  Board  were  bull-dozed  out  of  office  by  the  action  of  some 
higher  court ! 

This  was  the  first  round  in  the  battle  between  Havana  and  Bath,  in  which 
Havana  drew  first  blood! 

At  the  March  term,  1842,  of  court,  an  order  was  made  to  prosecute  J.  A, 
Phelps  and  his  securities  on  his  official  bond,  a  Havana  move  to  punish  the  Bath 
champion. 

At  the  June  term  of  court,  a  permit  is  given  to  Charles  Howell,  Julius  Jones 
and  William  Pollard,  to  build  a  mill-dam  six  feet  high,  across  Quiver  Riv6r,  on 
the  southeast  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  Section  22,  Township  22, 
Range  8,  the  site  where  the  McHarry  mill  now  stands,  Mr.  McHarry  afterward 
purchasing  the  site  and  building  the  mill. 

It  was  also  ordered  that  the  suits  on  the  $1,000  bond,  and  the  bond  for  a 
block  of  lots,  be  dismissed.  This  was  a  left-handed  lick  made  by  Havana,  which 
the  Bath  boys  claimed  to  be  a  foul ! 

:  :  :  At  the  August  election,  in  1842,  Joseph  A.  Phelps  was  again  elected  by  the 
lower  end  of  the  county,  to  the  office  of  County  Clerk.  First  knock-down  for  Bath ! 

At  the  September  term  of  court,  it  was  resolved  that  the  contract  which  had 
been  let  for  the  building  of  a  Court  House  in  Havana,  was  valid,  and  that  $1,800 
(the  price  to  be  paid),  should  be  paid  the  contractors  when  the  job  was  completed. 
Havana  taffy ! 

It  was  also  ordered  that  the  suit  commenced  against  J.  A.  Phelps  be  dis- 
missed. A  back-down  for  Havana ! 

At  this  time,  the  county  seat  fight  waxed  hot  between  the  rival  towns,  and 
resulted  in  the  passage  of  an  act  by  the  Legislature,  providing  for  an  election  in 
February,  1843,  to  settle  the  vexed  question.  At  this  election,  Bath  got  the 
first  knock-down,  and  won  the  battle ! 

At  the  March  term,  1843,  of  County  Court,  it  was  ordered  that  the  precinct 
known  by  the  name  of  Texas  Precinct,  be  changed  to  the  name  of  Bath  Precinct, 
and  that  Bath  be  the  place  of  holding  elections.  Also,  that  the  north  line  of 
the  precinct  be  extended  to  the  north  line  of  Section  18,  Township  21,  within 
a  mile  of  the  present  city  limits  of  Havana  !  "  See,  the  conquering  hero  comes." 
Bath  has  secured  a  respectable  name,  as  a  precinct,  and,  by  the  prowess  of  her 
stalwarts,  has  enlarged  her  dominions  ! 

In  consideration  of  the  many  fights  and  murders  that  have  occurred  in  Bath, 
it  is  a  question  of  propriety  wheth'er  the  old  name  of  "  Texas"  should  not  have 
been  retained. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  425 

An  order  was  also  passed  at  this  term  of  court,  providing  for  a  settlement, 
by  referees,  with  Moses  Freeman,  the  Havana  Court  House  contractor,  for  dam- 
ages, in  not  being  allowed  to  complete  the  work.  At  the  same  term  of  court, 
Freeman  accepted  $250,  in  county  orders,  in  full  settlement. 

At  this  term  of  court,  Quiver  Precinct  was  set  off  from  Havana,  containing 
all  the  territory  north  of  Quiver  River,  and  the  place  of  voting  fixed  at  the  house 
of  Isaac  Parkhurst.  Crane  Creek  was  also  set  off  from  Salt  Creek,  and  the 
place  of  voting  located  at  the  Crane  Creek  Schoolhouse,  making  the  number  of 
six  precincts  at  this  date,  viz. :  Havana,  Bath,  Salt  Creek,  Lynchburg,  Quiver 
and  Crane  Creek. 

Up  to  this  time  and  long  afterward,  the  principal  business  of  the  County 
Court  was  locating  roads  and  licensing  ferries.  With  all  that  has  been  done  in 
the  past,  is  it  not  a  little  strange  that  we  have  so  few  good  roads  in  the  county  ? 

COUNTY    SEAT    CONTROVERSY. 

The  county  seat  question,  in  its  time,  was  all  absorbing,  and  we  shall  there- 
fore devote  a  chapter  to  the  subject,  which  may  be  of  interest  to  old  settlers. 
The  agitation  began  at  the  formation  of  the  county,  when  there  were  about  400 
roters  in  the  county,  and,  at  the  first  election,  the  vote  was  a  close  one  between 
the  rival  towns.  The  strife  continued,  with  more  or  less  bitterness,  as  will  be* 
seen  in  the  County  Court  proceedings,  until  the  Bath  people  succeeded  in  get- 
ting the  following  act  passed,  in  January,  1843  : 

An  act  to  permanently  locate  the  county  seat  of  Mason  County. 

SECTION  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General 
Assembly,  That  on  the  second  Monday  in  February,  A.  D.  1843,  there  shall  be  an  election  held 
at  Havana.  James  Walker's,  Lynchburg  and  Bath,  in  the  county  of  Mason,  and  (he  judges  and 
clerks  of  the  different  election  precincts  in  said  county  are  hereby  authorized  to  open  poll-books 
and  receive  votes  at  said  places  for  the  towns  of  Havana  and  Bath,  in  said  county,  as  candidates 
for  the  seat  of  justice  for  said  county. 

SEC.  2.  The  election  provided  for  in  the  foregoing  section  shall  not  be  held  unless  the  pro- 
prietors or  friends  of  said  town  of  Bath  shall  execute  and  deliver  to  £he  Clerk  of  the  County 
Commissioners'  Court  of  said  county  a  good  and  sufficient  bond  for  a  block  of  lots  on  which  to 
erect  the  public  buildings  in  said  town,  and  said  proprietors  shall  also  on  or  before  the  first  day 
of  February,  A.  D.  1843,  make,  execute  and  deliver  to  said  clerk  their  promissory  note  with  good 
and  sufficient  security  to  be  approved  by  said  clerk,  and  said  note  shall  be  drawn  in  substance  as 
follows:  "  $1,000.  Six  months  after  date,  we,  or  either  of  us,  jointly  and  severally,  promise  to 
pay  George  T.  Virgin,  John  R.  Chancy  and  Amos  Smith,  or  their  order,  County  Commissioners 
of  the  county  of  Mason,  or  their  successors  in  office,  for  the  use  of  the  county  of  Mason,  the 
sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  for  value  received,  dated  Mason  County,  Illinois,  February  the 
first,  A.  D.  1843;"  and,  if  the  town  of  Batli  shall  receive  the  greatest  number  of  votes  for 
county  seat,  the  Clerk  shall  deliver  to  the  County  Commissioners  said  note  and  bond  ;  which 
note  and  bond  may  be  sued  and  collected  the  same  as  other  notes  and  bonds,  and  a  certificate 
from  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  of  said  county  certifying  that  the  aforesaid 
note  and  bond  have  been  filed  in  his  office,  with  good  and  sufficient  security,  approved  by  him, 
shall  be  deemed  sufficient  evidence  to  authorize  the  judges  and  clerks  of  election  to  open  poll- 
books  at  the  several  places  in  said  county  for  holding  the  election  as  aforesaid. 


426  HISTORY    OF  MASON   COUNTY. 

SEC.  3.  If  the  clerks  and  judges  shall  refuse  to  open  a  column  and  receive  votes  for  the 
town  of  Bath,  after  a  certificate  duly  certified  agreeable  to  the  provisions  of  the  second  section 
of  this  act  shall  be  deposited  with  them,  the  poll-book  of  said  precinct  shall  be  rejected. 

SBC.  4.  No  person  shall  vote  at  the  special  election  provided  for  by  this  act,  except  such 
persons  were  residents  and  legal  voters  of  said  county  of  Mason  on  the  first  day  of  January, 
1843,  and  shall  continue  to  reside  in  said  county  up  to  the  time  of  said  election. 

SEC.  5.  The  returns  of  said  election  shall  be  made  to  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Commis- 
sioners' Court,  as  provided  for  by  law  in  relation  to  other  elections,  and  said  poll-books  shall  be 
opened  and  compared  by  said  clerk  and  two  justices  of  the  peace  of  said  county,  and  two 
abstracts  shall  be  made  out  and  certified  and  subscribed  by  them,  and  one  shall  be  tiled  by  said 
clerk  in  his  office  and  the  other  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of  State. 

SEC.  6.  In  case  the  friends  of  either  of  said  towns  shall  be  dissatisfied  with  the  abstracts 
made  out  by  the  clerk  and  justices  as  aforesaid,  and  shall  wish  to  purge  the  poll-books  by  prov- 
ing off  illegal  votes,  William  H.  Nelms  and  Benjamin  H.  Gatton  shall  be  considered  as  repre- 
senting the  interests  of  the  town  of  Bath,  and  N.  J.  Rockwell  and  H.  L.  Ross  as  representing  the 
interest  of  the  town  of  Havana,  and  either  of  said  parties  may  give  notice  to  the  other  in  writ- 
ing, at  any  time  within  ten  days  after  said  election,  which  notice  shall  specify  the  time  that  said 
contest  shall  take  place,  not  to  exceed  twenty  days  from  the  time  of  said  election  ;  and  in  the 
event  of  a  contest  as  aforesaid,  John  Camp,  Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Ira  Patterson  and 
Pollard  Simmons,  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  and  for  said  county  of  Mason,  are  hereby  authorized 
and  required  to  meet  at  the  town  of  Matanzas  at  the  time  specified  in  the  aforesaid  notice,  and 
proceed  to  hear  and  determine,  from  the  testimony  adduced  before  them,  which  of  said  towns  . 
has  received  the  greatest  number  of  votes  for  county  seat.  Said  justices  are  hereby  authorized 
to  issue  subpoenas,  swear  witnesses  and  compel  their  attendance,  and,  if  either  party  shall  be 
dissatisfied  with  the  decision  of  said  justices,  they  shall  be  allowed  an  appeal  to  the  Circuit 
•Court  of  said  county. 

SEC.  7.  If  either  of  said  justices  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  attend  at  the  time  and  place  of 
trial,  the  vacancy  may  be  filled  by  the  other  justices. 

SEC.  8.  If  the  town  of  Bath  shall  receive  a  majority  of  the  legal  votes  polled  at  said  elec- 
tion, it  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  officers  required  by  law  to  reside  at  the  county  seat  to  remove 
their  offices,  together  with  the  books,  papers  and  records  appertaining  to  the  same,  to  the  town 
of  Bath,  between  the  20th  day  of  June  and  the  4th  day  of  July  next. 

SEC.  9.  If  the  county  seat  shall  be  removed  from  Havana  to  Bath,  the  County  Commis- 
sioners shall  return  the  vote  and  bonds  given  by  the  proprietors  of  Havana  to  said  proprietors, 
and  the  same  shall  be  null  and  void. 

SEC.  10.  The  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  of  said  county  of  Mason  shall  give 
notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  holding  the  election  provided  for  by  this  act  as  in  case  of  other 
elections. 

SEC.  11.  This  act  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  passage. 

Approved  January  14th,  1843. 

At  the  election  held  under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  the  county  seat  was 
located  at  Bath,  by  a  majority  so  decided  as  to  obviate  any  further  proceedings, 
and  in  due  time  the  records  were  removed,  as  the  law  required,  to  the  town  of 
Bath,  and  there  they  remained  until  in  the  spring  of  1851,  eight  years.  The 
people  of  Bath,  with  commendable  enterprise  and  energy,  went  to  work  at  once 
and  erected  a  substantial  brick  Court  House.  In  a  few  years  the  question  was 
again  agitated,  and  at  every  session  of  the  Legislature,  after  the  year  I<s4(i. 
petitions  and  remonstrances,  signed  by  men,  women  and  children,  went  up  for 
and  against  removal,  and  at  each  session  the  leading  men  of  Havana  spent  the 
winter  in  the  lobbies  at  Springfield  laboring  to  get  the  question  again  submitted 
to  the  people. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  427 

On  the  part  of  Bath  the  contest  was  resisted,  mainly  by  J.  M.  Ruggles, 
jissisted  at  one  session  by  G.  H.  Campbell,  and  successfully  resisted  at  every 
session  until  in  1851,  when,  by  the  help  of  outside  parties,  the  Legislature  was 
induced  to  submit  the  question  again  to  a  vote  of  the  people,  under  the  pro- 
visions of  the  following  act : 

An  Act  to  relocate  the  county  seat  of  Mason  County  : 

SECTION  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  Genera 
Assembly,  That  an  election  shall  be  held  in  the  county  of  Mason,  on  the  second  Monday  of  March, 
A.  D.  1851,  at  the  usual  places  of  holding  elections  in  said  county,  for  the  removal  of  the  seat 
of  justice  of  said  county  ;  at  which  election  the  clerks  thereof  shall  open  two  columns,  one  for 
Havana,  and  one  against  removal,  and  shall  take  and  record  the  vote  of  each  qualified  voter 
for  one  of  the  aforesaid  places,  or  against  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  justice  of  said  county,  as 
said  voter  shall  direct. 

SEC.  2.  The  same  rules  shall  be  observed  in  conducting  said  election,  and  in  making  returns 
thereof,  and  in  counting  said  votes,  and  in  all  other  things,  as  shall  be  required  by  law  in  elections 
for  Senators  and  Representatives  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State.  The  Clerk  of  the  County 
Court  shall,  immediately  on  receipt  of  the  election  returns,  in  the  presence  of  two  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  open  the  election  returns,  compare  them,  and  certify  the  same  to  the  County  Court, 
and  the  place  having  a  majority  of  the  legal  votes  of  the  county  shall  be  and  remain  the  seat  of 
justice  of  said  county. 

SEC.  3.  No  point  shall  be  voted  for  unless  its  proprietors,  or  some  of  them,  shall,  at  least 
ten  days  previous  to  said  election,  execute  a  bond,  with  good  and  sufficient  security,  to  the  Judges 
of  the  County  Court  of  Mason  County,  for  the  payment  of  the  sum  of  $1,000,  payable  to  said 
County  Judges,  or  their  successors  in  office,  for  the  use  of  the  county,  to  be  applied  to  the 
erection  of  public  buildings — one-half  of  said  sum  of  money  to  be  paid  when  the  public  buildings 
are  commenced,  and  the  other  half  when  said  buildings  are  completed :  Provided,  however, 
that  said  bond  or  bonds  shall  be  void  and  of  no  effect  as  to  the  proprietors  of  all  places  except 
that  where  the  county  seat  shall  be  located  by  a  majority  of  the  votes  polled. 

SEC.  4.  Should  it  be  found  that  a  majority  of  the  voters  of  said  county  of  Mason,  voting 
at  such  election,  have  voted  for  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  as  aforesaid,  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  County  Court  of  said  county,  as  soon  as  practicable  after  such  election,  to  cause  all 
the  public  offices  of  said  county  (required  to  be  kept  at  the  county  seat)  to  be  removed 
to  the  county  seat  located  under  this  act ;  and  it  shall  be  the  further  duty  of  the  County  Court, 
after  such  relocation  of  the  county  seat,  to  convey  to  Kean  Mahony  and  Benjamin  H.  Gatton  the 
block  of  lots  donated  by  the  original  proprietors  of  the  town  of  Bath,  under  an  act  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  entitled  "  An  act  to  locate  the  county  seat  of  Mason 
County,"  approved  January  14.  1843,  together  with  all  and  singular  the  tenements  and  appur- 
tenances thereon  and  thereto  belonging,  unto  them,  the  said  Kean  Mahony  and  Benjamin  H. 
Gatton,  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  in  trust  for  the  benefit/>f  the  original  proprietors  of  the 
said  town  of  Bath,  under  such  declaration  of  trust  as  may  be  equitably  and  justly  declared  by 
the  said  County  Court,  according  to  the  respective  interests  of  said  original  proprietors  of  the 
town  of  Bath  :  and  it  shall  be  the  further  duty  of  the  County  Court  of  Mason  County,  in  the 
event  of  such  relocation  of  the  county  seat  thereof,  to  make  such  remuneration  to  the  original 
proprietors  of  the  town  of  Bath,  for  moneys  expended  in  erecting  the  Court  House  in  said  town, 
as  they  may  deem  advisable,  and  as  shall  be  proven  according  to  law. 

SEC.  5.     This  act  to  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  passage. 
Approved,  February  8,  1851. 

In  the  spring  of  1850,  when  the  county  seat  question  was  running  high, 
John  Pemberton  was  attending  court,  as  one  of  the  associates,  in  Bath,  and,  whilst 
there,  some  rowdy  boys  took  out  his  buggy  and  anointed  it  all  over,  cushions  and  all, 


428  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

with  an  unsavory  lot  of  human  excrement.  This  dirty  deed  produced  considerable 
excitement,  and  was  denounced  by  all  decent  people  in  town  ;  still,  Pemberton 
was  greatly  alarmed,  fearing  that  he  might  be  doped  with  the  same  horrible 
stuff,  and  he  had  no  rest  of  body  or  mind  until  he  was  safely  out  of  town.  This 
vile  act  of  the  dirty  boys  rankled  in  the  nostrils  of  the  upper-enders,  and  they 
took  up  the  martyr,  Jack  Pemberton,  and  made  him  their  representative  in  the 
Legislature  that  year,  where  he  avenged  himself  upon  the  Bathites  by  getting 
in  his  vote  for  the  bill  to  remove  the  county  seat,  showing  how  precarious  is  the 
public  life  of  a  man  who  may  be  elevated  so  high  out  of  a  circumstance  so  low ! 

After  the  passage  of  the  act  above  recited,  the  friends  of  Bath,  knowing  that 
the  heavy  increase  of  population  in  the  Havana  interest  greatly  endangered 
their  cause,  resorted  to  a  piece  of  strategy  to  defeat  Havana,  but  were  unsuc- 
cessful. They  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  of  Dr.  Mastic,  in  Section  10,  in 
Kilbourne  Township,  laid  it  off  into  town  lots,  called  it  Cuba,  and  went  for  it  as 
the  most  central  and  best  place  for  the  county  seat,  intending  to  make  Cuba 
swallow  up  Havana,  Matanzas  and  Bath,  and  become  the  seat  of  government  of 
Mason  County. 

A  campaign  was  opened,  meetings  were  held  at  Matanzas  and  other  places, 
in  which  eloquent  speeches  were  made  for  and  against  Havana.  Smith  Turner 
trotted  out  old  Demosthenes,  Cicero,  Galileo,  and  several  other  of  his  ancient 
friends,  to  help  him  in  the  fight  against  Havana.  Powell,  of  Havana,  pitched 
into  old  Galileo,  and  gave  him  an  unmerciful  trouncing,  just  because  he  was 
brought  into  the  meetuig  as  a  friend  to  help  Turner.  One  speaker  said : 
"•  Rather  than  have  the  county  seat  at  Havana,  he  would  vote  it  into  the  middle 
of  Bull's  Eye  Prairie,  where  the  waters  of  Noah's  flood  had  not  yet  subsided, 
and  where  the  frogs  and  tadpoles  were  the  only  inhabitants !"  A  Havana  Ger- 
man orator  said  in  reply  that  he  was  perfectly  willing  the  people  of  Bath  should 
"  go  out  and  live  mit  the  toads  and  the  tadpoles  in  Bull  Eye.  for  such  neighbors 
vere  good  enough  for  them  !'* 

The  day  of  election  came,  and  Havana  gave  the  final  blow  that  knocked 
Bath  out  of  time  and  Cuba  out  of  existence.  The  people  of  Bath  gave  up  all 
hopes  of  again  becoming  the  county  seat,  and  turned  their  attention  to  other 
enterprises,  although  some  of  them  .suffered  largely  in  their  fortunes  by  the 
result.  The  vote  stood :  For  removal,  894  votes  :  against  removal,  479  votes. 

PRECINCT    HISTORY. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  county,  in  1841,  there  were  but  three 
precincts  in  the  territory  out  of  which  the  county  was  formed.  The  date  of  the 
formation  of  these  three  precincts  is  unknown  to  us.  and,  as  the  record  of  them 
belongs  to  other  counties,  it  is  not  given. 

Havana  Precinct  included  all  the  territory  belonging  to  Tazewell  County, 
extending  from  the  north  line  of  the  county  as  far  south  as  the  north  line  of 
Town  20.  The  first  election  in  the  precinct  of  which  we  have  any  record  was  on 


HISTORY   OF    MASON   COUNTY.  4*29 

the  7th  of  August,  1837,  when  there  were  but  twelve  votes  cast.  David  Adams 
.and  Isaac  Parkhurst  were,  at  the  time.  Justices  of  the  Peace.  Eli  Fisk  and 
A.  W.  Kemp  were  also  Justices  of  the  Peace  before  the  county  was  organized, 
.and  as  early  as  1838. 

Salt  Creek  Precinct  contained  what  is  now  the  townships  of  Mason  City, 
Salt  Creek  and  Crane  Creek,  except  that  part  of  Mason  City  that  lies  north  of 
Town  20.  The  only  Justice  known  to  us  before  the  organization  of  the  county, 
in  the  precinct,  was  Ira  Patterson,  who  was  serving  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  at 
that  time. 

Texas  Precinct  included  the  territory  lying  west  of  Salt  Creek  and  extending 
to  the  Illinois  and  Sangamon  Rivers,  of  which  Kilbourne,  Bath  and  Lynchburg 
Townships  are  now  composed.  Albert  J.  Field  and  Arthur  Morrow  were  elected 
Justices  of  the  Peace  in  this  precinct  in  1838.  These  three  constitute  the  orig- 
inal precincts  of  Mason  City,  and  the  remaining  precincts  were  organized  by  the 
County  Court  in  the  order  and  date  here  given. 

Lynchburg  Precinct  was  formed  out  of  that  portion  of  Texas  Precinct  lying 
west  of  the  range  line  running  between  9  and  10,  in  the  month  of  June,  1841. 

Crane  Creek  Precinct  was  set  off  from  the  west  side  of  Salt  Creek  Precinct 
in  March,  1843. 

Quiver  Precinct  was  next  in  the  order  of  formation,  and  was,  at  the  same 
term  of  court,  set  off  from  Havana,  and  contained  the  territory  lying  north  of 
the  Quiver  River  to  the  county  line. 

At  this  same  term  of  court,  Texas  Precinct  had  its  name  changed  to  Bath. 

Sangamon  Precinct  was  formed  out  of  Bath  and  Crane  Creek  on  the  8th  of 
June,  1847,  and  was  abolished  in  the  year  1850.  There  was  a  general  change 
and  adjustment  of  precinct  lines  at  the  time  Sangamon  Precinct  was  organized. 

Matanzas  Precinct  was  organized  out  of  Bath  and  Havana  Precincts,  on  the 
7th  of  September,  1847,  and  continued  to  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  township 
organization,  in  1861,  when  it  was  left  out  of  the  new  order  or  arrangement. 

Allen's  Grove  Precinct  was  organized  on  the  2d  day  of  September,  1851,  out 
of  territory  belonging  to  Havana,  Salt  Creek  and  Quiver  Precincts. 

Egypt  Precinct  was  organized  out  of  territory  taken  from  Allen's  Grove  and 
Quiver,  on  the  llth  of  March,  1853,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  Manito  on 
the  8th  of  September,  1858. 

Prairie  Creek  Precinct  was  organized  out  of  territory  taken  from  the  east 
side  of  Salt  Creek,  on  the  8th  of  December,  1857.  The  name  was  changed  to 
Mason  City  in  September,  1858. 

Mason  Plains  Precinct  was  organized  out  of  the  territory  that  now  consti- 
tutes Forest  City  Township,  on  the  8th  of  December,  1857. 

Pennsylvania  Precinct  was  organized  on  the  8th  of  December,  1857,  and 
was  the  last  precinct  organized  in  Mason  County,  making  an  even  dozen,  which 
number  continued  to  the  date  of  the  abolishment  of  the  precinct  system,  in 
1861. 


430  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

TOWNSHIP    HISTORY. 

At  the  November  election,  in  1861,  the  question  of  the  adoption  of  township 
organization  was  submitted  to  a  vote  of  Mason  County,  and  carried  in  its  favor, 
by  a  vote  of  1,030  for,  and  860  against. 

On  the  4th  of  December,  1861,  the  County  Court  appointed  B.  H.  Gatton, 
Lyman  Lacy  and  Matthew  Langston,  Commissioners  to  divide  the  county  into 
townships  according  to  law,  and  make  a  report  to  the  March  term  of  court. 

On  the  3d  day  of  March,  1862,  the  court  met,  received  and  adopted  the 
report  of  the  Commissioners,  concluded  its  business  on  the  5th  of  March,  and 
adjourned,  never  to  meet  again  for  the  transaction  of  county  business ! 

The  commissioners  divided  the  county  into  eleven  townships,  as  follows : 
1.  Mason  City;  2.  Allen's  Grove;  3.  Salt  Creek;  4.  Pennsylvania;  5. 
Mason  Plains ;  6.  Manito ;  7.  Quiver ;  8.  Havana ;  9.  Crane  Creek  ;  10. 
Bath ;  11.  Lynchburg. 

The  commissioners  fixed  the  boundaries  of  these  several  townships,  which  we 
do  not  think  it  necessary  to  give,  as  they  are  the  same  as  now,  except  the  forma- 
tion of  Sherman  out  of  Havana  and  Pennsylvania,  and  Kilbourne  out  of  Bath  and 
Crane  Creek,  and  some  slight  changes  in  township  lines,  that  have  since  been 
made. 

On  the  12th  of  May,  1862,  the  newly  elected  Board  of  Supervisors  met  and 
organized  for  business,  assuming  the  official  control  of  the  affairs  of  the  people  of 
Mason  County. 

The  new  system  seems  to  give  general  satisfaction,  especially  to  those  who 
aspire  to  be  Supervisors,  and  other  township  officials.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
that  the  system  has  added  vastly  to  the  county  expenses,  as  may  be  seen  by  a 
comparison  of  the  cost  of  county  assessments  under  the  old  and  the  new  order. 
In  1841,  the  amount  paid  for  the  entire  assessments  of  the  property  of  Mason 
County,  by  Ira  Patterson,  was  $24.50.  The  amount  paid  J.  R.  Teney,  the  last 
Assessor  under  the  old  system,  for  the  year  1861,  was  $565,  more  than  double 
the  amount  paid  for  any  other  year's  assessment  up  to  that  time.  That,  how- 
ever, was  the  last  chance,  which  made  it  a  u  ground-hog  case !  "  It  may  be  that 
Patterson  was  looking  ahead  to  the  time  when  he  might  be  Governor  of  some 
State,  and  Teney  was  not  1  which  makes  a  difference. 

The  total  cost  of  county  assessments  in  Mason  County,  for  the  twenty-one 
years  under  the  old  system,  was  only  $3,948.81,  and  the  average  yearly  expense, 
$188.04! 

Under  township  organization,  the  amount  paid  for  the  first  year's  assessment 
in  all  the  towns,  was  $195,  a  very  favorable  contrast  with  the  cost  of  the  year 
before.  The  business  was  a  growing  one,  however,  for  it  ran  up  gradually  and 
rapidly,  until  the  year  1871,  when  it  reached  the  sum  of  $1,224.50.  The 
amount  paid  out  by  the  people  of  the  county  for  the  assessment  of  property, 
from  the  year  1862,  to  the  year  1872,  both  inclusive,  was  $7,915.25,  making  an 


HISTORY   OF    MASON   COUNTY.  431 

average  yearly  expense  to  the  people  of  $719.57,  for  the  first  eleven  years,  under 
township  organization.  Since  the  year  1872,  the  law  requires  each  township  to- 
pay  its  own  Assessor,  and  we  have  not  any  information  aS  to  the  cost  of  assess- 
ments in  the  several  townships  since  that  date.  The  presumption  is  that  it  ha* 
not  been  materially  diminished. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Supervisors  that  have  been  elected  and  served 
in  the  several  townships,  and  also  of  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  that  are  now  in 
office. 

The  townships  are  given  in  the  order  of  their  creation  as  precincts  or  town- 
ships: Havana— 1862,  Alfred  Biggs;  1863,  Alfred  Biggs;  1864,  John  D. 
Cory ;  1865,  Thomas  A.  Dixon ;  1866,  George  A.  Blanchard ;  1867,  George 

A.  Blanchard;  1868,  Robert  S.  Moore;  1869,  John  L.  Mowder;  1870,  Jarne* 
H.  Hole  ;  1871,  William  Waugh ;  1872,  Judson  R.  Foster ;  1873,  Richard  R. 
Simmons;  1874,  Robert  Schofield;  1875,  James  F.  Kelsey;  1876,  J.  F.  Kel- 
sey ;    1877,  Marcellus  Dearborn ;    1878,  J.  F.  Kelsey ;    1879,  J.  F.  Kelsey. 
Present  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Jacob  Prettyman  and  A.  D.  Hopping.     Police 
Magistrate  of  Havana,  John  S.  Kirk. 

Bath— 1862,  James  H.  Allen  ;  1863,  J.  H.  Allen  ;  1864,  B.  H.  Gatton  ;  1865> 
Charles  S.  Thompson  ;  1866,  C.  S.  Thompson;  1867,  John  H.  Schulte ;  1868,  B. 
H.  Gatton  ;  1869,  B.  H.  Gatton  ;  1870,  B.  H.  Gatton  ;  1871,  B.  H.  Gatton  ;  1872r 

B.  H.  Gatton ;  1873,  Gerard  H.  Havinghorst;  1874,  Robert  Pierson;  1875,  Robert 
Pierson;  1876,  Robert  Pierson;  1877,  John  H.  Dierker;  1878,  J.  H.  Dierker, 
and  1879,  J.  H.  Dierker.     The  only  Justice  of  the  Peace  now  in  office  in  the 
township  is  Leland  Carpenter,  who  has  served  continuously  since  1854. 

Salt  Creek — 1862,  Selah  Wheaden,  Chairman ;  1863,  Selah  Wheaden, 
Chairman ;  1864,  Jacob  Benscoter ;  1865,  A.  H.  Fisher ;  1866,  Joseph  A. 
Phelps ;  1867,  C.  L.  Montgomery ;  1868,  J.  A.  Phelps ;  1869,  C.  L.  Montgom- 
ery ;  1870,  J.  S.  Black ;  1871,  A.  Thompson ;  1872,  A.  Thompson ;  1873, 
Aaron  A.  Blunt;  1874,  A.  A.  Blunt;  1875,  A.  A.  Blunt;  1876,  Abner 
Thompson;  1877,  H.  C.  Burnham;  1878,  L.  C.  Agnew;  1879,  H.  C.  Burnham. 
The  Justices  of  the  Peace  now  in  office  are  H.  C.  Burnham  and  Joseph  Silvey. 

Lynchburg — 1862,  Isaac  Sarf,  elected  and  resigned,  and  Henry  Abbottr 
appointed  and  served  in  his  place ;  1863,  John  J.  Fletcher  ;  1864,  J.  J.  Fletcher  ; 
1865,  Isaac  Sarf;  1866,  Isaac  Sarf;  1867,  Isaac  Sarf;  1868,  R.  J.  Phelps  ;  1869, 
William  Ainsworth ;  1870,  William  Ainsworth ;  1871,  William  Ainsworth ; 
1872,  William  Ainsworth  ;  1873,  J.  H.  Layman ;  1874,  William  Ainsworth  ; 
1875,  William  Ainsworth  ;  1876,  William  Ainsworth,  Chairman  ;  1877,  William 
Ainsworth ;  J878,  J.  H.  Layman,  and  1879,  J.  H.  Layman.  The  only  Justice 
of  the  Peace  now  in  office  is  John  J.  Fletcher.  Amos  Smith  was  the  first  Jus- 
tice elected  in  the  precinct,  in  1841,  and  he  served  until  his  death,  in  1851. 

Quiver— 1862,  Aaron  Little;  1863,  A.  Little  ;  1864,  A.  Little ;  1865,  A.  Lit- 
tle, Chairman  ;  1866,  A.  Little ;  1867,  A.  Little  ;  1868,  A.  Little  ;  1869,  A.  Lit- 
tle; 1870,  John  McReynolds;  1871,  A. Little;  1872, Pollard  S.  Anno;  1873,  Johu 


432  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

McReynolds ;  18T4,  James  W.  Kelly ;  1875,  J.  W.  Kelly :  1876,  J.  W.  Kelly ; 
1877,  J.  W.  Kelly ;  1878,  J.  W.  Kelly ;  1879,  J.  W.  Kelly.  Philip  Brown*  is 
the  present  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  John  W.  Downey  is  a  Police  Magistrate 
in  Topeka. 

Crane  Creek— 1862,  James  L.  Hawks  ;  1863,  James  L.  Hawks ;  1864,  J. 
L.  Hawks ;  1865,  J.  L.  Hawks ;  1866,  Harvey  O'Neal ;  1867,  J.  H.  Baker ; 

1868,  H.  O'Neal ;   1869,   J.   L.   Hawks ;   1870,  J.   L.   Hawks ;  1871,  C.   L. 
Acrnew;   1872,  C.  L.  Agnew;   1873,  N.   R.   Murdock ;   1874,  J.  L.  Hawks; 

1875,  J.  L.  Hawks;  1876,  J.  L.  Hawks;  1877,  J.   L.  Hawks;  1878,  W.  J. 
Estep;  1879,  J.  L.  Hawks.     The  Justices  of  the  Peace  now  in  office  are  John 
Yardly  and  John  T.  Tomlin. 

Allen's  Grove — 1862,  James  Legg ;  1863,  James  Legg ;  1864,  Jonathan 
•Corey  ;  1865,  Isaac  Reed ;  1866,  Isaac  Reed ;  1867,  James  Legg  ;  1869,  James 
Legg;  1870,  James  Legg;  1871,  William  M.  Duffey ;  1872,  William  M. 
Duffey ;  1873,  W.  M.  Duffey ;  1874,  William  Smith ;  1875,  William  Smith ; 

1876,  E.  W.  Nelson ;  1877,  E.  W.  Nelson  ;  1878,  E.  W.  Nelson ;  1879,  B.  W. 
Taylor.     Justices  of  the  Peace,  Albert  McCallister  and  John  M.  Cathcart ;    C. 
J.  Dillon,  Police  Magistrate  in  San  Jose. 

Manito — 1862,  Matthew  Langston  ;  1863,  M.  Langston  ;  1864,  M.  Lang- 
ston ;  1865,  M.  Langston ;  1866,  William  M.  Ganson ;  1867,  William  M. 
"Ganson;  1868,  William  M.  Ganson;  1869,  J.  G.  Spates;  1870,  J.  G.  Spates; 
1871,  William  Rodgers ;  1872,  M.  W.  Rodgers ;  1873,  M.  W.  Rodgers ;  1874, 
H.  F.  Briggs ;  1875,  H.  F.  Briggs,  Chairman ;  1876,  M.  Langston ;  1877,  M. 
Langston ;  1878,  M.  Langston ;  1879,  J.  C.  Perkins.  The  only  Justice  of  the 
Peace  now  in  office  is  William  B.  Robinson.  Ruloff  S.  Aiken  is  Police  Magis- 
trate in  Manito. 

Mason  City— 1862,  R.  A.  Hart ;  1863,  B.  A.  Rosebrough ;  1864,  John  S. 
Wilbourn,  Chairman  ;  1865,  J.  S.  WTilbourn,  Chairman  ;  1866,  J.  L.  Hastings, 
resigned,  and  C.  Hume  appointed  in  his  place,  January  28,  1867  ;  1867,  C. 
Hume;  1868,  J.  S.  Baner;  1869,  Israel  Hibbard ;  1870*,  D.  E.  Lesourd :  1871, 
D.  E.  Lesourd;  1872,' William  H.  Mitchel ;  1873,  D.  E.  Lesourd;  1874, 
Augustus  Green,  Chairman ;  1875,  Patrick  Norton ;  1876,  B.  A.  Rosebrough  ; 

1877,  B.    A.    Rosebrough;     1878,    B.    A.    Rosebrough,    Chairman;    1879, 
B.    A.    Rosebrough,    Chairman.      Justices    of   the    Peace,    John    P.    Hudson 
and  Israel  Hibbard.     Joseph  C.  Johnson  is  the  Police  Magistrate  for  Mason 
City. 

Forest  City — which  was  named  "Mason  Plains"  until  1874 — 1862,  S.  H. 
Ingersoll ;  1863,  S.  H.  Ingersoll ;  1864,  S.  H.  Ingersoll ;  1865,  S.  H.  Inger- 
soll ;  1866,  W.  A.  McHarry ;  1867,  S.  H.  Ingersoll :  1868,  S.  H.  Ingersoll ; 

1869,  D.  C.  White ;  1870,  D.  C.  White ;  1871,  S.  H.  Ingersoll ;  1872,  S.  H. 
Ingersoll;  1*873,   S.  H.  Ingersoll;  1874,  S.  H.  Ingersoll:  1875,  S.  H.  Inger- 
soll ;  1876,  S.  H.  Ingersoll ;  1877,  S.  H.  Ingersoll— Mr.  Ingersoll  died  ^ovem- 
J>er  30,  1877,  and  S.  T.  Walker  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy— 1878,  S.  T. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  438 

Walker ;  1879,  S.  T.  Walker.     The  present  Justices  of  the  Peace  are   Thomas 
H.  Gibson  and  Mayfield  Gordon. 

Pennsylvania — 1862,  John  Mathers;  1863,  D.  V.  Benscoter;  1864,  D.  V. 
Benscoter ;  1865,-  D.  V.  Benscoter ;  1866,  D.  L.  Ray ;  1867,  J.  H.  Mathews ; 

1868,  John  W.Pugh;  1869,  J.  W.  Pugh;  1870,  J.  W.  Pugh,  Chairman;  1871, 
John  W.  Pugh,  Chairman ;  1872,  J.  W.  Pugh,  Chairman ;    1873,  J.  W.  Pugh, 
Chairman;  1874,  W.  E.  Dolcater;  1875,  G.  W.  Benscoter;    1876,  J.  W.  Pugh, 
1877,  John  W.  Pugh  ;  Chairman  ;  1878,  J.  W.  Pugh :  1879,  J.  W.  Pugh.     The 
present  Justices  of  the  Peace  are  James  M.  Harris  and  Andrew  J.  Gates. 

Sherman  was  organized  September  12,  1866,  with  the  name  of  "  Jackson 
Township,"  which  was  changed  to  Sherman  on  the  28th  of  January,  1867. 
Supervisors — 1867,  M.  H.  Lewis,  Chairman ;  1868,  M.  H.  Lewis,  Chairman ; 

1869,  M.  H.  Lewis,  Chairman ;    1870,  M.  A.  Kisler ;    1871,  Thomas  Lucas ; 
1872,  Thomas  Lucas ;    1873,  T.  Lucas ;    1874,  Alfred  Athey ;    1875,  Alfred 
Athey;    1876,  Alfred  Athey ;    1877,  A.  Athey;    1878,  Alfred  Athey;    1879, 
Alfred  Athey.     The  only  Justice  of  the  Peace  now  in  office  is  Isaac  W.  Depue. 

Kilbourne,  the  youngest  of  the  thirteen  townships,  was  organized  in  1873. 
Her  first  Supervisor  was,  in  1873,  A.  S.  Blakely ;  1874,  A.  S.  Blakely :  1875, 
A.  S.  Blakely;  1876,  A.  S.  Blakely;  1877,  William  Dwyer;  1878,  James 
M.  Hardin ;  1879,  J.  M.  Hardin.  The  Justices  of  the  Peace  now  serving  are 
J.  S.  Bingham  and  C.  L.  Newell. 

COUNTY    OFFICERS. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  county,  in  1841,  to  the  time  of  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution,  in  1848,  the  county  business  was  transacted  by 
three  County  Commissioners,  one  of  whom  was  elected  annually  on  the  first 
Monday  of  August,  at  which  time  all  county  and  State  elections  were  held. 
The  probate  business  was  transacted  by  a  "  Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace,"  elec- 
ted once  in  four  years.  The  real  estate  records  were  kept  by  a  County  Recorder, 
•elected  once  in  four  years,  until  after  the  adoption  of  the  constitution,  in  1848, 
when  the  Circuit  Clerk  became  an  ex  officio  County  Recorder.  Sheriffs  were 
also  ex  officio  County  Collectors  of  taxes,  and  continued  to  be  until  the  adoption 
of  township  organization,  in  1862.  Assessments  for  taxes  were  made  by  County 
Assessors,  elected  every  two  years,  who  were  also  ex  officio  County  Treasurers, 
to  the  time  township  organization  was  adopted. 

COUNTY   COMMISSIONEB8. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  County  Commissioners  of  Mason  County,  giv- 
ing the  dates  of  their  election  and  time  they  served,  viz.:  April  5,  1841,  George 
T.  Virgin,  three  years;  April  5.  1841,  Robert  Faulkner,  two  years ;  April  5, 
1841,  Albert  J.  Field,  one  year ;  August,  1841,  Amos  Smith,  three  years ; 
August,  1842,  John  R.  Chaney,  three  years;  August,  1843,  Abner  Baxter, 
throe  years ;  August,  1844,  Amos  Smith,  three  years ;  August,  1845,  Robert 
M<  Reynolds,  three  years;  August,  1846,  Henry  Norris,  three  years;  August, 


434  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

1847,  Amos  Smith,  three  years ;  August,  1848,  Robert  McReynolds,  three 
years :  August,  1849,  Henry  Norris,  three  years.  The  County  Commissioners' 
Court  was  abolished  in  1849,  and  County  Court  established,  consisting  of  ;i 
County  Judge  and  two  Associate  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

COUNTY    COURT   JUDGES    AND    ASSOCIATES. 

November,  1849,  Smith  Turner  was  elected  County  Judge,  and  John  Pem- 
berton  and  Robert  McReynolds,  Associate  Justices  of  the  Peace ;  1853,  N.  J. 
Rockwell  was  elected  County  Judge,  David  Corey  and  John  H.  Daniels,  Asso- 
ciates. Mr.  Corey  died  in  February,  1853,  and  H.  C.  Burnham  was  elected  in 
April  to  fill  the  vacancy;  1857,  George  H.  Campbell  was  elected  County  Judge, 
John  D.  Corey  and  Joseph  A.  Phelps,  Associates.  Judge  Campbell  resigned 
September  1,  1858,  and  Robert  McReynolds  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy ; 
1861,  Joseph  A.  Phelps  was  elected  County  Judge,  John  D.  Corey  and  B.  A. 
Rosebrough,  Associates.  This  terminated  the  County  Court  as  then  organized, 
being  superseded  by  township  organization  in  1862. 

COUNTY    JUDGES. 

Under  township  organization,  the  County  Judges  have  been  as  follows:  1862, 
Joseph  A.  Phelps,  balance  of  term  for  which  he  was  elected ;  1865,  Matthew 
Langston,  elected  and  served  four  years ;  1869,  Henry  Warner,  elected  and 
served  four  years  ;  1873,  John  A.  Mallory,  elected  and  served  four  years;  1877, 
John  A.  Mallory,  elected  and  still  holding  the  office. 

PROBATE    JUSTICES    OF    THE    PEACE. 

John  Camp  was  first  elected  to  the  office,  and  served  from  1841  to  1842. 
In  1842,  Hoag  Sherman  was  elected  Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace.  In  1843, 
John  Camp  was  elected  and  served  until  1847.  In  1847,  Smith  Turner  was 
elected  and  served  until  the  office  was  abolished,  in  1849. 

COUNTY    CLKRKS 

Joseph  A.  Phelps  was  the  first  County  Clerk  elected,  April  5,  1841,  and 
was  removed  by  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  in  September.  George  W. 
Fielding  was  appointed  County  Clerk  in  September,  1841,  and  served  until 
August,  1842.  J.  A.  Phelps  was  again  elected  in  1842,  and  served  one  year.  In 
1843,  J.  A.  Phelps  was  elected  the  third  time,  and  served  until  1847.  In 
1847,  Adolph  Krebaum  was  .elected,  and  served  two  years.  In  1849,  Adolph 
Krebaum  was  again  elected,  under  the  Constitution  of  1848,  and  served  four 
years.  In  1853,  I.  N.  Onstott  was  elected,  and  served  until  his  death,  Novem- 
ber 7,  1856.  November  7,  1856,  Adolph  Krebaum  was  appointed  County 
Clerk  by  Judge  Rockwell,  to  serve  until  December,  when  he  was  elected  for  the 
balance  of  the  term.  1857,  Adolph  Krebaum  was  again  elected,  and  served 
four  years  as  County  Clerk.  1861,  Adolph  Krebaum  was  again  elected,  for  the 
fifth  time,  and  served  four  years  more.  1865,  William  W.  Stout  was  elected 
and  served  until  his  death,  September  4,  1869 ;  Samuel  Elliott  was  appointed 
by  Judge  Warner  to  fill  out  the  vacancy.  1869,  Isaac  Newton  Mitchell  w;is 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  435 

elected  Clerk,  and  served  four  years.  1873,  William  M.  Ganson  was  elected 
Olerk,  and  served  four  years.  1877,  William  M.  Ganson  was  again  elected  Clerk, 
without  opposition  ;  still  in  office. 


CIRCUIT    CLERKS. 


Joseph  A.  Phelps  was  appointed  the  first  Circuit  Clerk,  by  Judge  S.  H. 
Treat,  in/December,  1841,  and  served  until  his  successor  was  appointed,  in 
1845.^*  Franklin  S.  D.  Marshall  was  appointed  Circuit  Clerk  by  Judge  Samuel 
D.  Lockwood,  May  24,  1845,  and  served  until  his  successor  was  elected,  in 
1848.  John  S.  Wilbourn  was  elected  Circuit  Clerk  and  ex  officio  Recorder  in 
1848.  and  served  four  years.  J.  S.  Wilbourn  was  again  elected  Circuit  Clerk 
in  1852,  and  served  four  years  longer.  1856,  Richard  Ritter  was  elected  Cir- 
cuit Clerk,  and  served  four  years.  1860,  Orlando  H.  Wright  was  elected 
Circuit  Clerk,  and  served  four  years.  1864,  John  H.  Havighorst  was  elected 
Circuit  Clerk,  and  served  four  years.  1868,  George  A.  Blanchard  was  elected 
Circuit  Clerk,  and  served  four  years.  1872,  Leonard  Schwenk  was  elected 
Circuit  Clerk,  and  served  four  years.  1876,  Leonard  Schwenk  was  again 
elected  Circuit  Clerk,  and  is  still  in  that  office. 


COUNTY    RECORDERS. 


Smith  Turner  was  elected  at  the  first  election,  in  1841,  and  served  until 
September  7,  1843.  Leroy  S.  Jones  was  elected  in  August,  1843,  and  served 
until  the  office  was  abolished,  in  1848. 


SHERIFFS. 


Francis  Low  was  the  first  Sheriff  elected  at  the  organization  of  the  county, 
in  1841.  1842,  Francis  Low  was  again  elected,  and  served  two  years  longer. 
1844,  Isaac  H.  Hodge  was  elected  by  one  vote  over  Kean  Mahoney,  and  the 
race  was  run  over  again,  when  Hodge  won  the  second  heat  by  one  vote.  1846, 
Isaac  H.  Hodge  was  again  elected,  and,  at  the  end  of  his  term,  proved  to  be  a 
defaulter.  1848,  John  H.  Havighorst  was  elected,  and  served  two  years. 
1850,  Robert  Elkins  was  elected,  and  served  two  years.  1852,  Robert  H. 
Walker  was  elected,  and  served  two  years.  1854,  James  H.  Hole  was  elected, 
and  served  two  years.  1856,  J.  Price  West  was  elected,  and  served  two  years, 
and  ended  a  defaulter.  1858,  John  H.  Havighorst  was  again  elected  for  two 
years.  1860,  Joseph  Y.  Hanthorn  was  elected,  and  served  two  years.  1862, 
John  H.  Havighorst  was  elected  for  the  third  time,  and  served  two  years. 
1864,  James  L.  Hastings  was  elected,  and  served  two  years.  1866,  Lambert 
M.  Hillyer  was  elected  for  two  years.  1868,  David  B.  Phelps  was  elected,  and 
served  two  years.  1870,  John  H.  Cleveland  was  elected,  and  served  two  years. 
1872,  Lambert  M.  Hillyer  was  again  elected  for  two  years.  1874,  Lambert  M. 
Hillyer  was  elected  the  third  time,  and  served  two  years.  1876.  Joseph  H.-irt- 
zell  was  elected,  and  served  two  years.  1878,  Joseph  Hartzell  was  again 
elected  and  is  still  in  office. 


436 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


ASSESSORS    ANl)    TREASURERS. 


The  following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  those  who  served,  together  with  the 
amounts  paid  them  for  making  the  county  assessments :  April  5, 1841,  Ira  Patter- 
son was  elected,  and  was  paid  for  the  assessments,  in  1841,  $24.50.  For  the  year 
1842,  $82.  "Ira  Patterson  was  an  early  settler  on  Salt  Creek,  was  elected  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1838,  and  some  years  afterward,  removed  to  Oregon  Ter- 
ritory, and  after  it  became  a  State,  was  elected  Governor  of  Oregon !  1843, 
Thomas  Hubbard  was  paid  for  thirty-six  days'  assessing,  $72.  It  does  not 
appear  from  the  records  whether  he  was  elected  or  not.  1844,  George  H. 
Campbell  was  paid  for  forty-three  days'  assessing,  $86.  In  1845,  he  was  paid 
for  that  service,  $53.50.  1846,  George  H.  Campbell  was  elected;  allowance 
for  assessment  that  year,  $160.  1847,  he  was  paid,  for  assessing,  $124.  1848, 
Samuel  Cannon  was  paid,  for  assessing,  $150.  1849,  he  was  paid  $197.96, 
for  assessing.  1850,  John  Cooper  was  paid,  for  assessing,  $164.60.  1851,  he 
was  paid  for  that  work  $180.  1852,  Joseph  F.  Benner  was  paid  for  assessing, 
$200.  1853,  he  was  paid  for  same  work,  $185.  1854,  Robert  McReynolds 
was  paid  for  assessing,  $270.  1855,  he  was  paid  for  that  work,  $272.50. 
1856,  Robert  McReynolds  was  paid  for  assessing,  $262.50.  1857,  he  was  paid 
$232.50,  for  that  work.  1858,  Joseph  Statler  was  paid  for  assessing,  $185. 
1859,  he  was  paid  for  assessing,  $203.75.  1860,  John  R.  Teney  was  paid  for 
assessing,  $278.  1861,  he  was  paid  for  that  service,  $405,  and  T.  J.  Kemper, 
for  Assistant  Assessor,  $107.50,  and  J.  H.  Schulte,  for  assessing  personal 
property,  $52.50.  This  was  the  last  year  of  the  County  Assessor's  work. 


COUNTY    TREASUREHS 


Under  township  organization,  the  County  Treasurers  have  been :  1861,  J. 
D.  W.  Bowman ;  1863,  Selah  Wheadon ;  1865,  Benjamin  A.  Rosebrough : 
1867,  Isaac  Newton  Mitchel ;  1869,  Benjamin  West;  1871,  Benjamin  West, 
who  died  in  August,  1873,  leaving  the  office  a  defaulter;  1873,  Marcellus  Dear- 
born was  appointed,  and  served  balance  of  term  after  the  death  of  West;  1873. 
Samuel  Bivens  was  elected,  and  served  ;  1875,  Samuel  Bivens  was  again  elected : 
1877,  Samuel  Bivens  was  elected  for  the  third  time,  and  is  now  in  office. 


SCHOOL    COMMISSIONERS. 


Since  the  organization  of  the  county,  the  following  persons  have  filled  that 
office:  1841,  George  N.  Walker;  1843,  John  L.  Turner;  1848,  E.  B.  Harp- 
ham;  1851,  Samuel  C.  Conwell;  1854,  Richard  Ritter;  1857,  Orlando  H. 
Wright :  1859,  Selah  Wheadon ;  1 861,  W.  E.  Kenox  ;  1863,  William  Warnock,  Jr. 


COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  SCHOOLS. 


For  1865,  H.  H.  Moose  ;  1869,  H.  H.  Moose,  resigned  in  1872 ;  1872,  S.  M. 
Badger  appointed  to  fill  vacancy ;  1873,  S.  M.  Badger  elected ;  1877,  S.  M 
Badger  still  in  office.  COUNTY  SURVEYORS. 

For  1841,  Patrick  W.  Campbell ;  1843,  P.  W.  Campbell ;  1845,  P.  W. 
Campbell ;  1847,  James  Boggs  ;  1849,  James  Boggs;  1851,  William  E.  Dicks  ; 


HISTORY  OF   MASON   COUNTY.  437 

1853,  John  M.Sweeney;  1855,  E.Z.  Hunt;  1857,  P.  W.  Campbell ;  1859,  Win. 
T.  Newton  ;  1861,  John  Donlin,  resigned  in  1862  ;  1862,  P.  W.  Campbell  elec- 
ted to  fill  vacancy ;  1863,  P.  W.  Campbell ;  1865,  Joseph  C.  Warnock ;  1867, 
John  J.  Fletcher;  1869,  John  R.  Faulkner;  1871,  John  R.  Faulkner;  1873, 
John  R.  Faulkner ;  1875,  James  Boggs,  elected  for  four  years  under  new  law. 

CORONERS. 

For  1841,  Jas.  D.  Averill ;  1842,  John  H.  Neteler ;  1844,  John  H.  Neteler : 
1846,  J.  D.  Averill ;  1848,  John  Adams ;  1850,  John  Adams ;  1852,  Eli 
Thornburgh;  1854,  James  Boggs;  1856,  William  J.  Odle;  1858,  John  McCor- 
mac;  1862,  Lambert  M.  Hillyer;  1866,  George  W.  Cole;  1868,  Robert  Mc- 
Reynolds ;  1870,  Isaac  L.  Tinkham  ;  1872,  Isaac  L.  Tinkham  ;  1874,  Isaac  L. 
Tinkham  ;  1876,  Isaac  L.  Tinkham  ;  1878,  Isaac  L.  Tinkham. 

CIRCUIT   JUDGES. 

Judge  Samuel  H.  Treat,  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  Pre- 
siding Judge  of  the  Eighth  Circuit,  held  the  first  term  of  court  in  Mason  County 
at  Havana,  in  the  Ross  Hotel,  on  the  12th  of  November,  1841.  He  appointed 
Joseph  A.  Phelps  Circuit  Clerk,  and,  in  the  absence  of  the  Attorney  General, 
appointed  John  D.  Urquhart  Attorney  General,  pro  tempore.  In  two  days,  the 
docket  was  cleared  of  the  thirty-eight  cases  thereon  and  court  adjourned.  Judge 
Treat  held  court  two  days  in  November,  1842,  and  disposed  of  thirty-eight  cases 
on  the  docket ;  on  the  8th  of  June,  1843,  he  held  court  one  day  and  disposed 
of  the  twenty  cases  on  docket.  This  was  his  last  term  of  court  in  Havana. 
June  6,  1844,  Judge  Treat  held  the  first  term  of  court  in  Bath,  which  was  his 
last  term  of  court  held  in  Mason  County.  Judge  Samuel  D.  Lockwood  held 
the  next  term  of  court  on  the  23d  and  24th  of  May,  1845,  and  appointed  Frank- 
lin  S.  D.  Marshall  Clerk  of  the  Court.  He  continued  to  hold  court  in  Bath 
until  the  19th  of  October,  1848,  which  was  the  last  term  held  by  Judge  Lock- 
wood,  and  also  of  Marshall  as  Clerk.  Judge  David  M.  Woodson,  of  the  First 
Circuit,  held  the  next  term  of  court  in  April,  1849,  John  S.  WTilbourn,  Clerk. 
The  last  term  of  court  in  Bath  was  held  by  Judge  Woodson,  November  18,  1850. 
Judge  William  A.  Minshall  held  the  next  term  of  court  at  Havana,  on  the  19th 
of  May,  1851,  Robert  S,  Blackwell,/ Prosecuting  Attorney;  J.  S.  Wilbourn, 
Clerk.  The  Judges  that  have  presided  in  the  Mason  County  Circuit  Court 
since  Judge  Minshall,  have  been :  Judge  Pinckney  H.  Walker  (now  of  the 
Supreme  Court),  elected  in  1855 ;  James  Harriott,  elected  in  1861 ;  Charles 
Turner,  elected  in  1867  ;  Lyman  Lacey,  elected  in  1873,  and,  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Appellate  Court,  in  1877,  was  appointed  one  of  the  Appellate  Judges 
in  the  Springfield  District.  Judge  Lyman  Lacy  was  again  elected  one  of  the 
Judges  of  the  Thirteenth  Judicial  District  in  June,  1879,  and  has  since  been 
assigned  to  the  Ottawa  District  as  one  of  the  Appellate  Judges. 

STATE    ATTORNEYS. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  State  Attorneys  within  the  Judicial  Districts  to 
which  Mason  County  belonged,  viz.:  Robert  S.  Blackwell,  elected  in  184! » : 


438  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

John  S.  Bailey,  elected  in  1853 ;  Hugh  Fullerton,  of  Mason,  elected  in  1857 ; 
Hugh  Fullerton,  elected  in  1861 ;  C.  A.  Roberts,  elected  in  1865 ;  Gas.  Whit- 
ney,  elected  in  1869.  OOUNTY  ATTORNKYS> 

William  H.  Rogers  was  elected  the  first  County  Attorney,  under  the  present 
law,  in  1872,  and  served  four  years,  leaving  the  office  a  defaulter.  Thomas  J. 
Mehan  was  elected  County  Attorney  in  1876,  and  is  still  in  office,  in  1879. 

MASTEBS    IN    CHANCERY. 

The  records  do  not  show  that  we  had  any  Master  in  Chancery  before  the 
appointment  of  F.  S.  D.  Marshall,  who  served  from  an  early  date  up  to  October, 
1  1853.  Date  of  appointment  not  known.  Nathan  Powell  was  the  successor  of 
Marshall,  and  served  up  to  the  year  1857 ;  John  S.  Wilbourn  was  the  successor 
•of  Powell,  and  served  to  the  year  1861 ;  George  A.  Blanchard  was  the  successor 
•of  Wilbourn,  and  served  one  year  and  resigned ;  J.  F.  Coppell  was  appointed  in 
October,  1862,  and  served  to  October,  1865 ;  George  A.  Blanchard  was 
appointed  in  October,  1865,  and  served  three  years ;  James  M.  Ruggles  was 
-appointed  in  November,  1867,  and  served  to  January  29,  1869,  when  he 
resigned ;  J.  F.  Coppell  was  appointed  January  29, 1869,  and  served  to  August, 
1875;  John  H.  Havighorst  was  appointed  in  August,  1875,  and  still  holds  the 
office,  in  1879. 

DELEGATES    TO    CONSTITUTIONAL    CONVENTIONS. 

v  Franklin  S.  D.  Marshall,  of  Bath,  was  elected  and  served  as  a  delegate  in 
the  Convention  that  formed  the  Constitution  for  the  State  of  Illinois,  in  1848  ; 
Orlando  H.  Wright,  of  Havana,  was  elected  and  served  as  a  delegate  in  the 
Convention  that  formed  the  State  Constitution,  in  1870. 

MEMBERS    OF    THE    STATE    LEGISLATURE. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  county,  the  following  persons  have  been  elected 
and  served  as  members  of  the  Illinois  General  Assembly : 

Senators. — James  M.  Ruggles  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  the  counties 
of  Sangamon,  Menard  and  Mason,  in  1852,  and  served  four  years.  At  that 
time,  the  Legislature  was  composed  of  twenty-five  Senators  and  seventy -five 
R  epresentatives. 

Luther  Dearborn  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  the  district  composed  of 
Mason,  Menard,  Cass  and  Brown  Counties,  in  1876.  The  Legislature  at  this 
time  is  composed  of  fifty-one  Senators  and  153  Representatives. 

Representatives. — In  1846,  Michael  Swing  was  elected  a  Representative  in 
the  Legislature,  and  served  two  years.  In  1850,  John  Pemberton  was  elected 
a  Representative  in  the  Legislature,  and  served  two  years.  In  1868,  John  M. 
Beesley  was  elected  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature,  and  served  two  years. 
In  1870,  Matthew  Langston  was  elected  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature, 
and  served  two  years.  In  1872,  H.  H.  Moore  was  elected  and  served  two 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  441 

years  as  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature.  In  1874,  John  Pugh  was  elected 
and  served  two  years  as  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature.  In  1876,  Jacob 
Wheeler  was  elected  a  Representative,  and  served  two  years  in  the  Legislature. 
In  1878,  Jacob  Wheeler  was  again  elected  a  Representative,  and  is  still  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Legislature,  in  1879. 

AGRICULTURAL    AND    IMPLEMENTAL. 

At  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  Mason  County,  agriculture  was  in  its 
infancy.  The  farmer  was  contented  and  happy  if  he  raised  enough  wheat  to 
bread  his  family,  do  his  seeding,  and  perhaps  spare  a  few  bushels  to  his  newly 
settled  neighbor.  There  were  no  grain  merchants  in  those  days,  with  mammoth 
warehouses  and  elevators,  with  banks  full  of  money  with  which  to  buy  up  the 
surplus  products  of  the  country.  The  ground  was  poorly  plowed  with  wooden 
plows,  slovenly  scratched  over  with  wooden-toothed  harrows  :  the  wheat  was 
sown  by  hand,  brushed  in  with  a  black-jack  sapling,  cut  with  a  sickle,  threshed 
on  the  ground  by  the  tread  of  horses  or  oxen,  and  carried  to  mill  and  ground  by 
the  same  animal  power.  The  corn-ground  was  plowed  in  the  same  way,  marked 
both  ways  with  a  single  plow,  planted  with  a  hoe,  and  cultivated  with  hoes  and 
single  shovel-plows,  a  little  larger  than  a  man's  hand.  Truly,  agriculture  was 
in  its  infancy  then,  but  the  great  and  grand  family  of  farm  implements  were  not 
yet  born  into  existence.  The  virgin  soil,  however,  was  generous  to  the  hus- 
bandman, as  the  maiden  with  her  first  lover,  and  yielded  bountifully  with  the 
least  amount  of  cultivation. 

The  people,  in  those  fifty  years  ago,  made  their  own  houses  out  of  the  logs 
that  grew  in  the  forest,  raised  the  corn  and  wheat  that  made  their  bread,  hunted 
the  deer  and  turkey  when  tired  of  bacon,  and,  when  in  want  of  honey,  hunted 
up  a  bee-tree  and  cut  it  down.  The  women — heaven  bless  them  ! — spun  flax 
and  wool,  and  made  clothing  for  the  family  and  themselves,  and  were  just  as 
happy  in  their  linsey-woolsey  dresses  then,  as  now  in  their  silks  and  satins.  The 
hard  work,  hard  living  and  plain  dressing  of  those  days,  would  cause  the  girls 
of  our  period  to  elevate  their  Grecian  noses  to  a  very  sharp  angle ;  but  it  is  well 
enough  to  remind  them  that  these  same  women  were,  perhaps,  their  own  grand- 
mothers, their  cousins  and  their  aunts,  who  thus  toiled  and  spun "  to  lay  the 
foundations  of  fortune,  which  enables  them  to  live  in  luxury  and  elegance.  The 
memory  of  those  days  is  well  preserved  in  the  poetry  of  some  backwoods  bard, 
from  which  we  quote  : 

"The  old  log  cabin,  with  its  puncheon  floor — 
The  old  log  cabin,  with  its  clapboard  door — 
Shall  we  ever  forget  its  moss-grown  roof? 
The  old  rattling  loom,  with  its  warp  and  woof  ? 
The  old  stick  chimney,  of  '  cat '  and  clay — 
The  old  hearthstone,  where  we  used  to  pray  ? 
No  !  we'll  not  forget  the  old  wool  wheel, 
Nor  the  hank  on  the  old  count-reel. 


442  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

We'll  not  forget  how  we  used  to  eat 
The  sweet  honeycomb  with  the  fat  deer-meat. 
We'll  not  forget  how  we  used  to  bake 
That  best  of  bread,  the  old  johnny-cake." 

Tradition  says  the  first  innovations  in  agriculture  and  animal  culture  were 
introduced  in  this  county  by  S.  C.  Conwell.  In  1840,  he  brought  from  Indiana 
a  drove  of  domestic  animals  of  superior  grade  and  sold  them  to  the  farmers  at 
fabulous  prices.  Pigs  were  sold  at  $400  a  pair ;  calves,  as  high  as  $400  apiece ; 
cows,  and  cattle  of  the  male  persuasion,  sheep  and  other  animals,  at  correspond- 
ing rates.  Like  most  pioneer  benefactors,  Conwell  was  victimized.  The  farm- 
ers to  whom  he  had  sold  became  dissatisfied  with  their  stock.  George  Virgin 
had  bought  one  of  the  $400  calves,  and  concluded  it  was  a  young  elephant 
on  his  hands.  He  held  a  war  council  of  his  granger  friends  to-  pass  upon  the 
quality  of  the  blood  that  animated  his  calf.  They  examined  it  from  head  to 
tail,  outside  and  inside,  observed  all  the  flesh  marks,  compared  them  with  the 
putative  sire,  and,  finally,  pronounced  it  a  fraud !  Mr.  Conwell  was  arrested 
and  taken  before  'Squire  Patterson  (since  Governor  of  Oregon)  and  bound  over 
in  $1,000  bond  to  appear  at  the  bar  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Mason  County  as  a 
first-class  criminal !  When  the  grand  jury  took  the  case  in  hand,  Jesse  Baker 
made  them  a  speech  in  these  words,  as  near  as  can  be  remembered :  "  You 
can't  do  nothin'  with  this  young  Jerusalem-over-taker ;  he's  too  smart  for  ye, 
and  ye'd  better  let  him  go."  And  the  jury  let  him  go,  with  but  one  objecting 
juryman.  The  jury  let  him  go,  but  the  reputation  which  this  stock  business 
gave  him,  with  a  certain  class  of  people,  hangs  on  to  him  to  this  day. 

Mr.  Conwell  made  the  first  marker  used  in  the  county  for  corn-planting. 
The  old  way  of  plowing  furrows  and  planting  with  a  hoe  was  a  little  too  much 
work  for  him.  He  got  a  saw  and  auger  and  old  wagon-tongue,  and  made  the 
original  marker  that  'laid  off  four  rows  instead  of  one,  which  was  a  great  saving 
to  a  lazy  man.  Then  he  got  an  old  spade  and  fastened  on  an  old  shovel-plow 
stock  and  made  a  jumper  to  cover  the  corn  with.  The  neighboring  people  looked 
on  and  commented  on  "the  lazy  Yankee,  with  his  fool  notions;"  but  in  a  year 
or  two  these  were  established  institutions.  The  old  way  of  carrying  a  sack  of 
wheat  and  sowing  out  of  it  by  hand  vexed  the  righteous  soul  of  Con,  and  so  he 
mounted  an  old  horse,  took  the  sack  of  wheat  in  front  of  him,  tied  a  handkerchief 
over  the  horse's  ears  to  keep  the  wheat  out,  and  went  on  his  way  rejoicing  in 
that  better  way  which'  he  inaugurated.  When  the  wheat  was  ready  for  thresh- 
ing, he  sent  to  M.  A.  Bruce,  living  in  Scott  County,  to  bring  his  thresher  and 
separator  into  Mason  County,  which  was  so  far  ahead  of  anything  before  seen 
that  it  brought  joy  into  the  hearts  of  the  admiring  grangers. 

-In  the  year  of  1868,  Mr.  Connell  contracted  with  Gen.  Walker  to  do  a  job 
of  prairie-breaking  with  a  steam  plow,  made  in  England.  The  season  was  wet, 
the  machine  was  too  heavy — like  all  English  'machinery — but  it  demonstrated 
the  fact  that  plowing  can  be  well  done  and  rapidly,  too,  by  steam.  Now  there 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  443 

are  machines  for  doing  all  kinds  of  work,  so  that,  with  a  little  help,  large  crops 
can  be  raised  and  marketed.  In  Dakota,  there  is  a  wheat-grower  who  now  has 
twenty  steam  threshing  machines  in  his  wheat-field,  threshing  wheat  and  deliver- 
ing it  in  wagons  to  be  taken  to  the  cars  as  fast  as  it  is  cut.  In  Havana,  Mason 
City  and  other  towns  in  the  county  there  are  houses  doing  a  large  and  exclusive 
business  in  agricultural  machinery  of  all  kinds  required  by  the  most  advanced 
agriculturist.  There  is  a  manufactory  on  Field's  Prairie  where  the  best  wheat 
drill  now  in  use  is  made  to  a  limited  extent  by  John  L.  Ashurst. 

There  are  two  wagon  and  carriage  factories  in  Havana,  carried  on  by  Mr. 
Warren  and  the  Messrs.  Yates,  where  considerable  work  is  being  done ;  but  the 
lack  of  more  manufacturing  establishments  in  the  county  is  deplorable  and  a 
reproach  to  the  enterprise  of  its  people. 

MASON    COUNTY   AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 

The  first  movement  for  the  organization  of  an  agricultural  society  was  made 
in  the  year  1854,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following,  which  we  find  in  the  local 
laws  of  1855 :  "A  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Mason  County  was  held  at  the 
Court  House  in  Havana,  on  Saturday,  the  14th  day  of  January,  1854,  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  an  agricultural  society.  President,  J.  D.  W.  Bowman ; 
Secretary,  J.  M.  Fisk.  A  constitution  was  submitted  by  S.  C.  Conwell,  which, 
on  motion  of  H,  C.  Mclntire,  was  read  and  adopted.  On  motion  of  H.  C. 
Mclntire,  J.  M.  Fisk  was  elected  President ;  and,  on  motion  of  S.  C.  Conwell, 
J.  D.  W.  Bowman,  Julius  Jones  and  H.  C.  Mclntire  were  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dents. On  motion,  John  Covington  was  elected  Recording  Secretary,  and  Fran- 
cis Low,  Corresponding  Secretary.  On  motion,  Alexander  Gray  was  elected 
Treasurer." 

Under  this  organization,  annual  fairs  were  held  at  Havana,  in  which  the 
people  manifested  considerable  interest  up  to  the  year  1858,  when  the  Society 
was  re-organized,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  record,  taken  from  the  County 
Court  proceedings : 

"  WHEREAS,  The  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Illinois  did,  on  the  8th  day  of 
February,  1857,  enact-a  general  law  for  the  incorporation  of  agricultural  socie- 
ties within  the  State  for  the  better  government  of  the  same,  therefore,  according 
to  notice,  the  undersigned,  legal  voters  of  Mason  County,  met  at  the  Court 
House  in  the  town  of  Havana  on  Tuesday,  the  8th  day  of  June,  1858,  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  under  the  act  of  the  Legislature  and  adopting  a  constitu- 
tion and  by-laws  for  the  Agricultural  Society  of  Mason  County.  The  meeting 
being  called  to  order,  A.  D.  Hopping  was  elected  President,  and  John  H.  Hav- 
ighorst  was  nominated  Secretary.  On  motion,  it  was 

"  Resolved,  That  this  Society  be  styled  the  '  Mason  County  Agricultural 
Society.' 

"Resolved,  further,  That  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws  heretofore  adopted 
by  this  Society  be  accepted  and  adopted  without  amendment. 


444  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

"Resolved,  further,  That  the  persons  elected  as  officers  of  the  Mason  County 
Agricultural  Society,  at  their  general  meeting  for  the  election  of  officers,  to  wit : 
A.  D.  Hopping,  President ;  A.  Biggs,  Samuel  Rule  and  William  Atwater,  Vice 
Presidents ;  John  H.  Havighorst,  Recording  Secretary ;  Selah  Wheaden,  Cor- 
responding Secretary,  and  William  Higbee,  Treasurer,  be  and  remain  the  officers 
of  this  Society  for  the  ensuing  year  and  until  their  successors  are  elected. 

"  On  motion  of  J.  D.  W.  Bowman,  it  was  resolved  that  the  above  proceedings 
be  adopted.  Carried.  . 

"John  Covington,  J.  P.  "West,  J.  D.  Hays,  Judson  R.  Foster,  H.  B.  McGehe, 
G.  Walker,  J.  D.  W.  Bowman,  J.  H.  West,  S.  C.  Conwell,  Reuben  Heniger, 
W.  Higbee,  J.  S.  Wilbourn,  J.  H.  Havighorst,  C.  J.  Dilworth,  C.  W.  Pierce, 
A.  H.  Bower,  Joshua  Thomas,  John  B.  Seat,  A.  Nash,  R.  McReynolds,  A.  D. 
Hopping. 

"  On  motion,  the  meeting  adjourned.  A.  D.  HOPPING,  President. 

"J.  H.  HAVIGHORST,  Secretary." 

Under  this  new  organization,  the  Society  continued  to  the  year  1872,  when 
it  was  re-organized  as  a  joint-stock  company,  with  a  capital  of  $10,000,  under 
the  name  of  the  "Mason  Countv  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Association." 

«^  o 

The  officers  for  the  year  1872,  the  first  under  the  new  organization,  were : 
President,  James  F.  Kelsey,  of  Havana;  Vice  President,  R.  R.  Simmons, 
Havana ;  Secretary,  John  W.  Jones,  Havana ;  Treasurer,  Thomas  Covington, 
Havana. 

The  officers  for  1878-79  are :  President,  Samuel  Bivens ;  Vice  President, 
W.  S.  Dray ;  Secretary,  Samuel  F.  Kyle ;  Treasurer,  Thomas  Covington ; 
Superintendent,  W.  H.  Webb. 

The  Society  has  had  annual  fairs  from  the  beginning  until  1860,  when  they 
were  discontinued  until  1866,  since  which  time  they  have  not  failed.  The  most 
of  these  fairs  have  been  very  creditable  to  the  people  of  the  county,  and  the 
premiums  have  run  as  high  as  $2,000,  or  near  thai  amount :  and  there  has  not 
been  an  instance  where  they  have  not  been  paid  in  full,  as  we  are  informed  by 
the  officers,  showing  that  the  affairs  of  the  Society  have  been  conducted  in  an 
honorable  way.  The  grounds  are  situated  about  a  mile  north  of  the  city  of 
Havana,  with  one  of  the  best  tracks  for  trotting  in  this  part  of  the  State.  About 
$5,000  have  been  expended  on  the  grounds. 

FARMING  IN  MASON  COUNTY. 

Whole  number  of  acres  of  land  in  Mason  County 300,000 

Number  of  acres  of  improved  lands , 212,034 

Number  of  acres  of  woodland    in  the  county 34,532 

Number  of  acres  of  corn  in  1879 67,599 

Number  of  acres  of  winter  wheat  in  1879: 8,056 

Number  of  acres  of  spring  wheat  in  1879 852 

Number  of  acres  of  oats  in  1879 6,711 

Number  of  acres  of  other  kinds  of  crops  in  1879 5,347 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


445 


Number  of  acres  of  meadows  in  1879 2,876 

Number  of  acres  of  pasture  in  1879 7,295 

Number  of  acres  of  orchards  in  1879 1,699 

Number  of  cattle  in  1879 6,554 

Number  of  hogs  in  1879 17,267 

Number  of  sheep  in  1879 533 

Number  of  horses  in  1879 12,039 

Number  of  mules  in  1879 2,156 

CORN  CROP  OF  1877  AND  1878  IN  MASON  COUNTY. 

Acres  in  cultivation  in  1877,  81,939;  yield  16  bush,  per  acre;  total  crop. ..1,311, 024 

Value  of  crop  at  31  cents  per  bushel $406,417 

Acreage  in  1878,  61,454;  yield  per  acre,  20  bushels;  total 1,229,080 

Value  of  crop  at  25  cents  per  bushel $307,270 


CROPS   IN    THE    STATE. 


Acreage  of  the  following  crops  for  four  past  years  in  the  State. 


1875. 

1876. 

1877. 

1878. 

Corn  

8  189  914 

8  810  791 

7  627  735 

8  672  088 

Wheat  

2  004,275 

1  938,527 

2,069,563 

2,324,755 

Oats  

758,694 

1,660  778 

1,456,644 

1,568,120 

Meadows  

2293,333 

2  475,782 

2  302,888 

2  368,854 

Pastures  

4  219  347 

4  289  918 

3  760  071 

3  983  459 

Orchards  

311,555 

342,682 

394,684 

412,140 

Other  field  products... 

1.471.418 

788,207 

711.228 

711.228 

PRINCIPAL    CROPS    IN    THE    STATE. 


The  following  table  shows  the  yield  of  the  crops  named  and  also  the  market 
value  of  the  same  for  the  years  1877  and  1878: 


' 

1877. 

1878. 

269  889  742 

260  560  810 

Winter  Wheat,  bushels  

29  510  032 

30  018  147 

Spring  Wheat   bushels  

2  980  524 

3  870  251 

Oats   bushels...  

67  145  983 

62  096  388 

Hav.  tons... 

4.044.969 

4.255.471 

Value—  1877. 

1878. 

Corn  

$77,552,879 
34,960,824 
3,041,258 
16,269,647 
21,971,368 
14,764,112 
3,589,672 
22,738,881 

$56,035,848 
23,870,257 
3,189,203 
12,451,889 
19,994,341 
12,324,647 
4,181,662 
16,724,384 

Winter  Wheat  

Spring  Wheat  

Oats  

Hav... 

Pasture  

Orchard  Fruits  

Hog  Products  

Total  

$204,898,641  1  $148,772,231 

446 


HISTORY   OF   MASON    COUNTY. 


NO.  OF  ACRES,  BUSHELS  AND  VALUE  OF  CORN  CROP  FOR  EIGHTEEN  YEARS. 


Year. 


1860. 
1861. 
1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870. 
1871. 
1872. 
1873. 
1874. 
1875. 
1876. 
1877. 
1878. 


No.  Acres. 


3,839,159 
3,839,159 
3,458,903 
3,773,349 
4,192,610 
5,023,996 
4,931  783 
4,583,655 
3,928,742 
5,237,068 
5,720,965 
5,310,469 
5,498,040 
6,839,714 
7,421,055 
8,163,265 
8,920,000 
8,935,411 
8,672,088 


Average  yield 
per  acre. 


30 

30 

40 

22 

33 

35£ 

31.6 

23.8 

34.2 

23.2 

35.2 

38.3 

39.8 

21 

18 

34.3 

25 

30 

29 


Bushels. 


115,174,770 
115.174,770 
138,356,185 
83,013,681 
138,356,135 
177,095,852 
155,844,350 
109,091  000 
134,363,000 
121.oOO.000 
201,378,000 
203,391,000 
217,628,000 
143,634,000 
133,579,000 
280,000,000 
223,000,000 
269,889,742 
250,560,810 


Price  per 
Bushel. 


24 
23 

62 

75 

29i 

43 

68 

43 

57 

35 

32 

24 

32 

56 

34 

31 

28 

22 


Total  Value. 


$48,944,277 
27,641,944 
32,821,911 
51,479,44'^ 

103,767,101 
51,800,536 
67,013,070 
74,281,880 
57,776,090 
69,255,000 
70,482,300 
65,085,120 
52,230,720 
45962,880 
74,804,290 
95,200,000 
69,130,000 
77,562,879 
56,035,842 


STATE  CROPS  FOR  1879. 

Whole  number  of  acres  land  within  the  State 35,200,000 

Number  of  acres  of  improved  land  in  the  State 25,838,072 

Number  of  acres  of  woodland  in  the  State 5,607,990 

Number  of  acres  of  corn  in  the  State  for  the  year  1879 89,965,761 

Number  of  acres  of  winter  wheat  in  the  State  in  1879 2,075,585 

Number  of  acres  of  spring  wheat  in  the  State  in  1879 290,213 

Number  of  acres  of  oats  in  the  State  in  1879 1,448,562 

Number  of  acres  of  other  kinds  of  crops  in  the  State  in  1879 711,228 

Number  of  acres  of  rye  in  the  State  in  1879 246,120 

Number  of  acres  of  meadow  in  the  State  in  1879 2,179,122 

Number  of  acres  of  pasture  in  the  State  in  1879 4,157,320 

Number  of  acres  of  orchards  in  the  State  in  1879 412,140 

Number  of  cattle  in  the  State  in  1879 1,722,057 

Number  of  hogs  in  the  State  in  1879 2,814,532 

Number  of  sheep  in  the  State  in  1879 762,788 

Number  of  horses  in  the  State  in  1879 881,951 

Number  of  mules  in  the  State  in  1879 122,348 

LIVE    STOCK    AND    DAIRY. 

The  following  are  the  statistics  for  the  year  1877  : 

Number  of  fat  cattle  sold  in  the  State 423,984 

Average  gross  weight,  per  head  of  cattle  sold 1,057 

Number  of  fat  hogs  sold 2,455,573 

Average  gross  weight,.per  head  of  hogs  sold 252 

Number  of  hogs  and  pigs  died  of  cholera 1,445,268 

Average  gross  weight  of  swine  died  of  cholera 74 

Number  of  fat  sheep  sold 241,422 

Average  weight  of  same '. 96 

Number  of  sheep  killed  by  dogs  in  the  State 39,649 

Average  value  per  head  of  same $2.29 

Number  of  pounds  of  wool  shorn 3,291,677 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  447 

DAIRY. 

Number  of  cows  kept  in  the  State 556,466 

Pounds  of  butter  sold 18,970,227 

Pounds  of  cheese  sold 4,502,671 

Gallons  of  cream  sold 2,744,259 

Gallons  of  milk  sold 17,124,506 

CLIMATOLOaY. 

The  seasons,  like  many  other  things,  run  in  cycles — not  always  of  the  same 
duration — but  observation,  extending  over  the  last  forty  years,  has  satisfied  the 
observer  that  dry,  or  moderately  dry,  periods,  continue  not  longer  than  seven 
years.  The  earth,  that  is  called  inanimate,  has  many  of  the  characteristics  of 
the  animated  being.  It  cannet  run  more  than  seven  years  and  maintain  its 
reputation  for  cleanliness  and  healthfulness,  without  having  a  bath  ;  and,  the 
bath  being  ordered,  the  rains  descend,  until  the  big,  rounded  form  of  old 
Mother  Earth  has  had  a  good  washing  and  cleansing  from  the  impurities  that 
accumulate. 

The  year  of  1844  was  a  flood  year.  In  the  month  of  June,  there  was  more 
water  upon  the  face  of  the  earth,  in  the  Western  country,  than  ever  known 
since  the  days  of  Noah's  flood.  The  seasons  then  ran  along  in  their  usual 
course  until  the  year  1851,  when  much  water  fell.  The  next  wet  spell  was  in 
about  seven,  or  possibly  eight,  years.  The  years  1867  and  1868,  ending  in 
the  spring  of  1869,  were  very  Avet  years  in  this  region  of  country,  piling  up  the 
waters  on  the  lowlands  so  that  the  muskrats  had  to  build  high  houses  to  keep 
above  water.  The  last  wet  spell  began  in  July,  1876.  Being  the  centennial 
year,  there  was  a  high  old  time,  drowning  out  all  the  corn  on  the  lowlands,  and 
keeping  up  the  spree  for  two  long  years  !  The  valleys  and  sand  hills  were  all 
filled  with  water,  and  the  seepage  from  the  higher  to  the  lower  lands  caused 
lakes  of  water  to  be  formed,  and  whole  neighborhoods  to  be  inundated  in  some 
parts  of  the  county  where  water  was  never  seen  before.  The  sand  hills  take  in 
the  water — unlike  clay  hills,  that  run  it  off' — and  when  the  water  gets  down  to 
hard  pan,  or  clay  strata,  it  flows  out  to  the  lowest  ground  it  can  find. 

Having  said  something  in  favor  of  the  periodic  theory,  it  has  been  further 
observed  that  when  the  dry  periods  occur  in  the  Eastern  Continent,  we  have  our 
wet  seasons  in  the  Western  Continent,  and  vice  versa.  During  the  past  two 
years,  when  we  were  so  flooded  with  water  that  we  would  have  been  glad  to 
have  given  it  away,  there  have  been  some  fearful  famines  in  Asia  and  other  parts, 
produced  by  the  want  of  rain,  that  fell  where  it  was  not  wanted.  The  ch'ange 
has  already  set  in  that  will  probably  reverse  this  order.  England  and  the  East- 
ern Continent  have  this  year  been  deluged  with  water  falling  from  the  clouds. 
Thus  it  may  be  observed  that  Mother  Earth,  in  taking  her  bath,  washes  but  one 
side  at  a  time,  and  it  may  be  further  observed  that  the  law  of  compensation  is 
ever  asserting  itself  in  the  adjustment  of  Nature's  divine  order,  by  action  and 
re-action,  which  is  the  safetv-valve  of  the  universe. 


448  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Planets  move  in  cycles,  also,  making  revolutions  in  regular  periods  of  time, 
as  do  the  seasons,  too.  The  tides  are  periodic,  and  many  of  the  malarial  dis- 
eases are  periodic,  as  the  doctors  will  tell  you.  There  are  numerous  and  gor- 
geously grand  geysers  in  the  Territory  of  Wyoming,  spouting  forth  immense 
volumes  of  water — hot,  cold  and  tepid — to  the  height  of  the  tallest  tree-tops, 
and  all  of  them  are  perfectly  periodic — some  long  and  some  short — but  all 
prompt  and  regular  in  their  own  time,  like  the  breathing  of  animals. 

The  earth  has  many  of  the  characteristics  of  an  animal.  The  rise  and  fall 
of  the  tide  once  every  twelve  hours  is  but  the  respiration  of  the  huge  animal 
upon  which  we  live ;  the  great  rivers  of  water  that  have  their  internal  pass 
way,  as  well  as  those  that  flow  upon  the  surface,  are  .only  the  arteries  and  the 
veins  that  supply  the  life-blood  to  the  animal ;  the  great  mountain  range  that 
extends  the  whole  length  of  the  globe  from  north  to  south  is  only  the  backbone 
of  the  animal ;  the  mountains  that  swell  up  from  the  body  of  the  earth  are  but 
moles  and  warts  on  that  body ;  the  great  fountain  of  oil  that  lies  in  the  bowels 
of  the  earth  is  what  the  plain-spoken  butcher  would  call  "gut-fat ;"  the  thunders 
that  roll  across  the  vaulted  heavens  are  but  the  electric  sparks  that  snap  and  fly 
from  the  Thomas-cat's  back  ;  the  shrubs  and  trees  that  grow  upon  the  globe  are 
but  the  hair  and  bristles  that  cov^er  and  clothe  the  body  of  the  great  animal ; 
the  mutterings  and  rumblings  of  the  earthquake  are  only  the  eructions  and  dis- 
turbances in  poor  Earth's  bowels,  and  the  opening  of  the  huge  crater,  vomiting 
forth  fire,  ashes,  stones  and  red-hot  lava,  what  is  that  but  the  discharge  of  an 
overloaded  and  disordered  stomach  that  may  have  taken  in  too  much  unwhole- 
some food,  or,  perhaps,  too  much  strong  drink?  Now,  who  shall  say  that  the 
earth  is  not  as  much  an  animal  as  it  is  a  vegetable  or  mineral  substance  ?  and  who 
can  maintain  that  the  myriads  of  animals  that  creep,  crawl,  leap  and  fly  over 
the  earth's  surface,  and  the  millions  of  men  who  stand  erect  upon  that  same 
ground,  are  anything  more  than  parasites  that  feed  and  fatten  upon  the  body 
and  blood  of  this  same  good  old  Mother  Earth  ?  And  where  is  the  man  of 
science  who  will  undertake  to  controvert  the  theorem  that  this  living,  moving 
earth  is  the  "connecting  link  "  that  unites  man  with  beast,  and  feeds  and  nour- 
ishes all  from  the  bountiful  bosom  of  one  common  motherhood  ? 

GEOLOGICAL. 

The  eastern  portion  of  Mason  County  lying  east  of  Crane  Creek  and  includ- 
ing the  greater  portions  of  Crane  Creek,  Salt  Creek,  Mason  City,  Allen's  Grove 
and  Pennsylvania  Townships,  varies  in  its  formation  from  the  balance  of  the 
county.  It  is  a  high,  undulating  prairie,  and  the  soil  is  generally  a  rich,  brown 
mold,  varying  in  quantity  of  clay  mixed  in  the  soil,  but  all  containing  much 
more  than  the  balance  of  the  county.  There  is  a  small  body  of  timber  on  the 
east  of  Crane  Creek,  and  also  on  the  skirts  of  the  Sangamon  River  and  Salt 
Creek.  There  are  small  bodies  of  timber  in  Lease's  Grove,  and  also  in  Allen's 
Grove,  the  balance  of  the  territory  being  mostly  high,  rolling  prairie.  The 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  449 

remainder  of  the  county  varies  very  materially  in  its  formation  and  topography. 
The  prairies  are  mostly  low  and  flat,  and  in  many  places  were  originally  over- 
flowed, and  in  places  marshy  during  the  wet  season  of  the  year.  The  soil 
of  these  prairies  is  a  rich  alluvium,  generally  more  or  less  mixed  with  sandr 
which  forms,  when  sufficiently  elevated  or  drained,  the  best  producing  soil  in  the 
State.  These  prairies  are  interspersed  with  sand  ridges — some  of  them  quite 
high  and  some  of  them  covered  with  an  indifferent  growth  of  timber.  One  of 
these  timbered  sand  ridges  extends  from  the  Sangamon,  north,  to  the  Quiver — 
some  fifteen  miles — passing  up  on  the  east  side  of  Kilbourne  and  Havana  Town- 
ships, and  varying  from  one  to  three  miles  in  width.  Another  sand  ridge  passes 
from  the  Sangamon  to  the  north  line  of  Bath,  on  the  east  side  of  Bath  Town- 
ship. Another  sand  ridge,  with  timber  on  it,  extends  from  the  Quiver,  near 
Forest  City,  to  the  north  line  of  the  county.  These  lands  are  considered  of  a, 
poor  quality  by  reason  of  the  excessive  quantity  of  sand  mixed  with  the  soil ; 
but  there  are  many  things  that  they  will  produce,  and  in  time  they  will  be  put  irv 
cultivation.  Field's  Prairie,  about  three  miles  wide  and  six  long,  lies  between 
the  first  two  ridges  of  timber  above  described,  and  is  one  of  the  richest  and 
handsomest  garden  spots  that  a  crow  ever  flew  over.  There  are  other  localities 
where  the  land  is  equally  good,  but  none  where  the  locality  is  so  picturesque 
and  inviting  to  the  farmer.  The  upper  end  of  the  prairie  needs  drainage  to 
bring  it  to  the  highest  state  of  perfection.  Much  remains  to  be  done  in  the  way 
of  drainage  in  nearly  all  of  the  townships  to  bring  the  land  into  a  high  arid  safe 
state  of  cultivation,  and  when  it  is  done,  no  other  land  will  excel  it  in  richness 
and  productiveness. 

Owing  to  this  peculiar  formation,  soil  and  topography  of  a  large  portion  of 
the  county,  the  crop  yield  is  dependent  very  much  upon  the  condition  of  the 
weather,  and  will  continue  so  until  a  more  perfect  system  of  drainage  is  adopted 
and  carried  out. 

The  richest  and  best  lands  of  a  portion  of  the  county  are  so  level  that,  in 
wet  seasons,  the  natural  drainage  is  not  sufficient  to  carry  off  the  surplus  water ; 
consequently,  in  wet  years  these  lands  are  more  or  less  non-productive.  In  the 
dry  years,  the  high,  sandy  lands,  for  want  of  moisture,  dry  out,  parch  up  and 
destroy  vegetation  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  so  that,  in  the  dry  years,  the  full 
crops  are  on  the  flat  lands  and  in  the  wet  years  upon  the  high  lands,  where  there 
is  so  much  sand  that  a  stranger  to  the  soil  would  think  nothing  could  grow.  Of 
course,  the  best  lands  are  those  sufficiently  elevated  for  drainage  and  containing 
enough  and  not  too  much  sand  mixed  in  the  loam.  There  is  more  or  less  of 
this  kind  of  land  in  all  the  townships  of  the  county.  Without  drainage,  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  county  is  considered  best  on  account  of  being  high  and 
undulating. 

It  is  remarkable  how  much  life  and  vigor  is  imparted  to  the  soil  by  a  plenti- 
ful supply  of  sand.  If  "  heat  is  life  and  cold  is  death,"  we  are  certainly  blessed 
with  a  lively  life-giving  soil.  The  sun's  rays,  striking  upon  the  particles  of  sand. 


450  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

produce  a  warmth  that  starts  vegetation  very  early  in  the  season  and  drives  it 
on  to  maturity  with  great  rapidity.  In  ordinary  seasons,  when  the  frost  does 
not  come  too  early,  corn  planted  as  late  as  July  matures  and  produces  well. 
There  have  been  years  when  Mason  County  supplied  the  country  round,  in  the 
State  and  out  of  it,  with  the  seed  which  they  could  get  nowhere  else,  because 
our  corn  always  ripens  and  is  always  ready  to  grow  in  consequence  of  the  life 
and  vigor  imparted  to  it  by  the  fructifying  influence  of  sun  rays  and  sand. 

Mason  County  is  noted  for  the  superior  quality  of  its  wheat,  when  in  a 
wheat-growing  period,  which  runs  in  cycles.  For  a  series  of  years,  all  wheat 
sown  does  well  because  the  elements  that  it  requires  in  its  growth  are  in  the  soil. 
When  these  elements  become  exhausted,  wheat  will  not  do  well  until  a  new  sup- 
ply is  accumulated.  But  in  corn  there  is  no  failure  or  let-up  ;  it  is  always  up 
arid  a-coming;  and  melons,  sweet  potatoes  and  all  kinds  of  products  requiring 
much  warmth  in  development  find  no  rival  in  other  soils.  Watermelons  are 
generally  in  market  by  the  middle  of  July,  and  in  virgin  soil  they  grow  to  an 
enormous  size.  They  are  often  seen  as  long  as  a  barrel,  and  have  sometimes 
kicked  the  beam  at  sixty  pounds  ! 

RAILROADS. 

ILLINOIS    RIVER    RAILROAD. 

As  early  as  the  year  1850,  J.  M.  Ruggles  began  the  talk  for  this  road,  and, 
after  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Bath,  he  become  actively  engaged  in  the 
enterprise,  hoping  thereby  to  make  amends  for  what  Bath  had  lost  in  the  county 
seat.  In  the  year  1852,  Mr.  Ruggles  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  from 
Sangamon,  Menard  and  Mason,  and  at  the  first  session  in  1853,  he  prepared 
and  secured  the  enactment  of  the  charter  under  which  the  road  was  built. 
Under  this  charter,  J.  M.  Ruggles  was  made  the  chief  corporator,  and  immedi- 
ately went  to  work  and  procured  subscriptions  of  over  $100,000,  unaided  by  a 
single  individual,  and  organized  a  company  under  the  charter.  Almost  every 
man  on  the  line  of  the  road  in  Mason  County  made  liberal  subscriptions,  and 
among  the  subscriptions  was  one  of  $50,000  by  the  county,  as  will  be  seen  in 
the  county  records,  as  follows :  "  December  5,  1853.  This  day  came  J.  M. 
Ruggles  and  presented  a  petition  for  the  court  to  order  an  election  in  the  county 
for  taking  $50,000  stock  in  the  Illinois  River  Railroad,  bonds  to  run  twenty 
years  and  draw  8  per  cent  interest.  The  court  ordered  an  election  to  be  held 
on  the  second  Saturday  in  January,  1854."  At  this  election,  the  vote  for  sub- 
scription was  carried  by  a  very  decided  majority,  and  the  organization  was  com- 
pleted some  time  afterward. 

At  the  first  election,  Judge  William  Thomas,  of  Morgan  County,  R.  S. 
Thomas,  of  Cass  County  ;  J.  M.  Ruggles  and  Francis  Low,  of  Mason  County, 
and  Joshua  Waggonseller,  of  Tazewell,  were  elected  Directors,  and  R.  S. 
Thomas  was  elected  President ;  M.  H.  L.  Schooley,  Secretary,  and  Thomas 
Plasters,  Treasurer.  With  some  changes,  not  now  remembered,  this  directory 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  451 

continued  until  the  road  changed  its  name  and  ownership.  Mr.  Low  was  Pres- 
ident for  a  short  time,  and  also  Treasurer,  and  James  H.  Hole  was  also  Treasurer. 
B.  S.  Prettyman  was  a  Director  in  the  later  years  of  the  Company,  and  H. 
O'Neal  for  one  year. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1856,  the  county  of  Mason  took  $50,000  addi- 
tional stock  in  the  road.  In  July,  1857,  the  town  of  Havana  took  $15,000 
stock  in  the  road  and  the  town  of  Bath  took  $10,000  stock  about  the  same  time. 
Cass  County  took  $100,000  stock  in  the  road,  and  Morgan  County  took  $50,000 
stock.  The  city  of  Pekin  also  took  stock.  The  building  of  railroads  in  those 
days  was  hard  work,  and  every  body  had  to  do  their  level  best. 

W.  G.  Wheaton,  of  Peoria,  was  the  first  engineer  employed,  and  soon  devel- 
oped a  disposition  to  locate  depots  and  speculate  in  town  lots.  He  contracted 
for  land  a  mile  south  of  Manito  and  a  mile  south  of  Forest  City,  and  proceeded 
to  lay  out  towns  of  large  proportions  at  these  places,  with  a  view  to  speculation. 
This  led  to  a  fierce  conflict  between  him  and  J.  M.  Ruggles,  as  the  newspapers 
of  that  time  will  show,  and  finally  ended  in  the  discharge  of  Wheaton  and  the 
employment  of  another  engineer. 

The  selection  of  depot  grounds  and  stations  in  Mason  County  was  afterward 
put  into  the  hands  of  J.  M.  Ruggles,  who  located  the  depot  at  Manito  and  gave 
the  name  to  the  town.  He  also  located  the  depots  at  Forest  City,  Topeka, 
Havana  and  Bath,  and  the  towns  which  Wheaton  had  laid  out  were  obliterated 
and  wiped  out  so  effectually  that  their  names  are  no  more  remembered. 

The  contract  was  let  in  May,  1857,  for  grading,  bridging  and  furnishing 
cross-ties  between  Pekin  and  Jacksonville,  a  distance  of  about  seventy  miles. 
Allen  &  McGrady,  of  Indiana,  became  the  contractors,  and  the  work  began  at 
Bath  in  September,  1857,  and  was  pushed  forward  rapidly  until  completed  from 
Pekin  to  Virginia,  in  1859.  Te  section  from  Pekin  to  Peoria  was  completed  in 
1864,  and  from  Virginia  to  Jacksonville  in  1869,  since  which  time  the  road  has 
done  a  heavy  business. 

The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  the  Havana  Herald  of  September  11, 
1857,  edited  by  W.  W.  Stout: 

ELECTION    OF    DIRECTORS. 

The  election  of  Directors  of  the  Illinois  River  Railroad  took  place  at  Chandlerville  on  Sat- 
urday of  last  week.  A  large  number  of  persons  were  present  on  the  occasion,  and  an  amount 
of  stock  was  represented  equal  to  $350,000.  Considerable  interest  was  manifested  among  those 
present  in  regard  to  who  should  be  elected  to  the  directory,  and  as  to  how  they  should  be 
appointed.  But  after  the  manifestation  of  considerable  feeling  in  regard  thereto,  matters  were 
finally  arranged,  as  we  presume,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  parties.  Judge  Thomas  was 
elected  Director  of  Morgan  County,  R.  S.  Thomas  for  Cass,  J.  M.  Ruggles  for  Bath,  Frank  Low 
for  Havana  and  Joshua  Waggonseller  for  Tazewell.  The  selection  of  a  more  efficient  Board  of 
Directors  could  not  have  been  made.  They  are  the  very  best  men  to  be  found  along  the  line  of 
the  road,  and  their  selection  will  meet  the  approbation  of  a  large  majority  of  the  citizens  of  the 
different  counties  through  which  the  road  will  pass,  and  give  renewed  confidence  to  the  friends 
of  this  great  improvement.  After  the  election,  the  new  Board  held  a  short  session  and  chose 
Jnmes  H.  Hole,  of  Havana,  to  be  the  Treasurer  of  the  Company,  and  M.  H.  L.  Schooley, 


452  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Secretary.     The  Board  then  adjourned   to  meet  again  in  Havana  on  the  third  Saturday  of  the 
present  month. 

THE    RAILROAD. 

It  is  with  no  small  degree  of  satisfaction  that  we  inform  our  readers  that  active  operations 
have  commenced  on  the  Illinois  River  Railroad  at  this  place.  At  the  present  time,  between  forty 
and  fifty  men  and  some  dozen  teams  are  busily  at  work  in  despoiling  the  enormous  sand  hill, 
which  has  so  long  been  an  eyesore  to  the  citizens  of  this  place,  of  its  huge  dimensions,  and  they 
are  now  hauling  away  the  dirt  and  making  fills  therewith  on  other  portions  of  the  road.  The 
citizens  of  our  town  seem  to  manifest  an  extraordinary  interest  in  the  work,  judging  from  the 
fact  that  all  the  shady  spots  in  near  proximity  to  where  the  work  is  going  on  are  constantly  occu- 
pied all  day  long  by  persons  who  seem  to  contemplate,  with  immense  satisfaction,  its  progress. 
The  enormous  sand-hill  is  rapidly  giving  way  before  the  "  Mickeys,"  and  it  is  a  great  pity  but 
the  road  had  been  located  through  the  center  of  it,  for  the  Railroad  Company,  in  making  exca- 
vations for  the  road,  would  have  done  more  for  the  benefit  of  the  town,  more  toward  improving 
the  appearance  thereof,  in  three  months'  time  than  the  town  Council  would  be  able  to  do  in  the 
next  three  years. 

During  the  war,  the  road  changed  hands  by  reason  of  a  foreclosure  of  first 
mortgage,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  that  of  the  "  Peoria,  Pekin  &  Jackson- 
ville Railroad,"  and  has  for  years  been  operated  for  that  Company  by  John 
Allen  and  J.  F.  Kelsy,  Vice  President  of  the  road,  who  have  given  general  sat- 
isfaction in  their  management. 

Something  like  a  year  ago,  the  road  went  into  the  hands  of  a  receiver — Mr. 
John  Allen — who  continues  to  operate  the  road  to  this  time.  The  controlling 
interest  of  the  road  has  recently  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria  & 
Warsaw  Company.  What  that  control  may  develop,  when  in  possession,  depends 
upon  the  hereafter. 

The  entire  length  of  the  road  is  eighty-three  miles,  mostly  steel  rails.  The 
stations  that  have  been  located  and  built  up  on  the  line  of  the  road  are  :  Manito, 
Forest  City,  Bishop's,  Topeka,  Havana,  Bath  and  Saidora.  Length  of  road  in 
Mason  County,  thirty-six  miles ;  length  of  side-track,  three  miles ;  standard 
gauge. 

CHICAGO    &    ALTON    RAILROAD JACKSONVILLE    BRANCH. 

This  road  was  first  projected  as  the  Tonica  &  Petersburg  Railroad,  incorpo- 
rated in  1857,  of  which  Richard  Yates  was  President  up  to  the  date  of  his  elec- 
tion as  Governor,  in  1860.  In  1862,  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Jacksonville, 
Alton  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  Company,  and  W.  Or.  Green,  of  Menard,  was  the 
first  President  of  the  consolidated  company.  He  was  succeeded  by  George 
Straut,  of  Peoria.  The  road  was  leased  to  the  C.  &  A.  road,  April  30,  1868, 
by  whom  it  has  been  operated  since  that  date.  For  several  years,  the  line  of 
road  was  operated  from  Jacksonville  to  Petersburg.  In  1867,  it  was  extended 
to  Bloomington,  reaching  Mason*  City  in  June  and  Bloomington  on  the  23d  of 
September,  1867.  The  length  of  roa'd  through  Mason  County  is  twelve 
miles ;  standard  gauge,  and,  in  all  respects,  first-class. 

SPRINGFIELD    &    NORTH-WESTERN    RAILROAD. 

The  charter  for  this  road  is  dated  March  24,  1869.  The  route  is  from 
Springfield,  via  Petersburg,  to  Havana — forty-eight  miles.  The  original 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  453 

Directors  were :  John  Williams  and  John  T.  Stuart,  of  Springfield ;  William  G. 
Green  and  William  Estel,  of  Menard,  and  Hugh  Fullerton  and  R.  S.  Moore,  of 
Havana.  Mason  County  subscribed  $50,000  to  the  capital  stock,  and  the  town- 
ship of  Havana  took  $25,000,  and  the  individuals  along  the  line  of  the  road 
subscribed  liberally.  The  work  on  the  road  began  in  1871  and  the  road  was 
completed  in  1873.  Kilbourne,  Bowers  &  Co.,  of  Iowa,  were  the  contractors. 
Col.  John  Williams,  of  Springfield,  made  heavy  advances  to  the  contractors,  and, 
in  the  end,  finished  up  the  road,  became  the  largest  owner  of  stock,  and  has  opera- 
ted the  road  since  its  completion.  The  road  finally  went — where  most  of  the 
roads  have  gone  in  the  past  ten  years — into  the  hands  of  a  receiver — George  N. 
Black,  of  Springfield — and  in  the  spring  of  1879  it  was  sold  to  a  new  company, 
by  whom  it  is  now  operated  and  of  whom  Col.  Williams  is  President  and  largest 
owner.  It  is  a  well-managed  road  and  is  kept  in  good  condition,  doing  a  fair 
business  for  a  short  road.  The  length  of  road  in  Mason  County,  from  the  San- 
gamon  River  to  Havana,  is  about  thirteen  miles  ;  standard  gauge.  W.  M.  Bacon 
and  Mike  Myers  are  the  present  popular  conductors  of  the  two  trains  that  make 
daily  trips  over  the  road.  The  stations  on  the  line  of  the  road  are :  Sedan, 
Long  Branch,  Conover  and  Kilbourne. 

INDIANAPOLIS,    BLOOMINOTON    4    WESTERN    EXTENSION. 

This  road  was  chartered  in  1867,  and  extends  from  the  city  of  Urbana  to 
the  city  of  Havana — 101  miles — and  is  designed  to  extend  west  to  the  Missis- 
sippi River.  The  original  Directors  for  Mason  County  were :  Judge  Lyman 
Lacy  and  James  H.  Hole,  of  Havana.  The  county  of  Mason  took  $100,000 
stock  in  the  road;  Havana,  $40,000;  Pennsylvania,  $10,000,  and  Mason  City, 
$25,000.  The  work  of  construction  began  in  the  year  1872  and  the  road  was 
completed,  in  first-class  manner,  to  Havana  in  1873.  This  corporation  traveled 
the  usual  road  to  bankruptcy,  and,  after  remaining  two  or  three  years  in  the 
hands  of  a  receiver,  was  sold  in  1879  to  a  new  company,  who  are,  at  this  date, 
preparing  to  complete  "the  bridge  at  Havana  and  to  extend  the  road  to  the 
Mississippi.  The  road  is  an  important  one  to  Mason  County,  extending  the 
entire  length  of  the  county  from  east  to  west,  passing  through  Mason  City, 
Teheran,  Easton,  Biggs,  Poplar  City,  to  Havana — twenty-six  miles — crossing 
the  C.  &  A.  at  Mason  City  and  the  S.  &  N.-W.  and  the  P.,  P.  &  J.  at  Havana. 
Jack  Caldwell  is  a  well-known  and  popular  conductor  on  the  road,  and  it  has 
generally  been  well  managed. 

HAVANA,    RANTOUL    A    EASTERN    NARROW-GAUGE    RAILROAD. 

This  line  of  narrow  gauge  road  was  projected  in  the  year  1873.  It  has  been 
built  and  is  now  in  successful  operation  from  the  east  line  of  .the  State  to  Leroy, 
in  McLean  County,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles.  A  company  has  recently  been 
organized  in  Mason  County  to  build  the  road  from  Havana  to  San  Jose,  on 
the  east  line  of  the  county,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  stock  has  been  taken 
in  order  to  secure  this  section  of  the  road.  Francis  Low  is  President  of  the 


454  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Company  ;  W.  H.  Campbell,  Vice  President ;    E.  A.  Wallace,   Secretary,  and 
Bentley  Buxton,  Treasurer. 

This  road  is  a  part  of  a  narrow-gauge  line  designed  to  extend  east  to  Toledo, 
Ohio,  and  west  through  Iowa.  So  far  as  built,  it  has  proved  very  popular  and 
has  made  money  for  the  stockholders.  It  is  three-feet  gauge. 


FULTON    COUNTY  HARROW-GAUGE    RAILROAD. 


This  road  is  designed  as  an  extension  of  the  Havana  &  Rantoul  road, 
through  Fulton  County.  It  is  already  graded  and  ready  for  the  ties  from  Lew- 
istown  to  Havana,  and  will  be  in  operation  within  the  year  1879. 


VERMONT    &    HAVANA    NARROW-GAUGE    ROAD. 


This  is  a  projected  road,  intended  to  connect  with  the  narrow-gauge  road  at 
Havana,  and  will  be  built  as  soon  as  an  eastern  outlet  is  secured. 

The  number  of  miles  of  railroad  already  built  in  Mason  County  is  eighty- 
seven,  and  the  assessed  value  of  the  same  is  $317,965.  The  cost  of  building 
these  roads  was  something  over  $1,000,000.  The  county  debt  incurred  in  the 
building  of  these  roads  is  $153,500,  and  the  value  of  the  property  in  the  county 
taxed  to  pay  interest  on  this  debt  is  $5,504,263.  The  township  railroad  debts 
are:  Havana,  $50,000 ;  Mason  City,  $25,000  ;  Pennsylvania,  $10,000,  and 
Sherman,  $7,000,  making  the  total  railroad  debt  of  the  county  and  townships, 
$245,500. 

The  total  number  of  miles  of  railroad  in  the  State  of  Illinois  built  previous 
to  the  present  year  is:  Of  main  line,  6,594 ;  side  track,  985,  making  a  total  of 
railroad  track  in  the  State,  7,579,  the  assessed  value  of  which  for  1878  (includ- 
ing all  railroad  property)  was  $40,641,865.  The  total  amount  of  railroad 
indebtedness  of  all  the  counties,  townships,  cities  and  towns  within  the  State  on 
the  30th  of  September,  1878,  was  $13,782,168.  The  total  value  of  the  tax- 
able property  of  the  State  at  the  same  date  was  assessed  at  $857,235,762. 

NEWSPAPERS  IN  MASON  COUNTY. 

The  newspaper  has  become  one  of  the  most  potent  institutions  in  modern 
civilized  communities.  The  daily  paper  gives  to  the  reader  each  morning  all 
the  important  events  occurring  in  every  enlightened  country  on  the  globe,  which 
are  eagerly  devoured  and  digested  with  the  matutinal  meal ;  and  the  reading 
person  would  about  as  soon  dispense  with  the  one  as  the  other. 

The  first  newspaper  printed  in  Mason  County  was  in  1&51 — the  Mason 
County  Herald — edited  and  published  by  McKenzie  &  Roberts,  in  the  town  of 
Havana.  In  1853,  0.  H.  Wright  became  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  this 
paper.  He  was  succeeded  by  E.  L.  Grubb,  who  sold  out  to  Stout  &  Weeden  in 
1853.  W.  W.  Stout  afterward  became  the  sole  editor  and  proprietor,  and, 
under  his  management,  the  Herald  became  a  well-conducted  and  influential 
paper. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  455 

We  can  only  give  the  names  of  the  papers  and  their  proprietors  that  have 
followed  each  other  in  pretty  rapid  succession,  without  giving  the  dates  or  dura- 
tion of  their  several  existences  :  The  Squatter  Sovereign,  in  Havana,  by  James 
M.  Davidson,  in  1859-61 ;  the  Havana  Post,  by  John  B.  Wright,  1861 ;  the 
Battle  Axe,  in  Havana,  by  Robert  L.  Durdy,  1862  ;  the  Volunteer,  in  Havana, 
by  W.  W.  Stout ;  the  True  Unionist,  in  Havana,  by  S.  Wheaden  ;  the  Havana 
Gazette,  by  R.  L.  Durdy ;  the  Havana  Ledger,  by  William  Humphreyvilie ; 
the  Journal,  by  J.  J.  Knapp.  This  paper  was  removed  from  Havana  to  Mason 
City  and  sold  to  W.  S.  Walker,  who  ran  it  awhile  and  sold  out  to  Wells  Cory. 
Mr.  Cory  has  conducted  the  Mason  City  Journal  for  nine  years  with  marked 
ability.  The  True  Unionist  and  the  Havana  Ledger  were  consolidated  into  the 
Democratic  Clarion,  and,  after  being  conducted  for  a  time  by  Wheaden  &  Hum- 
phreyvilie, passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Wheaden,  who  ran  it,  with  his  son,  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  sold  out  to  J.  C.  Warnock,  of  Mason  City,  on  the  10th 
of  September,  1877,  when  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Mason  County  Demo- 
crat. On  the  2d  of  August,  1878,  Mr.  Warnock  sold  out  to  Messrs.  Mounts 
&  Murdock,  who  continue  the  paper  in  a  way  that  indicates  enterprise  and  ability. 

The  Havana  Gazette,  by  D.  G.  Swan,  is  one  of  the  defunct  papers. 

The  Bath  Journal  was  started  into  existence  in  the  town  of  Bath  by  W.  W. 
Stout  in  1860,  and  was  afterward  sold  out  to  Stafford  &  Servos.  It  ended  its. 
career  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 

The  Mason  City  Times,  by  Haughey  &  Co.,  was  the  first  paper  started  in 
that  place.  The  first  issue  was  dated  December  25,  1866. 

The  Mason  City  News,  by  Haughey  &  Walker  had  a  short  career. 

The  Democratic  Bugle,  a  campaign  paper,  by  R.  L.  Durdy,  gave  a  few 
blasts  in  the  campaign  of  1876,  and  then  blowed  out. 

The  Independent,  by  Haughey  &  J.  C.  Warnock,  is  a  well  conducted  paper 
in  Mason  City  at  this  time. 

'  The  Mason  County  Republican,  published  in  Havana  by  C.  B.  Ketchum 
and  edited  by  F.  &  C.  B.  Ketchum,  has  been  in  operation  for  seven  years — a 
long  life  for  a  Havana  newspaper— and,  therefore,  there  has  been  merit  in  it.. 


COUNTY 

HISTORY  AND  RECORD 


inf.  

€ol 

kid  

killed" 

Oapt  

.....Captain. 

m.  o  

prisr  

re-e  

captured. 

Regt  

consolidation. 

<Jisab  

Sergt  

died  

discharged. 

trans  

wd  

wounded. 

WAR  RECORD. 

The  war  record  of  Illinois  is  one  to  be  proud 
of  by  all  the  sons  of  Mars.  In  1832-33,  when 
men  were  not  very  plenty  in  Illinois,  Gov. 
Reynolds  called  for  volunteers  to  march  against 
the  great  Indian  warrior,  Black  Hawk,  and 
they  went  forward,  conquered  and  vanquished 
the  savage  foe  and  drove  him  beyond  the  Mis- 
sissippi. In  1846,  when  the  war  with  Mexico 
was  declared,  8,370  Illinoisans  offered  their 
services  to  their  country,  whereas  but  3,720 
could  be  accepted  under  the  call.  How  those 
volunteers  acquitted  themselves  in  this  war, 
the  deathless  memories  of  Baker,  Bissel,  Har- 
bin, Shields,  and  hundreds  of  other  brave 
officers  and  men  will  tell. 

In  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  Illinois  put  into 
her  own  regiments  2(>6,000  men,  and  enough 
of  her  sons  went  from  other  States  to  swell 
the  roll  to  290,000,  far  exceeding  the  total  of 
all  the  soldiers  who  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war  that  achieved  our  independence. 
The  total  period  of  service  of  these  men 
was  600,000  years.  The  laws  of  Congress 
called  for  the  able-bodied  men  between  the 
ages  of  twenty  and  forty-five,  but  the  Illi- 
noisans went  in  with  their  boys  of  eighteen 
and  men  of  fifty  and  upward.  The  enroll- 
ment was  excessive  and  the  quota  greater  than 
in  any  other  State.  When  Mr.  Lincoln's 
attention  was  called  to  this  injustice,  he  said, 
••the  country  needs  the  sacrifice  and  we  must 
put  the  whip  on  the  free  horse."  But  that 
was  not  necessary  for  enough  were  willing  to 
go  without  the  use  of  the  whip.  With  one- 
hirteenth  of  the  population  of  the  loyal  States, 


Illinois  furnished  one-tenth  of  all  the  soldiers 
that  served  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and 
gave  to  the  country,  above  all  calls,  73,000 
years  of  service.  The  mothers  and  daughters 
went  into  the  fields,  raised  and  harvested  the 
crops,  and  the  fathers  and  sons  went  into  the 
battlefields  to  subdue  the  rebellious  land  and 
to  reap  in  the  harvest  of  death  and  deathless 
fame.  In  Sherman's  march  from  Atlanta  to 
the  sea,  there  were  forty-five  Illinois  regiments 
of  infantry,  three  companies  of  artillery  and 
one  regiment  of  cavalry.  Knowing  these  men 
as  he  did,  Mr.  Lincoln  replied  to  the  fears  and 
apprehensions  as  to  the  defeat  of  this  army  by 
saying,  "It  is  impossible,  there  is  a  mighty 
sight  of  fight  in  a  100,000  Western  men." 
Illinois  soldiers  raised  the  first  Union  flag  over 
the  city  of  Richmond,  and  brought  home  with 
them  300  battle-flags  "all  tattered  and  torn." 
She  had  the  best  War  Governor  of  all  the 
States,  in  the  person  of  Gov.  Yates.  She 
furnished  the  greatest  and  best  of  all  the 
Presidents  during  these  perilous  times,  and 
she  had  the  yet  prouder  distinction  of  furnish- 
ing the  greatest  military  hero  that  the  world 
has  yet  produced. 

MASON  COUNTY, 

though  producing  no  renowned  warriors,  has 
furnished  her  full  quota  of  soldiers,  and  is 
entitled  to  her  full  share  of  the  glory  of  the 
State.  Within  her  borders  were  men  who 
were  rank  Copperheads,  opposed  to  the  war, 
and  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  but  never- 
theless the  county  was  far  ahead  of  all  calls 


HAVANA 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


459 


for  men,  and  furnished  more  than  her  share 
of  the  290,000  soldiers  belonging  to  the  State. 
Of  the  Sons  of  Liberty — a  secret  organization 
having  for  its  object  the  release  of  rebel  pris- 
oners, burning  Northern  cities,  and  the  defeat 
of  the  Union  armies — Mason  County  had  her 
share,  small  though  it  be.  Their  names  are 
known,  but,  for  the  good  reputation  of  the 
county,  the  sooner  they  are  forgotten  the  bet- 
ter, and  we  shall  not,  therefore,  mar  this  record 
with  them. 

The  population  of  Mason  County,  in  I860, 
was  10,9*29,  and  the  county  record  of  enroll- 
ment shows,  for  the  years  1861,  681  names; 
1862,  1,869  names;  1863,  1,529  names;  1864, 
1,69-5  names;  1865,  1,822  names. 

The  quota  of  Mason  County  was,  for  1861, 
306;  1862,  210;  1863,  344;  1864,  265;  mak- 
ing the  total  quotas  to  January  1,  1865,  1,125  ; 
total  credits  to  same  date,  1,514;  excess  of 
volunteers  over  all  calls,  389. 

The  enrollment  for  1861  and  1862  is  taken 
from  the  county  record.  The  remaining  items 
are  taken  from  the  records  of  the  Adjutant 
General  of  the  State. 

The  county  record  shows  the  number  of  sol- 
diers furnished  by  the  several  townships  in 
Mason  County  to  be:  Havana,  398;  Bath, 
350 ;  Lynchburg,  73 ;  Crane  Creek,  61  ;  Salt 
Creek,  59 ;  Mason  City,  108  ;  Pennsylvania,  21 ; 
Forest  City,  46;  Quiver,  75;  Manito,  119; 
Allen's  Grove,  60;  total,  1,370.  This  record 
is  evidently  very  imperfect,  for  the  reason  that 
the  list  of  soldiers  whose  names  are  given 
shows  a  total  of  1,549 — 293  cavalry,  and  1,256 
infantry.  The  records  in  the  State  and  in  the 
county  are  very  unsatisfactory,  and  the  best 
evidence  of  the  facts  is  to  give  the  names  of 
the  officers  and  men,  which  are  as  correctly 
given  as  we  have  the  means  of  making  them. 


FIRST  CAVALRY  REGIMENT. 

Lieut.  James  M.  Buggies,  Bath,  comd.  Quartermaster  of 
the  Regiment  June  17, 1861 ;  trans,  by  prom,  to  Major 
of  Third  Cavalry  Sept.  11, 1861. 


SECOND  CAVALRY  REGIMENT. 

Maj.  Hugh  Fullerton,  Havana,  comd.  Aug.  30, 1869 ;  resd. 
NOT.  19, 1863. 

Company  B. 

Blakely,  Wm.  L.,  Mason  City,  e.  March  14, 1861,  Saddler ; 

trans,  to  Co.  D,  as  consolidated. 
Martinie,  Harvey,  Salt  Creek,  e.  March  31, 1864 ;  trans,  to 

Co.  D,  as  consolidated. 
Wolf,  Washington,  Salt  Creek,  e.  March  31,  1864 ;  trans. 

to  Co.  D,  as  consolidated. 

Company  C. 

Company  C  was  organized  at  Havana  July 
28,  1861,  by  Capt.  Hugh  Fullerton,  and 
ordered  to  Camp  Butler.  October  4,  went  to 
Cairo ;  October  10,  to  Caledonia,  where  the 
command  remained  until  March  30,  1862, 
when  it  moved  to  Hickmau,  Ky.,  and  there 
remained  until  June  7,  when  the  regiment 


moved   on   to   Union   City,    Tenn.     June   10, 
went  on  picket  duty  on  the  Obion  River ;  July 

4,  returned  to  Union  City;  August  16,  went  in 
pursuit  of  the  rebel  Capt.  Beauford,  with  200 
men.  and  chased  him  thirty  miles  to  Merry- 
weather's  Ferry,  when  the  enemy  was  re-en- 
forced, and  was  fought  for  half  an   hour,  kill- 
ing  forty   men,    capturing   sixteen   prisoners 
and  completely  routing  him.     We  lost  Lieuts. 
Terry  and  Goodheart,  one  man  killed  and  ten 
wounded.     August   20,   left  Union    City,  and 
joined   Lieut.  Col.  »"Hogg  at   Dyersburg,   and, 
after  an  eight  days'  scout,  went  into  camp  at 
Jackson,  Tenn.     September  8.  went  in  pursuit 
of  rebel    Gen.    Armstrong;    September   9,   to 
Bolivar ;  September  27,  to  La  Grange  ;  October 

5,  escorted  Gen.  Hurlbut  to  Hatchee   River ; 
was  in  the  action  at  Matamora,  and  was  highly 
complimented  by  the  General  for  good  behavior 
in   battle.     October    19,  our   battalion    had  a 
skirmish  with  the  Hay  wood  Rangers,  at  Wood- 
ville,  and  captured  forty-five  of  them,  and    in 
four  days,  returned  to  camp  with  sixty  prison- 
ers and  one  hundred  captured  horses.     Nov- 
ember 4,  went  to  La  Grange,  drove  the  enemy's 
pickets  out.  and  occupied  the  place  ;  November 
15,  with  other  cavalry,  reconnoitered  toward 
Holly  Springs  ;  met  the  rebel  Gen   Jackson  at 
Lamar,  Miss.;  charged  on  his  columns,  killing 
18,  wounding  60,  and  capturing  130.     Novem- 
ber 30,  advanced  on   Holly  Springs,  the  bat- 
talion taking  the  advance  of  Gen.  Grant's  army 
to  Oxford,  from  whence  it  returned   to  Holly 
Springs,   and  was  attacked,   December  20,  by 
rebel  Gen.  Van  Dorn  with  6,000  men,  fighting 
him  from  6  to  11  A.  M.,  when  our  ammunition 
was  exhausted,  and  we  fell  back  to  Coldwater 
Station,    losing   7   killed,   and    43    wounded. 
December  23,  went  in  pursuit  of  Van  Dorn, 
harassing  his  rear   until   the  29th,   when  we 
returned.     December   30,    went   to    Memphis 
and  remained  on  duty  until  June  27,  1863, 
when  we  reported  to  Maj.  Larrison;  July  29, 
went  to  Fort  Pillow  ;  August  1,  went  on  scout 
to  Denmark  ;  met  rebel  Col.  Grier ;  charged  on 
him  and  routed  his  command,  and  returned 
August  10  ;  August  19,  went  scouting,  and,  on 
the   27th  of  September,  went  to  Union  City, 
and  were  continually  scouting  until  the  19th  of 
November,  when  we  went  in  pursuit  of  rebel 
Maj.  Sol  Street;  on  the  20th,  caught  up  with 
him   at   Merry  weather's  Ferry  ;  charged  him, 
killing  11,  capturing  40  prisoners,  60  horses 
and  60  stand  of  arms.     December  4,  went  on 
duty  at  Troy,  Tenn.;   December  9,  went  to  No. 
14  Bend,  Mississippi  River,  and,  on  the  llth, 
killed  2,  captured  20  men,  35  horses  and  35 
stand  of  arms,    from    Sol    Steel's    command; 
December  23,  went  on  expedition  under  Gen. 
A.  J.  Smith  to  Jackson,  after  rebel  Gen.  For- 
rest;  gone  17  days.     January  22,  1864,  went 
on  cavalry  expedition  with  Col.  Warring,  and 
arrived   at   Collierville    February  9.     On    the 
llth,  went  on  expedition  into  Mississippi  with 
Gen.  W.   S.  Smith,  as   far   as    Aberdeen   and 
West  Point.     February  20,  returned  to  Mem- 
phis, fighting  and  skirmishing  with   Forrest's 


460 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


advance  ;  and,  on  the  22d,  a  general  engage- 
ment at  Guy's  Farm,  Miss.,  and,  after  sixty 
miles  of  fighting  and  marching,  arrived  at 
Camp  Grierson,  the  brigade  losing  180  men, 
killed  and  wounded.  February  28,  1864,  had 
brought  out  of  Mississippi  2,500  negroes,  from 
3,000  to  4,000  horses  and  mules,  and  100  pris- 
oners from  the  enemy.  April  1,  ordered  to 
join  the  regiment  at  New  Orleans,  and,  on  the 
16th,  reached  Baton  Rouge,  and  joined  the 
regiment,  which  was  stationed  there. 

In  November,  1864,  the  regiment,  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  B.  F.  Marsh,  of  Warsaw,  111., 
left  Baton  Rouge  and  marched  to  Pascagoula, 
La.,  and  there  remained  until  January,  1865, 
when  it  went  to  New  Orleans,  and,  in  Febru- 
ary, embarked  on  transports  for  Pensacola, 
Fla.  In  the  march  from  Fort  Blakely  to  Clai- 
borne.  the  regiment  met  a  rebel  regiment  of 
cavalry  and  took  them  in.  which  was  the  last 
engagement  in  which  the  regiment  participated. 
From  Claiborne,  the  regiment  marched  to 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  and  from  there  to  Eufaula, 
where  the  retreating  and  disbanded  army  of 
Gen.  Lee  was  met  on  their  way  to  their  homes. 
From  Eufaula,  the  regiment  marched  via  Tus- 
caloosa.  Columbus  and  Jackson  to  Vicksburg. 
From  Vicksburg,  the  regiment  marched  to 
Shreveport,  La.,  and  from  thence  across  the 
State  of  Texas  to  San  Antonio,  and  from 
there  to  Eagle  Pass,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  when 
the  regiment  was  mustered  out  in  December, 

1865,  and   reached  their   homes  in  January, 

1866.  

Capt.  Hugh   Fullerton,  Havana,   comd.  Aug.  24,  1861; 

prmtd.  Major. 
Capt.   Samuel  Whitaker.  Havana,  comd.  Oct.  11,1862; 

trans,  to  Co.  B,  as  consolidated. 
First  Lieut.  Calvin    Terry,  Havana,  comd.  Aug.  24, 1861 ; 

kid.  at  Union  City,  Aug.  15,  1862. 
First  Lieut.  John  Fallis,  Havana,  comd.  Aug.  17,  '62;  died 

Oct.  23, 1862. 
First  Lieut.  George  Moore,  Havana,  comd.  Oct.  23, 1862; 

m.  o.  Nov.  10, 1864. 

Second  Lieut.  David  Solenberger,  Havana,  comd.  Aug.  24, 
•  1861 ;  promoted. 
Second  Lieut.  John  Goodheart,  Havana,  comd.  Dec.  30, 

1861 ;  kid.  in  battle  Aug.  15, 1862. 
Second    Lieut.    George  Moore,  Havana,  comd.  Aug.  17, 

1862;  promoted. 
Second  Lieut.  Peter  Holt,  Havana,  comd.  Oct.  23, 1862 ; 

trans,  to  Co.  B,  consolidated. 
First  Sergt.  John    Goodheart,    Havana,  Aug.  13,  1861 ; 

promoted  Second  Lieut. 
Q.  M.  Sergt.  John  Fallis,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  promtd. 

First  Lieut. 
Sergt.  Philip  D.  Baxter,  Havana,  Aug.  12,1861 ;  disd.  Dec. 

29, 1861,  for  disab. 
Sergt.    Elnathan  J.   Tinker,     Havana,    Aug.  12,    1861; 

disd.  Nov.  1, 1861,  as  Farrier. 
Sergt.  George  Moore,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  prmtd.  to 

Second  Lieut. 
Corp.  John  E.  Neikirk, Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  m.o.  Aug. 

11,  1864. 
Corp.  Clark  S.  Chatfield,  Bath,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug. 

10, 18C4,  as  private. 
Corp.  John  J.  Thomas,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug. 

11, 1864. 

Corp.  John  S.  Brooks,  Havana.  Aug.  12, 1861. 
Corp.  Orrin  Breeden,  Bath,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  disd.  Oct.  15, 

1861,  for  disability. 
Corp.  Kuloff  S.  Eakin,  Manito,  Aug.  12,  1861;  disd.  Aug. 

20,  186->,  as  Sergeant. 
Bugler  John  M.  Shook,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Oct. 

11,  1804. 
Bugler  Thomas  A.  Ringland,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  m.  o. 

Oct.  11, 1864,  as  private. 


Farrier  John   H.  West,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  prmtd. 

'Vet.  Surgeon. 
Anderson,  W.  J.,  Havana,  Aug.  12,   1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug  11 

1864. 
Aubere,  Lewis,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  prmtd.  First  Sergt. 

and  then  to  Lieut,  and  Regimental  Conisy. 
Bohlier,  Caudlip,  Havana,  Aug.  12,18(51;  m.  o.  Aug.  11. 

1864. 

Bond,  John  B.,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  11,  '64. 
Barnell,  Livingston,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  re-c.  as  vet. 
Broderick,  David  S.,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  disd.  Oct.  1, 

1862,  for  disability. 
Barker,  Samuel  G.  B.,  Bath,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  m.o.  Aug.  11. 

1864. 
Borndollar,  John  L.,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug. 

11, 1864,  as  Farrier. 

Cotterman,  Adam,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Connell,  John,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  m.o.  Aug.  11,  '64. 
Davis,  John  T.,  Bath,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  died  at  Memphis, 

Feb.  22,  1864. 

Dacy,  James,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  11, 1864. 
Eaton,  Robert.  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  11,  '64. 
Holt,  Peter,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  prmtd.  Q.  M.  Sergt. 

and  then  Second  Lieut. 
Hill,  Win.  D.,  Path,  Aug.  12, 1861. 
Hudson,  John  D.,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  disd.  April  13, 

1862,  for  disability. 

Hibbard,  Edwin  S.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  12, 1861. 
Hunt,  Edgar  Z.,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861;  prmtd.  to  Reg. 

Q.  M.  Sergt. 
Knappel,  Henry,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  19, 

1864. 
Littell,  Geo.  W.  C.,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  11, 

1864. 

Litler,  Wm.,  Havana,  Aug.  12,1861 ;  deserted  June  20, 1863. 
Louden,  \Vm.,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861. 
Meeker,  Abner,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  18G1 ;    m.  o.  Aug. 

11,  18(54. 

Moseley,  Robert  J.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Maxwell,  Volney  H.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   m.  o. 

Aug.  11, 1864,  as  Sergt. 
Otis,  Benj.  H.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861;    m.  o.  Aug.  22, 

1864. 
O'Rorke,  John  A.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;   m.  o.  Aug.  11, 

1864,  as  Corp. 
Phelps,  Daniel  H.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861;    m.  o.  Aug. 

11,  1864. 
Philbrick,  John,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  19.,  1861;   disd.  Oct.  20, 

1862,  as  Sergt. 

Rolle,  William,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Stone,  Jacob  F.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   kid.  in  Obion 

County,  Tenn..  Aug.  16, 1862. 
Snowden,  Thomas  B.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;    disd.  July 

3,  1862. 
Stall,  Christian,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  20, 

1864. 
Sharp,  Peter  A.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;    disd.  Oct.  20, 

1862. 

Swassing,  Peter,  Havana;  e.  Aug.  12,  1861. 
Stewart,  Herman,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  m.o.  Aug.  11, 

1864,  as  Sergt. 

Sellic,  Henry,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  disd.  July  3, 1862. 
Stover,  Henry,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Snyder,  John  E.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;   m.  o.  Aug. 

11,  1864,  as  Sergt. 

Stevens,  Edwin,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861. 
Servoss,  S.  M.  B.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  disd.  Nov. 

22,  1861,  for  disability. 

Yauatiken,  Mannis,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Vanorman,  O.  W.,  Forest  City,  e.  Aug.  J2,  1861;   disd. 

June  1,  1862. 

Walker,  Marcellus,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Wall,  William,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861;  m.  o.  Aug. 

11,  18C4. 

Wilkinson,  Geo.  F.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861. 
Wallace,  William  A.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;   disd.  Oct. 

8,  1861. 
Williams,  David,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;    m.  o.  Aug. 

11,  1864. 
Whitaker,  Samuel,  Havana,   e.  Aug.  12,   1861 ;    prmtd. 

Sergt.,  then  Capt. 

VETERANS. 

Ecker,  D.  C.,  Havana,  e.  Jan.  16,  1864;   trans,  to  Co.  B, 

as  consolidated. 
Myers,  Wm.  D.,  Havana,  Jan.  16, 1864 ;  trans,  to  Co.  A,  as 

consolidated. 
Myers,  George,  Havana,  Jan.  16, 1864;  trans,  to  Co.  B,  as 

consolidated. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


461 


North,  Samuel  F.,  Havana,  Jan.  16, 1864 ;  trans,  to  Co.  B, 

as  consolidated. 
Reeves,  Francis  M.,  Havana,  Feb.  29, 1864;  died  at  Baton 

Rouge  Nov.  27,  1864. 

RECRUITS. 

Bastion.  Florint,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 18G2;  disd.  June  28, 

1864,  for  disability. 
Binginhorst,  J.  H.,  Havana,  Aug.  14,  1862 ;   m.  o.  May 

29,  1865. 
Duvier,  Louia,  Havana,  Aug.  13, 1862 ;  died  at  La  Grange, 

Tenn.,  Jan.  14,  1863. 
Ellsworth,  Wm.  C.,  Forest  City,  Jan.  24,  1864;   trans,  to 

Co.  B,  as  consolidated. 
Foskett,'Wm.  B. 
Frogg,  Joel,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1862 ;   disd.  Aug.,  1863,  for 

disability. 
Howell,  Chester,  Havana,  April  21,  1864;   trans,  to  Co. 

B,  as  consolidated. 
Johnson,  Wm.,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1862;    m.  o.  June  11, 

1865. 
Martin,  Samuel  F.,  Havana,  Feb.  24,  1864;    trans,  to  Co. 

B,  as  consolidated. 
Neikirk,  George,  Havana,  July  1, 1861 ;    m.  o.  Aug.  11, 

18G4,  as  Sergt. 
Ryan,  Edward,  Havana,  Jan.  1,  1864;    trans,  to  Co.  B,  as 

consolidated. 
Shroder,  John,  Havana,  Aug.  14,  1862;    m.  o.  June  11, 

1865. 
Tippey,  Willis  A.,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1862;   m.  o.  June 

11,  1865. 
Zappa,  Frank,  Havana,  Jan.  22, 1862;   m.  o.  Jan.  25,  '65. 

Company  H. 

VETERAN. 

Brewer,  Joseph  M.,  Havana,  Feb.  2, 1864;  trans,  to  Co.  E, 
as  consolidated. 

Company  M. 

Capt.  David  Solanbarger,  Havana,  comd.  Dec.  30, 1861 ; 

resd.  June  2,  1863;  trans,  from  Co.  C. 
Capt.  H.  P.  Crawford,  Havana,  comd.  June  2, 1863  ;  m.  o. 

June  24,  1865. 
First  Lieut.  Henry  P.  Crawford,   Havana,  comd.  Dec.  30, 

1861;  prmtd. 
First  Lieut.  Wm.  A.  Maltice,  Mason   Co.,  comd.  June  2, 

1863 ;  resd.  Slay  27, 1864. 
Second  Lieut.  Wm.  A.  Mattice,  Mason  Co.,  comd.  Dec.  30, 

1861;  prmtd. 
Second  Lieut.  William   Webb,    Havana,  comd.  June  2, 

1863. 
Shearer,  0.  H  ,  e.  Oct.  26,  1861,  and  served  as  Orderly 

Sergt.  for  eight  months,  and  was  trans,  by  promotion 

to  Capt.  Co.  A,  6th  Tenn.  Cav.  Oct.  3, 1862;    Oct.  16, 

1863,  prmtd.  to  Major;  Feb.  24, 1865,  prmtd.  to  Lieut. 

Col.,  and  July  6,  1865,  prmtd.  to  Col.  of  the  regiment. 
Anglemire,  Henry,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  3,  1861;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 

1865,  as  First  Sergt. 

Ashurst,  .lo-l i mi .  Havana,  e.  Aug.  18, 1862 ;  rect. 
Ash  ton,  Albert  K.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  14, 1862 ;  rect. 
Allman,  H.  P.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  18, 1862 ;  rect. 
Banks,  David  E.,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  6,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 1865. 
Bartholomew,  W.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  27,  1861 ;    disd.   May 

23, 1862,  disab. 

Bearden,  F.  M.,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  11, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 1865. 
Butler,  Lawrence,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  3,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 

1865, 
Bearden,  John  J.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862;  rect.;  trans. 

to  Co.  A. 
Baker,  Greenberry,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  1, 1862  ;  rect ;  trans. 

to  Co.  A. 
Bremley,  John,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1862;  recruit.;  m.  o. 

June  11,  1865. 
Brown,  Wm.,  Havana,  e.  A»g.  16, 1864;  rect.;  m.  o.  June 

11,  1865. 

Butler,  George,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  25, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 1865. 
Cain,  A.  W.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  20, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9. 1865. 
Couchman,  Wm  ,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  6,  1861  ;  disd.  for 

disab. 
Grossman,  John,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  10,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 

1865. 
Coggshall,  C.  G.,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  7, 1861 ;  disd.  June  1,  1862, 

fordisab. 
Cline,  Henry  J.,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  7,  1861 ;    prmtd.   Hospital 

Steward. 
Conklin,  G.  W.,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  3,  1861 ;    died  at  Memphis 

March  4, 1864,  wds. 


Curry,  R.  A.,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  19,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 1865. 
Darrel,  J.  M.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  2, 1861 ;  died  at  Bolivar, 

Tenn..  Dec.  3, 1862. 

Dickinson,  A.,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  20, 1861. 
Davis,  Wm.  G.,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  8,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 1865. 
Duffield,  Geo.  W.,  Havana,  e.  March  17, 1862,  rect.;  m.  o. 

March  16,  1865. 
Doyle,  Dennis,  Havana,  e.  Sept.  6,  1862,  rect. ;  m.  o.  Jane 

11,  1865. 
England,  Richard,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  S,  1861 ;    m.  o.  Jan.  9, 

1865. 
Ellis,  J.  W.,  Mason  Co.,  e.   March  20,  1862,  rect.;  Sergt.; 

died  at  Memphis  April  12,  1864. 
Farrell,  Ed.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  13, 1861 ;   deserted  Feb.  13, 

1863. 

Fisher,  Fred,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  3,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9,  1865. 
Furrer,  George,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  2,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 

1865. 

Flemining,  A.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  11,  1862,  rect. 
Gee,  Amos   C.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  8,   1861 ;    disd.  July  28, 

1862.  for  disab. 
Gee,  Oliver  J.,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  25,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9,   1865, 

as  Corp. 

Gibson,  Elias,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  8,  186f;  m.  o.  Jan,  9,  1865. 
Guy,   Wm.  L.,  Havana,  e.   Nov.  8,  1861  ;  died  at  Baton 

Rouge  May  20, 1804. 
Garret,  Jacob,  Havana,  e.  Jan.  30, 1862,  rect.;    disd.  May 

5,  1864. 

Hadlock,  Francis,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  3, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9,  '65. 
Hopkins,  Myron,  Bath,  e.  Oct.  25,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9,  '65. 
Howard,  F.  E.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  2,  1861 ;  died  April  18, 

1862. 
Ishmael,  R.  E.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Oct.  31, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 

1865. 
Jones,  Jeptha,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  6,  1861 ;  died  April  8,  '62, 

at  Paducah,  Ky. 
Jones,  Franklin  L.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  11,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan. 

9,  1865. 
Johnson,  James,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  18,  1862,  rect.;   m.  o. 

June  11, 1865,  as  Sergt. 
Johns,  M.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  14,  1862;  died  Holly  Springs 

Dec.  18,  1862. 
Johnson,  C.  L.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  21,  1861  ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 

1865,  as  Sergt. 
Ketcher,  J.,  Havana. 
Linewiber,  Martin,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  10,  1861;  m.  o.  Jan. 

9, 1865. 
Lispe,  Fred,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  3, 1861 ;  disd.  Oct.  17, 1862, 

for  disability. 
Lucas,   Thomas,   Mason  County,   e.  March  7,  1862,  rect.; 

m.  o.  Feb.  28, 1865,  as  First  Sergt. 

Malone,  Thos.  F.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  19, 1861 ;  died  at  Mem- 
phis May  31,  1864. 
Millison,  0.  G.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  29, 1861 ;  disd.  Aug.  24, 

1864,  for  disability. 

Millison,  J.  S.,  Havana,  Dec.  7, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9,  1865. 
McDonald,  Daniel,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  27, 1861. 
Mobley,  Thomas,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  11, 1861 ;  re-enlisted 

as  veteran. 
Musselman,  Joel,   Havana,  e.  Dec.  3, 1861 ;  disd.  Oct.  17, 

1862,  for  disability. 
Morgan,  James  H.,  Havana,  e.  March  17,  1862,   rect.;  m. 

o.  March  16,  1865. 
Mobley,  John   K.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  21,  1863,  rect.;  trans. 

to  Co.  A,  as  consolidated. 

McCoy,  A.,  Havana,  e.  Jan.  30, 1863,  rect.;  trans,  to  Co.  A. 
Micklam,  S.  A.  Bath,  e.  March  7,  1862 ;  rect.;  m.  o.  Feb. 

28',  1865. 

Milum,  Jackson,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  25, 1862,  rect. 
Neal,  Joseph,   Bath,  e.  Nov.  20, 1861;  disd.  Oct.  20, 18G2, 

for  disability. 
Owen,  S.  D.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  9,  1801;  disd.  0>  t.  17, 1862, 

for  disability. 
O'Neal,  Joseph,  Havana,  e.  March  24, 186:5,  rect.;  trans,  to 

Co.  A. 

O'Neal,  P.,  Havana,  e.  Jan.  11, 186 1,  rect.;  trans,  to  Co.  A. 
Owens,  S.  D.,  Havana,  e.  Feb.  26,  1863,  rect.;  trans,  to 

Co.  A. 

Parsley,  W.  R..  Havana,  e.  Nov.  29,  1861 ;  died  at  Padu- 
cah S  ^pt.  5, 1862. 
Pulling,  Thomas,   Havana,  e.  Dec.  4, 1861 ;  disd.  Oct.  17, 

1862,  for  disability. 

Pearce,  Geo.  T.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  9,  1863,  rect.;  Corp.;  ab- 
sent, sick,  at  m.  o.  of  regt. 
Ray,  John,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  14, 1861 ;  disd.  Aug.  28, 1862,  for 

disability. 

Robinson, Geo., Havana, e. Nov.  6,  1861  ;  m.o.  Jan.  9,1865. 
Ransom,  J.  A.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12,  1862 ;  died  at  Bolivar 

Nov.  5,  1862. 


462 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


Ray,  John,  Mason  County,  e.  Aug.  12, 1862,  rect.;  trans. 

to  Co.  A. 
Renshaw,  A.  M.,  Bath,  e.  March  22,  1862,  rect.;  m.  o. 

March  21,  1865,  as  Corp. 
Rine,  John,  Mason  Co.,  e.  April  2,  1862,  rect.;  m.  o.  April 

1,  1865. 

Roy,  Joseph,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  13, 1862,  rect. 
Sammis,  Warren,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  19,  1861 ;  disd.  Oct.  27 , 

1862,  for  disability. 
Stoley,  F.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  died  at  Paducah  Jan. 

31,  1862. 
Sizelove,  Jacob,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  9, 1861 ;  disd.  May  1, 18H2, 

for  disability. 
Sizelove.  N.,  Bath,  e.  Dec.   10,  1861;    died   in    Mason 

County  Aug.  5, 1864. 
Sizelove,  Wm.,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  11, 1861;  disd.  May  1, 1862, 

for  disability. 

Smith,  Andrew  J.,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  2, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9,  '65. 
Spinner,  Geo.  S.,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  19, 1861 ;  died  at  Paducah 

April  3, 1862. 

Sizelove,  J.,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  11, 1861 ;  deserted  Dec.  30,  '61. 
Sizelove,  0.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  23, 1861 ;  trans,  to  Co.  A. 
Somers,  Levi,  Bath,  e.  April  16,   1862,  rect.;  m.  o.  April 

15, 1865,  as  Bugler. 

Stull,  J.  W.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  23, 1861 ;  m.  o.  June  11,  '65. 
Tinckam,  Isaac,   Havana,  e.  Nov.  6, 1861 ;  disd.  Oct.  17, 

1862,  for  disability. 
Waggoner,  L.  C.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  15, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan. 

9,  1865. 
Walker,  Moses,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  19, 1861 ;  died  at  Baton 

Rouge  Oct.  15, 1864. 
Warner,  Wm.,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  28, 1861  ;  died  at  Paducah 

April  5, 1862. 
West,  Harper,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  6,  1861 ;  disd.  Oct.  16,  '62, 

for  blindness. 
Wallace,  John  W.,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  14,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Jan.  9, 

1865. 

Wallace,  J.  M.,  e.  Dec.  21,  1861 ;  trans,  to  Co.  A. 
Willson,  Isham,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  21, 1861;  m.  o.  June  11, '65. 
Williams,  Wm.  V.,  Havana,  e.  May  24, 1862 ;  m.  o.  Feb. 

28,  1865,  as  Sergt. 

Wilson,  John  W.,  Havana,  e.  Sept.  26, 1861. 
Weston,  Edwin,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  25, 1862,  rect. 

VETERANS   IN   COMPANY   M. 

Crawford,  J.  A.,  Mason  County,  e.  March  14, 1864 ;  trans. 

to  Co.  A. 
Mobley,  Thomas,  Mason  County,  e.  March  14, 1864 ;  m.  o. 

Juue  22, 1865. 

The  Second  Cavalry  vvas  consolidated  into 
six  companies,  after  having  their  numbers 
largely  depleted  by  the  vicissitudes  of  war.  In 
the  re-organization,  Companies  B  and  C  were 
united  in  Company  B,  and  Samuel  Whitaker, 
of  Havana,  was  made  Captain,  and  Peter  Holt, 
of  Havana,  was  made  Second  Lieutenant. 


THIRD  CAVALRY. 

The  Third  Regiment  of  Cavalry  was  organ- 
ized at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  by  Col.  £.  A.Carr, 
in  August,  1861.  The  regiment  moved  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  September  25.  October  1,  moved 
up  the  Missouri  River  to  Jefferson  City,  and 
thence  to  Warsaw,  arriving  on  the  llth  of 
October.  On  the  23d,  marched  to  Springfield, 
Mo.,  in  Col.  Carr's  Brigade,  Gen.  Asboth's 
Division.  On  the  2d  of  November,  Gen.  Hun- 
ter took  command  of  the  army,  superseding 
Gen.  Fremont,  who  had  been  in  command  one 
hundred  days.  November  13,  the  First  and 
Second  Battalions  moved,  with  the  army,  on 
Rolla,  Mo.  The  Third  Battalion,  in  command 
of  Maj.  Ruggles,  remained  with  Sigel's  Division, 
protecting  the  rear  of  the  retreating  army,  and 
was  the  last  to  leave  Springfield.  Arriving  at 
Kolla,  November  19,  the  regiment  remained 
until  the  29th  of  December,  when  it  moved  in 


the    advance    of    Gen.  Curtis'    army  for    the 
Southwest. 

Tarrying  a  short  time  in  Camp  Ruggles,  the 

i  regiment,  with  Carr's  Division,  arrived  at 
Marshfield  on  the  llth  of  February,  and  on  the 
13th  the  Third  Battalion  of  the  Third  Cavalry, 
in  command  of  Maj.  Ruggles,  fought  the  first 

j  engagement  and  won  the  first  victory  of  Cur- 
tis' campaign,  on  the  road  four  miles  north  of 

!  Springfield.  On  the  14th,  the  army  occupied 
Springfield,  Mo.  On  the  15th,  came  up  with 
Price's  retreating  army  at  Crane  Creek,  and 
captured  some  prisoners.  On  the  18th,  at 
Sugar  Creek,  the  Third  Battalion  participated 
in  a  cavalry  charge,  routing  the  enemy.  On 
the  20th,  the  Second  Battalion  marched  to 
Cross  Hollows,  Ark.,  where  the  army  remained 
until  the  5th  of  March,  when  it  fell  back  to 
Pea  Ridge.  On  the  6th,  the  First  and  Third 
Battalions  marched  from  Huntsville,  forty- 
eight  miles,  with  Col.  Vandever's  Brigade.  On 
the  7th,  the  First  and  -Third  Battalions,  in 
Dodge's  Brigade,  and  the  Second,  in  Vande- 
ver's, were  engaged  all  day  and  to  the  close  of 
the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  losing  10  killed  and 
40  wounded.  March  19,  moved  to  Keetsville, 
where  Col.  McCrellis  joined  the  regiment, 
and  went  on  duiy  with  Maj.  Hubbard.  April 
10,  the  regiment  arrived  at  Forsyth,  on  the 
29th,  at  West  Plains,  Mo.,  and,  on  the  3d  of 
May,  at  Batesville,  Ark.  On  the  14th,  moved 
to  Little  Red  River.  On  the  25th,  in  crossing 
White  River,  Capt.  McClellan  and  five  men 
were  drowned.  On  the  4th  of  June,  the  regi- 
ment fell  back  to  Fairview.  On  the  7th,  Capt. 
Sparks,  with  66  men,  was  surrounded  with  300 
of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  cut  his  way  out. 
losing  4  wounded  and  4  prisoners.  On  the 
llth,  returned  to  Batesville,  and  from  thence 
to  Jacksonport.  On  the  5th  of  July,  the  army 
moved  for  Helena,  where  the  Third  Cavalry 
arrived  and  went  into  camp  on  the  15th  of 
July,  1852,  and  there  remained  on  duty  in 
scouting  expeditions,  until  the  23d  of  Decem- 
ber, when  Companies  B,  C,  D,  H,  I  and  L,  in 
command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Ruggies,  embarked  for 
Vicksburg,  under  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman.  Com- 
panies E  and  G  were  on  duty  with  Gen.  Carr 
at  St.  Louis. 

The  regiment  did  good  service  at  the  battle 
of  Chickasaw  Bayou,  and  from  there  em- 
barked for  Arkansas  Post,  in  which  battle  it 
also  took  an  active  and  important  part,  and 
from  there  returned  to  Vicksburg.  In  the 
month  of  February,  on  account  of  high  water 
interfering  with  cavalry  operations,  Gen.  Grant 
ordered  six  companies  of  the  regiment  to 
return  to  Memphis,  where  they  remained, 
doing  duty  in  West  Tennessee,  Mississippi  and 
Kentucky,  until  the  21st  of  August.  1864,when 
a  large  portion  of  the  regiment  embarked  for 
their  homes  in  Illinois,  by  reason  of  the  expi- 
ration of  their  term  of  service.  The  remain- 
ing companies  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Port  Gibson,  Champion  Hills,  Black  River 
Bridge,  anfl  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  also 
in  the  Banks  campaign  in  Western  Louisiana. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


463 


The  veterans  remaining  were  consolidated  into 
a  battalion  of  six  companies,  under  Capt.  Car- 
nahan,  who  was  promoted  to  Lieutenant  Colonel 
on  the  24th  of  August.  In  May,  1865,  the 
battalion  returned  to  St.  Louis,  and  from  thence 
to  St.  Paul,  reporting  to  Gen.  Curtis.  On  the 
4th  of  July,  went  on  an  Indian  expedition 
through  Minnesota  and  Dakota  to  the  British 
lines,  and  returned  by  way  of  Devil's  Lake, 
Fort  Berthold,  to  Fort  Snelling,  on  the  1st 
of  October,  from  where  they  arrived  at 
Springfield,  111.,  on  the  13th  of  October,  1865, 
and  were  mustered  out  of  service. 

The  regiment  had  the  misfortune  of  many 
other  regiments,  to  be  under  the  baneful  influ- 
ence of  an  officer  educated  by  the  people  at 
West  Point,  whose  ambition  over-reached  and 
beclouded  his  patriotism  and  his  military  abil- 
ities.   

Major  James  M.  Ruggles,  comd.  Sept.  11, 1861 ;  prmtd.  to 
Lieut.  Col.  March  7,  1862;  prmtd.  to  Col.,  and  also 
to  Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  March  13, 1865,  for  faithful  and 
meritorious  services  during  the  war. 

Company  B. 

Cleghorn,  Geo.,   San  Jose,  e.  Aug.  13, 1861 ;    captured  by 

the  enemy,  Nov  5,  1863. 

Crites,  James,  San  Jose,  e.  Aug.  13, 1861 ;  re-e  a  veteran. 
Graham,  Samuel,  San  Jose,  e.  Aug.  13, 1861 ;  re-e.  a  vet. 
Kent,  Wm.,  San  Jose,  e.  Aug.  13,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Sept.  5,  '64. 
Killpatrick.  Joseph,  San  Jose,  e.  Aug.  13, 1861 ;    disd.  for 

disability,  July  23, 1862. 
Menkirk.'Nathan.  San  Jose,  e.  Aug.  13,  1861;   deserted 

Feb.  18,  1862. 
Perdue,  Geo.,  San  Jose,  e.  Aug.  13, 1861 ;   died  at  Bolla, 

Mo.,  June  4, 1862. 
Sinners,  Abner,  San  Jose,  e.  Aug.  13, 1861 ;    m.  o.  Sept.  5, 

1864,  as  Sergt. 
Teney,  James,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  13, 1861 ;  re-e.  a  veteran. 

Company  C. 

Fair,  Wm.,  Snicarte,  e.  Aug.  19, 1861 ;  re-e.  a  veteran. 

Company  H. 

Gilpatrick,  J.,  Snicarte,  e.  Sept.  24,  '61 ;   disd.  for  disab. 
Knight,  Thos.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  28, 1861;  re-e.  a  vet. 
McDerrit,  Edward,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  13, 1861 ;    accidentally 

kid.  June  26, 1862,  at  Batesville,  Ark. 
Steele,  Henry  C.,  Snicarte,  e.  Sept.  24,  1861 ;  re-e  a  vet. 
Waddle,  W.  B.,  Snicarte,  e.  Sept.  24, 1861 ;  re-e.  a  vet. 
Waggoner,  H.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  28,  1861 ;  re-e.  a  vet. 
Pearson,  M.,  Lynchburg,  e.  Jan.  21, 1864;  rect. 
Stubard,  T.  M.,  Salt  Creek,  e.  Feb.  22,  1865 ;  rect. 
Sanford,  H.  M.,  Manito,  e.  Feb.  27, 1865;  prmtd. 
Colbert,  Geo.  W.,  Manito.  e.  Feb.  27, 1865 ;  deserted. 
Colbert,  Edward,  Manitoj  e.  Feb.  27,  1865 ;  deserted. 

FOURTH  CAVALRY. 
Company  E. 

Second  Lieut.  George  N.  Leoni,  San  Jose,  e.  Feb.  25,  '63; 
prmtd.  to  Capt.  of  Mississippi  Rifles. 

Company  H. 

McCarty,  Ed.,  Mason  City,  e.  Sept.  5, 1861;  re-e. 
McGhee,  M.,  San  Jose,  e.  Oct.  10, 1861;  died  in  Tenn. 
Merkley,  H.  R.,  San  Jose,  e.  Oct.  21, 1861. 
Miller,  F.  A.,  San  Jose,  e.  Jan.  5,  1864. 
Omart,  Christ,  San  Jose,  e.  Nov.  10, 1861. 
Phinney,  M.  P.,  Mason  City,  e.  Sept.  20,  1861 ;  prmtd. 
Sweeney,  Henry,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  25,  1861;    accident- 
ally shot. 


SIXTH  CAVALRY. 
Company  C. 

Allen,  Hiram  C.,  Bath,  e.  March  1, 1864. 


TENTH  CAVALRY. 
Company  A. 

Fletcher,  J.  R.,  Mason  City,  e.  Jan.  3, 1864. 

Company  E. 

Bates,  B.  M.,  Mason  County,  e.  Sept.  20,  1861. 
Bates,  0.  D.,  Mason  County,  e.  Sept.  20, 1861. 
Tapp,  Lewis  G.,  Havana,  e.  Jan.  3, 1864. 

Company  H. 

Peck,  Thomas,  Havana,  e.  Sept.  23,  1861;  re-e. 

Pitman,  Samuel,  Mason  County,  e.  Sept.  23, '61;  deserted. 


ELEVENTH  CAVALRY. 
Company  B. 

Hayner,  Geo.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Oct.  19,  1861 ;  re-e. 

Company  C. 

Second  Lieut.  Moses  T.  Lewman,  San  Jose,  Dec.  20, 1861  ; 

prmtd.  to  First  Lieut.  Dec.  1,  1862 ;  resd.  July  15,  '63. 
Bowman,  Samuel,  San  Jose,  e.  Nov.  17,  1861 ;  disd.  for 

disability  July  8, 1862. 
Glead,  James,  San  Jose,  e.  Nov.  14,  1861 ;    m.  o.  Sept.  30, 

1865,  as  Sergt. 
Gregory,  Benj.,  Spring  Lake,  Sept.  28,  1864  ;    m.  o.  June 

9, 1865. 

Hill,  Samuel,  San  Jose,  e.  Nov.  15, 1861,  as  Corp. 
Hite,  J.  W.,  San  Jose,  e.  Feb.  20, 1864;  m.  o.  Sept.  30,  '65, 

as  Sergt. 
Hull,  J.  C.,  San  Jose,  e.  Nov.  22, 1861 ;  disd.  July  11, 1862, 

for  disability. 
Littlepage,  John,  San  Jose,  e.  Feb.  20,  1862 ;  m.  o.  Feb. 

20,  1865. 
Neil,  James,  San  Jose,  e.  Nov.  17, 1861. 

Company  F. 

Clary,  Dennis,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  7, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 

Lock,  Geo.,  Havana,  e.  Sept.  24,  1861 ;  re-e.  as  ve 

Samms,  John  D.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  20,  1863 ;  m.  o.  Sept. 
30,  1865. 

Senate,  Wm.,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  7, 1861,  Corp.;  disd.  June  30, 
1862,  for  disability. 

Westerfield,  F.,  Havana,  e.  Sept.  20, 1861 ;  disd.  Aug.  3, 
1862,  for  disability. 

Westerfield,  A.,  Jlason  Co.,  e.  Oct.  18, 1861 ;  died  at  Cor- 
inth June  30, 1862. 

Company  K. 

Maxwell,  A.,  Forest  City,  e.  March  3, 1865;  m.  o.  June 
2,  1865. 

Company  L. 

Capt.  James  Rote,  Havana,  Dec.  20, 1861 ;   died  Oct.  25 

1862. 
First  Lieut.  J.  H.Allen,  Havana,  Dec.  19,  1864;   m.  o. 

Sept.  30, 1865. 
Second  Lieut.  S.  D.  Poland,  Havana,  Oct.  28, 1862 ;    resd. 

Sept.  28, 1864. 
Allen,  John,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  20,  1861,  Corp. ;    re-e.  as 

vet. 
Bell,  John,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  27,  1861,  Sergt. ;   disd.  Nov. 

29, 1862,  for  disability. 
Bardie,  John,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  25,  1861,  vet;    m.  o.  Sept. 

30, 1865,  as  Sergt. 
Carson,  P.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  15,  1861 ;  trans,  to  Co.  C  Jan. 

15,  1864. 
Conover,  John  B.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  23, 1861 ;  died  at  Keo- 

kuk  July  18, 1862. 

Conover,  John,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  23,  1861. 
Conover,  George,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  23, 1861 ;  disd.  Nov.  24, 

1862,  for  disability. 
Conover,  Combeo,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  23,  1861 ;   died  at  8t 

Louis  July  9, 1862. 
Frazer,  Caleb   M.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  18,  1861 ;    trans,  to 

Co.  E. 
Fisher,  Wm.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  9, 1861:  drowned  in  Tenne- 

see  River  March  9,  1862. 

Garrison,  James,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  25, 1861 ;  died  at  Jack- 
son Nov.  6, 1862. 
DJeck,  Michael  J.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  6, 1861 ;    re-e.  as  vet. 


464 


HISTORY   OF   MASON    COUNTY. 


Kiner,  \Vm.  H.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  28, 1861,  vet. 
Leadman,  George,   Havana,  e.  Oct.  4,  1861 ;    trans,   to 

Co.  C. 

Mclntyre,  W.  W.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  20,  1861,  vet. 
Morris,  John,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  5,  1861,  vet. 
Peck,  Phtlo,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  28,  1861 ;  disd.  for  wds.  July 

25,  1862. 

Pelham,  Green,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  28, 1861,  vet. 

Poland,  S.  D.,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  7, 1861 ;  prmtd.  to  Second 
Lieut. 

Quiggle,  Robert,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  25,  1861 ;  died  at  Louis- 
ville June  9, 18G2. 

Rote,  Wm.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  7,  1861 ;  died  at  Bolivar  Aug. 
30,  1862. 

Stuart,  F.  M.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  19,  1861,  vet. 

Snider,  Amos,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  15,  1861;  disd.  Sept.  20,' 
,1862,  for  disability. 

Shihdleman,  A.,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  25, 1861;  re-e.  as  vet. 

Spellman,  W.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  15,  1861 ;  deserted  Aug. 
20,  1862. 

Wagner,  John  0.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  16,  1861;  m.  o.  Dec. 
19,  1864. 

Webb,  Samuel,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  25,  1861. 

RECRUITS. 
Adkins,  James,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  25,  1861 ;   deserted  May 

6,  1862. 

Ball,  Wm.  T.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  25, 1861,  vet. 
Bell,  Theodore,  Havana,  e.  May  1,  1862 ;  m.  o.  Sept.  30, 

1864,  as  Corp. 
Connan,  John  N.,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  23,  1861 ;  deserted  May 

26,  1862. 

Doering,  Charles,  Havana,  e.  Nov.  25, 1861,  vet. 
Diefenbacher,  J.,  Havana,  e.   Dec.  25,  1861 ;    m.  o.  Sept. 

30,  1864. 
Diinmit,  John  R.,  Topeka,  e.  April  19,  1864;   m.  o.  Sept. 

30,  1864. 
Halsel,  William  E.,  Havana,  e.  April  21,  1864;  m.  o.  Sept. 

30,  1864. 
Jackson,  \V.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  20,  1861 ;    died  at  Jackson 

Oct.  24,  1862. 

Maid,  Owen,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  25,  1861,  vet. 
Smith,  Wm.,  Havana,  e.  Feb.  23,  1862,  vet. 
Shundlemyer,  J.,  Havana,  e.  Dec,  20,  1861,  vet. 

VETERANS. 
Elliott,  John,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  23,  1863;   m.  o.  Sept.  30, 

1864,  as  Sergt. 
Ibeck,  Michael,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  23,  1863;  m.  o.  Sept.  30, 

1864,  as  Corp. 
Shundlemyer,  A.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  23,  1864 ;   m.  o.  Sept. 

30, 1864,  as  Sergt. 


FIRST  ARTILLERY. 
Battery  K. 

Nutt,  William  T.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  1, 1862 ;  prmtd. 

EIGHTH  INFANTRY 
Company  E. 

Cahill,  W.  H.,  Mason  City*  e.  March  8, 1864,  vet. 
Chesshcr,  J.  E.,  Mason  City,  e.  Dec.  8, 1863,  vet. 
Coleman,  A.,  San  Jose,  e.  Jan.  5,  1E64;  prmtd.  to  Capt. 
Collins,  P.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  8, 1863,  vet. 
Shaw,  R.  J.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  8,  1863,  vet. 
Walker,  Jesse,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  8,  1863,  vet. 

Company  G. 

Hunt,  W.  H.,  Mason  City,  e.  Nov.  24, 1861 . 
Lybarger,  S.,  Havana,  c.  May  13,  1862. 

ELEVENTH  INFANTRY. 
Company  G. 

Ginter,  W.  0.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861 ;  prmtd. 
Hardsoc'k,  W.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  1(1,  1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Hardsock,  E.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  10, 1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Johnson,  W.  S.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861 ;  prmtd. 
Kirby,  M.  F  ,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861 ;  disd.  18fi4. 
McCoslin,  J.  G.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861 ;  kid.  at  Fort 

Donelson. 
Wade,  W.  D.,  Maso     Co.,  e.  Aug.  10,  1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 


FOURTEENTH  INFANTRY. 
Company  B. 

Bingman,  J.,  Havana,  e.  Dec.  13, 1863. 

SEVENTEENTH  ^INFANTRY. 

The  Seventeenth  Regiment  of  Infantry  was 
mustered  into  service  at  Peoria,  111.,  on  the 
24th  of  May,  1861,  and  Leonard  F.  Ross  elected 
Colonel.  The  first  volunteers  from  Mason 
County  went  into  this  regiment,  and  were 
organized  into  Company  K.  The  regiment  left 
camp  for  Alton  on  the  17th  of  June.  Late  in 
July,  it  moved  to  St.  Charles,  Mo.,  and  the 
next  day  went  to  Warrenton,  Mo.,  and  re- 
mained two  weeks,  Company  A  being  detailed 
as  body-guard  to  Gen.  Pope,  with  headquar- 
ters at  St.  Charles.  The  regiment  went  from 
Warrenton  to  St.  Louis,  and  from  thence  to 
Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  where  it  remained  some 
weeks  on  garrison  duty,  and  proceeded  to 
Sulphur  Springs  Landing  ;  from  there,  by  way 
of  Pilot  Knob  and  Ironton,  to  Frederick- 
town,  Mo.,  in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Jeff.  Thompson, 
joining  Gen.  Prentice's  command  at  Jackson, 
Mo. 

From  Jackson,  Mo.,  the  regiment  went  over 
into  Kentucky  to  assist  in  the  construction  of 
Fort  Holt ;  from  there  to  Elliott's  Mills,  and 
back  to  Fort  Holt,  and  thence  back  to  Cape 
Girardeau,  Mo.,  in  pursuit  of  Jeff  Thompson's 
forces.  On  the  21st  of  October.  1861.  the  reg- 
iment met  Thompson's  forces  at  Fredericktown, 
Mo.,  where  the  regiment  had  its  first  battle 
with  the  enemy,  and  in  which  Lieut.  J.  Q.  A. 
Jones  fell  mortally  wounded ;  Daniel  Bell  was 
killed,  and  Sergt.  Jacob  Wheeler  severely 
wounded — all  of  Company  K.  Returning  to 
Cape  Girardeau,  the  regiment  went  on  provost 
duty  until  February,  1862,  when  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Fort  Henry,  and  from  there  to  Fort 
Donelson,  where  they  participated  in  the  Fort 
Donelson  battle,  and  suffered  heavy  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded.  The  regiment  went  to 
Metal  Landing,  embarked  for  Savannah,  Tenn., 
and  from  there  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  where 
it  was  assigned  to  the  First  Division  Army  of 
the  West  Tennessee,  under  command  of  Gen. 
John  A.  McClernand.  The  regiment  was  en- 
gaged  in  the  battle  of  the  6th  and  7th  of  April, 
in  which  Company  K  lost  7  killed  and  sev- 
eral wounded.  The  regiment  was  with  the 
advance  on  Corinth,  Purdy,  Bethel  and  Jack- 
son, Tenn.,  and,  on  the  17th  of  July,  went  to 
Bolivar  on  provost  guard  duty.  In  November, 
1862,  went  iu  the  expedition  to  luka,  find  was 
in  the  battle  of  Hatchie  ;  returned  to  Bolivar, 
and  from  there  to  La  Grange,  reporting  to 
Gen.  Logan  and  going  on  provost  duty. 
Marched  to  Holly  Springs  in  December; 
thence  to  Abbeyville,  and  thence  to  Oxford. 
After  the  capture  of  Holly  Springs,  was  as- 
signed to  Sixth  Division,  Seventeenth  Army 
Corps,  under  Gen.  McPherson,  and  proceeded 
by  way  of  Moscow  and  Collierville  to  Memphis, 
where  it  remained  on  duty  at  the  navy-yard 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


465 


until  the  16th  of  January,  1863,  and  then  em- 
barked for  Vicksburg ;  whence  the  regiment  re- 
turned to  Lake  Providence,  La.,  where  it 
remained  until  the  investment,  of  Vicksburg, 
when  it  returned  to  Milliken's  Bend  May  1 ; 
marched  to  Perkin's  Landing;  crossed  the 
Mississippi  River  below  Grand  Gulf,  and  ad- 
vanced, via  Raymond,  Champion  Hills,  Jack- 
son, Big  Black,  to  the  investment  of  Vicksburg. 
After  the  surrender  of  the  city,  the  regiment 
remained  on  duty,  making  incursions  in  Mis- 
sissipi  and  Louisiana,  until  ordered  back  to 
Springfield,  to  be  mustered  out  and  discharged 
on  the  4th  of  June,  1864. 

The  veterans  and  recruits  whose  term  of 
service  had  not  expired  at  the  time  of  muster- 
ing out  were  consolidated  with  the  Eighth  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  and  went  out  of  service  in  the 
spring  of  1866 


Company  C. 

Callaway,  Chancey,  Bath,  June  24,  1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Monroe,  T.,  Bath,  Juue  24,  1861. 

Company  O. 

Brown,  George,  e.  June  24,  1861 ;  m.  o. 

Company  H. 

Beebe,  George,  Havana,  e.  Slay  25, 1861;  disd. 
Hubhizer,  John,  Havana,  e.  May  25, 1861. 
Marlin,  E.  L.,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861. 
McDonald,  F.  J.,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  disd. 
Mason,  John,  Havana,  e.  May  28,  1861 ;  disd.  for  wds. 
Mills,  R.  R.,  Havana,  e.  June  25, 1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Swartwood,  C.,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  disd.  for  wds. 
Swa'twood,  S.,  Havana,  e.  May  25, 1861. 
Woodruff,  W.  D  ,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861;  disd.  for  wds. 

Company  K. 

Capt.  James  P.  Walker,  Mason  City,  April  23, 1861 ;  resd. 

April  28, 1862. 

Capt.  Jacob  Wheeler,  Havana,  April  27,  1862. 
First  Lieut.  John  Q.  A.  Jones,  Havana,  April  23,  1861 ; 

mortally  wounded  at  Fredericktown,  Mo.,  Oct  21,  and 

died  Oct.  21,  1861. 

First  Lieut.  Jacob  Wheeler,  Havana,  Oct  26, 1861. 
First  Lieut.  Henry  F.  Hole,  April  27, 1861 ;  resd.  Oct.  22, 

1862. 

First  Lieut.  James  H.  Mitchell,  Bath,  Oct.  22,  1862. 
Second  Lieut.  A.  J.  Bruner,  Bath,  April  23,  1861 ;  died  at 

Bath,  Nov.  20, 1861,  of  typhoid  fever. 
Second  Lieut.  A.  T.  Davis,  Bath,  Dec.  11,  1861  ;  mortally 

wd.  at  Pittsburg    Landing,  April  7,  1802,  and  died  at 

Bath  July  2,  1862. 

Second  Lieut.  James  H.  Mitchell,  Bath,  July  2..1862. 
Second  Lieut.  George  N.  Buck,  Havana,  Oct.  22,'  1862. 
Alvoid,  George,  Mason  City,  e.  May  25,1861 ;  disd.  March 

10,  1863,  of  chronic  sore  eyes. 

Botrgg,  James  W..  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Berry,  Charles  •  R ,  Bath,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  promoted  to 

Capt.  of  10th  La.  Vol.,  Miy  7,  1863. 
Barns,  George,  Bath,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  deserted  Aug.  10, 

1862. 
Bever,  Thomas   A,,  Mason   City,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  disd. 

Sept.  27, 1862,  of  rheumatism. 
Chatfleld.  Chas.  H.,  Bath,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  wounded  at 

Fort  Donelson,  and  disd.  Juue  13, 1862. 
Chessher,  J.  E.,  Mason  City,  e.  May  25, 1861  ;  re-e.  as  vet. 

Dec.  8,  1803. 
Chambers,  James  H.,  Mason  City,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  disd. 

for  disability  from  wds.  July  11, 1862. 
Cumber\vortl>.  John,  Mason  City,  e.  Slay  25,  1861, 
Cahill,  W.  H..  Mason  City,  e.  May  25.  1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 

March  8, 1864. 
Collins,  Patrick,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861  ;  re-e.  as  vet. 

Dec.  8,  1863. 

Doty,  Emerson,  Slason  City,  e.  May  25,  1861. 
Davis,  J.  Newton,  Bath,  e.  May  25,  1861  ;  prrntd.  to  First 

Sergt.  Sept.  1,  1863. 


Davis,  A.  T.,  Bath,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  prmtd.  Second  Lieut. 

and  mortally  wd.  at  Pittsburg  Landing. 
Diamond,  James  SI.,  Mason  City,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  disd. 

April  28.  1862,  of  disease, 
Dase,  David,  Slason  City,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  died  of  wds.  at 

Vicksburg,  June  12, 1863. 

Eager,  Boyd,  Mason  City,  e.  May  25,  1861  ;  wd. 
Fisher,  Daniel,  Mason  City,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  kid.  in  battle 

at  Fredericktown,  Oct.  23,  1861. 
GrifBn,  David  0.,  Mnson  City,  e.  May  25.  1861 ;  disd.  from 

wds.  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  Nov.  1, 1862. 
Gatton,  Carlton  H.,  Bath.e.  May  25, 1861 ;  captd.  on  duty, 

Feb.  15, 1864. 
Hines,  John,  Mason  City,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  prmtd.  and 

trans,  to  Inv.  Corpi.  for  disability. 
Henderson,  Jas.  M.,  Slason  City,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  deserted 

from  Hospital  at  Qiiincy. 

Hart,  L.  H.,  Mason  City,  e.  May  25,  1861 ,  m.  o.  1864. 
Henry,  Albert,  Bath,  e.  May  25, 1861;  disd.  for  disability, 

April  10,  1863. 
Hamilton,  James  M.,  Mound  City,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  disd. 

May  30, 1862. 
Hammond,  W.  M.,  e.  May  25,  1861;  disd.  for  disability, 

Nov.  28,  1861. 
Herring,  Henry  J.,  Mason  City,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  missing 

at  Pittsburg  Landing  and  supposed  kid.  in  battle. 
Hole,  Henry  F.,  Havana,  e.  May  25,1861 ;  prmtd.  to  First 

Lieut,  and  resd.  Oct.  22, 1862. 
Judd,  Charles,  Slason  City,  e.  May  25,  1861  ;  disd.  Sept.  4, 

1862,  from  disability  caused  by  wds. 

John,  H.  F.  M.,  Havana,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  disd.  for  disabil- 
ity from  rheumatism,  Oct.  25,  1862. 
Kirkpatrick,  Richard,  Bath,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  died  March 

21, 1862,  at  Savannah,  Tenn. 
Kerns,  Richard,  Bath,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  deserted  April  6, 

1862,  at  Pittsburg  Landing. 
Low,  W.  A.,  Havana,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;    prmtd.  and  disd. 

for  disability  from  wda.  receivec   at  Vicksburg  Dec. 

15, 1863 

Lofton,  Ira,  Mason  City,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Lybarger,  Sani'l,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  disd.  and  re-e. 
Leavitt,  H.  P.,  Bath,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Slitchel,  J.  H.,  Bath,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  prmtd. 
Martin,  Edward,  Bath,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  prmtd.  and  re-e. 

as  vet.  Dec.  8, 1863. 
Montgomery,  R.  S.,  Havana,  e.   May   25,   1861 ;    died   of 

wds.  at  Pittsburg  Landing  April  11,  1862. 
Murdock,  John  S.,  Mason  City,  e.  Slay  25, 1861 ;  disd.  for 

disability  April  19,  1862. 

Morris,  Martin.  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;    disd.  for  disa- 
bility Feb.  13,  1862. 

Murphy,  John,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 
McKee,  Oliver,  Bath,  e.  Slay  i!5,  1861 ;  disd.  May  1,  1862, 

for  disability. 

McCrealey,  James,  e.  Slay  25, 1861 ;  trans,  to  gun-boat. 
Moranville,  F.  A.,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;   prmtd.  and 

re-e.  as  vet.  March  8, 1864. 
Neely,  James  W.,  Slason  City,  a.  May  25, 1861 ;    wd.  and 

deserted  Jan.  18,  1863. 
Nutt,  Calvin ,  Havana,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  died  of  disease 

Aug.  1,  1863. 

Pflicher,  Raymond,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;   deserted  from   hos- 
pital at  St.  Louis. 

Ross,  David  D.,  Mason  City,  e.  May  2.1,  1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Ross,  John,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861;   missing  in  action 

at  Pittsburg  Landing. 
R<ipp,  William,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  kid.  in  action 

at  Pittsburg  Landing. 
Randolph,  Wellington,  Bath,  e.  Slay  25,  1861 ;    deserted 

Dec.  26,  1862. 
Roberts,  Charles  D.,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;    deserted 

Aug.  1,  1^61,  at  St.  Louis. 
Rupe,  Mosas  B.>  Mason  City,  e.  May  25,  1861;   disd.  for 

disability  Nov.  11, 1862. 
Sullivan,   W.  J.,  Havana,   e.   Slay  25,  1861;    disd.  and 

prmtd.  to  Adjt.  of  negro  regiment. 
Shive.-,  Martin,  Bath,  e  Slay  25,  1861 ;  disd.  for  disability 

from  wounds  at  Pittsburg  Landing. 
Sellick,  H.  P.,  Bath,  e.  Slay  25,  1861 ;  disd.  July  1,  1861. 
Sonnenmn,   Charles,   Bath,   e.  Slay  25,  1861 ;  missing  in 

action  at  Pittsburg  Landing 
Scott,  W.  O.,  Bath,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Shaw,  R.  J.,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;    re-e.  as  vet.  Dec. 

8, 1863. 

Shafer,  Jacob  M,  Bath,  e.  Slay  25,  1861;   di-d.  for  disa- 
bility July  26,  1862. 

Stafford,  Wm.,  Havana,  e.  Slay  25,  1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Voak,  Joseph  B.,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  disd.  May  30, 

1862. 


466 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


Vinnett,  Hamilton,  Bath,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  deserted  July 

29. 1861. 

Vandoren,  Jacob,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;    disd.  May 

13. 1862. 

Walker,  Jesse,  Bath,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  captured,  returned 
and  re-e.  as  vet.  Dec.  8, 1863. 

Wykoff,  S.  H.,  Bath,  e.  May  25,  '61 ;  deserted  Aug.  21,  '61. 

Warn,  Aaron,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  disd.  for  disa- 
bility Nov.  16, 1861. 

Warn,  John  C.,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  disd.  March 
30, 1862,  for  disability. 

West,  F.  W.,  Bath,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  died  June  15,  1862, 
of  wds.  received  at  Ft.  Donelson  battle. 

Wright,  Gideon,  Bath,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  died  July  23,  '62, 
of  chronic  diarrhosa. 

Wheeler,  Jacob,  Havana,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  elected  Orderly 
Sergt.  May  25, 1861,  and  prmtd.  to  Second  and  First 
Lieut,  and  Capt.  in  1862. 

Walker,  W.  S.,  Mason  City,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  disd.  for  dis- 
ability April  24,  1862. 

RECRUITS. 

Buck,  George  M.,  Havana,  e.  May  25, 1861 ;  prmtd.  to 
Second  Lieut.  Oct.  22,  1862. 

Foster,  George  A.,  Havana,  e.  May  25,  1861;  prmtd.  to 
Capt.  in  10th  La.  Vols.  May  13, 1863. 

Chandler,  Samuel,  Mason  City,  e.  May  28, 1861 ;  trans,  to 
gun-boat  Jan.  1, 1862. 

Leonard,  R.  F.  H.,  Bath,  e.  May  28,  1861;  trans,  to  gun- 
boat Jan.  1, 1862. 

Livingston,  Silas,  Bath,  e.  May  28, 1861 ;  prmtd.  and  re-e. 
as  vet.  March  8, 1864. 

Haskins,  Thomas,  Bath,  e.  May  29, 1861 ;  trans,  to  gun- 
boat Jan.  1, 1862 

Hutchinson,  W.  H.,  Bath,  e.  May  29, 1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 

Hatton,  Charles,  Bath,  e.  May  25,  1861 ;  disd.  for  disabil- 
ity April  6, 1862. 

Mitchel,  H.  H.,  Bath,  e.  May  29,  1861 ;  died  of  typhoid 
fever  Oct.  7, 1861. 

.Holmes,  Phineas,  Bath,  e.  May  29,  1861 ;  disd.  for  disa- 
bility April  24, 1862. 

Moseby,  F.  A.,  Bath,  e.  May  29, 1861 ;  disd.  for  disability 
Nov.  11, 1862 

Brush,  John  B.,  Bath,  e.  May  29,  1861 ;  discharged  for 
disability  April  24, 1862. 

Morrow,  Stephen,  Bath,  e.  May  29,  1861 ;  discharged  for 
disability  April  10, 1863. 

Razon,  H.  D.,  Mason  City,  e.  May  29,  1861;  deserted 
June  4, 1862, 

Smith,  James  T.,  Mason  City,  e.  May  29, 1861 ;  discharged 
for  disability  Oct.  17, 1862. 

Neeland,  James,  Mason  City,  e.  May  29,  1861 ;  deserted 
July  29, 1861. 

Smith,  Peter,  Mason  City,  e.  May  29, 1861 ;  transferred  to 
gun-boat  Jan.  1, 1862. 

Vananken,  A.  J.,  Mason  City,  e.  May  29, 1861 ;  discharged 
for  disability  Aug.  5, 1863. 

Wells,  Frank  E.,  Mason  City,  e.  May  24,  1861;  twice 
wounded  in  battle. 

Walsh,  Michael,  Mason  City,  e.  May  29,  1861 ;  captured, 
paroled  and  deserted. 

Herwig,  Augustus,  Mason  City,  e.  June  11,  1861;  dis- 
charged for  disability  Oct.  2, 1863. 

Hurt,  A  A.,  Mason  City,  e.  June  11, 1861 ;  m  o.  1864. 

Martin,  Thomas,  Mason  City,  e.  June  11, 1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 

Patterson,  James,  Havana,  e.  June  13,  1861 ;  discharged 
for  disability  Nov.  11, 1862. 

Dew,  Robert,  Bath,  e.  July  5, 1861 ;  captd.  and  returned. 

Neal,  George  W.,  Bath,  e.  July  22, 1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 

Hay,  Jacob,  Mason  City,  e.  July  25,  1861 ;  deserted  July 
20,  1862. 

Patterson,  C.  C.,  Mason  City,  e.  July  25, 1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 

Bagan,  0.  C.,  Mason  City,  e.  Sept.  18, 1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 

Hart,  W.  W.,  Mason  City,  e.  Nov.  24, 1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 

Shultz,  A.  D.,  Mason  City,  e.  Nov.  24, 1861 ;  m.  o.  1864. 

James,  Wm.  A.,  Mason  City,  e.  Dec.  1,  1861 ;  left  in  hospi- 
tal, supposed  to  be  dead. 

Smith,  F.  C.,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  16,  1861;  m.  o.  1864. 

Brickey,  A.  F.,  Mason  City,  e.  Feb.  11, 1862  ;  discharged 
May  2, 1862.  for  disability. 

Charlie,  George,  Mason  City,  e.  Feb.  11,  1862  ;  discharged 
Nov.  10, 1862,  for  disability. 

Hawkins,  Levi,  Mason  City,  Feb.  11, 1862 ;  discharged 
May  13, 1862,  for  disability. 

Mosslander,  D.  H.,  Mason  City,  e.  Feb.  11,  1862 ;  died  in 
hospital  April  21, 1862. 

Oswald,  John  W.,  Mason  City.  e.  Feb.  11,  1862;  trans. 
to  Inv.  Corps  Sept.  15, 1863. 


Sweeney,  James  H.,  Mason  City,  e.  Feb.  11,  1862;  re-e. 

vet.  March  8, 1864. 
Daft,<Thomas,  Bath,  e.  Feb.  11,  1862 ;  mortally  wounded 

at  Pittsburg  Landing  and  died  April  11, 1862. 
Lybarger,  Samuel,  Havana,  e.  May  13, 1862. 
Well?,  Seth  J.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  17, 1862. 


NINETEENTH  INFANTRY. 
Company  F. 

Anno,  Nelson,  Manito,  e.  June  17, 1861 ;  disd.  for  disa- 
bility. 

Ash  ton,  H.,  Manito,  e.  June  17,1861 ;  deserted  in  1862. 

Bloom,  Henry,  Manito,  e.  June  17, 1861 ;,  trans  to  Four- 
teenth Infantry. 

Babbitt,  J.  W.,  Manito,  e.  June  17,  1861 ;  disd.  for  disa- 
bility. 

Babbitt,  J.  W.,  Sr.,  Manito,  e.  June  17,  1861 ;  kid.  on  O. 
&  M.  R.  R. 

Babbitt,  E.  D.,  Manito,  e.  June  17, 1861 ;  m.  o.  in  1864. 

Boyer,  J.  A.,  Havana,  e.  June  17, 1861 ;  kid.  at  Chicka- 
mauga. 

Cogdal,  W.,  Manito,  e.  Dec.  21, 1862. 

Eddy,  E.  A.,  Manito,  e.  June  17, 1861 ;  m.  o.  in  1864. 

Hill,  Enoch,  Manito,  e.  June  17, 1861 ;  m.o.  for  disability. 

Regan,  J.  T.,  Manito,  e.  June  17, 1861 ;  m.  o.  in  1864. 


TWENTY-SEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

The  Twenty-seventh  Regiment  of  Infantry 
was  organized,  with  only  seven  companies,  at 
Camp  Butler,  August  10,  1861,  and  ordered  to 
Jacksonville  as  a  paj-t  of  Gen.  John  A.  McCler- 
nand's  Brigade.  September  1,  1861,  the  reg- 
iment was  ordered  to  Cairo,  where  it  was 
joined  by  the  other  three  companies.  Under 
command  of  Gen.  McClernand,  it  was  engaged 
in  the  battle  of  Belmont  November  7,  1861, 
and  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the  engagement, 
losing  heavily.  After  the  evacuation  of  Colum- 
bus, Ky.,  the  regiment  went  to  that  point. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1862,  in  company 
with  the  Forty  second  Illinois,  Eighteenth 
Wisconsin  and  part  of  the  Second  Illinois 
Light  Artillery  and  Second  Illinois  Cavalry,  it 
formed  the  "Mississippi  Flotilla,"  and  went 
down  the  river,  where  it  remained  during  the 
siege  of  Island  No.  10.  The  Twenty-seventh 
was  the  first  to  make  a  landing  on  the  Island. 
Crossing  the  river,  the  regiment  moved  to 
Fort  Pillow,  but  was  recalled  and  sent  to 
Pittsburg  Landing.  It  was  engaged  in  the 
siege  of  Corinth  and  of  Farmington,  May  9, 
1862 ;  went  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  to  Boone- 
ville  ;  returned  to  Corinth  and  remained  some 
time. 

In  July,  1862,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
luka,  and  soon  after  was  posted  along  the  line 
of  the  Memphis  &  Charleston  Railroad,  where 
it  remained  until  early  in  September,  when  it 
crossed  the  Tennessee  River  at  Decatur,  Ala., 
under  command  of  Maj.  Gen.  Palmer,  making 
a  rapid  march  for  Nashville,  which  place  it 
reached  on  the  12th  of  September,  and  there 
remained  during  the  time  the  city  was  cut  off 
from  its  northern  communication.  The  regi- 
ment was  with  the  advance  from  Nashville, 
and  took  a  part  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River, 
where  it  especially  distinguished  itself.  On 
the  24th  of  June,  1863,  it  moved  with  the 
army  against  Shelbyville  and  Tullahoma,  and 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


46T 


from  there  to  Bridgeport,  Ala.  On  the  2d  of 
September,  the  corps  crossed  the  Tennessee 
and  moved  toward  Rome,  Ga.,  and  returned 
in  time  to  take  part  in  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  where  the  regiment  suffered  severely. 
The  regiment  was  at  Chattanooga  during  the 
investment  of  that  place,  and  was  in  the 
storming  of  Mission  Ridge,  where  it  was  noted 
for  its  good  behavior.  From  Mission  Ridge,  it 
went  on  a  forced  march  to  the  relief  of  Knox- 
ville,  then  besieged  by  Longstreet's  Corps. 
When  it  reached  there,  the  enemy  had  been 
repulsed,  and  the  regiment  returned  to  Lou- 
don,  Tenn.,  January  25,  1864,  where  it 
remained  until  April  18,  when  it  moved  to 
Cleveland,  Tenn.,  from  which  place  it  moved 
with  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  on  the 
Atlanta  campaign. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  with  the  enemy 
at  Rocky  Face  Ridge  May  9  ;  at  Resaca  May 
14;  near  Calhoun  May  16;  Adairsville  May 
17  ;  near  Dallas  from  May  26  to  June  4  :  near 
Pine  Top  Mountain  June  10  to  14  ;  battle  of 
Mud  Creek  June  18 :  assault  on  Kenesaw 
Mountain  June  27  ;  skirmish  on  the  Chatta- 
hoochie  River ;  was  in  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree 
Creek  July  20,  and  in  the  skirmishing  around 
Atlanta. 

The  regiment  was  relieved  from  duty  at  the 
front  August  25,  1864,  and  ordered  to  Spring- 
field, 111.,  for  muster-out.  During  the  term  of 
service  of  the  regiment,  the  casualties  have 
been  :  Killed  and  died  of  wounds,  102  ;  died 
of  disease,  80 ;  number  of  wounded,  328  ;  dis- 
charged and  resigned,  209 ;  transferred,  39. 
The  veterans  and  recruits  were  consolidated 
with  the  Ninth  Illinois  Infantry. 


Company  E. 

Capt.  R.  S.  Moore,  Havana,  Aug.  13,  1861 ;  prmtd.  to 

Col.  of  the  85th  lof. 
Capt.  W.  W.  Stout,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  wd.  and  disd. 

June  21,  1864. 
Capt.  A.  M.   Boggs,  Havana,  June  21,  1864 ;  kid.  July 

23,  1864 

First  Lieut.  W.  W.  Stout,  Havana,  Aug.  13, 1861 ;  prmtd. 
First  Lieut.  R.  W.  Porter,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  dis- 
missed in  March,  1864. 

First  Lieut.  A.  M.  Boggs,  Havana,  March  1.  1864  ;  prmtd. 
Second  Lieut.  R.  W.  Porter,  Mason  City,  Aug.  13, 1861 ; 

prmtd. 
Second  Lieut.  J.  W.  Chatfleld,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  resd. 

in  February,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  A.  M.  Boggs,  Havana,  Feb.  9, 1863;  prmtd. 
Andrews,  L.  H.,   Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861;  died  at  Cairo 

Feb.  2, 1862. 
Anderson,  A.,  Mason  City,   Aug.  12,  1861 ;  disd.  March 

3,  1863. 

Anno,  Joseph,  Manlto,  Aug.  12, 1861  ;  re-e.  Jan.  1,  1864. 
Armstrong,  James,  Walker's  Grove,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  disd. 

Feb.  19,  1863. 

Ashurst,  L.  B.,  Bath,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  disd.  in  March,  1862.    ! 
Barker,  S.  I.,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  re-e.  Jan.  1,  1864. 
Blakely,  J.  W.,  Havana,  Aug.    12,  1861 ;  died  at  Keokuk    ' 

Aug.  19,  1862. 

Boggs,  J.  A.,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  re-e.  Jan.  1,  1864. 
Boggs,  A.  M.,  Havana,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  prmtd.  to  Second 

Lieut. 

Boarman,  W.  L.,  Bath,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  disd.  July  13,  '62. 
Britt,  A.  P.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  disd.  April  7,  '63. 
Camp,  Joseph,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  prmtd.  to  Hosp. 

Steward. 

Crites,  W.  H.,  Havana,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Sept  20,  '64. 
Chatfleld,  J.  W.,  Bath,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  prmtd.  to  Second 

Lieut. 


Curran,  W.,  Bath,  Aug.  12,  1861;  disd.  for  wounds  Nov. 

26,  1861. 

Charles,  Jacob,  Masin  City,  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  disd.  in  1861. 
Cleveland,  C.  H.,  Mason   City,   Aug.   12,  1861 ;  disd.  in 

April,  1862. 
Conover,  A.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  prmtd.  to  Hosp. 

Steward. 
Cowan,  J.  F.,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  died  of  wounds 

May  22,  1864. 
Cue,  John,  Walker's  Grove,  Aug.  12,  1861;  re-e.  Jan.  1. 

1864. 
Davis,  E.  M.,  Manito,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  wd.;    m.  o.  Sept. 

20,  1864. 
Davit,  S.  R.,  Manito,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861;    wd.  at   Stone 

River. 
Dixon,  H.  C.,  Walker's  Grove,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  re-e.  Jan. 

1,  1864. 
Ktmrer,  John,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   re-«.  Jan.  1, 

1864,  and  kid.  in  Georgia. 

Eulass,  S.,  Mason  County,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  taken  pris- 
oner. 

Furgis,  J.  A.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  disd. 
Griffin,  W.  H.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12,  186-1 ;  re-e.  Jan.  1, 

1864 ;  wd.  at  Kenesaw. 
Griffin,  Caleb,  Walker's  Grove,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  trans,  to 

4th  Cav. 

Hasteel,  W.  C.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  disd. 
Hibbard,  I.  L.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  died  at  Cairo  Nov., 

1862. 
Hoyt,  J.  M.,  Walker's  Grove,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   wd.  and 

captd.  Sept.  20, 1864. 
Hoyt,  Benjamin,  Walker's  Grove,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;   disd. 

1861. 
How,  E.  C.,  Walker's  Grove,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861;   re-e.  Jan. 

1,  1864. 

Hoover,  John.  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  died  at  Keokuk. 
Jones,  James  C.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;    m.  o.  Sept., 

1864. 
Lavellan,  J.,   Bath,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861;   kid.  at  Mission 

Ridge. 

Laury,  B.  F.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  disd.  1861. 
Mell,  E.  J.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861;  wd.  at  Mission 

Ridge. 
Moore,  P.  A.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   m.  o.   in 

1864. 

Moore,  D.  E.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  died  at  Nash- 
ville Dec  28,  1862. 
McConnell,  T.  G.,  Mason  City,  e.  Ausr.  12, 1861 ;  a  prisoner 

at  Stone  River ;  m.  o.  Sept.  20, 1864. 
McKillip,  J.  M.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  disd.  in  1862. 
McCarty,  J.  S.,  Walker's  Grove,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861;   wd.  at 

Mission  Ridge ;  kid.  at  Kenesaw. 
Neal,  John  D.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861;    prisr.  at 

Belmont ;  m.  o.  Sept.  20, 1864. 
Newberry,  A.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;   m.  o.  Sept. 

20   1864 
Onstol'  W.  H.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   died  Nov.  8, 

1863. 
O'Reily,  John,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   trans,  to  Inv. 

Corps. 
Pollard,  J.  S.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   wd.;   m.  o. 

Sept.  20, 1864. 
Pemberton,  G.  W.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   disd. 

Sept.,  1861. 
Rankin,  M.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   wd.;   m.  o. 

Sept.  20,  1864. 

Rochester,  S.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  wd.  at  Ken- 
esaw ;  m.  o.  Sept.  20, 1864. 
Ross,  W.  W.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;    prisr.;   m.  o. 

Sept.  20, 1864. 
Ryan,  Ira,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;    re-e.  Jan.  1, 

1864,  and  kid. 

O'Roake,  H.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  disd.  1863. 
Smith,  S.  G.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;    m.  o.  Sept. 

20,  1864. 
Stevens,  H.  F.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  wd.  and  died 

Jan.  15, 1864,  of  wds. 
Stevenson,  J.  W.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;    disd. 

April,  1862. 
Smith,  Jos.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;    deserted  April 

20,  1862. 
Surnam,  Albert,  Walker's  Grove,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   wd.; 

m.  o.  Sept.  20, 1864. 
Tempest,  Robert,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;    re-e.  Jan.  1, 

1,  1864. 
Trent,  John  A.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;    wd.;   m. 

o.  Sept.  20,  1864. 
Tomlin,  E.  M.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   wd.;    m.  o. 

Sept.  20, 1864. 


468 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


Wallace,  B.  F.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   disd.;    e.  in  4th 

Cav. 

Waldron,  L.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;  re-e.  Jan.  1, 1864. 
Wilson,  J.  K.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12,  1861 ;   m.  o.  Sept. 

20,  1864. 
Wilson,  W.  G.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;    m.  o.  Sept. 

20,  1864. 

RECRUITS. 

Barker,  J.,  Bath,  e.  Sept.  3,  1861 ;  disd.  April,  1862. 
Boggs,  C.  S.,  Havana,  e.  March  19, 1864 ;  trans,  to  9th  Inf. 
•Cleaveland,  W.  H.,  Mason  City,  e.  Sept.  11, 1861 ;  wd.  at 

Belmont.  * 

Conover,  J.  C.,  Havana,  e.  Sept.  28, 1861 ;  wd.  at  Mission 

Ridge  and  New  Hope,  Ga.;  died  of  wds.  June  22,  '64. 
•Camp,  J.  K.,  Mason  City,  e.   Aug.  28,  1861 :  accidentally 

kid.  May  26,  1863. 

Cook,  C.  L.,  Mason  City,  e  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  discharged. 
•Goodman,  Daniel,   Havana,  e.  Sept.  30,  1861 ;  wd.;  m.  o. 

Sept.  20,  1864. 
Jones,  G.  W.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  12, 1861 ;  missing  since 

battle  of  Chickamauga. 
Kern,  W.  H.,  Mason  City,  e  ;  prmtd.  to  sergt. 
Lester  S.  W.,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  a,  1861 ;  re-e. 
Mosely,  H.  C.,  Bath,  e.  Nov.  3, 1861  ;  re-e. 
Rochester,  J.  L.,  Bath,  e.  Sept.  28,  1861 ;  re-e. 
Rochester,  W.  H.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  28,  18G1 ;  prmtd.  to  1st 

Lieut. 

Shuruote,  Isaac,  e.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  wd.  at  Resaca. 
Stilts,  G.  B.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Sept.  20,  1864. 
Tolly,  J.  R.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  28,  1861 ;  wd.;  m.  o.  Sept.  20,  '64. 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 

The  Twenty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry  was 
organized  at  Camp  Butler,  in  the  month  of 
August,  1861,.  by  Lieut.  Col.  Louis  H.  Waters 
and  iVLtj.  Charles  J.  Sellon.  The  regiment  was 
ordered,  Aug.  28,  to  Thebes,  III.  ;  Sept.  9,  to 
Bird's  Point,  Mo.;  Oct.  2,  to  Fort  Holt,  Ky., 
where  it  remained  until  Jan.  31,  1862,  in  Col. 
John  Cook's  brigade. 

Jan.  31,  1862,  moved  to  Paducah,  Ky  ,  and 
was  assigned  to  Col.  M.  L.  Smith's  brigade, 
<5en.  Lew.  Wallace's  Division.  Feb.  5,  moved 
«p  the  Tennessee  River,  and,  on  the  6th  of 
February,  took  a  part  in  the  capture  of  Forts 
Henry  and  Helman.  Feb.  18,  a  detachment  of 
48  men  and  12  officers,  under  Col.  Johnson, 
met  the  enemy  (500  strong)  at  Little  Bethel 
Church,  five  miles  from  Fort  Henry,  and  at- 
tacked and  routed  them  March  6,  having 
been  assigned  to  Gen.  Hurlbut's  (Fourth)  Di- 
vision, moved  lo  Pittsburg  Landing,  which 
place  was  reached  on  the  17th  of  March.  On 
•the  morning  of  the  6th  of  April,  1862,  the  reg- 
iment was  called  into  line  and  marched  half  a 
mile  to  the  front,  where  the  enemy  was  driving 
Gen.  Prentiss.  It  was  placed  in  position  on 
the  left  of  the  line,  in  the  peach  orchard.  The 
enemy  at  once  attacked,  but  were  repulsed, 
and  the  position  was  held  from  8  to  3  o'clock, 
retiring  under  orders  from  Gen.  Hurlbut.  On 
the  morning  of  the  7th,  it  held  a  position  on 
the  right  of  the  line,  and  was  hotly  engaged 
until  the  battle  closed.  During  the  two  bloody 
days  of  the  battle,  the  regiment  was  never 
broken  or  driven  back,  though  most  heavily 
pressed.  The  loss  in  this  battle  was,  in  killed 
and  wounded,  239. 

The  regiment  was  in  the  siege  of  Corinth 
•during  the  month  of  May,  1862.  Marched  to 
Memphis,  via  Grand  Junction,  La  Grange, 
Holly  Springs,  Moscow,  La  Fayette,  Colliers- 


ville  and  Germantown,  reaching  Memphis  July 
21,  1862.  Sept.  6,  marched  to  Bolivar,  arriv- 
ing on  the  14th.  On  the  4th  of  October, 
marched  to  Big  Muddy;  Oct.  5,  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Matamora,  on  Hatchie  River, 
losing  97  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  Re- 
turned to  Bolivar  Oct.  7. 

Nov.  3,  marched  from  Bolivar  ;•  4th,  camped 
at  La  Grange  ;  29th,  reached  Holly  Springs; 
30th,  Lumpkin's  Mill;  Dec.  10,  Waterford ; 
Dec.  11  and  12,  via  Abbeville  and  Oxford,  to 
Yocona  Creek;  Dec.  21,  to  Yocona  Station; 
24th,  to  Tallahatchie  River;  25th,  to  Water- 
ford;  26th,  to  Lumpkin's  Mill ;  Dec.  30,  were 
assigned  to  the  duty  of  guarding  railroad  from 
Holly  Springs  to  Waterford,  Miss. 

Jan.  8,  1863,  marched  via  Holly  Springs  to 
Moscow  and  La  Fayette ;  14th,  returned  to 
Colliersville ;  19th,  assigned  to  guard  railroad. 
The  regiment,  at  this  time,  was  in  the  Third 
Brigade,  Fourth  Division,  Sixteenth  Army 
Corps. 

The  regiment  was  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg 
from  June  11  to  the  surrender  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1863,  occupying  a  position  on  the  left  of 
the  center,  on  the  Hall's  Ferry  road.  On  the 
12th  of  July,  near  Jackson,  Miss.,  the  Twenty- 
eighth,  Forty-first,  Fifty-third  and  Third  Iowa 
Infantry,  not  exceeding  800  men,  were  ordered 
to  charge  across  a  level  corn-field,  600  yards, 
and  carry  a  line  of  the  enemy's  works,  mount- 
ing 12  guns,  and  manned  2,000  strong.  The 
brigade  swept  forward  under  a  destructive  fire 
of  grape,  canister  and  minie  bullets,  the 
enemy  enveloping  both  flanks  when  it  reached 
the  ditch.  The  brigade  fell  back  by  compul- 
sion, losing  more  than  half  the  rank  and  file  in 
killed  and  wounded  !  The  eight  companies  of 
the  Twenty-eighth,  numbering  128  men,  lost 
73  killed  and  wounded,  and  16  in  prisoners  ! 

September  1,  1863,  the  regiments  belonging 
in  Third  Brigade,  Fourth  Division,  Seventeenth 
Army  Corps,  formed  a  part  of  the  expedition 
from  Natchez  to  Harrisonburg,  on  the  Wachita 
River,  compelling  the  enemy  to  evacuate  Fort 
Beauregard.  The  regiment  remained  at 
Natchez  on  provost  guard  duty  in  the  city. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1K64,  the  regiment 
having  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  was  mustered 
in  for  three  years  more  of  service.  May  18, 
returned  to  Illinois  on  veteran  furlough.  May 
29,  every  furloughed  man  reported  at  Camp 
Butler,  and  the  regiment  moved  back  to 
Natchez,  reaching  there  on  the  8th  of  July. 

August  4,  three  days'  scout  to  Black  Bayou, 
losing  two  men  taken  prisoners.  On  the  25th 
of  September,  150  men  of  the  Twenty-eighth 
marched  with  an  expedition  to  Sicily  Island, 
La.  October  4,  went  on  an  expedition  to 
Homachita  River,  Miss.,  Col.  Osborn,  Second 
U.  S.  Colored  Cavalry,  in  command,  returning 
on  the  8th. 

October  10,  the  regiment  was  consolidated 
into  four  companies  :  12th  embarked  for  Mor- 
ganzia,  La.,  Gen.  Lawler  commanding,  First 
Brigade,  Nineteenth  Army  Corps.  Novem- 
ber 3,  embarked  for  mouth  of  White  River, 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


469 


arriving  on  the  7th,  and  leaving  on  the  20th  ; 
reached  Memphis  on  the  22d.  Here  the  regi- 
ment received  200  recruits,  which  were  •  rgan- 
ized  into  two  companies,  and  the  regiment 
assigned  to  the  First  Brigade.  District  of  West 
Tennessee,  Maj.  Gen.  C.  C.  Washburne  com- 
manding the  District.  December  21,  went  on 
expedition  to  Moscow,  reaching  there  on  the 
23d,  and  returned  to  Memphis  on  the  31st  of 
December. 

January  3,  1865,  embarked  for  Kuneville, 
La.,  reaching  there  on  the  6th.  February  12, 
embarked  for  Mobile  Point,  La.;  encountered 
a  heavy  gale  on  the  voyage,  and  threw  over- 
board 130  mules  and  horses  to  save  the  vessel. 
Arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  River 
February  14,  and  proceeded  to  New  Orleans. 
February  15,  moved  to  Lake  Ponchartrain.  On 
the  17th,  embarked  for  Fort  Morgan,  Mobile 
Bay ;  camped  at  Navy  Cove.  Assigned  to 
Third  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Thirteenth 
Army  Corps,  Col.  D.  P.  Greer,  Seventeenth 
Illinois,  commanding  brigade ;  Gen.  W.  P. 
Benton,  commanding  division;  Maj.  Gen. 
Gordon  Granger,  commanding  corps.  Arrived 
at  Fish  River  March  25,  and  at  Spanish  Fort 
on  the  27th. 

In  the  advance  upon  Spanish  Fort,  on  the 
27th.  the  Twenty-eighth  occupied  the  extreme 
right  of  the  division  and  corps,  Col.  Ritter 
commanding,  and  Major  Rhodes  in  command 
of  skirmish  line.  This  position  was  held  dur- 
ing the  entire  siege  of  fourteen  days,  losing 
14  killed  and  wounded,  including  2  Captains. 

April  7,  companies  G  and  H  joined  the  regi- 
ment from  Camp  Butler,  Illinois.  On  the  8th, 
Spanish  Fort  was  evacuated  by  the  enemy. 
On  the  15th,  Companies  I  and  K  joined  the 
regiment  from  Camp  Butler. 

On  the  llth  of  Ma^,  moved  to  within  three 
miles  of  Mobile,  Ala. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  1865,  reviewed  by  Chief 
Justice  Chase.  July  2,  embarked  for  Brazos 
Santiago,  Texas,  arriving  on  the  Oth,  and  on 
the  7th,  marched  to  Clarksville.  August  2, 
marched  for  Brownsville,  arriving  on  the  3d, 
Lieut.  Col.  R.  G.  Morrison,  Thirty-fourth  Indi- 
ana, commanding  brigade,  and  Maj.  Gen.  F. 
Steele,  commanding  district. 

The  number  of  enlisted  men  at  original   or- 
ganization, 761 ;  recruits,  959  ;  making  a  total 
•  of.  1,720  men. 

CASUALTIES. 

Commissioned  officers  killed,  9  ;  wounded, 
19 ;  discharged,  49 ;  dismissed,  4 ;  died  of 
disease,  2  ;  transferred,  3. 

Enlisted  men  killed,  52  ;  died  of  wounds, 
•34;'  wounded,  265;  missing  in  action,  17; 
killed  accidentally,  5 ;  died  of  disease,  139 ; 
discharged,  445;  transferred,  18;  making  a 
total  of  975.  Deserters  are  not  given,  as  they 
were  mostly  recruits  that  never  reached  the 
regiments. 

Company  A. 

Capt.  Richard  Ritter,   Havana,  Aug.  2,  1861 ;  prmtd.  to 

Lieut.  Col. 
Capt  J.  R.  Walker,  Havana,  April  21,  1862;  m.  o.  1864. 


First  Lieut.  J.  R.  Walker,  Havana,  Aug.  2, 1861;  prmtrt. 
First  Lieut.   W.   W.   Noonan,   Havana,   April  21,   1862; 

trans. 
Second  Lieut.  C.  Richman,  Bath,  Aug.  2,  1861 ;  resigned 

Nov.  1862. 
Second  Lieut.  W.  H.  Harris,  Manito,  Nov.  14, 1862;  m.  o. 

1864. 
Black,  Andrew,   Matanzas,  e.  Aug.  1,  1861 ;   disd.  Dec. 

5, 1862. 

Black,  W.,  Manito,  e.  Aug.  1,  1861 ;  re-e. 
Brecourt,  E.  N.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  1, 1861. 
Britt,  F.  P.,  Mason  County,  e.  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  disd. 
Cayad,  A.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  re-e. 
Carth,  John,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Donovan,  C.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  1,  1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Euke,  F.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  1,  1861;  m.  o.  Aug.  26,  1864. 
Edwards,  Joseph,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Furrer,  D.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  1,  1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Ganson,  S.  H.,   Havana,  e.   Aug.  1,  1861 ;  wd.  and  m.  o. 

.     Aug.  18, 1864. 

Godert,  M.  S.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  1,  1861;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Harris,  W.  H.,  Manito,  e.  Aug.  1,  1861 ;  prmtd.  tp  Second 

Lieut. 
Heater,  J.   G.,   Havana,  e.  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  died  of  wds.  in 

1862. 

Hall,  W.  C.,  Manito,  e.  Aug.  1,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  26, 1864. 
Keith,  Harry,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  kid.  in  Tennessee 

Oct.  8, 1862. 

Kabenbring,  H.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  1, 1861  ;  wd.  at  Shiloh. 
Lullin,  T.  J.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Lybarger,  C.,  Havana,  e.  Aug  1, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Lynch,  R.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  disd.  Nov.  4, 1862,  for 

disability. 

Lane,  D.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  1,  '61 ;  wd.  and  disd.  Aug.  26,  '64. 
Lapham,  Geo.  D.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  1,  1861 ;    kid.  in  Tenn. 

Oct.  5, 1862. 

Mi'ler,  A.,  Havana,  Aug.  1, 1861;  disd.  Dec.  5, 1861. 
Miller,  Robert,  Havana,  Aug.  1,  '61;  m.  o.  Aug  26,  '64. 
Miller,  W.  P.,  Forest  City;  died  at  Natchez  July  16,  '64 
McMullen,  P.,  Havana,  Aug.  1, 1861;  re-e. 
McMullen,  A.,  Havana,  Aug.  1, 1862  ;  re-e.  a  vet. 
Mulford,  J.  F.,  June  5,  1861;  re-e.  a  vet. 
McKinney,  J..  Manito,  Aug.  1, 1861. 

McComb,  S.  M.,  Manito,  Aug.  1,  1861;  lost  a  leg  at  Shiloh. 
Mclntosh,  Jumes,  Bath,  Aug.  1,  1861;  re-e.  as  vet. 
McCourt,  Henry,  Bath,  Aug.  1,  1861;  disd  Aug.  16, 1862. 
Noonan,  W.  W.,  Havana,  Aug.  1,  1861;   prmtd.  to  First 

Lieut. 

Nash,  J.  E.,  Manito,  Sept.  27. 1861. 
Otto,  Joseph,  Bath,  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Poinsett,  J.  V.,  Havana,  Aug.  1,  1861;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Price,  Isaac  P.,  Havana,  Aug.  1, 1861 ;   m.  o.  Aug.  26,  '64. 
Price,  W.  P.,  Aug.  1, 18C1 ;  died  in  St.  Louis  April  13,  '62, 

of  wds. 

Price,  W.  A.,  Bath,  Aug.  1,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  26, 1864. 
Palster,  C.  F.,  Bath,  Aug.  1, 1862;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Rosebrough,  S.  A.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  1,  1861;    kid.  at 

Shiloh  April  7,  1862. 
Roberts,  J.  P.,  Mason  City,  Aug.   1,   '62;  disd.  Dec.  25, 

1861. 

Robinson,  A  ,  Havana,  Aug.  1, 1861;  disd.  Nov.  9, 1863. 
Robinson,  Albin,  Havana,  Au;.  1,  1861;    Invalid  Corps 

Sept.  15.  1863. 
Redinger,  John,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  1,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug. 

26, 1864. 
Ratcliff,  M.,  Bath,  Aug.  1,  1861 ;   died  in   Bath  May  26, 

1862,  of  wds. 

Reinhart.  P.,  Mason  County,  Aug.  1, 1861;    died  in  Miss. 
Ray,  W.  J.,  Mason  County,  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Smith,  Henry,  Havana,  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  trans,  to  Co.  H. 
Sasse,  Aug.,  Havana,  Aug.  1,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  26, 1864: 
Sullivan,  P.,  Havana,  Aug.  1, 1861;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Sutliff,  S.,  Bath,  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Sours,  M.,  Bath,  Aug.  1,  1861;  wd.  at  Metamora,  Texas. 
Stokes,  H.  L.,  Mason  County,  Aug.  1,  1861 ;    m.  o.  Aug. 

26,  1864. 

Todd,  Thomas,  Havana,  Aug.  1,  1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Vantossel,  Isaac,  Havana,  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Venord,  Robert,  Havana,  Aug.  1,  1861;  disd.  Aug.  16, 

1862. 

Watson,  J.  J.,  Havana,  Aug.  1, 1861  ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Williams,  E.  N.,  Havana,  Aug.  1,  1861;  disd.   Nov.  22, 

1862. 

Witaker,  R.  D.,  Havana,  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Walker,  Henry,  Havana.  Aug.  1,  1861  ;  disd.  1862. 
Willman,  F.,  Mason  County,  Oct.  13, 1861 ;  kid.  at  Meta- 
mora. 

Yates,  N.,  Topeka,  Aug.  1,  1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 
Yates,  J.  C.,  Topeka,  Aug.  1, 1861 ;  re-e.  as  vet. 


470 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


Company  K. 

Johnson,  A.,  Walker's  Grove,  e.  March  31, 1864. 

Moore,  J.  M.,  Havana,  e.  Jan.  5, 1864. 

Yeager,  F.  H.,  Mason  City,  e.  Jan.  15, 1864;  deserted. 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 

(Consolidated.) 

Col.   Richard  Ritter,   Havana,  May   10,  1865;   resigned 

July,  1865. 
Lieut.  Col.  Richard  Ritter,  Ha-ana,  April  21,  '62 ;  prmtd. 

Company  A. 

(Consolidated.) 

First  Lieut.   W.  \V.  Noonan,   Havana,  April  21,  1863; 

m.  o.  in  '65. 
First  Lieut.  T.  J.  Lukens,  Havana,  May  10, 1865 ;  m.  o.  in 

1866. 

Second  Lieut.  T.  J.  Lukens,  Havana,  Jan.  1,  '65 ;  prmtd. 
Allen,  G.  W.,  Havana,  vet.  Jan.  5,  1864;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Brewer,  J.  S.,  Havana,  vet.  Jan.  5, 1864;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Brannan,  M.,  Havana,  vet.  Jan.  5, 1864;  disd.  in  1865. 
Cozadd,  A.,  Havana,  vet.  Jan.  5, 1864  ;  disd.  in  1865. 
Couch,  Marion,  Havana,  vet.  Jan.  5, 1864;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Curth,  John,  Havana,  vet.  Jan.  5,  1864;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Cogdel,  W.   A.,   Havana,  Jan.  23,  18'64;   on  furlough  at 

m.  o. 

Davis,  L.  D.,  Havana,  Jan.  5, 1864;  m.  o.  March  15, 1866. 
Dutro,  J.  D.,  Havana,  Jan.  5,  1864;  absent,  sick,  atm.  o. 
Donovan,  C.,  Havana,  June  5, 1864;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Dusher,  Peter,  Havana,  March  31, 1864;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Edwards,  J.,  Havana,  Jan.  5,  1864;  m.  o.  in  8661. 
Goedert,  M.  S.,  Havana,  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Goedert,  J.  B.,  Havana,  Jan.  28,  1864;  m.  o.  in  1865. 
Hanks,  J.  A.,  Havana,  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  trans,  to  Co.  E. 
Krebaum,  A.,  Havana,  Jan.  o,  1864 ;  trans,  to  Co.  E. 
Kemper,   H.,  Forest  City,  Feb.  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  March  15, 

1866. 

Lybarger,  C.,  Havana,  Jan.  4,  1864;  m.  o.  March  18, 1866. 
Lukens,  T.  J.,  Havana,  Jan.  5,  1864;  prmtd.  to  Second 

Lieut. 

McMullen,  P.,  Havana,  Jan.  6, 1864 ;  m.  o.  in  L866. 
McMullen,  A.,  Havana,  Jan.  6, 1864;  m.  o.  Nov.  15,  1866. 
Mclntosh,  J.,  Havana,  Jan.  6, 1864 ;  absent  at  m.  o. 
Moore,  W.  H.,  Havana,  March  4, 1864 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Otto,  Joseph,  Havana,  Jan.  5,  1864 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Polater,  C.  F.,  Havana,  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Probst,  H.,  Havana,  Jan.  5,  1864 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Robinson,  W.  B.,  Havana,  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Stropes,  Wm.,  Havana;  Jan.  5,  1864;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Stokes,  H.  S.,  Havana,  Jan.  5,  1864 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Swortwood,  W.,  Havana,  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Sullivan,  Pat.,  Havana,  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  died  at  Brownsville, 

NOT.  7, 1865. 

Sutcliffe,  S.,  Havana,  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Todd,  Thos.  A.,   Havana,  Jan.  5, 1864;  m.  o.  in  1866,  as 

First  Sergt. 

Vantassel,  Lmac,  Havana,  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Watson,  J.  J.,  Havana,  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Williamson,  J.,  Havana,  Jan.  1, 1864;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
Whitaker,  R.  E.,  Havana,  Jan.  5,  1864;  m.  o.  March  15, 

1866. 
Yates,  J.  C.,  Havana,  Jan.  5,  1864  ;  m.  o.  in  1866,  as  First 

Sergt. 
Yatee  N.,  Topeka,  Jan.  5, 1864;  m.  o.  in  1866. 

Company  E. 

Hanks,  J.  A.,   Havana,  Jan.  5,  1864 ;  prmtd.  to  Second 
Lieut.  Jan.  1,  1865. 


THIRTY-THIRt)  INFANTRY. 
Company  K. 

Adkins,  W.  T.,  Bath,  e.  Feb.  16, 1864;  m.  o.  Nov.  1865. 
Adkins,  J.  S.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  21,  1861 ;  disd.  July  20, 

1864. 

Crites,  Jacob,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  21, 1861 ;  re-e. 
Legg,  J.  M.  V.  B.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  21, 1861  ;  re-e. 
Martin,  J.  A.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  21, 1861 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  11, 

1864. 
Reynolds,  H.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  21, 1861;  re-e. 


Tracy,  J.  W.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  21, 1861 ;  died  at  home, 
March  10, 1864. 

Welch,  Wm.,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  21, 1861;  re-e. 

Barnet,  M.  J.,  Mason  City,  e.  Jan.  1,  1864;  m.  o.  1865. 

Marshall,  C.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Feb.  25, 1864. 

Schoonover,  W.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Feb.  8, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Nov.  '65. 

Stewart,  W.,  Mason  Co.,  e  Feb.  8, 1864;  m.  o.  Nov.  1865. 

Swartwood,  C.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Feb.  4,  1864 ;  absent  with- 
out leave. 

Swartwood,  J.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Feb.  4,  1864 ;  absent  with- 
out leave. 


THIRTY-EIGHTH    INFANTRY. 
Company  C. 

Capt.  A.  M.  Pollard,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  15,  1861 ;  prmtd 

to  Major. 

Capt.  J.  H.  Adams,  Mason  Co.,  Dec.  19, 1865 ;  m.  o.  in  1866. 
First  Lieut.  W.  F.  Chapman,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  16, 1861  - 

prmtd.  Lieut.  Col. 

First  Lieut.  J.  H.  Adams,  Mason  Co.,  April  6,  '64 ;  prmtd. 
Second  Lieut.  A.  J.  Rankin,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  15, 1861  • 

resd. in  1862. 

Adams,  J.  H.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  '61 ;  re-e.  and  prmtd. 
Adams,  W.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861 ;  died  at  Pilot 

Knob. 
Abrams,  E.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  died  at  St.  Louis. 

June  20, 1862. 

Anderson,  H.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  disd.  1862. 
Boggs,  J.  F.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861  ;  re-e. 
Brown,  E.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861;   died  at  Pilot 

Knob. 

Brown,  Eben,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  deserted. 
Blingard,  L.  D.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1821;  discharged. 
Cox,  J.  W.,  Manito,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps. 
Dare,  J.  H.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861 ;  kid.  at  Stone 

River. 

Evans,  C.  F.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861 ;  m.  o.  In  1864. 
Ebersal,  J.,  Mason  Co..  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  m.  o  in  1864. 
Frakes,  J.  0.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ,  kid.  at  Stone 

River. 

Fife,  J.  G.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  disd.  for  disab. 
Gray,  Pat.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  m.  o.  in  1864. 
Hartley,  W.  T.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  re-e. 
Hines,  Isaac,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  re-e. 
Hines,  Frank,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  kid.  at  Chicka- 

mauga. 

Hinehorst,  C.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861 ;  re-e. 
Humphrey,  J.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  prmtd. 
Kingman,  J.,   Mason   Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861;   died  Sept. 

4, 1864,  at  Andersonville. 

Landers,  P.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  disd.  in  1862. 
Long,  S.  B.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  re-e. 
Landreth,  B.  F.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861;  m.  o.  Sept. 

15,  1864. 

Layphoole,  C.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  died  at  Iron- 
ton  July  9,  1862. 
Mclntyre,  John,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;   m.  o.  Sept. 

15,  1864. 
Mclntyre,  A.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861 ;   disd    Oct., 

1863,  for  wds. 

McCarty,  J.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  disd.  1863. 
Opdyke,  L.,  Mason   Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861 ;    m.  o.  Sept. 

15,  1864. 

Price,  Eugene,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861 ;   kid.  at  Lib- 
erty Gap  June  25, 1863. 

Patton,  W.  T.,  Mason  Co.,  e,  Aug.  26,  1861 ;  re-e. 
Reddinger,  A.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861 ;   m.  o.  Sept. 

17,  1864. 

Rowe,  G.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Ang.  26, 1861 ;  re-e. 
Rosebrough,  Jos.,  Mason   Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;   died  at 

Ironton  Nov.  6, 1861. 

Sellers,  G.  H.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  died  at  Ander- 
sonville May  24,  1864. 
Steele,  E.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;   died  at  Bowling 

Green  Nov.  11,  1862. 
Shock,  L.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861 ;    kid.  at  Liberty 

Gap  June  5, 1863. 
Sayner,  George,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861;   m.  o.  Sept. 

15,  1864. 

Trent,  A.  M.  S.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861 ;  re-e. 
Van  Ranssaler,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861 ;   disd.  from 

wounds. 

Wax,  S.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  re-e. 
Whalon,  M.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26,  1861;  disd.  1862. 
Wiseman,  J.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  re-e. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


471 


Wightman,J.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861;   died  of  wds. 

1863. 
Williams,  Israel,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Aug.  26, 1861;  disd.  May, 

1863. 

VETEBANS. 

[NOTE. — All  those  marked  "  re-e."  became  veteran*  in  the 
company  on  the  2'Jth  of  February,  186k.] 

RECRUITS. 

Atwood,  Isaac  N.,  Mason  Co.;  re-e. 

Berkley,  W.  B.,  Mason  Co.;  disd. 

Blizzard,  T,  Spring  Lake ;  died  of  wds.  Jan.  12, 1865. 

Blizzard,  A.,  Spring  Lake ;  died  in  Alabama. 

Blizzard,  J.  I).,  Spring  Lake ;  re-e. 

Crane,  A.  J.,  died  at  Tullahoma  Nov.  28, 1864. 

Crane,  W.,  died  a  prior.  April  1, 1864. 

Davis.  W.  B.,  Manito;  died  in  Mississippi. 

Dand,  J.  W.,  Mason  Co.;   died  at  Andereonville  June  8, 

1864. 

Graves,  E.  S.,  Mason  Co.;  m.  o.  1865  as  Corp. 
Graves,  B.  H.,  Mason  Co.;  disd.  1863. 
Hartley,  R.,  Manito,  e.  Jan.  23, 1864  ;  m.  o.  March,  1864. 
Harcutn,  P.,  Mason  Co.;  disd.  1'or  disability. 
Hines,  J.  M.,  Mason  Co.;  re-e.;  m.  o.  1865. 
Hainson,  G.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Jan.  23,  1864;  m.  o.  1866. 
King,  H.,  Mason  Co.;  died  at  Nashville  1862. 
Kimball,  J.  M.,  Topeka,  e.  Feb.  6, 1864 ;  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. ; 

m.  o.  1865. 

McKinney,  A.  A.,  Mason  Co.;  re-e.  as  vet. 
McNair,  D.,  Mason  Co.,  died  at  Bowling  Green  Nov.  27, 

1862. 

Norman,  G.  W.,  Mason  Co..  disd.  1863,  disab. 
Norman.  J.  T.,  Mason  Co.,  died  at  Nashville  Jan.  31, 1863. 
Orendorff,  H.,  Manito,  e.  Jan.  23,  1864;  disd.   for  disab. 

July  10, 1865. 

Patton,  A.,  Havana,  e.  Jan.  1, 1864;  m.  o.  March,  1866. 
Rowe,  W.  E.,  Mason  Co.,  died  at  Pilot  Knob  Nov.,  1861. 
Reynolds,  W.  H.,  Mason  Co.,  r«-e. 
Stuart,  W.  A.,  Mason  Co.,  died  at  luka  Aug.  22, 1862. 
Williams,  J.  L.,  Mason  Co.;  died  at  Pilot  Knob  Nov.  15, 

1861. 


FORTY-SEVENTH    INFANTRY. 
Company  B. 

Beal,  Wm.  L.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Sept.  6, 1861 ;  m.  o.  in  1864. 
Smith,  Rufus  P.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Sept.  6,  1861 ;    disd.  for 
disab. 

FIFTY- FIRST  INFANTRY. 

The  Fifty-first  Regiment  was  organized  at 
Camp  Douglas,  Chicago,  111.,  December  24, 
1861,  by  Col.  G.  W.  Cummings,  and  moved  to 
Cairo  on  the  14th  of  February,  1862 ;  from 
thence  to  Camp  Cullum,  on  the  27th,  and  to 
Bert  rand,  Mo.  On  the  7th  of  March,  moved 
to  Sykestown,  and,  on  the  10th,  to  New  Mad- 
rid, making  a  reconnaisance  on  the  13th,  and,  on 
the  14th,  New  Madrid  was  evacuated  by  the 
«nemy. 

April  7,  moved  against  Island  No.  10;  on 
the  8th.  pursued  the  enemy,  compelling  the 
surrender  of  Gen.  Mackall  with  4,000  prison- 
ers. On  the  llth,  proceeded  down  the  river 
to  Osceola,  Ark,  and,  on  the  17th,  moved  to 
Hamburg  Landing,  disembarking  on  the  22d, 
and  afterward  engaging  in  the  battle  of  Farm- 
ington  and  siege  of  Corinth. 

June  4th,  advanced  to  near  Baldwin,  Miss., 
mid  fell  back  to  Booneville.  On  the  llth, 
moved  to  Corinth,  and  went  into  camp. 

July  20,  left  Big  Spring  and  marched  to 
Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  and  guarded  the  railroad 
from  Hillsboro  to  Decatur.  August  24,  the 
regiment  concentrated  at  Decatur,  and,  on  the 


4th  of  September,  moved  via  Athens,  Ala.,  to 
Nashville,  Tenn.  November  6,  engaged  in 
repelling  the  attacks  of  Breckinridge.  Morgan 
and  Forrest.  From  September  16  to  November 
6,  Nashville  was  cut  off  from  all  communica- 
tion with  the  North,  and  the  troops  were  sub- 
sisting on  half  rations. 

December  26,  moved  against  the  enemy 
under  Bragg,  and,  on  the  30th,  met  the  enemy 
and  was  engaged  during  the  day,  losing  seven 
wounded.  December  31,  the  regiment  was  in 
the  thickest  of  the  fight  at  Stone  River,  losing 
fifty-seven  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  On 
the  16th  of  January,  moved  three  miles  south 
of  Murfreesboro  and  camped.  On  the  8th, 
moved  to  Spring  Hill ;  on  the  10th,  reached 
Duck  Creek,  and,  on  the  llth,  Van  Dorn 
crossed  Duck  River  and  Granger  returned  to 
Franklin. 

June  24,  moved  via  Beacher  Grove,  reach- 
ing Tullahoma  on  the  1st  of  July,  the  enemy 
leaving  the  night  before.  Joined  in  pursuit 
of  the  enemy  to  Elk  River,  Winchester  and 
Cowan,  Bragg  retreating  over  the  Cumberland 
Mountains  and  across  the  Tennessee  River.  On 
the  9th,  ascended  the  mountains  and  camped 
on  the  summit.  July  30,  moved  to  Bridgeport, 
Ala.,  and  from  thence  across  the  Tennessee  to 
foot  of  Sand  Mountain,  and  up  the  mountain 
and  on  to  Trenton,  Ga.  Marched  down  Look- 
out Valley  to  Winston's  Gap,  and  on  to  Alpine, 
Ga.  On  the  14th,  marched  up  Lookout  Valley  ; 
on  the  15th,  from  Steven's  Gap  to  McElmore's 
Cove. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  went  into  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  at  4  o'clock  P.  M.. 
losing,  that  evening,  ninety  men  out,  of  two 
hundred  and  nine  engaged.  On  the  20th, 
went  into  position  on  the  extreme  right,  and 
were  heavily  engaged.  In  the  afternoon,  the 
whole  division  fell  back,  in  confusion,  to  Mis- 
sion Ridge,  and,  on  the  21st,  threw  up  works 
at  Rossville.  On  the  23d,  crossed  Chicka- 
mauga Creek. 

November  24,  was  again  engaged- with  the 
the  enemy  at  Mission  Ridge,  losing  30  out  of 
150  men  engaged,  including  Maj.  Davis, 
wounded,  and  Capt.  George  L.  Bellows,  killed. 
On  the  28th  of  November,  marched  to  the  re- 
lief of  Gen.  Burnside,  at  Knoxville.  Decem- 
ber 16,  moved  by  rail  to  Blain's  Cross  Roads, 
and  on  the  19th  of  January,  moved  to  Chat- 
tanooga. February  10,  the  regiment  mustered 
aa  veterans  and  started  for  Chicago,  and  on 
the  17th,  received  veteran  furlough.  The  reg- 
iment left  for  the  front  March  28,  1864,  via 
Louisville,  Nashville  and  Chattanooga,  to  Cleve- 
land, Tenn.  On  the  3d  of  May,  began  the 
Atlanta  campaign. 

Was  engaged  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge  May  9, 
losing  2  men ;  at  Resaca  on  the  14th,  losing 
Capt.  Lester  and  20  men  wounded.  At  Dallas, 
May  25,  met  the  enemy  in  position  and  were 
engaged  eleven  days,  losing  one  officer  and  11 
men  wounded.  June  15,  in  a  skirmish,  Capt. 
Tilton  wa*  wounded  and  12  men  killed  and 
wounded.  On  the  27th  of  June,  in  the 


472 


HISTORY    OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


assault  on  Kenesaw  Mountain,  lost  2  officers 
wounded  and  54  men  killed  and  wounded,  and 
Adjt.  H.  W.  Hall  and  Lieut.  A.  V.  McCormack, 
killed. 

July  20,  engaged  at  Peach  Tree  Creek ;  cas- 
ualties, 5  wounded.  Was  engaged  during  the 
siege  of  Atlanta  and  fight  at  Goldsboro, 
losing  2  wounded,  and  at  Lovejoy,  losing  3 
wounded.  Marched  into  Atlanta  on  the  8th 
of  September.  During  the  campaign,  the  reg- 
iment lost  3  officers  killed,  4  wounded,  and 
105  men  killed  and  wounded.  After  march- 
ing from  place  to  place,  the  enemy  was  again 
met  at  Spring  Hill,  on  the  29th  of  November, 
and  the  regiment  lost  12  wounded,  including 
Capt.  Waterman  and  Gen.  Bradley.  Novem- 
ber 30,  moved  to  Franklin  and  engaged  in  the 
battle  there,  losing  Lieut  Thomas,  killed ;  Capt. 
Tilton  and  Lieuts.  Johnson  and  Hills,  wounded  ; 
52  men  killed  and  wounded,  and  98  men  miss- 
ing. December  1,  reached  Nashville  and  en- 
gaged in  the  battle  of  Nashville  December  15 
and  16,  losing  1  killed  and  5  wounded.  After 
the  battle,  pursued  the  flying  enemy,  and 
afterward  moved  to  Huntsville,  Ala. 

March  31,  1865,  moved  to  Greenville,  Tenn. 
April  15,  to  Nashville.  June  16,  moved  to 
Johnsonville  and  embarked  for  New  Orleans. 
July  28,  embarked  for  Texas  ;  31st,  landed  at 
Port  Lavacca,  and  August  1,  moved  to  Camp 
Placidon,  Texas.  On  the  25th  of  September, 
1865,  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Camp 
Garvin,  Texas,  and  arrived  at  Camp  Butler, 
Illinois,  October  15,  1865,  and  was  paid  off 
and  discharged  from  further  service. 


Company  F. 

Capt.  George  L.  Bellows,  Chicago,  July  18,  1862 ;  kid.  at 

Mission  Ridge  Nov.  25, 1863. 
Capt.  A.  H.  Frazer,  Bath,  Nov.  25,  1863 ;  resd  August  6, 

1864. 
First  Lieut.  Robert  Houston,  Bath,  July  18,  1862 ;    resd. 

in  1863. 

First  Lieut.  A.  H.  Frazer,  Bath,  Sept.  9,  1863 ;  prmtd. 
Second  Lieut.  A.  H.  Frazer,  Bath,  July  18, 18C2;  prmtd. 
Barton,  Robert,  Mason  Co.,  e.  July  18,  1862;  disd.  1863. 
Beehe,  Geo.  W.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Miiy  1,  1862;  disd.  1864. 
Bower,  John,  Mason  Co.,  e.  April  3,  1802  ;  disd.  1864. 
Behne,  M.,  Mason  Co..  e.  March  18, 1862;  deserted. 
Carpenter,   Francis,   Muson   Co.,  e.  April  5, 1862 ;  m.  o. 

18C5. 

Cooper,  Mark,  Mason  Co.,  e.  July  15, 18G2  ;  m.  o.  1865. 
Church   Willixm,  Mason  Co.,  e.  May  28,  1862;  m.  o.  1865. 
Davis,  John,  Moscow,  e.  March  10,  1862;  m.  o.  1865. 
Edlen.  G.  W.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  May  1,  1862;    died  at   Nash- 
ville Dec.  l,lfcC2. 

Fay,  Henry,  Mason  Co.,   e.  May  18,1862;  died  at  Nash- 
ville (let.  5,  1M52. 
Garrison, 'M.,  Bath,  e.  May  24,  1862;    died   at   Nashville 

Oct.  20,  Ih62. 
Green,  Jos.  G.,  Mason   Co.,  e.  March  31,   1862;    died  at 

Evansville  Dec.,  1863. 
Himes,  C.  A..  Mason  Co.,  e.  June  3,  1862;  disd.   1862  for 

disab. 
Hfiisly ,  Isaac,  Mason  Co.,  e.   March   20,  1862 ;  died  Oct. 

12,  1862,  at  Columbus,  Ky. 
Hurly,  John,  Mason  Co.,  e.  March  20,  1862. 
Key,  Henry,  Mason  Co.,  e.  May  2, 1862;  m.  o.  1865. 
Laber,  D.  G.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  March  18, 1862  ;  died  July  31, 

1862,  at  Decatur,  Ala. 
Lane,  Jacob,  Mason  Co.,  e.  March  20, 1862 ;  m.  o.  1865  as 

Sergt. 
Lillie,  J.  S.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  March  27, 1862 ;  trans,  to  V.  R. 

C.  1864. 
Lofton,  J.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  June  4, 1862 ;  kid.  at  Nashville 

Dec.  16,  1864. 


Mann,  John,  Mason  Co.,  e.  April  17, 1862 ;  trans,  to  V  R 

C.  1864. 
Mead,  Joseph,  Mason  Co.,  e.   March   19,   1862 ;    kid  at 

Chickamauga  Sept.  19, 1863. 

Moore,  John  C.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  March  22,  1862  ;  disd.  1863. 
Mitchel,  Thomas  J.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  April  7, 1862:  deserted 

July,  1862. 
Mason,  Thomas  H.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  June'  15,  1862;    m.  o. 

1865. 
Mason,  W.  W.,  Mason  Co,  e.  April  17,  1862;    disd.   1863 

for  disab. 

Mulverhill,  D.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  April  2,  1862 ;  m.  o.  1865. 
McGehe,  S.,  Mason   Co.,  e.  April  14,  1862;  m.  o.  1865,  as 

Corp. 
McCrasky,  W.,  Mason   Co.,  e.  March  20,  1862 ;  kid.  at 

Kenesaw  Mountain. 
Parrish,  A.  A.,  Bath,  e.  March   10,   1862;  m.  o.  1865; 

detached. 

Phelps,  J.  A.,  Bath,  e.  March  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  1865. 
Phelps,  C.  Y.,  Bath,  e.  June  17, 1862;  m.  o.  1865. 
Peterson,  G.  W.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  June  2, 1862 ;  m.  o.  1865. 
Powell,  James,  Mason  Co.,  e.  May  1,  1862 ;  m.  o.  1865. 
Peterson,  W.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  June  5, 1862 ;  m.  o.  1865. 
Purkapile,  J.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  June  16, 1862;  disd.  1864. 
Reed,  Ami.  Mason   Co.,  e.  May  3,    1862;  died  in  rebel 

prison  Feb.  1864. 

Roberts,  J.  A.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  May  31, 1862  ;  died  at  Nash- 
ville Nov.  22,  1862. 
Hummerfield,  G.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  May  18, 1862  ;  disd.  Feb. 

3,  1865. 
Ruggles,  Henry  C.,  Bath,  e.  July  16, 1862 ;  taken  prisr. 

Sept.  20, 1863,  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  and  re- 
mained in  prison  to  Feb.  28,  1865. 
Sargeant,  J.  M.,  Bath,  e.  March  10,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  16, 

1865. 
Schoonover,   H.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  May  15,  1862 ;  disd.  Sept. 

27, 1*64. 
Stuart,  F.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  June  16, 1862 ;  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 

1864. 

Stuart,  John,  Mason  Co.,  e.  April  21, 1862  ;  disd.  Oct.  '62. 
Swartwood,  A.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  May  20,  1862  ;  m.  o.  1865. 
Taylor,  R.,  Mason  Co.,  e.   March  10, 1862  ;  deserted  July 

8, 1862. 
Vaughn,  N.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  May  20, 1862  ;  disd.  Dec.  25, 

1863. 

Waddle,  Wm.,  Havana,  e.  March  9, 1862;  m.  o.  1865. 
Wyseman,  C.,  Havana,  e.  March  25, 1862 ;  m.  o.  1865. 
Williams,  John,  Bath,  e.  March  10, 1862;  m.  o.  1865. 
Witt,  Jenkins,  Mason  Co.,  e.  June  10, 1862  ;  died  at  Nash- 
ville Nov.  23, 1862. 


FIFTY-THIRD  INFANTRY. 
Company  E. 

Campbell,  A.  H.,  Bath,  e.  Jan  1.  1862 ;  re-e.  and  prmtd. 
Cookson,  J.  A  ,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  27,  1862  ;  re-e. 
Carlock,  A.,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  29, 1862;  re-e. 
Ellis,  J.  A.,  Bath,  e.  Feb.  14, 1862  ;  re-e. 
Fredenburg,  P.,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  29,  1862 ;  disd. 
Fusion,  H.  C.,  Havana,  e.  Feb.  14, 1862;  disd.  1863. 
Goodfellow,  M.  A.,  Bath,  e.  Dec.  30, 1862 ;  re-e.  and  prmtd. 
Honey,  John,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  28,  1862;  disd.  1863. 
Hark,  A.  J.,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  27,  1862  ;  died  March  1, 1863. 
Miles,  Joseph,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  30,  1862;  re-e.  and  prmtd. 
Marshall,   Thomas,   Bath,   e.   Jan.  29,    1862;    re-e.    and 

drowned. 

Moore,  J.  H.,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  31, 1862;  disd.  Oct.  1862. 
Pinkerton,  A.  J..  Bath,  e.  Jan.  3, 1862;  disd.  Oct.  1862. 
Pesterfield.  J.,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  13.  1862 ;  re-e. 
Sinclare,  J.  H.,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  21, 1862;  deserted  1862. 
Strope,   H.  J.,  Bath,  e.   Feb.  14,  1862  ;  died  of  wds.  July 

12,  1863. 

Tenney,  J.  G.,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  30, 1862;  disd  May  9, 1864. 
Vermet,  L.,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  20, 1862  ;  deserted  Dec.  1S63. 
Wilkins,  M.,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  24,  1862;  re-e.  and  kid.  in 

Georgia. 
Wilkins,  J.,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  24, 1862 ;  absent,  sick,  at  m.  o. 

RECRUITS. 

Adkins,  S..  Bath,  e.  March  8, 1862  ;  m.  o.  1865. 
Atwater,  J.  W.,  Bath,  e.  March  8, 1862  ;  m.  o.  1865. 
Davis,  Allen,  Bath,  e.  Feb.  12, 1862;  deserted  1862. 
Dewalt,  H.,  Bath,  e.  Feb.  12, 1862;  died  at  Atlanti  Sept. 

13,1864. 

Gauff,  John  N.,  Bath,  e.  Feb.  12, 1862  ;  disd    June  19,  62, 
Griggs  S  E.,  Bath,  e.  Jan.  14, 1862;  deserted  1862. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


Jones,  Henry,  Havana,  e.  April  25, 1862;  m.  o.  1865. 
Kirk,  Win.,  Bath,  e.  Feb.  12, 1862;  re-e. 
McDonald,  A.,  Bath,  e.  Feb.  13,1862;  re-e. 
Swartwnod,  S  ,  Bath,  e.  March  9, 1862;  m.  o  1865. 
Scoles,  C.,  Bath,  e.  Feb.  12,  1862;  re-e. 


FIFTY-FIFTH  INFANTRY. 
Company  D. 

Higjdns,  Peter,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  15,  1861  ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Kent,  Henry,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Oct.  15,  1861  ;  m.  o.  1864. 
Morgan,  M.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Oct.  18,  1861. 
Patterson,  \Vm.,  Mnson  Co.,  e.  Oct.  15.  1861. 
Yates,  Thoe.  G.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  Oct.  18,  1861. 

FIFTY-SEVENTH  INFANTRY. 
Company  F. 

Casey,  Albert  W.,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  19,  1861  ;  re-e. 
Casey,  Joseph  W.,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  19,  1861  ;  died  at  Qulncy 
May  27,  18b2. 

FIFTY-NINTH  INFANTRY. 
Company  A. 

First  Lieut.  S.  M.  Jones,  Havana  ;  resd.  in  1863. 

SIXTY-FIFTH  INFANTRY. 
Company  D. 

Capt.  Van   Ness  Billings,  Mason  City,  March   15,  1863  ; 

dismissed  in  1863. 
Crissey,  B.   W.,   Mason   City,  e.   May  9,   1862;  died  at 

Knoxville. 

SIXTY-SIXTH  INFANTRY. 
Company  A. 

Duller,  A.,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  20  1861  ;  deserted,  1862. 
Ford,  Charles,  Havana,   e.  Sept.  18,  1861  ;  disd.  for  wda. 

1862. 
Ford,  AbiJHh,  Havana,  e.  Oct.  20,  1861  ;  re-e.  and  died  in 

Louisville. 
Smith,  Albert  Havana,  e.  Oct.  20,  1861  ;  died  at  Louisville 

May  17,  1862. 


SIXTY-EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 

(Three  Months.) 

Company  K. 

Clark,  Henry  C.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  June  30,  1862. 
Cobb,  Charles,  Mason  Co.,  e.  June  11,  1862. 
Dement,  A.,  San  Jose,  e.  June  2,  1862. 
Demerest,  J.  H.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  June  2,  1862. 
Debose,  Noah,  Spring  Lake,  e.  June  29,  1862. 
Fain,  Thos.  J.,  San  Jose,  e.  June  2,  1862. 
Fain,  T.  M.,  San  Jose,  e.  June  2,  1862. 
Jefferson,  F.  H.,  San  Jose,  e.  June  2,  1862. 
McLeraore,  J.,  Mason  Co.,  e.  June  2,  1862. 
Strickler,  H.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  June  29,  1862. 
Wadkius,  John,  Mason  Co.,  e.  June  29,  1862. 


SEVENTY-FIRST  INFANTRY. 

(Three  Months.) 
Company  G. 

Ashurst,  F.  M.,  Bath,  e.  July  11,  1862;  died  at  Columbus, 

Ky.,  1862. 

Clotfelter,  0.  W.,  Bath,  e.  July  11,  1862. 
Daniels,  J.  H.,  Bath,  e.  July  11,  1862. 
Hamilton,  G.  H.,  Bath,  e.  July  11,  1862. 
Kern,  George  H.,  Bath,  e.  July  11,  1862. 
Lacy,  Thomas,  B*th,  e.  July  11,  1862. 
Lucas,  D.  W.,  Bath,  e.  July  11,  1862. 
Moore,  A.  M.,  Bath,  e.  July  11,  1862. 
Thacker,  W.  H.,  Bath,  e.  July  11,  1862. 


SEVENTY-THIRD  INFANTRY. 
Company  B. 

Baylor,  Darias,  Manito,  e.  July  19,  1862;  disd.  1863. 
Bozen,  Daniel,  San  Jose,  e.  July  22,  1862  ;  m.  o.  1865. 
Dillon,  D.  W.,  San  Jose,  o.  July  22, 1862  ;  trans,  to  Inv. 

Corps  1863. 

Miller,  Henry,  San  Jose,  e  July  22,  1862;  m.  o.  1865. 
Wakefleld,  James,  San  Jose,  e.  July   15,  1862;  trans,  to 

Inv.  Corps  1864. 
Wakefield,  T.  J.,  Manito,  e.  July  19, 1862  ;  m.  o.  1865. 

Company  F. 

Baxter,  Noah,  Mason  City,  e.  Aug.  7, 1862 ;  m.  o.  1865. 


EIGHTY-FIFTH   INFANTRY. 

The  Eighty-fifth,  being  a  Mason  County- 
regiment,  is  entitled  to  a  more  complete  history 
of  the  part  it  bore  in  the  war  than  any  other 
regiment,  and  out  of  such  material  as  we  have 
it  will  be  given.  The  regiment  was  organized 
at  Peoria,  in  August,  1862,  by  Col.  Robert  S. 
Moore,  and  was  mustered  into  service  on  the 
27th  of  August,  1862. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1862,  under  orders, 
the  regiment  went  by  rail  to  Louisville,  Ky., 
where  it  was  assigned  to  the  Thirty-sixth 
Brigade,  Eleventh  Division,  Third  Army 
Corps,  Col.  D.  McCook  commanding  brigade, 
Brig.  Gen.  P.  H.  Sheridan  commanding  divi- 
sion, and  Maj.  Gen.  Gilbert  commanding  corps. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  the  regiment  maiched 
in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  under  Gen.  Bragg, 
and  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Chaplain  Hills,  at 
Perryville,  Ky.,  on  the  8th  of  October,  and 
from  there  moved  with  the  army  to  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  which  place  was  reached  on  the 
7th  of  November,  1862.  The  regiment  went 
into  winter  quarters  in  and  about  Nashville, 
and,  whilst  here,  the  battles  of  Stone  River 
were  fought  and  various  marches  and  counter- 
marches were  made — the  regiment  remaining 
in  that  vicinity  until  the  1st  of  July,  when  it 
marched  with  the  army  to  Murfreesboro,  soon 
returning  to  Nashville. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  1863,  the  regiment 
left,  with  Gen.  McCook  s  Brigade,  for  the  South, 
via  Spring  Hill  and  Columbia,  toward  Hunts- 
ville,  Ala.,  which  place  was  reached  on  the 
8th  of  September,  and  from  there  proceeded 
to  Chattanooga  to  join  Gen.  Rosecrans'  army 
and  to  participate  in  the  bloody  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga,  which  began  on  the  17th  of  Sept  em-' 
ber  and  continued  to  the  21st,  when  our  army 
retired  to  Chattanooga.  On  the  24th  of  Sep- 
tember, the  regiment,  with  the  brigade,  crossed 
to  the  north  side  of  the  Tennessee  River  and 
camped  at  North  Chickamauga.  The  regiment 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge  on 
the  25th  of  November.  On  the  28th,  the  regi- 
ment went  into  commnnd  of  Gen.  Sherman  to 
the  relief  of  the  beleaguered  city  of  Knoxville. 
The  enemy  retiring,  the  command  returned  on 
the  7th  of  December,  reaching  Chattanooga  on 
the  18th,  and  going  into  winter  quarters. 

In  February,  1864,  the  regiment  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  at  Buzzard's  Roost  Gap, 


474 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


losing  heavily  in  the  engagement,  which  con- 
tinued two  days.  On  the  3d  of  May,  the  army 
in  command  of  Gen.  Sherman  left  for  the 
campaign  against  Atlanta,  fighting  the  second 
battle  of  Buzzard's  Roost  on  the  9th,  10th  and 
llth  of  May,  and  the  battle  of  Resaca  on  the 
14th  and  15th,  and  the  battle  of  Rome  on  the 
17th  of  May.  The  Eighty-fifth  was  the  first 
regiment  to  enter  and  occupy  the  city.  The 
battle  of  Dallas  continued  from  the  27th  of 
May  to  the  5th  of  June.  The  battle  of  Kenesaw 
Mountain  continued  from  the  llth  to  the  '27th 
of  June.  In  this  desperate  battle  the  Eighty- 
fifth  lost  heavily,  and  amongst  them  some 
of  the  best  soldiers  of  the  regiment,  including 
Lieut.  Ohatfield,  Clark  Andrews,  Henry  Buck 
and  Sergt.  Duvall.  The  next  engagement  with 
the  enemy  was  at  the  Chattahoochie  River  on 
the  18th  of  July,  and  at  Peach  Tree  Creek  on 
the  19th  of  July,  in  which  the  Eighty-fifth  lost 
heavily  again  in  killed,  wounded  and  captured. 
The  battle  near  Atlanta  was  on  the  20th  and 
22d  of  July.  On  the  1st  of  September,  the 
hard-fought  battle  of  Jonesboro  was  partici- 
pated in  by  the  Eighty-fifth,  and  Col.  Dilworth 
severely  wounded.  On  the  4th  of  September, 
the  army  entered  the  city  of  Atlanta  in  charge 
of  some  two  thousand  prisoners.  On  the  29th 
of  September,  the  army  fell  back  to  Athens, 
and  from  there  marched  to  Florence,  Ala., 
which  was  reached  on  the  5th  of  October.  On 
the  10th,  the  army  returned  to  Athens,  and 
fiom  there  to  Chattanooga,  arriving  on  the 
14th.  On  the  18th,  the  army  again  marched 
to  join  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  reaching 
Kingston,  via  Rome,  on  the  1st  of  November, 
destroying  all  the  railroads  on  the  way,  and 
continuing  on  to  Atlanta,  which  was  reached 
on  the  15th. 

On  the  16th  of  November,  1864,  the  grand 
urmy  under  Gen.  Sherman  took  up  its  line  of 
march  to  the  sea — destroying  the  railroads  as 
they  went  as  far  as  Covington,  which  duty  was 
performed  by  the  advance  brigade  in  which 
the  Eighty-fifth  belonged.  On  the  24th,  the 
army  left  Milledgeville,  and  marched  to  San- 
dersville,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy's  cavalry 
on  the  tfay.  On  the  1st  of  December,  the 
army  left  Louisville,  where  it  had  been  in 
camp  several  days.  The  Eighty-fifth  lost  sev- 
eral men  who  were  foraging  whilst  here.  The 
army  met  no  further  serious  resistance  until  it 
reached  the  Savannah  River,  near  Savannah, 
where  the  enemy  was  met  and  kept  up  a  con- 
stant skirmish  until  the  city  of  Savannah  was 
reached  on  the  llth  of  December.  On  the 
13th,  Fort  McCallister  was  taken  and  commu- 
nication opened  with  the  Atlantic.  On  the 
20th,  the  city  of  Savannah  was  evacuated  by 
the  enemy,  and  on  the  21st,  our  army  occu- 
pied the  city.  Capturing  180  heavy  guns, 
large  stores  of  ammunition,  25,000  hales  of 
cotton,  and  immense  quantities  of  military 
supplies. 

On  this  raid,  the  army  marched  over  three 
hundred  miles  through  the  heart  of  Georgia, 
subsisting  upon  the  choicest  supplies  of  the 


enemy.  Not  less  than  ten  thousand  negroes 
left  the  plantations  of  their  masters  and 
marched  with  the  army  in  its  advance  to  the 
sea  in  pursuit  of  that  liberty  which  is  dear  to 
every  man,  black  as  well  as  white. 

The  army  left  Savannah  on  the  20th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1865,  on  its  march  through  South  Caro- 
lina, crossing  into  the  State  on  the  5th  of 
February.  On  the  8th,  the  army  cut  loose 
from  all  communications  and  marched  to 
Columbia,  the  capital  of  the  State  ;  and  from 
there  north,  passing  Cherau,  and  continuing 
to  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  which  was  reached  on 
the  llth  of  March,  and  a  rebel  arsenal  de- 
stroyed. On  the  15th,  the  army  marched  from 
Fayetteville  to  Averysboro,  and  had  an  en- 
gagement with  the  enemy  on  the  16th,  and 
from  thence  to  Goldsboro  via  Bentonville, 
where  the  enemy  was  again  met  and  engaged 
in  battle  on  the  19th  and  20th  of  March.  On 
the  23d  of  March,  the  army  reached  Golds- 
boro, terminating  the  second  grand  raid  of 
Sherman's  army  through  Georgia,  and  the  two 
Caroliuas,  a  distance  of  over  five  hundred 
miles,  crossing  ten  rivers,  fighting  two  battles, 
and  any  number  of  skirmishes 

From  Goldsboro  the  army  went  in  pursuit 
of  Johnston's  forces,  and  arrived  at  Raleigh 
on  the  13th  of  April,  the  enemy  retreating  and 
the  city  surrendering  to  our  army.  From 
there,  our  forces  marched  to  Salisbury  on  the 
14th,  and  arrived  at  Avery's  Ferry,  Cape  Fear 
River,  on  the  15th  of  April,  where  Gen.  Sher- 
man received  a  communication  from  Gen. 
Johnston  that  ended  further  hostilities.  On  the 
18th  of  April,  the  news  of  the  assassination 
of  President  Lincoln  was  received  and  read  to 
the  several  commands,  causing  the  utmost  sor- 
row and  gloom  to  settle  upon  the  victorious 
army  of  brave  men  who  were  before  rejoicing 
in  the  contemplation  of  a  speedy  peace. 

A  basis  for  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army 
was  agreed  upon  between  the  commanding 
Generals  of  the  contending  armies,  subject  to 
the  approval  of  President  Johnson  ;  mean- 
while, the  army  moved  to  Holly  Springs  on  the 
21st  of  April.  On  the  24th,  a  dispatch  came 
from  the  President  disapproving  of  the  terms 
of  surrender,  and  ordering  the  renewal  of  hos- 
tilities. On  the  25th,  another  conference  was 
had,  Gen.  Grant  participating,  which  terminated 
in  Gen.  Johnston's  surrender  on  the  same  terms 
given  to  Gen.  Lee  at  Appornattox,  Va.,  on  the 
9th  of  April. 

The  war  being  terminated,  the  army  pro- 
ceeded on  its  march  to  Washington  via  Rich- 
mond, and  was  mustered  out  on  the  5th  of 
June,  and  the  Eighty-fifth  arrived  at  Camp 
Butler,  Illinois,  on  the  llth  of  June,  1865,  and 
was  paid  off  and  discharged. 

These  two  grand  marches  through  the  enemy  s 
country  were  the  crowning  glories  of  the  war, 
and  every  patriotic  citizen  of  Mason  County 
ought  to  share,  in  patriotic  pride,  the  recollec- 
tion that  one  of  our  own  regiments  partici- 
pated in  this  grand  and  glorious  exploit  of 
the  army  ! 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


47T 


Col.  Robert  S.  Moore,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  read.  June 

14,  1863,  from  disab. 
Col.  Caleb  J.  Dilworth,  Havana,  June  14, 1863 ;  prmtd.  to 

Brevet  Brig.   Gen.  March   13,  1865;    m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Lieut.  Col.  Caleb  J.  Dilworth,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862; 

prmtd. 
Lieut.  Col.  Jas.  P.Walker,  Maaon   City,  June  14,  1863; 

dismissed.  Oct.  6.  1863. 
Lieut.  Col.  James  R.  Griffith,  Havana,  April  7, 1865 ;  m.o. 

June  o,  1865. 
Maj.  Samuel  P.  Cummings,  Astoria,  Aug.  27,  1862;  resd. 

April  6,  1863. 
Maj.  Robt.G.  Rider,  Topeka,  April  6, 1863;  resd.  Dec.  19, 

1864. 
Maj.  Pleasant  S.  Scott,  Petersburg,  May  19, 1865 ;  m.  o.  aa 

Capt.  June  5,  1865. 
Adjt.  John  B.  Wright,   Havana,  Aug.  27. 1862;  read,  for 

good  of  service  Sept.  23, 1863. 
Adjt.  C.'lark  N.  Andrus,  Havana,  Feb.  23,  1863 ;    died  of 

wda.  July  23, 1864. 
Adjt.  Preston  C.  Hudson,  Havana,  July  28, 1864 ;    m.  o. 

June  5,  1865. 

<i.  M.  Samuel  F.  Wright,  Havana,  Aug.  9,  1862 ;    dis- 
missed Nov.  21, 1862. 
Q.  M.  Holloway  W.  Lightcap,  Havana,  Dec.  1, 1862;  resd. 

July  30,  1863. 
<J.  M.  Wm.  H.  Evans,  Vermont,  Jan.  14,  1864;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 
Surgeon  James  P.  Walker,  Mason  City,  Aug.  22, 1862  ; 

prmtd.  to  Lieut.  Col. 
Surgeon  Philip  L.  Diefenbacher,  Havana,  June  14, 1863 ; 

m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
First.  Asst.  Surgeon  P.  L.  Diefenbacher,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 

1862;  prmtd. 
First  Asst.  Surgeon  Gilbert  W.  Southwick,  Arcadia,  Aug. 

6, 1864 ;  honorably  disd.  May  15, 1865. 
Second  Asst.  Surgeon  James  C.  Patterson,   Mason   City, 

Sept.  1,  1862;  resd.  April  16,  1864. 
Chaplain  Joseph  Barwick,  Havana,  Aug.  28,  1862  ;  m.  o. 

June  5,  1865. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 

Sergt.  Maj.  N.  C.  Andrews,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  prmtd 

to  Adjt.  May  8,  1863. 
Sergt.  Maj.  W.  S.  Allen,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    m.o. 

June  21,  1866. 
<J.  M.  Sergt.  James  T.  Pierce,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ; 

disd.  by  order  of  Gen.  Thomas. 
<J.  M.  Sergt.  Edwin  M.  Durham,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m. 

o  June  5,  1865. 
Comsy.  Sergt.  Thomas  J.  Avery,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m. 

o.  June  5, 1865. 
Hospital  Steward  Jas.  L.  Hastings,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 

1862;  m.o.  June  5, 1865. 
Principal  Musn.  John  Hazelrig,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m. 

o.  June  5, 1865. 
Principal  Musn.  James  B.  Durdy,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ; 

m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Principal  Musn.  Robert  L.  Durdy,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862; 

disd.  Dec.  27, 1862. 

Company  A. 

Capt.  Matthew  Langston,  Manito,  Aug.  27,   1862 ;  read. 

Jan.  11, 1863. 
Capt.  Thos.  B.  Roberts,  Tazewell  Co.,  Jan.  11, 1863  ;  resd. 

April  15,  1864. 
First  Lieut.  Thos.  R.  Roberts,  Tazewell  Co.,  Aug.  27,  '62 ; 

prmtd. 
First  Lieut.  Daniel  Westfall,  Manito,  Jan.  11, 1863;  read. 

March  25,  1863. 
First  Lieut.  Daniel  Havens,  Spring  Lake,  March  25, 1863 ; 

honorably  disd.  May  15,  1865. 
Second   Lieut.  John   W.   Neal,  Manito,   Aug.  27, 1862 ; 

resd.  Nov.  12,  1862. 
Second  Lieut.  Daniel  Westfall,  Manito,   Nov.  12,  1862 ; 

prmtd. 
Second  Lieut.  Daniel  Havens,  Spring  Lake,  Jan.  11, 1863 ; 

prmtd. 
Second  Lieut.  John  K.  Milner,  Manito,   March  25,  1863  ; 

died  as  First  Sorgt.  Aug.  20,  1864. 
First  Sergt.  Albert  G.  Beebe,  Manito,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  disd. 

Feb.  11, 1863,  from  wds.  at  Perryville,  Ky. 
Sergt.    Daniel  Havens,    Spring    Lake,    Aug.    27,    1862 ; 

prmtd. 
Sergt.  John  K.  Millner,  Spring  Lake,  Aug. 27, 1862;  died 

from  wds.  in  hands  of  enemy  Aug.  20,  1864. 
Sergt.  William  W.  Landreth,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  27, 1862  ; 

disd.  for  disability  March  24, 1863. 


Sergt.  Josiah  Stout,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o. 

June  5, 1865,  as  Regimental  Color  Bearer. 
Corp.  Benjamin  White,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  27,  1862;  kid. 

at  Perryville,  Ky.,  Oct.  8, 1862. 
Corp.  Jos.  F.  Rogers,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  27, 1862;  died  at 

Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Nov.  13, 1862. 
Corp.  James  Gash,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1863 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865,  as  First  Sergt. 
Corp.  Newton  King,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

5, 1865,  aa  Sergt. 
Corp.  Alonzo  McCain,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o. 

July  22, 1865,  aa  prisoner. 
Corp.  Pleaaant  S.  Trent,  Maaon  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o. 

June  6, 1865. 
Corp.  George  W.  Smith,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  absent 

sick  at  m.  o. 
Corp.  George  M.  Welch,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  shot 

at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec.  26, 1862. 
Musician  George  W.  S.  Babbett,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ; 

m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Musician  David  P.  Black,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o. 

June  5, 1865. 
Wagoner  Joel  P.  Somers,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o. 

June  5,  1865. 
Anno,  David,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65, 

as  Corp. 
Anno,  John  F.,  Mason   Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  died  of  wds. 

July  25, 1864. 

Arnett,  James  P.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  died  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  Feb.  17, 1863. 
Alyea,  Francis  M.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o.  June 

5. 1865. 

Alyea,  John  W.,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

17, 1865,  a  prisoner. 
Albin,  Wm.  M.,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June 5, 

1865. 
Bartram,  R.  W.,  Spring  Lake,  Aug.  27, 1862;  absent  sick 

at  m.  o.  of  regt. 
Boon,  John  A.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Bosty field,  John,  Jr.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

5. 1866. 

Bass,  Gibaon,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  at  Nashville, 
July  3, 1863. 

Barnes,  Kezeniah,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June 
5,  1865. 

Case,  John  F.,  Manito,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  disd.  for  diaab.  Oct. 
23, 1862. 

Case,  John,  Manito,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  disd.  for  disab.  Oct. 
23,  1862. 

Cogdal,  Isaac,  Manito,  Aug.  27, 1862;    m.  o.  June  5,  1865. 

Cogdal,  Eli  M.,  Manito,  Aug.  27,  1862;  disd.  for  disab. 
March  8, 1863. 

Cratty,  Edmond,  Manito,  Aug.  27, 1862;  absent,  sick  at  m.  o. 
of  regt. 

Furguson,  Alex.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  absent, sick 
at  m.  o.  of  regt. 

Furguson,  John,  Manito,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 
1865. 

Gilmore,  Franklin,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  at  How- 
ardsburg,  Ky.,  Nov.  3, 1863. 

Gillmore,  James  F.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  disd  for 
disab.  Jan.  30, 1863. 

Gordon,  David  A.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  died  at  Dan- 
ville, Ky.,  Oct.  27, 1862. 

Gardner,  John  S.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  at  Nash- 
ville April  26,  1863. 

Jackson,  Samuel,  Manito,  Aug.  27,  ;1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 
1865. 

Jones,  Samuel,  Mason  Co.,  Aflg.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 
1865. 

Langston,  Win.  F.,  Manito,  Aug.  20,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5, 
1865. 

McLaughlin,  Wm.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o.  June 
5, 1865,  as  Sergt. 

Malony,  Wm.,  Manito,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  May  22, l»9t, 
as  Sergt. 

Nash,  Lemuel  Y.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  kid.  at  Per- 
ryville Oct.  8, 1862. 

Peters,  Idea  F.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  died  at  Nash- 
ville May  2, 1862 

Pringle,  Robert,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 
1805. 

Pemberton,  Beaurop,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862;  disd.  for 
disab.  Jan  1C,  1863. 

Porter,  Lewis,  Manito,  Aug.  27,  1862;  disd.  for  disab. 
Jan.  19,  1863. 

Price,  John  W.,  Mison  Caunty,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.o. 
June  5, 1865. 

Q 


478 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


Neagan,  Charles  W.,  Manito,  Aug.   27,  1862;    kid.  at 

Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.,  July  19, 1864. 
Neagan,  Hiram  1).,  Manito,  Aug.  27,  1862;    in.  o.  June 

22, 1865. 
Trent,  Dallas  A.,  Mason  County,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;   m.  o. 

June  5, 1865. 
Talbott,  John  B.,  Macou   County,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o. 

June  5, 1865. 
Wood,  David,  Mason  County,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;    m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 
Westfall,  Daniel,  Manito,  Aug.  27,  1862;  prmtd. 

Company  B. 

Capt.  J.  K.  Griffith,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862.;    prmtd.  to 

Lieut.  Col. 
Capt.  Charles  F.  Kesler,  Mason  County,  Aug.  27,  1862 ; 

absent  sick  at  m.  o. 
First  Lieut.  Charles  W.  Pierce,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ; 

trans,  to  Inv.  Corps  Nov.  2, 1863. 

First  Lieut.  Albert  D.  Cadwallader,  Nov.  3,  1862 ;  honor- 
ably discharged  April  4, 18G5. 
First  Lieut.  John  W.  Patton,  Havana,  May  19,  1865;  m. 

o.  June  5, 1865. 
Second  Lieut.  John  A.  Mallory,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862; 

read.  Jan.  24, 1863. 
Second  Lieut.  William  Allen,  Havana,  Jan. ,24,  1863; 

commission  canceled. 
Second   Lieut.   George  Myers,   Havana,   Jan.  24,  1863; 

resd.  Jan.  21,  1864. 
First  Sergt.  William  S.  Allen,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862; 

prom,  to  Sergt.  Maj. 
Sergt.  George  D.  Prior,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;   First 

Sergt.;  killed  at  Peach  Tree  Creek  July  19, 1864. 
Sergt.  John  G.  Ackerson,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    disd. 

Feb.  8, 1863. 
Sergt.  George  Myers,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;    prmtd.  to 

Second  Lieut.' 
SergL  Israel  J.  Alden,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;    deserted 

and  joined  8th  Mo.;    deserted  and  joined  60th  111.; 

amnestied  and  returned  to  company ;  deserted  May 

13,  1865. 
Corp.  A.  D.  Cadwallader,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;  prmtd. 

to  First  Sergt.,  then  to  First  Lieut. 
Corp.  Isaac  Mann,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Corp.  Warren  Tippey,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ,    kid.  at 

Peach  Tree  Creek  July  19, 1864. 
Corp.  Abner  Eveland,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;   disd.  for 

disability  April  22, 1863. 
Corp.  Jos.  K.  Bishop,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;   m.  o.  June 

5, 18C5,  as  private. 
Corp.   Ellis  Bowman,  Havana,  Aug.  27,1862;  disd.  for 

disability  Feb.  8, 1863. 
Corp.  John  H.  Cleveland,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;  Sergt; 

absent  sick  at  m.  o.  of  regiment. 
Corp.  Thomas  Eaton,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;    m.  o.  June 

5, 1865.  as  private. 
Musician  Alonzo  Krebaum,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o. 

June  5, 1865. 
Musician  Jasper  N.  Wilcox,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;  died 

Dec.  18,  1862,  at  Bowling  Green. 
Wagoner  William  II.  Stull,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  disd. 

for  disability  June  10,  1865. 
Ackerson,  A.  W.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;    deserted  Jan. 

15,  1863. 
Ackerson,  J.  B.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    deserted  Sept. 

22,  1862. 
Boormaster,  Lewis,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;    Corp.;  [kid. 

Sept.  1,  1864,  at  Jonesboro,  Ga. 
Breckenridge,  J.  M.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    deserted 

Dec.  23,  1862. 
Balor,  Jesse,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5,  1865, 

prisoner  of  war. 
Burkholder,  S  ,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65, 

prisoner  of  war. 
L'eckman,  Martin,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;    trans,  to  Inv. 

Corps. 
Bell,  Thos.  M.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;    wd.  and  trans,  to 

marine  service. 
Becksteiui,  N.  H.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    deserted   Dec.    ! 

25, 1862. 
Bash,   Isaac  G.,   Havana,   Aug.  27, 1862 ;  Corp.;  trans,  to 

Inv.  Corps. 
Buffklow,  Wm.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;   captd.  July  19, 

1864. 

Bfhymer,  0.  P.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  '62  ;    m.  o.  Jane  5,  '65    I 
Blair,  B.   T,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;   deserted  Nov.  9, 

1802. 


Curran,  Maurice,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;   m.  o.  June  5 

1865. 
Cluney,  Thomas,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;   m.  o.  June  5 

1865,  as  Sergt. 
Conrad,  Bazil,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;  kid.  at  Peach  Tree 

July  19,  1864. 
Conner,  Henry,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;   absent,  sick,  at 

m.  o. 
Gorman,  David,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;    kid.  at  Peach 

Tree  July  19,  1864. 
Dunawain,  S.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  died   Nov.  2, 1862, 

at  Louisville,  Ky. 
Dair,  Charles  D.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;   m.  o.  June  17, 

1865;  prisr. 
Eveland,  Amos,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;   kid.  at  Peach 

Tree  Creek  July  19, 1864. 
Fitch,  Joseph  H.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  wd.;   absent  at 

m.  o. 
Fox,  David,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;    disd.  for  disability 

Aprils,  18(5. 

Gray.  John,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  disd.  Aug.  10, 1863. 
Greathouse,  Wm.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;   disd.  for  dis- 
ability April  22, 1863. 
Greathouse,  James,  Sr.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    m.  o. 

June  5, 1865,  as  Corp. 

Greathouse,  James,  Jr.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  died. 
Galbraith,  J.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;   died  Jan.  3,  1863, 

at  Nashville. 
Goodman,  J.  F.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    deserted  Nov. 

8,  1862. 
Hurley,  Charles,   Havana,  Aug.  27,   1862;    m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 
Hutton,  Thomas,  Havana,  Aug,  27,  1862;   m.  o.  June  5, 

1865,  as  Corp. 
Heald,  John  W.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;    m.  o.  June  17, 

1865 ;  was  prisr. 
Hamilton,  John,   Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    deserted    at 

Peoria. 
Hurley,  Bartholomew,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;    died  at 

Nashville  Jan.  23,  1863. 

Holmes,  Wm.   D.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;   disd.  for  dis- 
ability April  3,  1865. 

Holtry,  David,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  deserted  at  Peoria. 
Jones,   Richard,    Havana,   Aug.  27,    1862;    deserted   at 

Peoria. 

Jones,  Benj.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Johnson,  John,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;   Corp.;    kid.  at 

Peach  Tree  Creek  July  19,  1864. 
Kesler,  Chas.  F.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;   m.  o.  June  5, 

1865,  as  First  Sergt.;  Capt.  not  mustered. 
Krayten,  B.  F.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;    trans,  to  marine 

service. 
Lindennan,  T.  G.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;   m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 
Morris,  David,  Havana,  Aug.   27,   1862;    m.  o.  June   5, 

1865. 
Mintonie,  A.  C.,   Havana,  Aug.  27,   1862;    m.   o.  June 

5,  1865. 
Mastard,   Enoch,   Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    died   Jan.  6, 

1865,  on  march. 
Mastard,  Lucius,   Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;   m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Mason ville,  George  F.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.o.  June 

5,  1865. 
McOnnahay,  J.  M.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;   m.  o.  June 

5,  Ih66. 

Miller,  M.  K.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Noyes,  David,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  died. 
Nutt,   Massena,  Havana.  Aug.  27, 1862 ;   m.  o.  June  5, 

1865,  as  Corp. 
Nutt,  S.  H.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;    m.  o.  June  22, 1865 ; 

prisr. 
Nichols,  J.  E.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;   absent,  sick,  at 

m.  o. 
O'Leary,  John  H.,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862;   m.  o.  July  22, 

1865;  prisr. 
Paul,   Ebenezer,   Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    disd.  for  dis 

ability  Feb.  8, 1863. 
Paul,  Samuel,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 18C2  ;   disd.  for  disability 

Feb.  8,  1863. 
Pierce,  T.  S.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  Sergt.;  kid.  at  Ken- 

eeaw  Mt.  June  27, 1864. 
Patton,  John  W.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    prmtd.  First 

Lieut. 
Porter,  Robert,   Havana,  4ug.  27,  1862;    m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 

Katcliff,  A.  C.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,   1862;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65. 
Ratcliff,  T.  J.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65, 

as  Corp. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


479 


Richardson,  F.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  disd.  for  disabil- 
ity Oct.  18, 1863. 

Skiles,  W.  H.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  Aug.  30,  '65. 

Singleton,  J.  F.  M.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  May 
27,  18C5. 

Singleton,  J.  T.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  died  at  Tulla- 
homa  July  25, 1864. 

Southwood,   Wm.,   Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June 

6,  1865. 

Southwood,   Ellis,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 
Spink,  Charles,  Havana,  Aug.   27,   1862  ;  kid.  at  Peach 

Tree  Creek  July  19, 1864. 
Shock,  Jacob,   Havana,   Aug.  27,   1862  ;    deserted  Sept. 

1,  1862. 
Sigley,  David,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  July  5,  1865; 

was  prisoner. 
Thomas,  J.  B.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  died  Jan.  29,  '63, 

at  Bowling  Green,  Ky. 
Tippey,  James  W.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  trans,  to  Inv. 

Corps. 
Tippey,  Henry,   Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Winchell,  Wm.,   Havana,   Aug.   27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865  ;  a  prisoner. 
Winchell,  Geo.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865  ;  a  prisoner. 
Westfleld,  James  H.,   Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 

RECRUITS. 

McKillips,  J.  M  ,  Havana;  disd.  for  disability  Feb.  8,  '63. 
Paul,  Thos.  E.,  Havana  ;   died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec. 

7,  1862. 

Pierce,  James  F.,  Havana  ;  prmtd.  to  Q.  M.  Sergt. 
Strode,  Silas,  Havana  ;  disd.  for  disability  April  22, 1863. 

Company  C. 

Capt.  Samuel  Black,  Mason   City,  Aug.  27,   1862  ;  re»d. 

Jan.  24,  1863. 

Capt.  Geo.  A.  Blanchard,  Havana,  Feb.  7, 1863  ;  honor- 
ably disd.  May  15, 1865. 
First  Lieut.  Geo.  A.  Blanchard,  Havana  ;  Aug.  27,  1862  ; 

prmtd. 
First  Lieut.  Wm.  W.  Walker,  M»son  County,  Feb.  7,  '63 ; 

resd.  Oct.  7, 1863. 
First  Lieut.  James  M.  Hamilton,  Mason  City,  Oct.  7,  '63 ; 

m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Second  Lieut.  Wm.  W.  Walker,  Mason  County  ;  Aug.  27, 

1862;  prmtd. 
Second   Lieut.  James  M.  Hamilton,  Mason  City;    Feb.  7, 

1863  ;   prmtd. 
First  Sergt.  Wm.  M.  Hamilton,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  '62; 

disd.  for  disability  Jan.  27, 1863. 
Sergt.  Andrew  Richy,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  disd. 

'     for  disability  Aug.  18, 1863. 
Sergt.  John   H.  Duvall,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 1862;  First 

Sergt ;  kid.  at  Keuesaw  June  27,  1864. 
Sergt.  John   Housworth,  Mason  City ;  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m. 

o.  June  17, 1865,  as  First  Sergt;  was  prisoner. 
Sergt.  James  M.  Hamilton,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 1862  ; 

prmtd.  to  Second  Lieut. 
Corp.  J.  B.  Logue,   Mason   County,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o. 

June  5, 1865,  as  private. 
Corp.  Harvey  H.  Hntchens,  Mason  County,  Aug.  27, 1862; 

disd.  for  disability  Jan.  22, 1863. 
Corp.  James  0.  Logue,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  disd. 

for  disability  Jan.  7, 1863. 
Corp.  James  L.  Hastings,  Mason   City,  Aug.  27,  1862  ; 

prmtd.  Hospital  Steward. 
Corp.  James  J.   Pelham,  Mason  County,  Aug.  27,  1862; 

disd.  for  disability  Feb.  13, 1863,  as  private. 
Corp.  Pleasant  Armstrong,  Mason  County,  Aug.  27, 1862  ; 

trans,  to  Marine  Brigade  Jan.  13,  1863. 
Corp.  Cyrus   R.   Quigley,  Mason  County,  Aug.  27,  1862 ; 

m.  o.  June  5, 1805.  as  private. 
Corp.   Andrew  J.  Updyke,  Mason  County,  Aug.  27, 1862; 

disd.  for  disability  Feb.  18,  1865. 
Musician  George   W.    Detrich,   Mason   City,  Aug.    27, 

1862  ;  disd.  for  disability  Feb.  10,  1863. 
Musician    Benj.  F.  Scovill,  Mason  County,  Aug.  27, 1862; 

m.  o.  June  5,  1865  ;  prisoner. 
Wagoner  S.   H.  B.  Hollingsworth,  Mason  County,  Aug. 

27, 1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5,  1865,  as  Corp. 
Armstrong,  Wm.,  Mason   Co.,   Aug.  27,   1862;   disd.   at 

Louisville,  Ky. 
Alkire,  Wm.  D.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.June 

17, 1865,  Corp.;  prisr. 


Atchinson,  Jno.  H.,  Mason   Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  disd.  for 

disability,  Jan.  17,1863. 
Atchinson,  Michael,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.June 

17, 1865,  prisr. 
Bradford,  David,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  captd.  July 

19. 1864. 

Brooks,  Almon,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  Corp.,  died 
Nashville,  April  7, 1863. 

Buck,  Henry  H.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  1862;  Sergt,  kid. 
Kenesaw,  June  27,  1864. 

Burnett,  John  L.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  1862;  kid.  at 
Kenesaw,  June  27,  1864. 

Black,  George,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  17, 
1865,  prisr.;  Sergt. 

Clark,  Channing,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  Corp.;  sick 
at  m.  o.  of  regt. 

Chester,  Francis  A.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  Corp.;  m. 
o.  June  17, 1865. 

Chester,  James,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  Sergt.;  m.  o. 
June  17, 1865, 

Clark,  Wm.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862;  died  at  Bowling 
Green  Nov.  16, 1862. 

Cue,  Nelson  D.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  17, 
1865. 

Carter,  Jos.  W.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  disd.  for  dis- 
ability Ncv.  7,1864. 

Derwent,  Samuel,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  at  Nash- 
ville Dec  19, 1862. 

Deitrich,  Jere  ,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 1862;  died  of  wds. 
at  Nashville  July  13, 1864. 

Dray,  Samuel  A.,  Mason   Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

17. 1865. 

Dolcater,  Peter,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.   27,  1862;  disd.  for  dis- 
ability Jan.  24, 1865. 
Dangherty,  Daniel,   Mason   Co.,  Aug.   27,1862;  died  of 

wds.  at  Chattanooga,  Aug.  24,  1864. 
Gates,  Ephraim,   Mason    Co.,  Aug.  27,    1862;    died   at 

Bowling  Green  Nov.  18,  1862. 
Gardner,  Elbert  L  .  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  disd.  for. 

disab.  March  16,  1863. 
Gardner,  James  M.,  Mason   Co.,    Aug.  27,  1862;   m.  o. 

June  17, 1865. 
Gardner,  John   R.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  July 

15, 1865 ;  prisr. 
Gardner,  John  A.,   Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;    died  at 

Harrodsburg,  Ky.,  Nov.  25,  1862. 
Green,  Thos.  W.,  Mason   Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

17,  1865. 

Gregory,  George,  Mason    Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862;    died   at 

Danville,  Ky. 
Halley,  Jeremiah,  Mason   Co.,  Aug.  17,1862;  Corp.;  m. 

o.  June  17, 1865 ;  prisr. 
Hastings,  Daniel   W.,  Mason  City,   Aug.  27, 1862 ;    died 

at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Nov.  23, 1862. 
Hadsall,   Edwin   N.,  Mason   Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862;    m.   o. 

June  17, 1865. 
Hous,  Solomon,  Mason  Co.,     Aug.   27,  1862;   trans,  to 

V.  R.  C. 
Hous,  Wesly,  Mason   Co.,   Aug.  27, 1862;  disd.  for  disab. 

March  1, 1863. 
Harknes?,  John,   Mason   Co.,    Aug.  27,   1862 ;    deserted 

Oct.  20, 1862. 

Ishmael,   Lewis,  Mason   Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  died  at  An- 
napolis Dec.  18,  1864. 
Lofton,  Robert,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 1862;    m.  o.  June  5, 

1865,  as  Sergt. 
Lane,  T.  W.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;   m.  o.  June  17, 

1865. 
Lane,  Richard  A.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,   1862 ;    disd.  for 

disab.  Jan.  15, 1863. 
Lane,  Abraham  L.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  disd.  April 

18,  1864. 

Lane,  Green  B.,  Mason   Co.,  Aug.   27,  1862  ;    m.  o.  June 

17,  1865. 

Leeper,  James.  Mason   Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  kid.  at  Kene- 
saw. June  25.  1864. 
Moore,  Geo.  A.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  disd.  for  disab. 

Jan.  18, 1863. 
Mosslander,  G.  W.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June 

17, 1865  ;  was  prisr. 

McCarty,  Jacob,  Mason  Co.,  Aug*.  27, 1862 ;  disd  for  disab. 
Moore,  Robert  S.,  Mason  Co..  Aug.  27,  1862;  died  at 

Bowling  Green  Nov.  18, 1862. 
Marshall,  Jeremiah,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;   trans,  to 

4th  U.  S.  Cav.  Dec.  4, 1862. 
Montgomery,  J.  C.,  Mason  Co.,   Aug.   27,   1862;    Corp.; 

trans,  to  Miss.  M.  B.  Jan.  13. 1863. 
Mitchel.  W.  H.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o.  June  17, 

1865.  as  Sergt. 


480 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


Hosier,  John  W.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June 
17,1865;  was  prisr. 

McClarin,  A.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  in  prison  from 
wds.  Aug.  4, 1864 ;  Corp. 

Mosslander,  Jos.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  died  at  Look- 
out Mt.  July  22,  1864. 

Neeley,  J.  H.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  died  of  wds.  July 
28, 1864,  at  .leffersonville,  Ga. 

Neely,  Samuel,  Jr.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  absent,  sick, 
at  m.  o. 

Newberry,  Wm.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  disd.  for  dis- 
ability Feb.  8,  1863. 

Osborn,  R.  A.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  disci,  for  disabil- 
ity March  2, 1863. 

O'Donnell,  Jos.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  at  Bowl- 
ing Green  Nov.  23,  1862. 

Pearcy,  J.  H.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  disd.  for  disa- 
bility Feb.  2,  1863. 

Pelham,  S.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.o.  June  17, 1865; 
prisr. 

Pelham,  W  C.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  Corp.;  died  at 
Bowling  Green  Nov.  11, 1862. 

Paul,  Eben.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  at  Bowling 
Green  Nov.  14, 1862. 

Patt«rson,  J.  C.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862;  prmtd.  to  Asst 
Surg. 

Quance,  C.  E.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862;  disd.  for  disabil- 
ity Jan.,  1863. 

Reynolds,  G.  W.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  at  Bowl- 
ing Green  Nov.  14,  1862. 

Ramsey,  Hiram,  Muson  City,  Aug.  27,  1862;  died  at 
Bowling  Green  Dec.,  1862. 

Kitter,  Aaron,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 
1865. 

Short,  W.  B.,  Mason  Ox,  Aug.  23,  1862;  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. 
Sept.  16,  1863. 

Stewart,  Orlando,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  kid.  at  Perry- 
ville  Oct.  8, 1862. 

Stubblefleld,  Johri,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June 
17,1865;  prisr. 

Stagg,  Thomas,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862;  Corp.;  died  in 
prison,  of  wds.,  Aug.  28, 1864. 

Shay,  Henry,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  kid.  at  Perryville 
Oct.  8,  1862. 

Smith,  Wm.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  died  at  Bowling 
Green  Dec.  19, 1862. 

Tyrrell,  W.  A.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  17, 
1865 ;  prisr.  of  war. 

Temole,  J.  P.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862;  trans,  to  V.  R. 
C.  Aug.  10,  1864. 

Tomlin,  J.  H.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  kid.  at  Kenesaw 
June  27, 1864. 

Whipp,  M.  A..  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  absent,  sick, 
at  m.  o. 

Wagoner,  Jere,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June 
17,  1865. 

Young,  T.  M.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  of  wds.,  in 
prison,  Aug.  2, 1864. 

Young,  T.  P.,  Mason  City,' Aug.  27,  1862;  trans,  to  V. 
R  P 

Young,  J.  R.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862;  died  of  wds.,  at 
Nashville,  July  17,  1864. 

Yardley,  H.  G.,  Mason  Co.,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June 
17,  1865. 

Company  D. 

Capt.  Charles  W.  Houghton,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;   resd. 

Dec.  27, 1863. 
Capt.  Charles  H.  Chatfield,  Bath,  Dec.  27,  1863;  kid.  June 

27, 1864,  at  Kenesaw. 
Capt.  Samuel  Young,  Bath,  June  27, 1864;   died  Nov.  23, 

1864,  in  ambulance. 
Capt.  Thomas  F.Patterson,  Bath,  Nov.  23,  1864;    m.  o. 

June  5, 1865. 
First  Lieut.  Comfort  H.  Raymond,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862 ; 

resd.  Dec.  21,  1862. 
First  Lieut.  Charles  H.  Chatfield,  Bath,  Dec.  21,1862; 

prmtd. 

First  Lieut.  Samuel  Young,  Bath,  Dec.  27,  1863 ;  prmtd. 
First  Lieut.  Thomas  F.  Patterson,  Bath,  June  27,  1864; 

prmtd. 
First  Lieut.  Francis  S.  Cogshall.  Bath,  Nov.  23, 1864;   m. 

o.  June  5, 1865. 
Second  Lieut.  Charles  H.  Chatfield,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862; 

prmtd. 
Second   Lieut.  William  W.  Turner,  Bath,  Dec.  21,  1862; 

resd.  March  30, 1864. 
First  Sergt.  Samuel  Young,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  prmtd. 


Sergt.  W.  W.  Turner,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  prmtd. 
Sergt.   Freeman  Broth,   Bath,   Aug.   27,   1862;    kid.    at 

Chaplin's  Hills,  Ky.,  Oct.  8, 1862. 
Sergt.  Uriah  B.  Lindsey,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862;  trans,  to  V. 

R.  C.  Sept.  1, 1863. 
Sergt.  Miles  Me  *be,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862;    disd.,  from 

wds.,  Feb.  21,  1865,  as  Sergt. 
Corp.  T.  J.  Mosely,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862 ;   m.  o.  June  5, 

1865,  as  private. 
Corp.  J.  R.  Nevel,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862  ;    m.  o.  June  5, 

1865,  as  Sergt. 
Corp.  Jos.  H.  Seay,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865,  as  Sergt. 
Corp.  James  Ferrel,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  ">, 

1865. 
Corp.  John  C.  Wilson,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865,  as  Sorgt. 
Corp.  H.  0.  Reeder,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  disd.  for  disab. 

Jan.  15, 1863. 
Corp.  John  O'Brien,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865,  as  private. 
Corp.  Francis  S.  Cogshall,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,   1862 ;   m.  o 

June  5,  1865 ;  prmtd. 
Musn.  Charles  L.  Hamilton,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o. 

May  18, 1865. 
Musn.  Francis  M.  Berry,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862;    m.o. 

June  5,  1865. 
Wagoner  A.  J.  Allen,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 
Avery,  T.  J.,  Bath,   e.   Aug.  27,   1862;    prmtd.   Comsy. 

Sergt. 

Beal,  Henry,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Black,  Clinton,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  disd.  Nov.  1, 1864. 
Billiard,  N.  A.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5,  1865. 
Conover,  Joseph,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862;    m.  o.  June  5, 

1865,  as  Corp. 
Castleberry,  H.  W.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.   27,  1862  ;    disd.  for 

disab.  Oct.  15,  1862. 
Castleberry,  W.  H.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865,  as  Corp. 

Cady,  Joseph,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862;  died  Jan.  4, 1863. 
Capper,  A.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  absent,  sick,  at  m.  o. 
Carlock,  Geo.  0.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65, 

as  Sergt. 
Close,  W.  D.,  Bath,   e.   Aug.  27,   1862 ;    m.  o.  May   16, 

1865,  wd. 
Capens,  Robert,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862;    m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 

Dew,  Jacob  S  ,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Durham,  E.  M.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862;  prmtd.  to  Q.  M. 

Sergt. 

Davis,  Noah,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1861;  kid.  by  raidroad  ac- 
cident going  home. 

Davis,  Wm.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Flow,  Cadmus,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862;  kid.  at  Peach  Tree 

Creek  June  19, 1864. 

Goben,  Allen,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Goben,  James,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865, 

as  Corp- 
Grisum,  Samuel,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Hicks,  Willard,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,1862  ;  died  in  Anderson- 

ville  Prison  May  15,  1864 ;  No.  of  grave,  1,102. 
Hazelrig,  John,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862  ;   prmtd.  to  Prin- 
cipal Musician. 
Harbet,  John  L.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862  ;    m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 

Hamilton,  A.  J.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  Oct.  11, 1863. 
Howarth,  Henry,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862;  severely  wd.  in 

eleven  engagements;  m.  o.  May  20, 1865. 
Houghton,  Elijah,   Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,1862;  disd.  Feb.  4, 

1863. 

Jones,  Henry  P.,  Havana,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862 ;    died  at  At- 
lanta Oct.  2, 1864. 
Jones,  Daniel,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,1862;  deserted  Nov.  8, 

1862. 

Kicer,  Daniel,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862;  died  Dec.  8, 1862. 
Kerk,  Armstead,  Bath,  e.  A«g.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Lowrance,  Joseph,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  absent,  sick, 

at  m.  o. 
Lowrance.  J.  A.,  Bath,  e.  Aug.  27,  1862  ;    disd.   June  3, 

1863. 
Layman,   Isaac,   Bath,  e.  Aug.   27,  1862;  m.  o.  July  18, 

1865,  wd. 
Matteson,   G.,   Bath,  e.    Aug.  27,  1865  :    m.   o.  June   5, 

1865. 
Mead,  Henry,  Havana,  e.   Aug.  27,  1862;    deserted  Oct. 

6,  1862. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


481 


Morgan,  Hugh,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;    died  of   wds. 

July  9,  1864. 
Monger,  Wm.  H.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 

Myers,  James,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5,  1865. 
Murphy,  John  J.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862;  died  of  wds.  July 

7, 1864. 
Matteson,  Harold,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862;  deserted  Nov.  28, 

1862. 

Noder,  Robert,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862;  lost  at  Chickamauga. 
O'Rourke,  Pat.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5,  1865. 
Parks,  0.  W.,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  '62 ;  disd.  of  wds.  April  4,  '65. 
Plasters,  John,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Price,  John  W.,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  died  Dec.  11, 1862, 

at  Louisville,  Ky. 
Phelps,  John  L.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865, 

as  Corp. 
Patterson,  T.  F.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  prmtd.  to  Lieut,  and 

Capt. 

Patterson,  N.  C.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65. 
Phelps,  D.  B.,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862;  disd.  for  disability 

May  23, 1863. 

Ransom,  W.  H.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  Jan.  4, 1863. 
Rochester,  N.  S.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  2,  1865, 

of  wds. 
Rochester,  J.  S.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;   m.  o.  June  5, 1865, 

as  Corp. 

Robins,  Alanson,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Blunders,  Wm.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 1866. 
Reeder,  Elias,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  disd.  March  5, 1863. 
Rny,  Rolla,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  disd.  Feb.  4,  1803. 
Stilts,  Jan^s,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  died  May  11, 1863. 
Sizelo'-e,  John,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  July  22, 1865, 

a  prisoner. 

Scholes,  John,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Smith,  F.  M.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5,  1865. 
Stely,  Merton,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  died  Dec.,  1862. 
Turner,  Van.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865,  as 

Corp. 

Treadway,  M.  L.,  Batn,  Aug.  27, 1862;  died  Feb.  6, 1863. 
Troy,  Martin,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862;  died  at  Mound  City 

Oct.  2, 1864. 

Toley,  C.  W.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862;  disd.  Feb.  4,  1863. 
Vanlaningham.  Geo.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  deserted 

Dec.  23, 1862. 
Welch,  J.  H.,  Bath,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  kid.  at  Peach  Tree 

Creek  July  19, 1864. 

Welch.  Ira.  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862;  died  Dec.  9, 1862. 
Wheeler,  Christ.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  deserted  Sept.,  '63. 
Wallace.  James,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;    m.  o.  June  5,  1865. 
Young,  Wm.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Yardly,  Jaaob,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865, 

as  Scrgt. 

RECRUITS. 

Batterson,  G.  P.,  Mason  Co. ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Pulling,  George  W.,  Mason  Co. ;  deserted  Feb  14,  '63. 

Company  I. 

Capt.  David  M.  Halstead,  Havana,  April  19,  1863 ;  resd 
Oct.  7,  1863. 

First  Lieut  David  M.  Halstead,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ; 
prmtd. 

Burbridge,  Thos.,  Manito,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  died  at  Nash- 
ville Jan.  1, 1863. 

Cain,  Charles,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  disd.  July  31,  '64. 

Dingier,  Geo.,  Bath,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  22, 1865. 

Watson,  John,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65, 
as  Corp- 

Company  K. 

Capt.  Robert  G.   Rider,   Topeka,  Aug.   27, 1862 ;  prmtd. 

Major. 
Capt.  Samuel  Yates,  Topeka,  April  6,  1863,  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 

First  Lieut.  Samuel  Yates,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862;  prmtd. 
First  Lieut.  Isaac   C.  Short,  Topeka,  April  6,  1863;  m.  o. 

June  5,  1865. 
Second   Lieut.   Isaac  C.   Short,   Topeka,   Aug.   27,  1862; 

prmtd. 
Second  Lieut.  Eli  F.  Neikirk,  Forest  City,  April  6, 1863; 

resd.  Nov.  4,  18G4. 
First  Serjct.   Robert   F.  Reason,  Havana,  Aug.  27,1862; 

died  at  Louisville  Oct.  22,  1862. 
Sergt.  John  N.  Hole,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;  disd.  Feb.  3, 

1863,  First  Sergt. 


Sergt.  John  S.  Walker,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  disd.  May 

20, 1864,  as  private. 
Sergt.  A.  A.  Carrington,  Aug.   27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  6, 

1865. 
Sergt.  Wm.  Masterson,  Forest  City,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  trana. 

to  4th  Cav.  Dec.  1, 1862. 
Corp.  Thomas  Jemison,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  died  Dec. 

20, 1862,  at  Nashville. 
Corp.  Joseph  Bodle,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5,  1865,  as 

private. 
Corp.  Wm.  K.  Rose,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  Nov.  8, 1862,  at 

Danville,  Ky. 
Corp.  John  M.  Durham.  Aug.  27, 1862;  died  Jan.  22, 1863, 

at  Bawling  Green. 
Corp.  Win.  H.  Hole,  Havana,  Aug.  22, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865,  as  Sergt. 
Corp.  Preston  C.Hudson,   Havana,  Aug.  27,1862;  trans. 

to  Co.  I. 
Corp.  Romeo  Magill,  Topeka,  Aug.  27,  1862;  died  Dec.  8, 

1862,  at  Danville,  Ky. 

Corp.  James  Jemison,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  kid.  at  Ken- 

esaw  June  24.  J864. 
Musician  James  Durdy,   Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  prmtd. 

to  Drum  Major. 
Musician  George    Hoagland,  Aug.  27, 1862;  disd.  Feb.  3, 

1863. 
Ames,  Orpheus,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65, 

as  Corp. 
Andrews,  Clark  N.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  prmtd.  Sergt. 

Major. 
Beck,  William,  Mason   City,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Blakely,  W.  C.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862;  died  March  7,  '63, 

at  Nashville. 
Barr,  John  M.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  Feb.  26,  '63, 

at  Nashville. 

i    Bowers,  Jeff.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  disd.  Feb.  28, 1863. 

'    Chaplin,  Jos.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5,  1865. 

Colglazier,  D.  B.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  died  Dec.  9, '62, 

at  Danville,  Ky. 
Cottrell,  George  H.,  Forest  City,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  supposed 

dead. 
Durdy,  Robert  L.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  disd.  Dec.  27, 

1862. 

Drake,  George,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65. 
Erick,  Charles,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65, 

.    as  Sergt. 

Evans,  W.  H.,   Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  disd.  Nov.  25,  '62. 
Fountain,  Isaac,  Forest  City,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5. 

1865. 
Frank,  John,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Gumbell,  Wm.,  Forest  City,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Grover,  B.  H.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  died  Jan.  5,  1863, 

at  Bowling  Green. 
Griffin,  A.  D.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  1862;  died  Dec.  9,  '62, 

at  Nashville. 
Griffin,  J.  N.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 

Garrison,  R.  C.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  kid.  at  Buz- 
zard Roost,  Ga.,  Feb.  25,1864. 
Hopping,  G.  H.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65, 

as  Corp. 
Himmel,  A.  J.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65, 

as  Sergt. 
Hetzeller,  Geo.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865, 

as  Corp. 

Hibbs,  Benj.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Horsey,  S.  B.  Forest  City,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  First  Sergt.,  kid. 

at  Jonesboro.  Ga.,  Sept.  1, 1864. 

Hitchcock,  C.  E.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  disd.  Feb.  3,  '63. 
Hopping,  Ephraim,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  absent,  sick, 

at  m.  o. 
Joneson,  Daniel  T.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  Feb.  4, 

1864,  Ht  Richmond,  Va. 
Jemison,  Wm    H.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  died  Jan.  1, 

1863,  at  Bowling  Green. 

Jackson,  Joseph  E.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 

Killip,  Wm..  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  disd.  Feb.  24, 1863. 
Mohlenbrink,  F.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Mohlenbrink,  H.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,   1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 
Massey,  William   H.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865,  as  Corp. 
McNight,  Josiah,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  m.  o.  June 

5, 1865. 


482 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


Morris,  L.  N.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Morris,  Charles,  Topeka,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  Jupe  5, 

1865. 
Neikirk,  E.  T.,  Forest  City,  Aug.   27,  1862;  prmtd.  to 

Second  Lieut. 
Prettynian,  Jac.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862  ;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 

Robinson,  Ad.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  disd.  Feb.  3, 1863. 
Rakestraw,  John,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862;  died  Jan.v28, 

1863,  at  Louisville,  Ky. 

Riddle,  C.  P.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  died  Nov.  27, 1862, 

at  Bowling  Green,  Ky. 

Reason,  H.  F.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5,  1865. 
Hhellibarger,  A.,   Topeka,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5, 

1865. 
Shellibarger,  J.  W.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 
Stone,  .fumes  A.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  May  12, 

1865. 
Shaw,  Moses,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  Nov.  17, 1862, 

at  Louisville. 

Spellman,  Hy.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65. 
Seibenborn,  John,   Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  died  May  28, 

1864,  at  Dallas,  Ua. 

Thomas,  Zimri,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.  o.  June  5,  '65, 

as  Corp. 
Vanhorn,   D.  P.,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 
Weidman,  S.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27,  1862;  m.  o.  June  5,  1865, 

as  Corp. 
Wagoner,  W.   H.,  Havana,  Aug.  27,  1862 ;  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 

Whitaker,  J.  M.,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862;  m.o.  June  5,  '65. 
Went,  Henry,  Topeka,  Aug.  27, 1862 ;  m.  o.  June  5, 1865. 
Wright,  John  B.,  Havana,  Aug.  27, 1862;  prmtd.  to  Adjt. 
Zentmire,  David,  Mason  City,  Aug.  27,  1862,  m.  o.  June 

5,  1865. 
Zanise,  John,  Manito,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  died   Dec.   6,  1862, 

at  Nashville,  Tenn. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  EIGHTH 
INFANTRY. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Infantry  was 
organized  at  Camp  Peoria  on  the  27th  of 
August,  1862. 

October  6,  the  regiment  moved  by  rail  to 
Covington,  Ky.,  via  Logansport,  Indianapolis 
and'  Cincinnati,  arriving  at  Covington  on  the 
8th. 

The  regiment  drew  equipage  and  transpor- 
tation, and;  on  the  17th,  marched  with  the 
division  into  the  interior  of  the  State,  follow- 
ing the  retreating  enemy  through  Falmouth, 
Cynthia,  Paris  and  Lexington  to  Nicholasville, 
arriving  on  the  1st  of  November,  and  remain- 
ing to  the  14th. 

The  regiment,  November  14,  marched  for 
Louisville  via  Versailles,  Frankfort  and  Shel- 
byvillf,  reaching  Louisville  on  the  19th,  and, 
on  the  21st,  embarked  for  Memphis,  where  it 
arrived  on  the  26th',  and  went  into  camp  near 
the  city. 

The  regiment  remained  on  duty  at  Memphis 
until  the  20th  of  December,  when  it  embarked, 
under  Gen.  Sherman,  in  an  expedition  against 
Vicksburg.  They  proceeded  down  the  river 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo,  and  up  that  river 
to  Johnson's  Landing,  near  Chickasaw  Bluff, 
where  the  regiment  encamped  on  the  night  of 
28th  of  December.  On  the  morning  of  the 
29th,  the  division  moved  upon  the  enemy,  who 
were  found  strongly  intrenched  on  the  Bluffs 
running  northeast  from  Vicksburg.  Here  the 
One  Hundred  and  Eighth  first  met  the  enemy, 
occupying  the  extreme  right  of  the  Union  lines, 


and  resting  on  the  Mississippi  River  with  its 
right.  The  skirmishing  began  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  29th,  and  the  battle  was  renewed 
on  the  morning  of  the  30th.  The  forces  in 
front  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  were 
forced  to  retire  with  a  loss  of  seven  killed  and 
four  captured  prisoners  by  the  regiment. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1863,  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Eighth  again  went  to  the  front,  and 
remained  on  the  skirmish  line  until  midnight, 
when,  at  the  time  the  clock  in  Vicksburg 
struck  the  hour  of  1,  the  regiment,  in  compli- 
ance with  previous  orders,  silently  withdrew, 
covering  the  retreat  of  the  army,  and,  on  the 
morning  of  the  2d,  embarked  on  transports. 

The  lines  of  the  armies  were  so  close  to- 
gether that  the  voices  of  the  opposing  foes 
could  be  distinctly  heard,  yet  the  retreat  was 
so  well  planned  and  executed  that  the  enemy 
knew  nothing  of  it  until  the  fleet  went  steam- 
ing down  the  Yazoo. 

The  fleet  passed  down  the  Yazoo  and  up  the 
Mississippi  to  the  mouth  of  White  Fiver,  and 
up  that  river,  through  a  cut-off,  into  the  Ar- 
kansas to  Arkansas  Post,  where,  on  the  10th 
of  January,  the  regiment  disembarked  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  investment  of  that  fort,  and, 
on  the  following  day.  bore  an  active  part  in 
that  most  brilliant  and  successful  engagement, 
which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the  fort  with 
[  some  five  thousand  prisoners. 

The   causalties   in   the   One    Hundred    and 
;    Eighth  during  this  engagement  were  13  men 
|    wounded.     On  the  17th  of  January,  the  fleet 
:   again  moved  down  stream  to  Young's  Point, 
opposite  Vicksburg,  where  the  Twenty-fourth 
regiment  went  into  camp.     The  long  confine- 
ment on  the  transports  in  this  expedition,  the 
want  of  pure  air  and  sanitary  conveniences, 
cost  the  regiment  more   lives  than    all  other 
causes  during  its  term  of  service.     One  officer, 
Philo  W.  Hill.  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  A, 
I   and  134  men,  died  during  the  months  of  Feb- 
i   ruary  and  March.     On  the  loth  of  April,  the 
regiment  marched  with    the  army  across  the 
country  via  Richmond,  Smith's  Plantation  and 
I   along  Lake  St.  Joseph  to  Hard  Times,  landing 
on    the    Mississippi    opposite    Grand     Gulf; 
thence  along  the  levee  to  Brandensburg,  arriv- 
ing there  on  the  29th  of  April.     The  next  day 
the  regiment  crossed  the  Mississippi  on  board 
'    the  iron-clad  gun-boat  Lafayette,   which  had 
!    run  the  batteries  of  Vicksburg  and  Grand  Gulf. 
On    the    morning   of    May    1,    the    regiment 
marched  rapidly  on  to  the  battlefield  of  Port 
Gibson   and   took    its    position,    fighting   and 
marching  all   day  without  eating   or  resting. 
After  a  tedious  march,   the  regiment  reached 
Champion    Hills,    on    the    16th,    and    again 
engaged  in  battle  and  again  drove  the  enemy 
from  the  field.     On  the  17th,  the  regiment  was 
j   assigned  to  the  duty  of  taking  charge  of  the 
prisoners,  and    marching  with  them  to  Black 
River   Bridge,    where   it   was  joined   by   the 
j   Twenty-Third  Iowa,  with  another  lot  of  prison- 
ers,  making   in   all    4,500.     On   the    19th,  it 
reached  Haines'  Bluff,  on   the  Yazoo,  and  the 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


483 


next  day  embarked  for  Young's  Point  and  went' 
into  camp,  where  it  had  left  five  months  before. 
On  the  25th,  the  regiment  embarked  with  the 
prisoners  for  Memphis,  and,  delivering  them 
to  the  command  there,  returned  to  Young's 
Point  and  there  remained  on  duty  until  the 
surrender  of  Vicksburg. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  the  regiment  crossed 
over  into  Vicksburg  and  reported  to  Gen.  Mc- 
Pherson,  and,  on  the  26th,  embarked  for  Mem- 
phis, reporting  to  Gen.  Hurlbut  on  the  29th, 
and,  on  the  5th  of  August,  went  to  La  Grange 
and  was  assigned  to  the  First  Brigade,  Second 
Division,  Sixteenth  Army  Corps.  On  the  28th 
of  October,  the  regiment  marched  to  Poca- 
hontas  and  garrisoned  that  post  until  the  9th 
of  November,  Cok  Turner  commanding  the 
post. 

On  the  9th  of  November,  the  regiment  moved 
to  Corinth  and  remained  on  duty  until  the 
place  was  evacuated  on  the  28th  of  January, 
1864,  when  it  proceeded  to  Memphis. 

On  the  2d  of  June,  130  men  of  the  regiment 
went  with  Gen.  Sturgis'  command  in  pursuit 
of  Gen.  Forrest  and  overtook  his  forces  and 
had  an  engagement  on  the  10th  of  June. 

On  the  21st  of  August,  1864,  when  Forrest 
made  his  famous  raid  into  Memphis,  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighth  did  good  service  in 
compelling  him  to  make  a  hasty  retreat. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  1865,  the  regiment 
left  Memphis  for  New  Orleans,  where  it  joined 
the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  in  command  of 
Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
Third  Brigade,  Col.  Turner  in  Command. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  the  regiment  em- 
barked on  board  the  ocean  steamer  Guiding 
Star  for  Fort  Gaines,  on  Dauphine  Island, 
which  point  was  reached  on  the  16th.  On  the 
21st  of  March,  the  regiment  embarked  and 
proceeded  up  Mobile  Bay  and  Fish  River  to 
Donly's  Mills,  about  twenty-five  miles  from  its  | 
mouth.  On  the  25th  it  marched  with  the  j 
corps  in  the  direction  of  Mobile,  and,  on  the 
27th,  the  enemy  was  met  and  driven  within 
his  works  at  Spanish  Fort.  Heavy  fighting 
continued  all  day  and  in  the  night  siege  work 
began  and  continued  night  and  day  under  a 
constant  fire  from  sharp-shooters  stationed 
behind  the  enemy's  works.  The  One  Hundred 
And  Eighth  occupied  the  dangerous  point  at  the 
extreme  right  of  the  Union  lines,  where  it  was 
supposed  the  enemy  would  attempt  to  turn  this 
flank.  The  siege  of  this  stronghold  lasted 
thirteen  days  and  was  brought  to  a  close  on 
the  8th  of  April,  when  the  Third  Brigade,  to 
which  this  regiment  belonged,  charged  the 
enemy's  works  from  the  works  which  this 
regiment  had  constructed  and  pushed  two 
hundred  yards  nearer  the  enemy  than  any 
other  point  on  the  line.  The  casualties  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  during  the  siege 
and  assault  were  one  officer,  Capt.  VV.  W.  Bul- 
lock, severely  wounded,  three  men  killed  and 
ten  wounded. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  the  regiment  marched 
with  the  Sixteenth  Corps  to  Montgomery,  Ala., 


which  place  was  reached  on  the  25th.  Here 
it  remained  until  the  18th  of  July  on  provost 
duty.  Col.  Turner  in  command  of  the  brigade 
and  also  of  the  post. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  the  regiment  embarked 
on  boat  for  Selma,  thence  by  rail  to  Jackson, 
Miss.,  via  Demopolis  and  Meridian,  and  from 
thence  by  rail  to  Vicksburg,  on  its  way  to 
the  homes  from  which  the  men  had  been  absent 
for  three  long  years  of  bloody  war. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  1865,  the  muster-out 
rolls  were  signed  and  the  regiment  embarked 
for  Cairo,  and  from  there  proceeded  by  rail 
to  Chicago,  where  it  was  paid  off  and  dis- 
charged from  service  on  the  llth  day  of  August, 
1865.  

Company  A. 

Musician  Jas.  Silbee,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  5, 1865. 

Company  C. 

Morganslarn,  L.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Sept  20, 1864;  m.o.  Aug. 

5,  1865. 
McFadden,  Wm.,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Sept.  20,  1864  j    m.  o. 

Aug.  5,  18G5. 
Ross,  John,  Spring  Lake,  e.  Sept.  20,  1864;    m.  o.  Aug. 

5,  1865. 

Company  D. 

Lombard,  Augustus,  Spring  Lake,  Sept.  23,  1864 ;    m.  o. 

Aug.  5,  1865. 
Woods,  James,  Spring  Lake,  Sept.  20,  1864;    m.  o.  Aug. 

5,  1865. 

Company  F. 

Capt.  Isaac  Sarf,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,1862;    resd.  April 

6,  1863. 

Capt.  John  H.  Schulte,  Bath,  April  6,  1863;   resd.  Feb. 

16,  1865. 
First  Lieut.  James  Tippett.  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862 ; 

resd.  Feb.  16, 1863. 
First    Lieut.    John    H.    Schulte,   Bath,  Feb.    21,   1863; 

prmtd. 
Second    Lieut.  John   H.  Schulte,   Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862; 

prmtd. 
First  Sergt,  John  Eveland,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;    trans. 

to  Inv.  Corps  Feb.  15, 1863. 
Sergt.  Charles  Lippett,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862;   disd. 

April  17, 1861. 
Sergt.  d.  T.  Northcroft,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;   deserted 

Sept.  20,  1862. 
Corp.  George  W.  Patterson,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862;  deserted 

Sept.  20,  1862. 
Corp.  W.  P.  Markland,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;  m.  o.  Aug.  5, 

1865,  as  Sergt. 
Corp.  Robert  Moore,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28, 1862 ;  died  Feb. 

23,  1863,  at  Young's  Point. 
Corp.  Richard  Bradshaw,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28, 1862 ;    m. 

o.  Aug.  5, 1865,  as  Sergt. 
Corp.  Wm.  E.  Sarff,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28, 1862 ;  disd.  April 

7,  1863. 

Corp.  James  Butler,  Bath.  Aug.  28,  1862;   disd.  April  1, 

1863. 
Corp.  Benjamin  Dodson.  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28, 1862;  m.  o. 

July  28,  1865,  as  Sergt. 
Corp.  Hezekiah   Lynch,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;    deserted 

Oct.  5,  1862. 
Musician  Gustave  Juzi,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862 ;   disd. 

Oct.  27, 1862,  at  Covington. 
Musician  Thos.  D.  Gatton,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862 ;  deserted 

Sept.  22,  1862. 
Wagoner  Thomas  Porter,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862;   m. 

o.  Aug.  5, 1865. 
Arndt,  Peter,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862 ;    m.  o.  Aug.  5, 

1865. 
Adkins,  Isaac  N.,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862;  died  Dec.  13,  1862, 

at  Memphis. 

Brandt,  Peter,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;  died  Jan.  19,  1863. 
Butler,  Richard,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862 ;  died  March  4, 1864, 

at  Memphis. 


484 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


Boyd,  M.  W.,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;  trans,  to  Co.  H. 
Breeden,  J.  P.,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;  died  Feb.  5, 1863,  at 

St.  Louis. 
Camp,  Mead,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862;    disd.  March  6, 

1863. 

Case,  Calvin,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862;  deserted  May  5, 1863. 
Deer,  C.  E.,Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862  ;  m.  o.  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Dew,  Wiley,  Bath.  Aug.  28,  1862 ;  died  May  11,  1863. 
Estes,  James,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862  ;   died  Feb.  3,  1863,  at 

Young's  Point. 

Frank,  Matthew,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862;  m.  o.  Aug.  5, 1865. 
Fuse,  Joseph,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28, 1862  ;    deserted  Sept. 

25,  1862. 
Gobble,  George,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862 ;    died  Oct.  10, 

1862,  at  La  Grange,  Tenn. 

Griffin,  William,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;   deserted  Jan.  26, 

1863. 
Hamilton,  Thomas,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28, 1862;   died  Feb. 

23. 1863,  at  Young's  Point. 

Huffman,  William,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;   deserted  Jan. 

20,  1863. 
Harsher,  John,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862 ;   m.  o.  Aug.  5, 

1865,  as  Corp. 

Harsher,  Andrew,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28, 1802 ;   Corp.;  ab- 
sent sick  at  m.  o. 
Haid,  Louis,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;  m.  o.  Aug.  5, 1865,  as 

prisoner  of  war. 
Halliday,  M.  J.,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28, 1862;  deserted  Oct. 

9, 1862. 
Johnson,  Edward,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862;   deserted  Oct.  29, 

1862. 
Knight,  F.  S.,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862;  died  May  4,  1864,  at 

Ford,  Tex. 
Kerchean,  H.,  Havana,  Aug.  28, 1862 ;  died  Jan.  25, 1863, 

at  Young's  Point. 
Lane,  Samuel  C.,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862  ;   m.  o.  Aug. 

5, 1865,  as  Sergt. 

Madison,  Abner,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  '62 ;    absent  sick  at  m.  o. 
Mahan,  Hassan,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862 ;  died  Feb.  1, 1863. 
Neiderer,   Arnold,  Bath,  Aug.   28,  1862;   m.  o.  Aug.   5, 

1865. 
Perry,  James  H.,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862 ;  died  March 

12. 1864,  at  St.  Louis.     ' 

Piirson,  Isaac,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862;  absent  sick  at 

m.  o. 

Ray,  Rolla,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862  ;  deserted  Aug.  28, 1862. 
Redman,  Elias,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1 862 ;    died  Feb.  6, 

1863,  at  Young's  Point. 

Rempson,  Bruno,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1863 ;    m.  o.  Aug. 

5,  1865. 
Rochester,  S.  S.,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;    didn't  go  with  the 

boys. 
Smith,  Romane,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862 ;   died  Jan. 

19,  1863. 
Sarff,  Abner,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862;  m.  o.  Aug.  5, 

1865. 

Shafer,  Isaac,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862;  deserted  May  5,  1863. 
Smith,  Henry,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862 ;  deserted  May  5,  '63. 
Sarff,  John.  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  '62;  absent  sick  at  m.  o. 
Tayor,  Alex.,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  '62;   m.  o.  Aug.  5,  '65. 
Vanblaricum,  D.,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862 ;  died  Feb.  13,  '63, 

at  Young's  Point. 
Warren,  Wright,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;    absent  sick  at 

m.  o. 

Wood,  Wm.,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862;  deserted  May  5,  1863. 
Wright,  Wm.,  Lynchburg,  Aug.  28,  1862;  died  Feb.  15, 

1863,  at  Young's  Point. 

RECRDIT8. 

Gaston,  Chas.,  Spring  Lake,  Sept.  27,  1864;  m.  o.  Aug. 
5,  1865. 

Company  H. 

Capt.  Wm.  M.  Duffey,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28, 1862;  m.  o.  Aug. 
5, 1865. 

First  Lieut.  Isaac  C.  Brown,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28,  1862;  re- 
signed Dec.  11, 1863. 

Second  Lieut.  Wm.  W.  Nelson,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862;  resd. 
March  1,  1863. 

First  Sergt.  Samu<  1  Biggs,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28, 1862 ;  disd. 

Sergt.  William  Little,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28,1862;  m.o.  Aug. 

5,  1865.  ai  First  Sergt. 

Sergt.  Edwin  Smith,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28, 1862 ;   m.  o.  Aug. 

6,  1865,  as  First  Sergt. 

Sergt.  Rufus  B.  Somers,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28,1862;  disd. 
March  14, 1863,  as  private. 


Corp.  A.  P.  Houston,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28,  1862 ;  disd.  Aug. 

16,1863. 
Corp.  0.  A.  Robinson,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28, 1862  ;  died  Feb. 

1, 186<. 
Corp.  Edwin  Dillon,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28,  1862;  absent  sick 

at  m.  o. 
Corp.  E.  C.  Kidder,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28,  1862  ;   m.  o.  Aug. 

5, 1866. 
Corp.  John  Orm,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28, 1862 ;  died  Feb.  20r 

1863,  at  Young's  Point. 
Musician  J.  A.  Nelson,  Bath,  Aug.  28, 1862;   disd.  March 

24,  1863. 
Musician  John  Radcliff,  Bath,  Aug.  28,  1862;  disd.  March 

24,  1863. 
Wagoner  Jas.  D.  Hite,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28,  1862 ;   m.  o. 

Aug.  5,  1865. 
Black,  Clinton,  Crane  Creek,  Aug.  28,   1862;    deserted 

Aug.  29, 1862. 
Boyer,  David,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28, 1862 ;   deserted  Aug.  29, 

1862. 
Boyer,  Em.,  San  Jose,  Aug.  28, '62;   deserted  Aug.  29, 

1862. 

Brown,  Jacob,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12. 1862 ;  disd.  Nov.  16. 
Boyd,  Morris  W.,  Bath,  Aug.  12, 1862;  m.  o.  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Buchanan,  J.  H.  H.,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862;  died  Feb.  6, 

1863,  at  Young's  Point. 
Cook,  Wm.  P  ,  Sau  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862;  died  Feb.  18,1865, 

at  Young's  Point. 

Comesford,  M.,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862 ;  prmtd  to  Lieut. 
Dorrance,  J.  G.,  San  Jose,   Aug.  12, 1862 ;  deserted  Sept. 

1862. 
Davis,  John  B.,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12,  1862 ;  died  Jan.  13, 

1863,  at  Arkansas  Post. 
Elmore,  Redding,  Crane  Creek,  Aug.  12, 1862  ;  deserted 

Feb.  13, 1863. 
Frey,  Ulrich,  San   Jos.,  Aug.   12,1862;  deserted  Oct.  15, 

1863. 

Ford,  John,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862;  m.  o.  Aug.  5, 1865. 
Garran,  G.   W.,  San  Jose,  Aug.   12, 1862 ;  died  Feb.  13, 

1863,  at  Young's  Point. 
Gardner,  Leonard.  Prairie  Creek,  Aug.  12, 1862 ;  deserted 

in  Sept.,  1862. 
Hutchinson,  Sam,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862 ;  trans.  t-->  Inv. 

Corps  Jan.  15, 1864. 
Hillman,   J.  C.,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12,  1862 ;  died  Jan.  31, 

1863. 
Jones,  John  C.,  Bath,  Aug.  12,  1862;  deserted  Jan.  19, 

1863. 
Kidder,  Z.  B.,   San  Jose,  Aug.  12,  1862;  disd.  Sept.  23, 

1863. 
Keiting,   Pat.,  San   Jose,  Aug.  12,  1862;  m.  o.  Aug.  5, 

1865. 
Lahey,  Nicholas,  San  Jose,  Aug.   12, 1862 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  5, 

1865. 

Lucas,  Alfred,  Bath,  Aug.  12, 1862;  died  Jan.  26, 1864. 
Moore,  John,  Jr.,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862 ;  deserted  Oct. 

6, 1863. 
Moore,  John,  Sr.,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862;  died  July  13, 

1863. 
Martin,  J.  A.,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862;  died  July  29, 1?63, 

at  St.  Louis. 
McCarty,  Michael,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12,  1862;  deserted  Dec. 

18, 1»62. 
McNaughton,  Geo.,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862;  m.o.  Aug. 

5, 1865. 
McGhee,  F.  J.,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862;  disd.  for  disability 

Aug.  28, 1862. 
Orm,  R.  M.,  Prairie  Creek,  Aug.  12,  1862;  disd.  July  24, 

1863. 
Pounds,  Thomas,  Bath,  Aug.  12,  1862;  deserted  Oct.  22, 

1862. 
Setters,  J.  W.,  Crane  Creek,  Aug.  12, 1862;  disd.  March 

7, 1862. 
Soilbee,  James,   Bath,  Aug.  12,  1862 ;  prmtd.  Principal 

Musician. 
Totten,  Daniel,   San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  5, 

1865. 
Tyler    C  W.,  San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862 ;  disd.  for  disability 

May  17,  1865. 
Yontz,  Abraham.  San  Jose,  Aug.  12, 1862 ;  died  Jan  29, 

1863. 

RECRUITS. 

Anno,  A.  N.,  Spring  Lake,  Sept.  27, 1864;  m.  o.  Aug.  5, 

1865. 
Campbell,  M.  A.,  Spring  Lake,  Sept.  27, 1864 ;  m.  o.  July 

1.  1865. 
Charles,  John,  Spring  Lake,  Sept.  24, 1864. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


485 


ONE   HUNDRED   AND   FOUR- 
TEENTH INFANTRY. 
Company  D. 

RECRUITS. 

Holmes.  Samuel,  Spring  Lake,  Sept.  22, 1864;  m.  o.  Aug. 

5,  1865. 
Nale.  William,   Spring  Lake,  Sept.  22, 1864;  m.  o.  Aug. 

5, 1865. 
O'Conor,  Peter,  Spring  Lake,  Sept.  22, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Aug.  5, 

1865. 
Thompson,  J.  W.,  Spring  Lake,-Sept.  22, 1864  ;  m.  o.  Aug. 

6, 1865. 

ONE    HUNDRED     AND    THIRTY- 
THIRD  INFANTRY. 

(One  Hundred  lu vs. 

Company  C. 

Daskin,  R.  B.,  Mason  City,  April  27,  1864. 
Hewett,  S.  P.,  Havana,  May  10,  1864. 


ONE   HUNDRED   AND  THIRTY- 
NINTH    INFANTRY. 

(One  Hundred  Days.) 

Company  I. 

Capt.  W.  H.  Caldwell,  Havana,  June  1, 1864,  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 

First  Lieut.  Frank  A.  Moseley,  Bath,  June  1, 1864;  m.  o. 
-     Oct.  28, 1864. 
Second   Lieut.  John   B.  Brush,  Bath,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,1864. 
First  Sergt.  W.  H.  Patterson,  Bath,  June  1,  1864 ;  m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Sergt.  John  Cogshall,  Bath,  June  1,  1864  ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 
Sergt.  James  R.  Teney,  Havana,  June  1,  1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct. 

28.  1864. 
Sergt.  0.  W.  Clotfelter,  Bath,  June  1,  1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 
Sergt.  Wm.  A.  Martin,  Havana,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct. 

28,  1864. 

Corp.  John  Nix,  Bath,  June  1, 1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Corp.  C.  E.  Hitchcock,  Havana,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 
Corp.  Henry  Wilkins,  Bath,  June  1,  1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 
Corp.  C.  S.  Chambers,  Havana,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 
Corp.  James  H.  Daniels,  Bath,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 
Corp.  Thomas  H.  Johns,  Havana,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct. 

28, 1864. 
Corp.  Charles  A.  Gore,  Bath,  June  1,  1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 
Corp.  Oscar  H.  Harpham,  Havana,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct. 

28, 1864. 
Musician  Wm.  H.  O'Riley,  Havana,  June  1,1864;   m.  o. 

Oct.  28,  1864. 
Musician  Ed.  A.  Schemerhorn,  Havana,  June  1, 1864;  m. 

o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Wagoner  John  H.  Sherwood,  Havana,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o. 

Oct.  28, 1864. 
Atkin,  Andrew  J.,  Havana,  June  1,  1864;   m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 

Bowers,  J.  T.,  Havana,  June  1, 1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Brandt,  Otto,  Havana,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Bubert,  Henry,  Havana,  June  1, 1864;  died  at  Cairo. 
Clarkson,  John  L.,  Bath,  June  1, 1864;  m.o.Oct.  28,1864. 
Carman,  John  L.,  Havana,  June  1,  1864;   m.o.Oct. 28, 

1864. 

Clotfelter,  Charles,  Bath,  June  1,  1864  ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  '64. 
Cross,  Geo.  W.,  Havana,  June  1,  1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Cogshall,  Charles,  Bath,  Junel,  1861 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Cress,  N.  R.,  Havana,  June  1,  1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Deverman,  H.  G.,  Havuna,  June  1,   1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 
Duvall,   Simpson,  Havana,  June  1.1864;   m.  o.  Oct.   28, 

1864. 


Dew,  James,  Bath,  June  1,  1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Donlin,  James  C.,  Havana,  June  1,  1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,. 

1864. 

Earl,  Geo.  B.,  Havana,  June  1,  1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
England,  Azariah,  Havana,  June  1,  1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  '28, 

1864. 
England,  Isaac  W.,  Havana,  June  1  1864  ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 
Grant,  Charles  C.,  Havana,  June  1,  1864;   m.  o.  Oct.  28r 

1864. 

Grigjss,  Matthew,  Bath,  June  1,  1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Hardin,  William  C.,  Bath,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.o.  Oct.  28,  '64. 
Hill,  Mark  D.,  Bath.  June  1, 1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Halliday,  Geo.  S.,  Bath,  June  1, 1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Hollinpiworth,  A.  B..  Bath,  June  1, 1864;   m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 

Jones,  Richard,  Havana,  June  1, 1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Judson,  W.  H.  H.,  Havana,  June  1, 1864  ;    m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 

Krafts,  August,  Havana,  Jane  1,  1864 ;   m.  o.  Oct.  28,  '64. 
Kirk,  James,  Bath,  June  1,  1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Knight,  Thomas,  Bath,  June  1, 1864  ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Lacy,  Robert,  Bath,  June  1,  1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Littell,   Nathaniel,  Havana,  Junel,  1864;  m.o.Oct.  •>*, 

1864. 

Lisco,  James,  Havana,  June  1, 1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Martin,  Godfrey,  Havana,  June  1,   1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,. 

1864. 

Martin,  John  M.,  Bath,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Moore,  J.  F.,  Havana,  June  1, 1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Nichols,  C.  A.,  Havana,  June  1, 1864  ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
O'Leary,  George  D.,  Bath,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct. 28,  '64. 
Parkhurst,  Geo.  A.,  Havana,  June  1,  1864;  m.  o.  Oct. 

28,  1864 

Pegram,  Hardin,  Bath,  June  1,  1864  ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Pesterfield,  John  W.,  Bath,  June  1, 1864 :  m.  o.  Oct.  28r 

1864. 

Pounds,  Henry,  Havana,  June  1, 1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  '64. 
Ruckman,  Lemuel,  Havana,  June  1,  1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 

Rupert,  W.  H.,  Havana,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Shultz,  George  M.,  Havana,  June  1, 1864  ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 

1864. 
Shultz,  James  M.,  Havana,  June  1,  1864;  m.  <>.  Oct.  28,. 

1864. 

Sisson,  Marcus,  Bath,  June  1,  1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Smith,  Irving,  Bath,  June  1, 1864  ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Toland,  P.  A.,  Bath,  June  1 , 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Tolly,  Walter,  Bath,  June  1, 1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Thompson,  N.  E.,  Bath,  June  1, 1864;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  1864. 
Walker,  W.  H.,  Havana,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 
Wente,  Fred.,  Topeka,  June  1,  1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28, 1864. 

RECRUITS. 

Shay.  Martin,  Mason  Co.,  June  1, 1864 ;  m.  o.  Oct.  28,  '64. 
Stillman,  H.  J.  B.,  Mason  Co.,  June  1,1864;  m.o. Oct. 28, 
1864. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY- 
FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

(One  Hundred  Days.) 

Company  H. 

Earnett,  John,  Mason   City,  June  9,  1864;  m.  o.  Sept. 

23,  1864. 
Griffith,  John  M.,  Mason  City,  June  9,  1864;  m.  o.  Sept. 

23,  1864. 
Herwig,  Jacob,  Mason  City,  June  9,  1864;  m.  o.  Sept. 

23,  1864. 
Newberry,  George,  Mason  City,  June  9, 1864;  m.  o.  Sept. 

23,  1864. 

ONE    HUNDRED   AND    FORTY- 
EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 

(One  Year.) 

Company  C. 

Corp.  A.  J.  Roberts,  Manito,  Feb.  8,  1865  ;  absent  at  m.  o. 
Barnes,  John,  Manito,  Feb.  8, 1865 ;  m.  o.  Sept.  5, 186V 
Boone,  W.  C.,  Manito,  Feb.  8, 1865 ;  m.  o.  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Douden,  John,  Manito,  Feb.  8, 1865 ;  m.  o.  Sept.  5, 1865. 


486 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


Douden,  Reese,  Manito,  Feb.  8, 1865;  m.  o.  Sept.  5, 1865. 
Pollard,  Wm.,  Manito,  Feb.  8,  1865 ;  m.  o.  Sept.  5, 1865. 
Porter,  C.  H.,  Manito,  Feb.  8,  1865;  m.  o.  Sept.  5, 1865. 
Pollard,  B.  F.,  Manito,  Feb.  8,  1865  ;  m.  o.  Sept.  5, 1865. 
Pendleton,  C.,  Manito,  Feb.  8, 1865  ;  deserted. 
Reynolds,  H.  C.,  Manito,  Feb.  8, 1865;  deserted,  1865. 
Smith,  G.,  Manito,  Feb.  8, 1865  ;  m.  o.  Sept.  5,  1865. 
"White,  G.  W.,  Manito,  Feb.  8, 1865;  died  in  March,  1865. 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTY- 
FIRST    INFANTRY. 

(One  Year.) 

Company  B. 


Ranking,  John  R.,  Havana,  Feb.  14,  1865. 
Shugart,  John,  Havana,  Feb.  14, 1865 ;  deserted. 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTY- 
SECOND    INFANTRY. 

(One  Year.) 

Company  A. 


Fisher,  Robert  F.,  Easton,  Feb.  7,  1865  ;   died  at  Jeffer- 

sonville. 
Fisher,  J.  H.  B.,  Easton,  Feb.  7, 1865 ;  died  at  home. 


The  regimental  history  of  other  regiments  in 
which  the  soldiers  of  Mason  County  served 
would  be  cheerfully  given,  but  there  is  not 
room  in  the  book  for  all ;  nor  have  we  the  nec- 
essary time  to  devote  to  the  work.  So  far  as 
we  have  gone,  it- is  believed  that  a  true  and 
reliable  history  is  given,  such  as  may  be 
handed  down  to  posterity  with  confidence  in 
its  general  correctness  and  completeness.  Of 
•course,  there  may  be  some  errors  in  names, 
which  will  always  occur  among  so  many. 

Justice  and  impartiality  has  been  aimed  at, 
and  if  there  is  any  failure,  it  is  not  from  any 
prejudice  or  partiality.  The  good  name  and 
reputation,  as  well  as  the  welfare  of  every 
Union  soldier  in  the  great  army  of  volunteers, 
are  dearly  enshrined  in  the  memory  of  the 
writer,  who  so  long  shared  in  their  hardships, 
their  dangers  and  their  triumphs.  It  is  the 
campaigning  and  the  battle  field  that  make 
men  feel  near  and  dear  to  each  other.  The 
burly  Dutchman,  the  wild  Irishman,  and  all 
nationalities,  mingle  together  in  battle  and  in 
death  and  are  ever  bound  together  in  one  com- 
mon brotherhood. 


ILLINOIS  NATIONAL  GUARDS. 

The  Seventh  Regiment  of  Illinois  National 
•Guards  was  organized  August  17,  1377,  with 
headquarters  at  Peoria.  Col.  Isaac  Taylor,  of 


Peoria,  has  command  of  the  regiment.  The 
Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  regiment  is  J.  S. 
Kirk,  of  Havana.  Major,  Ol  P.  Crane,  Sur- 
geon, of  Mason  City. 

Two  companies  of  this  regiment  belong  to 
Mason  County — one  in  Havana,  and  the  other 
in  Mason  City. 


Company  F,  of  Havana. 

Capt.  Wm.  H.  Webb. 

First  Lieut.  J.  C.  Yates. 

Second  Lieut.  S.  F.  Kyle. 

First  Sergt.  S.  A.  Murdock. 

Second  Sergt.  J.  R.  Murdock,  disd. 

Second  Sergt.  J.  W.  Patton. 

Third  Sergt.  C.  B.  Ketcham. 

Fourth  Sergt.  C.  N.  Warner. 

Fifth  Sergt.  W.  A.  Brown. 

First  Corp.  Henry  Myers. 

Second  Corp.  L.  P.  Dorreli. 

Third  Corp.  E.  C.  Dearborn. 

Fourth  Corp.  H.  R.  Havighorst. 

Fifth  Corp.  J.  J.  Parkhurst. 

Sixth  Corp.  Charles  Pollitz.  . 

Seventh  Corp.  W.  C.  Rodecker. 

Eighth  Corp.  F.  W.  Blanchard. 

Musician  W.  L.  Ketcham. 

Musician  E.  0.  Wheadon. 

Privates. — Giles  Atkins,  J.  P.  Atwater,  John  Barry, 
Isaac  Bend,  Valentine  Ball,  A.  W.  Beck,  George  Brown, 
John  L.  Carman  (died  in  1879),  William  Chambers,  Abe 
Davis,  R.  F.  Drone,  Lewis  Doherer,  W.  H.  Emerson,  H. 
A.  Ferbrache,  Goodwin  Ford,  Gust.  Gartheffner,  01.  Green- 
wait,  G.  W.  Hillyer,  W.  H.  Hillyer,  Isaac  M.  Henninger, 
George  Q.  Henningei,  W.  A.  Henninger,  Judson  Hen- 
ninger, Charles  H.  Hoffner.  W.  C.  Hoffner,  J.  0.  John- 
stone,  Henry  Kindorp,  Frank  Lally,  W.  W.  Langford, 
Frank  Lewis,  C.  H.  Lury,  Dan.  McMahon,  A.  W.  Nash, 
J.  E.  Nelms,  Jr.,  Charles  Paul,  E.  W.  Paul,  A.  Peterson, 
G.  H.  Prater,  J.  P.  Prettyman,  J.  W.  Reese,  J.  W.  Sarff, 
Wm.  Schultz,  J.  H.  Schulte,  Jr.,  Walter  Spink,  John 
Schwenck,  W.  S.  Stout,  E.  A.  Thornburg. 


Company  I,  of  Mason  City. 

Capt.  Amos  Trout. 
First  Lieut.  George  B.  Jackson. 
Second  Lieut.  John  F.  Hefiernan. 
First  Sergt.  Geo.  H.  Kern. 
Second  Sergt.  Enoch  J.  Pittsford. 
Third  Sergt.  Harry  C.  Thompson. 
Fourth  Sergt.  George  H.  Constant. 
Fifth  Sergt.  Ed.  S.  Carrey. 
First  Corp.  John  J.  Cox. 
Second  Corp.  Nelson  Carson. 
Third  Corp.  Henry  Kile. 
Fourth  Corp.  Wm.  H.  Malone. 
Fifth  Corp.  Samuel  B.  Spear. 
Sixth  Corp.  Charles  M.  Patterson. 
Seventh  Corp.  Willard  E.  Lesourd. 
Musician  Edward  W.  Fuller. 

Privates.— W.  G.  Black,  Jno.  E.  Beck,  Melville  Ches- 
ter, Bruce.  Chenoweth,  Lorenzo  D.  Cox,  Amos  T.  Cole, 
Thomas  E.  Case,  Jno.  F.  Connelly,  Hradley  W.  Case, 
Elijah  M.  Crafton,  Henry  Dallas,  Ludwick  Davis,  Edw. 
J.  Dunbar,  Corey  Fletcher,  Harland  F.  Gregory,  Joseph 
Harrison,  Geo.  W.  Kinnaman,  John  W.  Krittey,  William 
Keefer,  Jno.  Krirksman,  Francis  M.  Ludlam,  Eugena 
Mathers,  James  O'Brien,  Wm.  J.  Rutherford,  J.  W. 
Rozell,  Henry  C.  Shaggs,  J.  H.  Strichtman,  Gammel 
Smith,  Eugene  Spongenburg,  Thos.  0.  Townsand,  Isaac 
Taylor,  Geo.  W.  Tracy,  Edward  A.  Whitney,  Emanuel 
Wharam. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


487 


CITIES   AND    VILLAGES    IN    MASON    COUNTY. 


NAME  OF  PLACES. 

ORIGINAL  PBOPEIETOES. 

Date  of 
Survey. 

Popula- 
tion. 

H  avana  

0.  M.  Ross  

1827 

2600 

Bath     

John  Kerton  

1836 

800 

0.  M  Ross  (obsolete)  

1836 

1837 

M  at  an  zas  

Homes  &  Powell  (obsolete  

1839 

Mason  City  

Yates,  Straut  and  others  ,  

1857 

1600 

Natrona  

Conklin  &  Co  

1857 

100 

Fullerton  &  Cox  

1858 

450 

San   Jose  

Dillon,  Morgan,  Parker  &  Kidder  

1858 

400 

1859 

Topeka  

Thomas  &  Eckard  

1860 

250 

Forest  City  

Dearborn  &  Kemp  

1862 

200 

Peterville        

Peter  Thornburg  

1868 

Bishop's  

H.  Bishop  



50 

K  ilbourne  

J.  B.  Gum  and  others  

1870 

150 

Long  Branch  

J    M    Ruggles  and  B.  H.  Gatton  

1871 

Sedan     

J   F   Kelsey  

1871 

Easton  

James  M.  Samuel  

1872 

200 

Teheran  

Alexander  Blunt  

1873 

50 

Poplar  City  

Martin  Scott  

1873 

Bi  of  ors 

Paul  G   Biggs  

1875 

Snicarte  

Mark  A.  Smith  

1858 

50 

POLITICS    OF    MASON   COUNTY. 

For  many  years,  the  political  preponderance  in  the  county  was  so  evenly 
balanced  between  Whigs  and  Democrats  that  the  personal  popularity  of  the 
candidate  usually  determined  the  result,  and  it  may  be  said  that  the  same  con- 
dition still  continues,  as  the  present  county  offices  are  filled  by  five  Democrats  and 
four  Republicans. 

At  the  first  Presidential  election,  after  the  organization  of  Mason  County, 
the  great  American  statesman,  Henry  Clay,  carried  the  county  by  one  vote, 
over  James  K.  Polk.  From  that  time  down  to  1872,  the  Democratic  majorities 
for  President  ranged  from  twelve  to  ninety-eight.  At  the  last  two  elections, 
the  majority  has  been  largely  increased. 

VOTES    FOR    PRESIDENT. 

1844— Clay,    255 ;  Polk,   254.      1848^Taylor,   391  ;  Cass,   403  ;    Van 

Buren,  4.     1852— Scott,  561 ;  Pierce,  624 ;  Hale,  5.     1856— Fremont, ; 

Buchanan,  -     - ;    Fillmore, .      1860— Lincoln,   1198  ;  Douglas,   1224. 

1864— Lincoln,  1155;  McClellan,  1253.  1868— Grant,  1677;  Seymour, 
1719.  1872— Grant,  1386;  Greeley,  1584.  1876— Hayes,  1566;  Tilden, 
1939  ;  Cooper,  86. 

CAPITAL    PUNISHMENT    IN    MASON    COUNTY. 

It  is  said  that  when  some  pious  adventurers  from  Spain  landed  on  the  coast 
of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  the  first  object  that  attracted  their  attention  was  a  gal- 
lows on  which  some  mutinous  explorer  of  another  party  had  been  hung ;  the 


488  HISTORY   Ot    MASON   COUNTY. 

sight  of  this  gallows  inspired  their  pious  souls  with  joy,  and  they  immediately 
knelt  in  prayer,  thanking  God  "that  their  lot  had  been  cast  in  a  Christian  land." 

If  the  gallows  and  the  gibbet  are  evidences  of  Christianity,  Mason  County 
is  a  God-forsaken  country,  for  within  her  borders  no  gallows  has  yet  been 
erected  and  no  person  hanged  by  order  of  any  Court.  Many  murders  and  other 
high  crimes  have  been  committed  in  the  county,  for  which  the  highest  award  of 
punishment  has  been  a  few  years  of  labor  in  the  Penitentiary. 

There  was  a  dead  man  found  hanging  on  a  black-jack  tree,  near  Forest  City, 
some  years  ago,  but  no  jury  or  court  had  anything  to  do  with  it.  It  was  a 
clear  case  of  a  tree  bearing  the  fruit  that  comes  of  a  life  of  crime !  The  eco- 
nomic ideas  of  the  community  seemed  to  justify  the  act,  because  the  dead  man 
had  threatened  the  life  of  a  good  man  living  in  the  neighborhood,  and  was 
deserving  the  death  which  came  to  him  without  expense  to  the  county  ! 

In  this  respect  the  county  has  been  managed  too  much  in  the  interest  of 
economy — for  there  ought  to  have  been  at  least  a  dozen  pair  of  gallows  paid  for 
and  used  by  the  county  since  its  organization. 

The  people  seem  to  have  ignored  capital  punishment  and  have  so  far  acted 
upon  the  theory  that  it  is  more  merciful  and  less  shocking  to  the  sensibilities, 
to  give  life  to  human  beings  than  to  take  it  from  them  ! 

Of  all  the  murders  and  homicides  in  the  county,  we  cannot  call  to  mind  a 
single  one  that  may  not  be  traced  to  the  intoxicating  bowl  that  destroys  the 
better  nature  of  man  and  changes  him  into  a  maddened  brute ! 

This  being  the  cause  of  crime  may  also  furnish  the  reason  for  a  failure  of 
punishment.  The  average  juryman  cannot  for  the  life  of  him  determine 
whether  it  is  the  man  who  made  the  liquor,  the  man  who  sold  it,  or  the  victim 
who  drank  it  and  committed  the  crime,  that  should  be  punished.  In  the  per- 
plexity of  the  case  the  man  who  commits  the  crime  goes  free,  because  the  eye 
of  the  law  is  not  sharp  enough  to  see  who  is  the  right  one  to  punish. 

BENEVOLENT    SOCIETIES   IN    MASON    COUNTY. 

MASONIC. 

The  first  Masonic  Lodge  in  the  county  was  opened  in  Havana,  under  dis- 
pensation, in  1849,  and  Leopold  Stearns  was  the  first  to  receive  the  Master 
Mason's  degree. 

Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  chartered  October  8,  1850. 

Old  Time  Lodge,  No.  629,  Havana,  was  chartered  October  8,  1869,  and 
was  consolidated  with  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  February  14,  1877. 

Havana  Chapter,  No.  86,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  at  Havana ;  date  of  dispen- 
sation, August  3,  1865  ;  chartered  October,  1865.  Havana  Chapter  joins  with 
Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  in  the  construction  of  Masonic  Hall,  now  building — 
September,  1879. 

Havana  Council,  No.  40,  Royal  and  Select  Masters,  at  Havana;  date  of 
dispensation,  December  12,  1867 ;  chartered  at  the  meeting  of  the  Grand 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  489 

Council  in  October,  1868 ;  merged  into  the  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86,  by  action 
of  the  Grand  Chapter  and  Grand  Council  consolidating  into  a  Grand  Chapter, 
in  October,  1877. 

Damascus  Commandery,  No.  42,  at  Havana ;  date  of  dispensation,  February 
10,  1872  ;  chartered  October  22, 1872. 

Bath  Lodge,  No.  494.  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  chartered  in  October,  1866,  at 
Bath. 

Mason  City  Lodge,  No.  403,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Mason  City ;  chartered 
in  January,  1864. 

Manito  Lodge,  No.  476,  A.,  F.  £  A.  M.,  Manito ;  chartered  October  3, 
1866. 

San  Jose  Lodge,  No.  645,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  San  Jose ;  chartered  October 
4,  1870. 

For  a  more  complete  account  of  the  benevolent  Orders  (Masonic  and  Odd 
Fellows),  in  Mason  County,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  local  history  of  the 
towns  in  which  they  are  located. 

We  cannot  fail  to  mention  the  splendid  Masonic  Hall  now  in  course  of 
erection  on  the  north  side  of  Main  street,  Havana.  It  will  be  an  institution  of 
which  all  the  Masonic  fraternity  may  justly  be  proud. 

ODD    FELLOWS. 

Mason  Lodge,  No.  143,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Havana;  instituted  April  4,  1854. 

State  Encampment,  No.  34,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Havana ;  instituted  May  1, 
1856. 

Bath  Lodge,  No.  185,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Bath ;  instituted  in  1849. 

Mason  City  Lodge,  No.  337,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Mason  City ;  instituted  in  1866. 

Mason  City  Encampment,  No.  175,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Mason  City ;  instituted 
in  1876. 

San  Jose  Lodge,  No.  380,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  San  Jose  ;  instituted  October  12, 
1869. 

Valley  Encampment,  No.  120,  I.  0.  0.  F,  San  Jose;  instituted  October 
10,  1871. 


ORDER    OF    DRUIDS. 


Havana   Grove,   No.   140,  V.  A.  0.  D.,  in   Havana;    organized   May   13, 
1874.     They  have  a  hall  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Plum  streets. 

POOR   FARM. 

Mason  County  is  the  owner  of  a  Poor  Farm  of  160  acres :  the  northeast 
quarter  of  Section  32,  Township  21,  Range  6,  near  the  embryo  city  of  Teheran. 
Although  it  is  called  the  "  poor  farm,1'  it  is  in  fact  very  rich  in  the  quality  of 
its  soil,  and  the  many  advantages  of  location  it  possesses.  It  furnishes  a  very 
healthy,  comfortable  and  desirable  home  for  all  the  unfortunates  who  cannot 
have  a  home  of  their  own,  and  is  an  institution  that  goes  to  the  credit  of  the 
people  who  pay  the  yearly  taxes  to  keep  it  up. 


490  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

POST   OFFICES    AND    POSTMASTERS. 

Havana,  established  in  1829,  0.  C.  Easton,  Postmaster ;  Bath,  1842,  IL 
B.  Lindsey  ;  Mason  City,  1858,  J.  S.  Baner ;  Manito,  1860,  J.  Rosier;  Topeka, 
1860,  J.  F.  Rule  ;  Forest  City,  1864,  A.  Cross  ;  Saidora,  1868,  John  Adkins ; 

Snicarte, ;  Bishops', ;  San  Jose,  1860,  Albert  McAllister;  Natrona, 

1860,  Richard  Williams  ;  Kilbourne,  1872,  C.  L.  Newell ;  Long  Branch,  1872, 
discontinued ;  Easton,  1873,  E.  Ferrell ;  Poplar  City,  1873,  S.  A.  Poland  ; 
Biggs,  1873,  William  Buchanan ;  Teheran,  1874,  W.  S.  Rich. 

There  have  been  post  offices  at  Lease's  Grove,  Quiver,  Crane  Creek  and 
Field's  Prairie,  but  they  have  long  since  been  discontinued. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

When  our  forefathers  declared,  in  the  ordinance  of  1787,  that  knowledge, 
with  religion  and  morality,  "  was  necessary  to  the  good  government  and  happi- 
ness of  mankind,"  and  that  "schools  and  the  means  of  education  should  for- 
ever be  encouraged,"  they  suggested  the  bulwark  of  American  liberty.  The 
first  free-school  system  in  Illinois  was  adopted  in  1825,  and  under  that  system 
schools  flourished  in  nearly  every  neighborhood  in  the  State. 

In  the  year  1824,  Gov.  Coles  urged,  in  his  message  to  the  Legislature,  their 
attention  to  the  liberal  donation  of  Congress  in  lands  for  educational  purposes, 
asking  that  they  be  treasured  as  a  rich  inheritance  for  future  generations,  and 
at  the  same  time  making  provisions  for  the  support  of  local  schools. 

During  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  Hon.  Joseph  Duncan  (then  a  State 
Senator  and  afterward  Governor)  introduced  a  bill,  which  was  passed,  with  the 
following  preamble,  which  shows  a  high  appreciation  of  the  subject  at  that 
early  day  :  "  To  enjoy  our  rights  and  liberties,  we  must  understand  them  ;  their 
security  and  protection  ought  to  be  the  first  object  of  a  free  people;  and  it  is 
a  well  established  fact  that  no  nation  has  ever  continued  long  in  the  enjoyment 
of  civil  and  political  freedom  which  was  not  both  virtuous  arid  enlightened. 
And  believing  that  the  advancement  of  literature  always  has  been,  and  ever 
will  be,  the  means  of  more  fully  developing  the  rights  of  men — that  the  mind 
of  every  citizen  in  a  republic  is  the  common  property  of  society,  and  consti- 
tutes the  basis  of  its  strength  and  happiness — it  is  therefore  considered  the 
peculiar  duty  of  a  free  government,  like  ours,  to  encourage  and  extend  the 
improvement  and  cultivation  of  the  intellectual  energies  of  the  whole  people." 

In  that  law  it  was  provided  that  common  schools  should  be  established,  free 
and  open  to  every  class  of  white  citizens  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty- 
one,  and  persons  over  that  age  might  be  admitted  on  such  terms  as  the  Trustees 
should  prescribe.  Districts  of  not  less  than  fifteen  families  were  to  be  formed 
by  the  County  Courts,  upon  petition  of  a  majority"' of  the  voters  thereof;  offi- 
cers were  to  be  elected,  sworn  in  and  their  duties  were  prescribed  in  detail. 
The  system  was  full  and  complete  in  all  particulars.  The  legal  voters  were 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  491 

empowered  at  the  annual  meetings  to  levy  a  tax,  in  money  or  merchantable 
produce  at  its  cash  value,  not  exceeding  one-half  of  one  per  cent,  subject  to  a 
maximum  limitation  of  $10  to  any  one  person.  Aside  from  this  tax,  the  best 
and  most  effective  feature  of  the  law — the  stimulant  of  our  present  system — 
was  an  annual  appropriation  by  the  State  of  $2  out  of  every  $100  received  into- 
the  treasury,  and  the  distribution  of  five-sixths  of  the  interest  arising  from  the 
school  funds  appropriated  among  the  several  counties,  according  to  the  number  of 
white  children  under  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  which  sums  were  redistrib- 
uted by  the  counties  among  their  respective  districts,  none  participating  therein 
where  less  than  three  months'  school  had  been  taught  during  the  preceding 
year. 

In  this  law  were  foreshadowed  some  of  the  most  valuable  features  of  our 
present  free-school  system.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  the  law  of  1825  was 
in  advance  of  public  sentiment.  The  people  preferred  to  pay  the  tuition  fees 
or  go  without  education  for  their  children,  rather  than  submit  to  taxation,  not- 
withstanding the  burthen  fell  heaviest  upon  the  wealthier  classes,  who  virtually 
paid  for  the  schooling  of  their  poor  neighbors'  children',  and  the  law  was  so- 
amended,  in  1827,  as  to  virtually  nullify  it,  by  providing  that  no  person  should 
be  taxed  for  the  support  of  any  school,  unless  consent  was  first  obtained  in 
writing,  and  the  2  per  cent,  which  was  the  life  of  the  system,  was  also  abol- 
ished. 

Such  were  the  provisions  of  the  first  school  laws  of  Illinois,  and  the  virtual 
abolishment  of  the  law  of  1825  developed  a  crude  system  of  schools  that  was 
continued  nearly  thirty  years — under  which  system  schools  and  school  houses 
were  left  to  the  local  option  of  the  neighborhood: — some  children  having  schools 
to  go  to  and  others  no  such  privileges. 

The  adoption  of  the  free-school  system,  entered  upon  in  1855,  marks  the 
turning-point  in  the  educational  system  of  Illinois,  and  abolished  forever  the 
crude  school  laws  before  in  force. 

The  donation  by  Congress  of  the  sixteenth  section  in  every  township  (orr 
when  sold,  lands  equivalent  therefor),  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
township  for  school  purposes,  amounted  to  over  998,000  acres  of  land  in  the 
State,  and,  had  these  lands  been  properly  managed,  they  would  have  produced 
a  school  fund  that  would  have  done  away  with  local  taxation  for  school  pur- 
poses. 

The  Legislature  of  1854  took  the  first  step  in  the  right  direction,  by  enact- 
in  a  law  separating  the  office  of  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  from  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  State,  and  creating  a  separate  educational  department  of 
the  government.  Under  this  law,  Gov.  Matteson  appointed  Hon.  Ninian  W. 
Edwards  State  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools.  In  January  following,  he 
submitted  to  the  General  Assembly  a  full  report  upon  the  condition  of  the  pub- 
lic schools  throughout  the  State,  urged  the  education  of  the  children  of  the 
State  at  the  public  expense,  and  presented  a  bill  for  a  complete  system  of  free 


492  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

schools,  which,  with  some  changes,  became  a  law.  The  act  was  passed  on  the 
15th  of  February,  1855,  and  embraced  all  the  essential  features  of  the  law  now 
in  force. 

It  is  questionable  whether  any  other  State  in  the  Union  has  a  better  educa- 
tional system  than  that  developed  in  Illinois  during  the  past  twenty-five  years. 
It  is  well  adapted  to  the  wants  and  conditions  of  the  people,  and  fully  up  to  the 
spirit  of  the  age  in  which  we  live.  It  is  within  that  period  that  all  the  schools 
and  schoolhouses  have  been  established  in  Mason  County  that  amount  to  any- 
thing worthy  of  being  proud  of.  The  writer  of  this  is  gratified  with  the  reflec- 
tion that,  as  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  he  helped  to  pass  the  laws  which 
inaugurated  the  free-school  system  of  Illinois,  notwithstanding  the  abuse  that 
was  heaped  upon  him  for  doing  it  by  those  who  could  not  see  or  appreciate  the 
beneficence  of  the  system. 

There  is  yet  an  advance  step  to  be  made  to  complete  the  system,  and  that 
is  the  adoption  of  the  compulsory  feature.  Parents  who  will  not  voluntarily 
send  their  children  to  school  should  be  made  to  do  so  by  the  mandates  of  the 
law ;  and  the  time  is  near  at  hand  when  it  will  be  so  enacted,  and  when  every 
child  in  Illinois  shall  have  the  benefit  of  at  least  a  rudimentary  education. 

Those  who  are  especially  jealous  of  their  rights  oppose  compulsory  educa- 
tion on  account  of  its  interference  with  their  precious  liberty,  not  think- 
ing that  the  law  which  compels  them  to  pay  taxes,  work  roads,  serve  on  juries, 
do  military  duty  and  many  other  disagreeable  things,  is  just  as  much  of  an 
entrenchment  upon  their  liberty  to  do  as  they  please  as  it  would  be  to  compel 
them  to  send  their  children  to  school :  besides,  the  liberty  to  bring  up  children 
in  ignorance  and  vice  is  one  of  those  things  that  ought  to  be  interfered  with 
and  prevented  if  possible. 

A  government  that  depends  upon  the  intelligence  of  the  people  for  its 
•existence  must  use  the  necessary  means  to  compel  the  education  of  the  masses, 
or  go  to  destruction. 

The  way  to  carry  out  the  grand  idea  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence — 
to  make  all  men  free  and  equal — is  to  do  it  through  universal  education.  The 
unlettered  man  can  not  be  the  equal  of  the  educated  man,  nor  can  he  have  a 
free  and  fair  race  in  the  pursuit  of  happiness,  handicapped  by  ignorance. 

Another  step,  which  is  to  be  a  tremendous  stride  in  the  direction  of  univer- 
sal and  cheap  education,  is  yet  to  be  made.  It  is  the  simplification  of  the  uses 
of  letters  in  spelling  and  forming  words,  so  that  the  English  language  may  be 
rapidly  and  cheaply  learned  by  children  and  those  of  other  tongues.  This 
great  reform  has  long  been  advocated  by  wise  and  thoughtful  men,  and  is  now 
actively  inaugurated.  There  is  a  class  of  professional  educators  who  wish  to 
make  a  monopoly  of  their  profession  by  making  our  language  so  hard  to  learn 
that  it  takes  years  of  labor  and  mints  of  money  to  acquire  it ;  but  this  class 
must  in  time  give  way  to  wiser  and  better  men.  Many  of  the  nonsensical,  use- 
less, wicked  and  fraudulent  letters  that  have  marred  our  beautiful  language  and 


HAVANA 


HISTORY   OF    MASON   COUNTY.  495 

made  it  a  stumbling-block  to  children  and  foreigners,  have  already  been  dropped 
out  of  the  places  they  have  wrongfully  occupied  in  hard  and  crooked  words, 
that  cost  so  much  to  learn. 

When  the  English  language  becomes  purified  and  made  plain  and  easy  to 
learn,  it  will  become  the  universal  language  of  the  world. 

The  Church  in  the  past  ages  assumed  to  be  the  special  patron  of  education, 
and,  as  a  part  of  that  education,  the  religious  dogmas  of  the  day  were  engrafted 
upon  the  untutored  infant  mind,  the  cunning  priest  well  understanding  that 
"just  as  the  twig  is  bent,  the  tree's  inclined." 

That  time  has  passed  by  with  us,  thanks  to  the  liberty-loving  intelligence  of 
our  people.  We  have  lived  to  see 

"  The  Church  and  State,  that  long  had  held 
Unholy  intercourse,  now  divorced. 

She  who,  on  the  breast  of  civil  power,  ' 

Had  long  reposed  her  harlot  head, 
(The  Church  a  harlot  when  she  wedded  civil  power,) 
And  drank  the  blood  of  martyred  saints ; 
Whose  priests  were  lords  ; 
Whose  coffers  held  the  gold  of  every  land  ; 
Who  held  a  cup,  of  all  pollutions  full !  " 

There  are  school  edifices  in  Havana,  Bath,  Mason  City  and  J3aston  that 
are  justly  the  pride  of  the  people  of  their  respective  localities. 

The  Havana  Schoolhouse  was  built  in  1875,  at  a  cost  of  $30,000.  Mr. 
Thomas  W.  Catlin,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  has  held  the  position  of  Super- 
intendent of  Havana  schools  for  the  past  two  years,  with  general  satisfaction. 
The  present  efficient  School  Board  consists  of  Capt.  Jacob  Wheeler,  J.  R. 
Foster  and  H.  W.  Lindly. 

With  the  following  statistics  which  we  have  obtained  from  Mr.  Badger, 
County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  we  close  the  chapter  on  education. 

No.  of  school  districts  in  Mason  County 95 

No.  of  schoolhouses  in  the  county 98 

Brick  houses,  5;  frame,  92;  log,  1. 

No.  of  High  Schools  in  the  county 2 

No.  of  graded  schools 4 

No.  of  ungraded  schools 91 

No.  of  males  under  twenty-one  years  of  age  : 4,268 

No.  of  females  under  twenty-one  years  of  age 4,030 

Total 8,298  » 

No.  of  males  between  six  and  twenty-one  years  of  age 2,865 

No.  of  females  between  six  and  twenty-one  years  of  age 2,757 

Total  No.  between  six  and  twenty-one 5,622 

No.  of  male  pupils  enrolled 2,217 

No.  of  female  pupils  enrolled 2,070 

Total  enrolled  pupils , 4,287 

No.  of  male  teachers 64 

No.  of  female  teachers 75 

Total  No.  of  teachers 139 

R 


496  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

No.  of  months  taught  by  males 365£ 

No.  of  months  taught  by  females 468J 

Total  No.  of  months  taught 833| 

Whole  No.  of  months  of  school . , 692 

Average  No.  of  months  of  school 7.22 

No.  of  months  taught  in  graded  schools 212 

No.  of  months  taught  in  ungraded  schools 621.6 

Average  wages  paid  male  teachers $44  21 

Average  wages  paid  female  teachers ,  34  65 

Total  amount  paid  male  teachers 15,166  26 

Total  amount  paid  female  teachers 15,175  74 

Total  amount  paid  teachers 30,342  00 

Amount  paid  for  fuel  and  other  expenses 3,713  42 

Total  expenses  for  schools 34,055  42 

Amount  of  school  fund  received  during  the  year 66,123  53 

Total  expenditures  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1879 46,105  85 

Balance  school  fund  on  hand 20,017  68 

Value  of  school  property  in  county 105,776  00 

No.  of  persons  between  twelve  and  twenty-one  years,  unable  to  read 

and  write 9 

SUNDAY    SCHOOLS. 

The  Sunday-school  work  in  Mason  County  has  been  immensely  developed 
within  the  past  few  years,  and  is  a  valuable  auxiliary  to  educational  interests. 

The  number  of  Sunday  schools  in  the  county,  at  the  present  time,  is  45 ; 
number  of  teachers,  334 ;  number  of  officers,  181 ;  number  of  scholars,  3,483, 
making  a  total  membership  of  4,018. 

The  number  of  volumes  in  the  Sunday-school  libraries,  is  997,  and  the 
number  of  Sunday-school  papers  in  circulation  is  3,792.  The  amount  of 
money  raised  for  Sunday  work,  during  the  past  year,  is  $1,043.38,  a  very 
small  sum  compared  with  the  good  work  that  has  been  done. 

RELIGIOUS    HISTORY. 

The  sound  of  the  Gospel,  as  also  the  howling  of  the  wolf,  were  among  the 
loud  noises  heard  in  the  wilds  of  Mason  County  by  the  early  settler.  The 
pioneer  minister  imagined  himself  a  second  John  "  crying  in  the  wilderness," 
and,  in  humble  imitation,  he  not  only  cried  but  howled  before  his  congregation, 
gathered  in  the  woods  for  want  of  houses  to  worship  in. 

One  of  this  class  of  preachers  was  old  Moses  Ray — a  forty-gallon  Baptist 
minister  of  the  olden  time.  In  one  of  his  black-jack  sermons  he  was  laboring 
to  reconcile  and  harmonize  the  doctrine  of  election  and  fore-ordination,  and  the 
goodness,  justice  and  mercy  of  God  with  the  free  will  and  free  salvation  of 
man.  As  he  waded  into  the  depths  of  his  discourse,  it  soon  dawned  upon  his 
bewildered  mind  that  the  arguments  being  used  were  illogical  and  contradic- 
tory, and,  becoming  dumbfounded,  he  called  a  halt  of  some  moments  of  pro- 
found depression  in  the  midst  of  his  discourse,  and  then  began  talking  to- 
himself,  as  it  were,  and  soliloquized  thusly  :  "  Be  keerful,  old  man  Ray — be 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  497 

keerful ;  you  are  getting  in  deep  water,  and  had  better  keep  near  shore ;  "  and 
then  he  waded  out  of  the  deep  water  that  has  bothered  many  wiser  heads 
than  his  !  *• 

On  another  occasion,  he  was  preaching  in  the  timber  at  the  south  of  Field's 
Prairie,  where  it  took  all  the  people  of  the  south  end  of  the  county  to  make  a 
respectable  congregation.  In  the  midst  of  his  profound  discourse,  he  observed 
some  persons,  forgetting  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  smiling  and  not  giving 
the  attention  that  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  is  supposed  to  be  entitled  to,  and 
immediately  addressed  himself  to*  the  parties,  modestly  reproving  them  in  this 
wise :  "  Ef  the  friends  are  laughing  at  what  old  man  Ray  is  saying,  and  doubt 
the  truth  of  it,  he  can  tell  you  that  he  has  the  documents  in  the  lids  of  the 
Bible  to  obstantiate  every  word  he  says  (giving  the  Good  Book  a  tremendous 
whack  with  his  open  hand),  but  ef  they  are  laughing  at  the  ignorance  of  the 
old  man,  and  because  he  can't  eddify  them,  why  then,  old  man  Ray  will  sub- 
sist, and  you  kin  go  and  hear  some  preacher  with  more  larnin',  efyou  kin  find 
any  sich  !  " 

There  were  many  preachers,  in  early  days,  of  the  type  of  old  man  Ray. 
Among  the  early  preachers  in  the  county  were  John  Camp,  the  County  Judge, 
and  Baldwin,  the  fisherman.  Of  the  better  class  was  John  H.  Daniels,  of 
Bath,  who  is  a  man  well  posted  in  religious  lore,  and  is  still  preaching  to  the 
Baptist  Societies  of  the  county,  where  he  has  been  laboring  for  the  past  thirty- 
five  years.  He  has  also  served  the  people  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  as  an 
Associate  County  Judge,  but  is  not  as  well  posted  in  the  law  as  in  the  Gospel. 
A  pretty  good  joke  is  told  on  him,  asserting  that,  while  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
he  sold  a  piece  of  real  estate,  made  out  the  deed  himself,  took  his  own  acknowl- 
edgment and  that  of  his  wife,  certifying  that  he  had  examined  her  "  separate 
and  apart  from  her  husband  !"  as  the  law  directs. 

In  these  modern  times,  we  have  experienced  a  great  change  in  the  ministry, 
as  well  as  in  the  kind  of  religion  taught.  No  longer  are  the  horny-handed  sons 
of  toil — dressed  in  homespun  coat  and  short  pants,  that  seldom  deigned  to 
meet  with  the  dirty  socks — the  shepherds  of  the  flocks.  The  modern  minister, 
in  order  to  meet  the  requirements  of  society,  has  become  an  educated  man,  and, 
in  order  to  be  popular  with  his  Church — especially  those  of  the  female  per- 
suasion— pays  special  attention  to  the  vestments  he  wears  in  the  pulpit,  as  well 
as  to  the  utterances  that  come  therefrom.  He  has  learned  that  "  cleanliness  is 
next  to  godliness,"  arid  that  good  clothes  and  good  behavior  are  not  altogether 
unbecoming  the  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

The  changes  in  religious  teaching  in  the  past  third  of  a  century,  are  still 
more  remarkable.  No  longer  are  the  blasphemous  utterances  against  God  as 
the  author  of  infant  damnation,  and  endless  punishment  in  hell  fire,  heard  in 
the  land.  The  God  of  hatred  and  vengeance  has  been  changed  into  a  loving 
and  merciful  Being,  through  the  processes  of  education  and  development.  The 
ignorant  and  the  vicious  person  makes  for  himself  or  herself  an  imaginary  God 


498  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

of  evil  attributes ;  and  the  more  enlightened  and  better-hearted  the  person,  the 
better  kind  of  God  is  required  for  that  person ;  so  that,  in  fact,  every  thinking 
man  is  the  architect  of  his  own  ideal  Supreme  Being.  Of  all  the  strange  and 
confused  notions  about  the  Deity,  among  the  different  churches  and  people,  it 
is  impossible  to  find  out  who  is  wrong  or  who  is  right ;  for  the  Bible  tells  us 
that  "no  man  hath  seen  God" — only  His  "hinder  parts,"  on  one  occasion — 
and  from  that  imperfect  view,  very  little  can  be  known  of  Him  or  His  attri- 
butes. 

The  time  is  fast  approaching  when  it  will  be  a  matter  of  vastly  more  impor- 
tance to  the  world  what  men  DO,  rather  than  what  they  may  THINK  of  religious 
dogmas.  "  Whatsoever  ye  would  have  others  do  unto  you,  do  ye  even  so  unto 
them,"  is  a  good  and  wise  maxim,  whether  uttered  by  Jesus  Christ  or  by  Con- 
fucius, hundreds  of  years  before  Him.  That  maxim  implies  a  good,  square, 
honest,  kind  and  neighborly  life — nothing  more,  nothing  less  ! 

There  are  five  church  edifices  in  Havana,  occupied  by  the  Methodists,  Bap- 
tists, Reformed  Church,  Catholics  and  Lutherans. 

In  Mason  City,  there  are  four  church  buildings,  occupied  by  the  Method- 
ists, Baptists,  Presbyterians  and  Catholics. 

In  Bath,  there  are  two  church  edifices,  belonging  to  the  Methodists  and 
Christians. 

In  the  other  towns  in  the  county,  there  are  also  a  number  of  churches  to 
accommodate  the  church-going  people. 

In  the  county,  there  are  not  less  than  thirty-six  church  edifices,  belonging 
to  the  various  denominations  that  worship  therein. 

The  character  of  the  ministers  in  the  county  is  certainly  above  the  average, 
as  there  have  been  but  few  ministerial  scandals,  compared  with  those  in  other 
portions  of  the  country. 

THE    LOTUS    CLUB 

is  one  of  the  Havana  institutions  that  ought  not  to  be  overlooked  in  the  history 
of  the  times. 

It  was  formerly  the  custom  of  men  in  all  grades  of  society  to  meet  in  the 
public  saloons  to  talk  over  business  matters,  politics,  or  whatever  was  upper- 
most in  their  minds,  as  well  as  to  join  in  social  games  and  the  social  glass. 
Five  years  ago,  somewhere  about  a  dozen  of  first-class  men  joined  themselves 
into  a  society,  as  named  above,  for  social  recreation,  scientific  discussions 
and  intellectual  pursuits,  the  transaction  of  business  and  discussion  of 
business  enterprises,  and  rented  a  large  upper  room  and  furnished  it  for 
that  purpose.  Neither  gambling  or  drinking  (except  pure  rain  water),  is 
allowable. 

The  number  of  attendants  is  not  so  large  as  it  has  been,  but  those  who  con- 
tinue to  go  there  find  it  a  very  comfortable  and  agreeable  place  in  which  to 
spend  their  leisure  hours  in  conversation,  reading  and  other  pursuits.  It  is  a 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  499 

place  that  many  distinguished  people  have  visited  and  been  delighted  with,  and, 
what  is  still  more  remarkable  in  this  land  of  republican  simplicity,  it  has  not 
unfrequently  been  honored  by  the  presence  of  kings  and  queens,  that  have 
made  themselves  quite  useful,  as  well  as  ornamental,  in  "  playing  such  fan- 
tastic tricks,  before  high  heaven,  as  make  the"  other  fellows  weep. 

GEN.    GRANT. 

There  probably  will  be  some  people  in  a  few  generations  hence  that  may 
think  a  history  without  the  name  of  Grant  would  be  like  the  play  of  Hamlet 
with  the  one  great  character  left  out  of  it. 

For  the  gratification  of  many  such  people,  it  is  considered  not  out  of  place 
to  speak  of  Gen.  Grant  as  a  retired  citizen  of  Illinois,  whose  fame  is  a  part  of 
the  heritage  of  Mason  County,  as  also  of  the  State  and  nation.  As  a  military 
hero,  his  name  will  probably  be  handed  down  to  posterity,  in  the  ages  that  are 
to  come,  as  the  greatest  of  any  age  or  country. 

In  another  part  of  this  volume  of  history,  the  character  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln is  more  fully  discussed,  because  he  was  a  citizen  of  Menard  County  at  one 
time.  So  long  as  Illinois  is  remembered  as  the  hoine  of  Lincoln,  Douglas  and 
Grant,  the  State  will  remain  immortalized. 

Some  two  years  ago,  after  his  retirement  from  the  Presidential  chair,  which 
he  had  occupied  for  eight  years,  Gen.  Grant  and  family  started  out  upon  a  voy- 
age around  the  world,  and  visited  every  crowned  head  and  every  nation  of 
people  in  Europe,  Asia  and  parts  of  Africa.  The  progress  of  his  journey  was 
a  continuous  ovation  of  the  people  in  every  nation  and  every  land,  from  the 
highest  monarch  to  the  lowest  serf — each  one  vying  with  others  in  the  effort  to 
do  the  greatest  honors  to  the  plain  republican  citizen  of  Illinois  as  he  advanced 
from  one  country  to  another. 

The  great  fame  of  the  country  to  which  he  belonged,  was  one  of  causes 
that  led  to  the  bestowal  of  such  unprecedented  honors  upon  Gen.  Grant,  but 
his  personal  qualities  as  a  man  and  a  soldier  constitutes  the  crowning  glory  of  the 
character  whom  the  world  delighted  so  much  in  honoring. 

On  the  20th  of  September,  1879,  Gen.  Grant  returned  from  his  wanderings 
and  again  his  feet  pressed  upon  the  soil  of  his  native  land  in  the  city  of  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  where  he  was  met  with  such  a  reception  as  was  never  before 
given  to  mortal  man  in  America. 

At  the  time  of  writing  this  brief  sketch,  Gen.  Grant  is  still  the  guest  of  the 
Golden  City.  His  return  to  his  home  in  Illinois  will  be  marked  in  every  town 
and  city  through  which  he  passes,  by  the  same  spontaneous  outburst  of  the  joy 
of  the  people  that  greeted  him  on  his  arrival. 

Many  papers  have  been  urging  the  nomination  of  Gen.  Grant  for  another 
term  of  the  Presidency,  which  could  add  no  new  lustre  to'  a  fame  that  already 
fills  the  world. 


500  HISTORY   OF   MASON    COUNTY. 

One  of  the  active  papers  in  this  movement  is  the  one  from  which  the  follow- 
ing lines  are  copied,  as  indicative  of  the  swelling  tide  of  the  "  Grant  Boom  : " 

THE   BEAUTIFUL   BOOM. 

BY    ONE    OF    THE    AUTHORS    OF    "BEAUTIFUL    SNOW." 
I. 

Oh  !  the  Boom,  the  beautiful  Boom  ! 

Crowding  the  earth  and  sky  for  room  ; 

Over  the  ocean,  over  the  land, 

With  the  pace  of  a  whirlwind's  four-in-hand, 

Whizzing, 

Sizzing, 

Whooping  along, 

Beautiful  Boom,  it  is  going  it  strong, 
Filling  all  space  with  a  music  so  sweet 
That  the  spheres  find  it  trying  to  keep  their  feet. 
Beautiful  Boom,  white- wing'd  as  the  dove, 
Bright  as  an  angel,  and  constant  as  love. 

II. 

Oh  !  the  Boom,  the  beautiful  Boom  ! 

How  it  grows  as  it  goes,  and  continues  to  loom ; 

Whirling  about  in  its  glorious  fun, 

It  plays  in  its  glee,  like  a  giant  Krupp  gun. 

Roaring, 

Laughing, 

Quivering  by, 

It  lights  up  the  face  and  sparkles  the  eye. 
E'en  the  man  in  the  moon  cannot  fail  but  agree 
That  the  man  of  the  Boom  is  a  bigger  than  he. 
The  country's  alive,  and  its  heart's  making  room 
To  welcome  the  rule  of  the  beautiful  Boom. 

APOLOGETICAL. 

Without  feeling  possessed  of  any  special  fitness  for  the  work,  the  writer  has 
been  induced  to  undertake  the  task  by  a  desire  to  preserve  the  names  and  the 
memory  of  the  pioneers  of  Mason  County,  and  also  the  names  of  the  brave  men 
and  the  patriotic  deeds  of  those  who  risked  their  lives,  and  those  who  lost  them, 
in  the  great  war,  inaugurated  and  carried  on  to  a  final  victory,  to  preserve  the 
inestimable  blessings  of  an  undivided  and  unbroken  Union. 

The  short  time  allotted  for  the  completion  of  so  much  work,  and  the  imper- 
fect record  of  the  events  of  the  county  that  has  been  kept,  have  been  very  great 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  getting  up  the  county  history  in  a  way  at  all  creditable 
or  satisfactory  to  the  author. 

It  is  fortunate  that  the  work  was  begun  thus  early,  for  a  few  more  years 
would  have  swept  away  the  few  remaining  early  settlers  of  the  county,  out  of 
whose  memory  of  dates  and  events  much  interesting  and  reliable  history  is 
formulated. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  501 

In  the  military  history,  much  time  and  effort  has  been  spent  to  make  it 
reliable  ;  still,  there  will  be  errors  in  names,  but  it  is  hoped  not  in  any  other 
material  matter. 

The  time  will  come  when  every  soldier's  name  who  served  in  this  great  war  will 
be  a  precious  heirloom  in  every  family  to  which  they  belonged,  and  hence  the 
importance  of  a  reliable  record  that  may  pass  down  to  the  remotest  generations 
that  are  yet  to  come. 

In  the  hurry  of  preparation  of  manuscripts,  much  has  been  overlooked  that 
should  have  appeared  in  the  history,  no  doubt,  but  not  intentionally. 

In  the  record  of  events  that  have  transpired  in  the  county,  the  author  has, 
in  some  cases,  had  occasion  to  refer  to  himself  in  a  way  that  is  not  agree- 
able ;  but,  in  order  to  vindicate  the  truth  of  history,  it  had  to  be  done. 
We  have  been  obliged  to  speak  of  things  of  which  we  knew  and  of  things  of 
which  we  were  a  part,  making  it  embarrassing  to  a  modest  man.  For  the  jokes 
told  upon  ministers  and  others,  we  hope  no  animosities  will  be  treasured  up.  It 
takes  jokes  and  anecdotes  to  enliven  the  monotony  of  history,  and  somebody  has 
to  bear  them.  In  justice,  it  is  proper  to  say,  however,  that  every  statement 
made  is  in  good  faith,  relying  upon  the  entire  truthfulness  in  all  matters  where 
it  could  be  obtained. 

For  a  third  of  a  century,  the  writer  has  been  a  resident  of  Mason  County, 
and  more  or  less  identified  with  its  interests.  In  that  time,  many  things  have 
transpired  calculated  to  endear  us  to  the  people  of  the  county.  We  have  seen 
the  county  of  Mason  grow  up  from  a  few  hundred  people  without  wealth  or 
position  into  a  population  of  20,000,  many  of  whom  are  wealthy,  educated, 
talented  and  happy.  In  that  time,  one  full  generation  of  people  have  passed 
from  the  face  of  the  earth,  among  whom  were  children,  kindred  and  friends  that 
were  dear.  Men  have  arisen  from  obscurity  to  high  position,  and  again  been 
relegated  to  obscurity. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  writer  has  borne  with  mishaps,  misfortunes  and  per- 
sonal wrongs,  such  as  few  could  or  would  withstand,  trusting  with  an  abiding 
faith  that  time  brings  a  recompense  to  all  worthy  souls  that  suffer  and  can 
wait.  Our  work  is  done. 

September  27,  1879. 

HAVANA   TOWNSHIP. 

A  late  writer,  reviewing  this  fast  age,  remarks  that  "the  world  moves  much 
after  the  fashion  of  a  falling  body,"  and  that  at  present  it  "  has  acquired  con- 
siderable momentum."  True,  its  velocity  is  simply  astounding,  yet  it  moved 
slow  enough  in  the  beginning.  In  the  old  times,  it  took  nearly  a  century  for  a 
man  to  cut  loose  from  the  maternal  apron-strings,  and  three  or  four  centuries  to 
attain  the  prime  and  vigor  of  manhood.  Rome  was  seven  centuries  in  expand- 
ing her  power  and  reaching  the  zenith  of  her  glory  ;  the  temple  of  Diana  at 


502  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Ephesus  saw  250  years  from  its  foundation  to  its  completion,  and  the  architect* 
of  Babel  and  the  Pyramids  planned  work  for  hundreds  of  years  ahead.  In 
these  days  of  mushroom  magnificence  and  tinsel  show,  one  can  form  but  little 
idea  of  the  gorgeous  spectacles,  the  boundless  luxury,  the  surpassing  extrav- 
agance of  those  far-away  times.  Cities  grow  up  now-a-days  in  a  few  years,  or 
decades  at  most,  but  they  amount  to  little,  except  as  bonfires.  Witness  Chi- 
cago. Its  growth  was  unparalleled.  It  increased  in  population  as  no  other 
city  perhaps  ever  did.  Like  Aladdin's  castle,  it  disappeared  in  a  single  night, 
as  it  were,  and  arose  again,  as  if  from  a  touch  of  the  wonderful  lamp,  and 
"the  new  city  was  more  glorious  than  the  first."  In  the  year  2500,  where 
will  it  be  ?  Is  it  likely  that  it  will  be  Queen  of  the  West,  as  it  is  now  ? 
We  dare  not  think  so.  It  will  have  had  its  day,  and,  perchance,  its  crown  will 
adorn  some  other  brow. 

Speaking  of  the  Olympian  festivities  and  the  old  Roman  triumphs,  and  the 
millions  expended  on  them  and  their  accessories,  one  of  our  shrewd  business 
men  recently  remarked,  "  We've  got  beyond  all  such  things  now,  and  I  am 
glad  of  it,  for  such  things  wouldn't  pay."  That  is  it  exactly ;  we  have  no 
time  for  what  don't  pay.  We  are  economical,  and  count  the  cost  with  the 
closeness  of  a  Jew.  Everything  is  done  for  an  object,  and  with  a  rush.  We 
live  fast.  Three  or  four  lifetimes  are  compressed  into  one.  Is  it  any  won- 
der that  our  madhouses  are  filled  with  insane,  with  all  this  strain  on  vitality 
and  energy  ?  The  ancients  were  wiser  in  this  respect  than  we  are.  They 
allowed  time  for  their  mental  and  physical  capacity  to  develop.  In  every- 
thing we  undertake  is  the  same  rush  and  hurry  ;  we  never  calculate  projects  a. 
hundred  years  ahead,  but  live  wholly  in  the  present  and  for  the  present.  As 
an  example  of  the  rapidity  with  which  we  move,  in  1800  the  present  territory 
of  Illinois  had  a  population  of  about  12,000 ;  now  it  has  over  3,000,000,  or  a 
population  equal  to  the  thirteen  colonies  at  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Fifty  years  ago,  Mason  County  was  an  unbroken  wilderness  of  marshes  and 
sand-hills,  with  not  a  half  dozen  white  people  within  its  borders.  But  a  few 
years  have  passed,  and  behold  the  change  !  The  city  and  township  to  which 
this  chapter  is  devoted,  have  sprung  into  existence.  The  marshes  and  sand- 
hills have  developed  into  fine  plantations,  adorned  with  palatial  homesteads, 
and  in  their  midst  has  arisen  a  beautiful  little  city.  At  the  touch  of  civiliza- 
tion, the  wilderness  has  been  made  to  "  blossom  as  the  rose;"  herds  and  har- 
vests have  followed  the  pale-face  pioneer,  and  hundreds  of  human  beings  of  a 
higher  civilization  have  taken  the  place  of  a  few  wandering  hunters  and  fisher- 
men. This  is  the  fast  age  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and  illustrates  our  whole- 
sale mode  of  doing  business. 

Havana  Township  lies  on  the  east  side  of  the  Illinois  River,  south  of  Quiver 
Township,  west  of  Sherman,  north  of  Kilbourne,  and,  according  to  Govern- 
ment survey,  embraces  Town  21  north,  Range  8  west,  a  part  of  Town  21, 
Range  9,  a  part  of  Town  22,  Range  8,  and  contains  altogether  about  fifty-six 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  503 

sections  of  land.  It  is  diversified,  like  the  entire  portion  of  the  county  along 
the  river,  with  low,  wooded  hills,  rolling  prairie,  level  land,  etc.,  some  of  the 
latter  inclined  to  be  a  little  marshy  until  drained  by  artificial  ditches.  Much  of 
the  town  is  of  a  sandy  nature,  but  very  productive,  yielding  corn,  oats  and  wheat 
in  good  abundance.  The  territory  now  included  in  the  township  of  Havana  was 
originally,  perhaps,  one-third  timber,  the  remainder  rolling  and  level  prairie.  It 
has  no  water-courses,  except  those  forming  a  part  of  its  boundaries,  viz:  Quiver 
Creek  on  the  north  and  the  Illinois  River  on  the  west.  The  P.,  P.  &  J.,  the  L,  B. " 
&  W.  extension  and  the  Springfield  &  North-Western  Railroads  traverse  it  in 
all  directions,  and,  with  the  "  narrow  gauges  "  now  projected,  together  with  the 
Illinois  River,  beatable  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  it  lacks  no  facilities  for 
travel  and  transportation.  Havana,  which  is  particularly  noticed  in  another 
chapter,  is  a  thriving  little  city  of  the  township  and  the  capital  of  the  county. 
Besides  this,  is  Peterville,  which  has  been  surveyed  and  laid  out  as  a  village, 
but  is  merely  two  or  three  shops  and  a  few  houses.  With  this  preliminary 
description  of  the  township,  we  will  now  proceed  to  notice  its 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  white  man  to  locate  in  Havana  Township,  and,  in  fact,  the  first 
in  Mason  County,  is  believed  to  have  been  a  man  named  James  Hoakum,  but 
of  him  there  is  little  information  to  be  had  at  the  present  day.  This  much, 
however,  is  definitely  known,  that  he  kept  the  ferry  for  Ross,  where  the  city 
of  Havana  now  stands,  which  was  established  in  1823  or  1824,  and  is  supposed 
to  have  located  on  this  side  of  the  river  as  early  as  1827.  There  is  little 
doubt  but  he  was  the  first  "  Caucasian  "  upon  the  classic  sand-hills  of  Havana 
after  the  famous  "  fish -fry  "  of  Father  Marquette  and  his  party,  mentioned 
by  Gen.  Ruggles  in  the  general  history  of  this  work.  He  did  not  remain  long, 
however,  and  Maj.  Ossian  M.  Ross,  perhaps,  may,  with  truth,  be  set  down  as 
the  first  permanent  settler.  He  came  originally  from  the  Empire  State  to 
Illinois  in  1819,.  and  settled  in  Madison  County.  In  the  spring  of  1821, 
he  settled  in  Lewistown,  Fulton  County,  and  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  that 
town,  which  was  named  for  his  son,  Lewis  Ross.  Maj.  Ross  established  the 
ferry  at  the  present  city  of  Havana  in  1823-24,  as  above  stated,  but  even 
prior  to  the  establishment  of  a  regular  ferry,  he  had  an  arrangement  for  assist- 
ing people  over  the  river  on  Saturday  of  each  week.  He  would  take  them  and 
their  baggage  in  a  canoe,  while  their  horse  or  horses  were  made  to  swim  by 
the  side  of  it.  Ira  Scoville  was  the  next  man,  after  Hoakum,  who  kept  the 
ferry,  and  now  lives  in  Fulton  County.  Mr.  Ross  built  a  hotel  in  Havana  in 
1829,  the  first  in  Mason  County.  He  was  also  the  first  Postmaster  and  a 
public-spirited  man.  He  died  in  1837,  but  has  left  able  representatives  behind 
him  to  perpetuate  his  good  name.  He  had  a  brother,  John  M.  ROSS,  who  lived 
here  for  a  number  of  years,  but  moved  away,  and  is  now  dead.  Maj.  Ross' 
family  consisted  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  viz.:  Lewis,  the  eldest,  lives 


504  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

in  Lewistown,  Harvey  in  Vermont,  Leonard  in  Avon  and  Pike  in  Canton,  all 
of  Fulton  County.  One  of  the  daughters,  Harriet,  married  A.  S.  Steele,  and 
Lucinda  marriei  Judge  Kellogg  Henry  Myers  came  here  very  early,  the  same 
year,  perhaps,  that  Ross  did,  but  of  him  little  could  be  ascertained.  He  moved 
over  into  Fulton  County  in  a  short  time,  and  further  nothing  is  remembered 
of  him.  John  Barnes  settled  in  the  township  at  "the  Mounds,"  above  Havana, 
about  1829-30.  He  sold  out  there  and  moved  to  Quiver.  When,  some  time 
after,  a  school  was  established  in  a  shanty  at  Mr.  Dieffenbacher's,  some  four 
miles  distant,  Barnes  took  his  plow  and  made  a  furrow  to  it,  turning  the  dirt 
out  both  ways,  thus  making  a  road  through  the  prairie  grass  for  his  children  to 
go  to  school.  He  had  several  girls  who  used  to  cut  "  cord  wood  "  and  bring  it 
down  the  river  on  a  raft  to  Havana.  Think  of  that,  ye  delicate  young  ladies 
of  the  present  day.  He  finally  moved  to  Kansas,  and,  some  years  ago,  when 
Dr.  Field  was  in  Kansas,  he  camped  in  the  woods  one  night,  and,  just  after  he 
had  made  his  camp,  some  others  did  the  same  near  by.  Field  heard  a  man 
talking,  and  remarked,  that  if  he  knew  that  old  man  Barnes  was  in  that  country, 
he  would  say  that  he  heard  him  talking.  "  It  is  old  Barnes,"  said  a  voice, 
and  up  stalked  the  old  gentleman  in  question.  He  and  Field  talked  all  night 
about  old  times.  He  is  probably  dead,  as  he  was  rather  old  when  he  left  here. 
In  addition  to  those  already  mentioned,  the  following  re-enforcements  were 
received  during  the  year  1835 ;  Orrin  E.  Foster,  N.  J.  Rockwell,  Napoleon 
P.  Dirks,  Daniel  Adams  Blair,  Abel  W.  Kemp,  Eli  Fisk,  two  men  named 
Ray  and  Hyde,  and  the  Wheadons.  The  latter  were  from  New  York,  and 
made  but  a  short  stop  on  this  side  of  the  river.  They  went  on  to  Lewistown 
in  Fulton  County,  and  resided  there  until  1854.  Selah  Wheadon  is  well 
known  in  Havana,  as  a  newspaper  man  of  experience  and  ability,  and  is  men- 
tioned in  that  connection.  Fisk  was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  located  in 
Havana,  where  he  resided  until  1837,  when  he  removed  to  the  farm  where  his 
son,  E.  C.  Fisk,  now  lives,  and  where  he  died  in  1861.  He  was  born  in  1781, 
at  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  died  just  at  the  beginning  of 
another,  compared  to  which  the  first  was  mere  child's  play.  His  son,  Eli  C. 
Fisk,  is  a  public  man  of  some  prominence,  being  a  preacher  and  a  lawyer,  and 
has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  country.  Foster, 
Kemp,  Adams  and  Rockwell  came  together,  and  were  from  the  Province  of 
Canada.  Adams'  residence  here  was  brief.  While  making  a  trip  to  the  East, 
he  lost  his  life  on  an  Ohio  River  steamboat.  Kemp  is  the  only  survivor  of  this 
colony,  and  at  the  present  time  is  living  in  Wisconsin.  The  following  extracts 
from  an  address,  delivered  by  W.  H.  Spencer,  at  the  golden  wedding  of  Mr. 
Kemp,  which  occurred  the  26th  day  of  August,  1874,  are  not  out  of  place  in 
this  connection  :  "  In  1833,  Mr.  Kemp  and  family  went  to  Canada  (from 
New  York,  their  native  place),  thence  moving  in  1835,  to  Illinois,  locating  on 
a  farm  in  the  bottom-lands  of  the  Sangamon  Riyer,  near  Havana,  Mason 
Oounty.  In  those  days  it  was  very  fashionable  to  get  the  ague  and  keep  it, 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  505 

and  so  Mr.  Kemp's  family,  one  and  all,  immediately  joined  the  company  of 
shakers,  and  we  are  told  that  their  faces  were  of  the  color  of  lemon  peel,  and 
their  teeth  did  chatter,  chatter  as  unceasingly  as  old  Goody  Blake's,  in  the 
melancholy  cynic  poem.  There  were  no  doctors  in  the  neighborhood,  which, 
perhaps,  accounts  for  the  fact  that  they  all  survived  the  shakes.  In  one  respect, 
however,  this  family  did  not  follow  the  fashions,  for  at  that  time,  when  the 
houses  were  all  made  of  logs,  and  windows  were  holes  in  the  wall,  perfectly 
innocent  of  glass,  what  did  this  Mr.  Kemp  do  but  fly  right  in  the  face  of  pub- 
lic opinion  by  purchasing  four  panes  of  glass  and  putting  them  in  the  aforesaid 
hole  in  the  wall.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  his  humble  neighbors  pronounced  it 
one  of  the  vanities  of  civilization,  and  looked  upon  his  house  as  a  proud  man's 
castle,  and  upbraided  the  inmates  as  being  wickedly  extravagant,  '  big  feelinV 
and  '  sort  o'  stuck  up  like  !'  *  Happy  the  day  when  they  decided 

to  quit  this  ague  farm.  It  happened  in  this  wise  :  Mr.  Kemp  was  preparing 
to  build  a  new  house  on  the  old  ground,  determined,  apparently,  to  fight  it  out 
on  that  line  if  he  shook  all  his  life.  But  when  the  foundation  was  laid,  Mrs. 
Kemp  came  to  look  at  it  and  with  sallow  face  and  chattering  teeth,  she  admon- 
ished him  that  she  could  not  survive  another  year  on  that  old,  bilious  farm, 
and  begged  him  to  pitch  his  tent  where  she  should  direct.  Like  a  good  and 
obedient  husband,  he  followed  where  she  led.  Riding  over  the  prairie  several 
miles  from  the  site  of  the  first  farm,  she  pointed  to  a  spot  and  said :  '  There, 
Abel,  is  where  I  want  my  house.'  He  alighted  and  drove  a  stake  there,  bought 
the  land  of  the  Government,  and  built  his  house  on  the  very  spot,  in  the  midst 
of  120  acres  of  rich  soil.  From  that  day,  the  ebbing  tide  in  fortune  stopped, 
and  the  flow  set  in.  After  remaining  several  years  on  this  farm,  he  moved  into 
the  little  village  of  Havana,  where  he  kept  a  hardware  store  in  connection  with 
a  foundry.  While  in  Illinois,  N.  J.  Kemp  and  Frances  (now 

Mrs.  John  M.  Palmer)  were  born,  making  in  all  eight  children,  three  of  whom 
are  not  living,  and  who  died  in  Illinois.  In  1865,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kemp  came 
on  a  visit  to  their  children  at  this  place,  and  very  naturally  fell  in  love  with  our 
beautiful  village,  and  decided  to  make  it  their  future  home.  *  *  Mr. 

Kemp  has  been  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  for  twenty-five  years.  He  is 
therefore  a  veteran  in  our  ranks — the  patriarch  of  the  family.  No  one  is  more 
regular  in  'his  attendance  at  the  Lodge  than  he,  and  this  week  he  has  shown  his 
interest  as  well  as  physical  vigor,  by  riding  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  to  attend 
the  funeral  of  a  brother.  *  *  We  honor  and  congratulate  you  on  this 

fiftieth  anniversary  of  your  wedding,  and  as  a  token  of  our  esteem  for  you  as  a 
man  of  integrity,  our  respect  for  you  as  an  honorable  citizen,  our  affection  for 
you  as  a  brother,  a  long-tried,  true,  trusty  and  faithful  Odd  Fellow,  allow  me, 
in  behalf  of  many  members  of  our  Order  here,  to  present  you  this  cane.  Let  its 
golden  head  symbolize  the  fifty  golden  years  that  crown  your  golden  life,  so  full  of 
honor  and  joy.  It  is  a  staff  which  you  may  lean  upon,  not  as  a  broken  reed, 
but  a  staff  as  strong  as  the  love  of  your  friends,  which  will  ever  bear  you  up  as 


506  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

you  walk  through  your  declining  years.  And  to  you,  Mrs.  Kemp,  in  con- 
gratulation of  this  event,  and  as  a  little  token  of  their  esteem,  the  Daughters 
of  Rebecca,  through  me,  present  you  this  silver  cup,  gold-lined,  and  other 
friends  present  this  gold  watch." 

The  following  extract  is  from  a  letter  written  by  Judge  Rockwell,  from 
his  home  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in  1876,  and  gives  the  particulars  of  his  early 
settlement  in  the  West :  "  The  best  part  of  my  life — that  portion  which 
should  be  given  to  active  business  enterprise — was  spent  in  Havana.  It  was 
not  as  fruitful  of  desirable  results  as  I  wish  it  had  been,  for  if  I  had  the 
ability,  which  I  do  not  assert,  I  certainly  had  not  the  pecuniary  means  to 
build  up  a  town  in  a  new  country.  When  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years, 
I  landed  in  Havana  from  the  steamer  Aid,  the  last  boat  up  the  Illinois  River 
for  the  season  of  1835,  Maj.  Ossian  M.  Ross  was  living  at  Havana,  a  man  of 
means  and  large  experience  and  the  projector  of  the  town,  ready  and  willing  to 
expend  money,  time  and  influence  in  building  it  up.  He  promised  much, 
which  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt  he  would  have  fulfilled  had  he  lived,  but  death 
removed  him,  and  left  more  than  half  of  Havana,  the  property  of  an  estate, 
with  minor  heirs,  nearly  one-half  of  the  town  being  sold  to  a  Peoria  firm,  one 
of  whom  soon  died,  and  their  portion  became  involved  in  the  affairs  of  another 
estate,  with  no  one  connected  with  either  trying  to  build  up  the  town,  but 
both  trying  to  draw  from  it  a  support  to  live  elsewhere.  You  ask  the  place  of 
my  birth.  I  was  born  in  Benson,  Vt.,  on  the  14th  day  of  February,  1809. 
Benson,  Whiting  and  Middletown,  Vt.,  were,  respectively,  my  home  until  my 
eighteenth  year,  when  my  father  removed  to  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  where  I  was  a 
clerk  in  the  store  of  L.  Paddock  until  my  twenty-second  birthday.  1  was 
offered  a  partnership,  in  Demorestville,  Canada,  with  James  Carpenter,  who 
had  been  in  business  there  a  number  of  years  and  was  well  established.  I 
accepted,  and  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Carpenter  &  Rockwell.  In 
1835,  I  sold  out  my  interest  in  the  firm  to  my  partner,  and  took  my  savings 
and  started  to  seek  my  new  home  in  the  Great  (and  the  then  far-off)  West. 
Daniel  Adams  and  Abel  W.  Kemp  and  their  families  landed  at  the  same  time, 
all  of  us  having  started,  with  Orrin  E.  Foster  and  wife  (the  late  Mrs.  E.  Low), 
from  Demorestville,  in  Upper  Canada,  to  settle  somewhere  in  the  Great  West, 
and  in  a  warmer  climate  than  that  of  Canada.  Mr.  Adams,  on  a  return  trip 
to  Canada  on  business,  lost  his  life  by  a  ruffianly  mate  on  an  Ohio  River  steam- 
boat, near  Louisville,  Ky.  You  know  Mr.  Kemp's  present  residence.  Of 
the  time  and  the  money  which  I  spent  from  my  slender  means  for  years, 
to  make  Havana  arid  Mason  County  desirable  to  live  in.  it  does  not  become 
me  to  speak.  Havana  seems  to  me  yet  more  like  home  than  anywhere  else 
I  go  or  live ;  not  because  there  is  no  other  place  equal  to  it  in  this 
part  of  the  country,  but  because  I  lived  there  so  long  and  because  there 
are  so  many  much  less  desirable  places."  Mr.  Rockwell  filled  the  office  of 
County  Judge  one  term,  with  other  offices  of  a  minor  character.  He  died  in 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  507 

1878,  and  his  wife  died  the  present  year.  Orrin  E.  Foster,  who  seems  to  have 
been  a  kind  of  leader  of  this  little  colony,  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  but  had 
removed  to  Canada,  and  from  there  came  to  the  West  with  this  party,  as  men- 
tioned. He  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  and  kept  the  second  house  of  enter- 
tainment, perhaps,  in  Mason  County.  Subsequently,  he  bought  a  farm,  three 
miles  east  of  the  city  of  Havana,  which  was  his  home  until  his  death,  an  event 
that  occurred  in  1843.  His  widow  married  Eliphaz  Low,  an  early  settler  of 
this  township  ;  the  result  of  which  union  was  two  sons — Anson  and  Rufus  Low. 
There  were  four  children  by  the  first  marriage — J.  R  and  George  Foster,  Mrs. 
Wheeler  and  Mrs.  Nash.  J.  R.,  or  Judd  Foster,  as  he  is  familiarly  called,  is  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Low  &  Foster,  grain-dealers,  and  is  a  business  man  who 
stands  as  high  as  any  in  Mason  County.  Dirks  was  a  Holland  Dutchman,  and 
died  here.  Blair  was  here  but  a  short  time.  He  came  from  the  other  side  of 
the  river,  sold  out  to  Rockwell,  and  returned  whence  he  came.  He  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade.  Ray  was  a  Canadian,  and  married  Hyde's  daughter,  whom 
he  afterward  deserted,  and  what  finally  became  of  him  is  not  known.  Hyde, 
after  a  few  years,  moved  away. 

In  1836,  the  following  recruits  were  added  to  the  settlement :  The  Low 
brothers,  Pulaski  Scoville,  Pollard  Simmons,  C.  W.  Andrus,  Stephen  Hilbert, 
Hoag  Sherman,  Ephraim  Burnell,  John  Ritter,  A.  C.  Gregory  and  John  and 
William  Alexander.  The  Lows  came  originally  from  the  old  Bay  State,  and 
consisted  of  three  brothers,  Francis,  Thomas  and  Eliphaz,  of  whom  none  are 
now  living,  except  Francis.  He,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  came  West, 
stopping  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  In 
1834,  he  went  to  Cincinnati ;  from  there,  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  and  came  here 
as  above.  The  Lows,  together  with  Pulaski  Scoville,  built  a  steam  saw-mill 
here  at  an  early  day,  which  sawed  timbers  for  buildings  in  Alton  and  St.  Louis, 
and  for  the  first  railroad  built  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  as  well  as  for  the 
houses  erected  in  this  section  of  the  country.  Francis  Low  was  Deputy  Sheriff 
of  Tazewell  County  when  it  included  this  portion  of  Mason,  and  the  first  Sheriff 
of  Mason  County  after  its  formation.  He  served  as  Sheriff  two  terms,  and 
assisted  in  building  the  Illinois  River  Railroad.  Mr.  Low  has  always  been  an 
energetic  business  man,  taking  a  lively  interest  in  everything  calculated  to  pro- 
mote the. welfare  of  his  town  and  county.  He  took  an  active  part  in  organizing 
the  Havana  National  Bank,  of  which  he  is  President.  Thomas  and  Eliphaz 
Low  came  in  the  spring  of  1836,  while  Francis  came  the  fall  following.  They 
made  claims  on  Quiver,  and  were  honored  and  respected  citizens.  Thomas  died 
about  1846,  and  Eliphaz  in  1864.  The  latter  has  a  son  living  at  present  in 
the  city  of  Havana,  engaged  in  the  grain  business  (firm  of  Low  &  Foster),  and 
is  one  of  the  substantial  business  men  of  the  city.  Pulaski  Scoville  removed  to 
Warren  County,  111.,  in  1834,  and  to  this  section  in  1836,  as  above  noticed. 
He  came  from  Cincinnati  to  Illinois,  but  is  a  native  of  Connecticut,  whence 
he  removed  to  New  York,  where  he  remained  six  years  before  emigrating  West. 


508 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


As  already  stated,  he,  in  company  with  the  Low  brothers,  built  a  steam  saw- 
mill at  Havana,  which  did  an  extensive  business  for  many  years.  He  bought  a 
large  quantity  of  land,  and  was  possibly  the  first  grain-buyer  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  as  we  learn  that  he  bought  a  thousand  bushels  of  corn  from  a  Mr. 
Reese,  who  lived  where  Virginia  now  stands,  and  1,200  bushels  from  James 
Walker,  at  Walker's  Grove.  He  is  still  living  in  Mason  County.  Julius, 
Junius  and  Lucius  Scoville  were  brothers  of  Pulaski  Scoville,  and  came  to  the 
settlement  in  a  year  or  two  afterward.  Julius  and  Junius  were  twins,  and  all 
three  are  now  dead.  C.  W.  Andrus  came  from  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  and  located 
where  the  city  of  Havana  now  stands,  and  is  still  living.  He  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising with  N.  J.  Rockwell  soon  after  his  arrival,  and,  about  three  years 
later,  removed  to  Fulton  County.  In  1845,  he  returned  to  Havana,  and 
resumed  his  old  business  as  a  merchant.  He  is  the  oldest  merchant  in  Mason 
County  living  to-day.  Mr.  Andrus  was  one  of  the  early  Justices  of  the  Peace,, 
but  declined  all  other  offices.  He  has  always  been  an  upright  business  man,, 
and  is  one  of  Havana's  respected  citizens.  Ephraim  Burnell  settled  near  the 
';  Mounds  "  in  the  vicinity  of  Havana,  and  afterward,  in  removing  to  California, 
died  on  the  route.  Erasmus  and  Evander  Burnell  were  nephews,  and  came 
soon  after  Ephraim.  Evander  is  dead,  and  Erasmus  lives  in  Kansas.  John 
Ritter  and  A.  C.  Gregory  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood  as  Ephraim  Burnell, 
and  about  the  same  time.  Ritter  was  from  Kentucky,  and  was  the  father  of 
Col.  Richard  Ritter,  well  known  to  many  of  our  readers  as  a  Colonel  in  the  late 
war,  and  who  now  lives  in  Missouri.  The  elder  Ritter  died  on  his  original  set- 
tlement. Pollard  Simmons  died  here,  but  we  believe  has  a  son  still  living. 
Stephen  Hilbert  and  Hoag  Sherman  were  from  the  East,  but  what  State  we 
did  not  learn.  Both  died  here  a  number  of  years  ago.  James  Blakely  came 
to  Mason  County  this  year,  but  settled  in  what  is  now  Kilbourne  Township, 
where  he  lived  for  a  number  of  years,  when  he  removed  to  the  place  in  this 
township  where  his  widow  yet  lives.  He  is  further  noticed  in  the  history  of 
Kilbourne  Township.  John  and  William  Alexander  came  this  year,  but  did 
not  remain  long.  One  of  them  lived  near  the  Mounds,  and  the  other  sold  to 
Joseph  Mowder  when  he  came  to  the  settlements,  in  1839.  Further,  nothing 
is  remembered  of  them. 

From  the  "golden  fields  "  and  "  verdant  hills  "  of  the  Fatherland,  we  have 
a  large  delegation  of  Germans,  who  became  the  best  of  citizens.  Unheeding 
the  pathetic  strains  of  a  native  poet — 

"  Wie  wird  es  in  den  fremden  Waldern 

Euch  nach  der  Heimathberge  Grim, 
Nach  Deutschland's  gelben  Weizenfeldern, 

Nach  seinen  Rebenhiigeln  ziehn  ! 

"  Wie  wird  das  Bild  der  alten  Tage 

Durch  cure  Traume  glanzend  wehn  ! 
Gleich  einer  stillen,  frommen  Sage       . 
Wird  es  euch  vor  der  Seele  stehn,  "  — 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  50& 

they  left  the  homes  of  their  youth  and  came  to  a  country  where  the  highest 
honor  to  be  attained,  the  proudest  title  to  be  won,  is  that  of  American  citizen. 
Among  them,  we  may  note  the  following    families :      The    Krebaums,   the 
Dierkers,  the  Guntlachs,  the  Havighorsts,  John  H.  Schulte,  John  W.  Neteler, 
Frederick  Speckman,  Harman  Tegedes,  John  W.  Holzgraefe,  and  a  great  many 
others  who  do  not  rank  as  old  settlers.     The  Krebaum  family  consisted  of 
Bernhard  Krebaum  and  five  sons,  Frederick,  Adolph,  William,   Edward  and 
Charles  G.,  the  latter  born  in  this  township,  and   supposed  to  be  the  oldest 
native-born   citizen  of   Mason  County.     There  were  two  daughters,  both  of 
whom  are  still  living.     Three  children,  also,  died  young ;  two  died  in  Germany 
and  one  in  this  country.     The  Krebaums  are  said  to  have  been  the  third  family 
in  Havana  Township,  and  the  fourth  in  Mason  County,  and  arrived  here  in 
the  summer  of  1834.  The  old  gentleman  resided  here  until  his  death,  in  1853, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.     Frederick,  the  oldest  son,  died  recently,  at  an 
advanced  age ;  Edward  died  several  years  ago ;  Adolph,  William  and  Charles 
G.   are  still  living  in  the  city  of  Havana,  honorable  and  upright  citizens. 
Adolph  served  several  terms  as   County  Clerk,  an  office  in   which  he  gave 
unbounded  satisfaction.     Charles  G.  is  an  extensive  grain-dealer.     To  Adolph 
Krebaum   we  are  indebted  for  much  of  the  early  history  of  both   the  town- 
ship and  city  of  Havana.     John   H..  Dierker  and  two  brothers,  Henry  and 
George,  came  to  the  present  township  in  1838,  and  the  former  located  about 
one  mile  from  Havana,  and  still  resides  on  the  place  of  his  original  settlement. 
Born  in  1799,  he  has  now  reached  his  fourscore  years.       A  local  writer  pays 
him  this  tribute,  which  his  friends  unite  in  acknowledging  to  be  justly  due  him: 
"  His  wealth  has  not  been  obtained  by  narrow  and  penurious  dealing ;  but  he 
has  ever  been  noted  for  generous    open-heartedness,  and  from  him  the  poor 
never  went  empty  away.     Though  his  sun  is  now  declining  into  the  western 
horizon,  he  enjoys  good  health,  and  is  quite  active  for  his  years.     He  has  long 
been  identified  with  the  German  Lutheran  Church  of  Havana,  the  financial 
interests  of  which  have  been  in  a  most  healthful  state  on  account  of  that  rela- 
tionship.    His  sense  of  right  is  his  law,  doing  unto  others  as  he  would  that 
they  should  do  unto   him."     Henry  and  George  settled  in  Bath  Township; 
Henry  died  soon  after  his  arrival,  and  George  in  1854.     Jacob  Guntlach  first 
came  to  America  in  1832  or  1833,  returned  to  Germany,  and  came  back  with 
the  Krebaums.     His  brother  Theodore  Guntlach  came  also  at  this  time.    They 
located   about  two  miles  northeast  of  Havana  ;  but  did  not  remain  long  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  sold  out  and  moved  away.    Augustus  Otto  and  John  Woeste 
came  about  1844  or  1846.     The  former  removed  to  St.  Louis  about  two  years 
ago,  and  Woeste  died  here.     The  Havighorsts  are  another  substantial  family 
of  Germans,  consisting  of  several  brothers,  viz. :  John  H.  and  G.  H.  D.  Hav- 
ighorst,  now  living  in  the  city  of  Havana ;    Gerard,  another  brother,  a  prom- 
inent merchant  of  Bath,  died  there  some  years  ago  ;  and  still  another  brother 
is  a  preacher,  and  lives  in  St.  Louis.     John  H.  came  to  America  in  1836,  and 


510  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

remained  in  New  Orleans  until  the  following  year,  when  he  came  to  this  town- 
ship. In  1844,  he  commenced  business  in  the  village  of  Matanzas,  and 
remained  there  until  1858.  He  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Mason  County  in  the 
fall  of  that  year,  and  removed  to  Havana.  He  was  again  elected  to  the  office 
in  1862,  and  Circuit  Clerk  in  1864.  He  also  served  a  term  as  Sheriff,  begin- 

7  '  O 

ning  in  1848.  In  all  these  positions  of  public  trust,  Mr.  Havighorst  made  an 
excellent  and  efficient  officer,  and  though  now  beyond  the  sunny  slope  of  life, 
is  well  preserved,  and  bids  fair  to  live  yet  for  many  years  to  come.  G.  H.  D. 
Havighorst  did  not  come  to  this  country  as  early  as  his  brother.  He  arrived 
at  Schulte's  Landing,  one  mile  below  Havana,  in  the  fall  of  1844,  and  soon 
after  went  to  Meredosia,  in  Morgan  County,  where  he  remained  until  1849, 
then  returned  to  Mason  County,  and  located  at  Bath.  In  1864,  he  made  a 
visit  to  Germany,  and,  on  his  return  to  this  country,  settled  in.  Havana,  where 
he  still  lives.  He  owns  a  large  lot  of  land  in  the  county,  and  is  one  of  the 
wealthiest  citizens  of  the  community.  John  H.  Schulte  came  to  the  United 
States,  and  to  Mason  County,  in  1837.  He  established  what  was  known  as 
Sohulte's  Landing,  on  the  river,  below  Havana.  Here  he  engaged  in  the  grain 
business.  For  many  years  his  trade  there  is  said  to  have  exceeded  that  at 
Havana.  He  was  also  a  kind  of  itinerant  merchant,  and  sold  goods  in  Menard, 
Cass  and  Mason  Counties.  Mr.  Schulte  .died  in  1845.  A  son  is  now  Deputy 
County  Clerk  of  Mason  County.  John  William  Neteler  came  to  America  in 
1836.  His  family  consisted  of  Anna  Maria  (afterward  Mrs.  Speckman)  Cath- 
arine Elizabeth  (at  the  time  wife  of  John  H.  Schulte),  and  John  H.,  a  son.  He 
had  come  to  the  country  the  year  previous.  The  old  gentleman  died  the  fall 
after  they  came,  and  was  the  first  German  buried  in  the  Havana  Cemetery. 
John  H.  was  an  assistant  of  Mr.  Lincoln  in  his  early  surveys  in  Mason  County. 
None  of  the  Neteler  family  survive  except  grandchildren.  Frederick  Speck- 
man, who  married  a  daughter  of  Neteler,  as  mentioned  above,  came  to  the 
•country  in  1835,  and  to  this  township  in  the  fall  of  1836.  He  died  in  1854, 
but  has  several  representatives  living  in  the  town.  Harman  Tegedes  came  to 
America  in  1844,  and  located  in  Havana  Township,  where  he  died  in  1875. 
His  widow  still  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  John  W.  Holzgraefe  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1836,  and  stopped  in  the  city  of  Boston,  where  he 
remained  until  1840,  when  he  came  to  Mason  County  and  settled  in  Havana 
Township.  He  still  lives  on  the  place  of  his  original  settlement,  and  is  a 
wealthy  and  enterprising  farmer.  He  has  five  stalwart  sons,  and  a  peculiarity 
in  their  names  is,  that  each  begins  with  George,  as  follows :  George  William, 
George  Henry,  George  Lewis,  George  Brantz  and  George  Frank.  They  are 
among  the  successful  business  men  of  Havana  and  vicinity.  Leopold  Sterns, 
Michael  and  Emanuel  Steiner  and  George  Weiner  were  Jews.  Sterns  went  to 
California  twelve  or  fifteen  years  ago ;  the  Steiners  to  New  York,  where  they 
are  engaged  selling  "sheap  clodings,"  and  Weiner  went  to  Philadelphia. 
Adam  Fassler  and  Joseph  Meyer  were  Pennsylvania  'Dutch.  Fassler  removed 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  513 

to  the  West ;  Meyer,  we  believe,  is  dead,  but  has  a  son  living  in  Sherman 
Township. 

The  population  was  increased,  in  1837,  by  the  arrival  of  the  following  new- 
comers: Charles  Howell,  the  Dieffenbachers,  Alexander  Stuart,  Nehemiah 
Murdock,  Isaac  Parkhurst  and  Jesse  Brown.  The  latter  came  from  the  East, 
though  from  what  State  is  not  known.  His  first  residence  was  of  the  pattern 
which  is  said  to  have  first  given  rise  to  order  in  architecture,  viz.,  two  forks 
driven  into  the  ground,  a  pole  extending  from  one  to  the  other,  and  others  set 
with  one  end  on  the  ground,  supported  at  the  top  by  the  pole  resting  in  the 
forks.  This  was  covered  with  prairie  grass,  with  one  end  left  open  for  ingress 
and  egress.  He  had  logs  cut  for  a  house,  and  Dieffenbacher  and  Howell  pro- 
posed to  help  him  put  it  up,  if  he  would  give  them  shelter.  This  he  agreed  to, 
and  the  three  families  found  shelter  in  it  until  they  could  build  their  own 
cabins.  He  sold,  a  few  years  later,  to  Dan  Roberts,  and  made  an  improvement 
on  the  Springfield  road,  one  mile  from  Havana,  and  finally  sold  out  and 
removed  to  Missouri.  Roberts  came  from  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  this  town- 
ship, but  his  widow  is  still  living.  Isaac  Parkhurst  came  from  New  Jersey 
and  settled  in  Havana  Township,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  has 
numerous^representatives  still  living  in  the  county.  Nehemiah  Murdock  was 
a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  the  spring  of  1837,  stopping 
in  the  present  county  of  Sangamon,  and  the  following  year  came  to  this  town- 
ship. The  next  year,  however,  he  returned  to  his  native  place,  where  he 
remained  until  1854.  when  he  again  came  to  Illinois,  and  now  resides  in  Crane 
Creek  Township.  He  has  a  son  in  Havana,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
Mason  County  Democrat.  Alexander  Stuart  hails  from  "  Ould  Ireland,"  and 
is  a  model  representative  of  that  nationality.  He  was  one  of  the  first  lumber 
merchants  in  Havana,  an  early  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  one  of  the  early 
steamboat  men.  He  is  still  living  in  the  city  of  Havana,  a  well  preserved 
pioneer  of  more  than  sixty  years.  Daniel  Dieffenbacher  is  a  jolly  old  Pennsyl- 
vania Dutchman,  and  came  from  the  Keystone  State,  as  noted  above,  in  1837. 
He  served  on  the  first  grand  jury  after  the  organization  of  Mason  County,  in 
1841,  and  has  always  been  an  active  man  in  his  neighborhood.  In  1839,  he 
became  identified  with  the  Methodist  Church,  and  has  ever  since  been  a  zealous 
member  of-  that  denomination,  and  is  a  man  in  whom  there  is  no  guile.  He  is 
still  living  and  enjoying  good  health  for  one  of  his  years.  Of  six  children 
still  living,  but  three  are  residents  of  Mason  County — Mrs.  Thomas  Covington 
and  Dr.  Philip  L.  Dieffenbacher,  of  Havana,  and  Mrs.  Dr.  Willing,  of  Bath. 
Dr.  Dieffenbacher  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  and  in  1849  returned  to 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  completed  his  education,  studied  medicine,  and  gradu- 
ated in  Jefferson  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia.  In  1856,  he  came  back  to 
Illinois,  and  located  in  Havana,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  In  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  the  Eighty-Fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  promoted  to  Surgeon  with 

the  rank   of  Major,  in  June,  1863.     He  served  with  this   regiment  until  the 

s 


514  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

close  of  the  war,  and  was  with  Sherman  in  his  march  to  the  sea.  Charles 
Howell  is  also  a  native  of  Pennsyslvania.  He  came  to  Mason  County  and 
settled  four  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Havana.  This  claim  he  soon  after  sold 
and  purchased  the  mill  site  where  McHarry's  mill  (on  Quiver  Creek)  now 
stands,  in  company  with  Julius  Jones  and  William  Pollard.  He  was  a  wheel- 
wright by  trade ;  and  in  about  1842,  they  built  a  saw-mill,  which  they  after- 
ward sold  to  McHarry.  After  McHarry's  purchase,  he  built  a  grist-mill  on 
the  south  side  of  the  creek,  a  notice  of  which  will  be  given  elsewhere.  Mr. 
Howell  is  a  kind  of  wandering  Jew,  and  has  "roamed  through  many  lands.'r 
From  his  native  State  he  went  to  New  York,  where  he  remained  but  a  short 
time,  and  returned  to  Pennsylvania.  He  next  went  to  Louisiana,  where  he 
was  for  a  time  engaged  in  work  for  the  Port  Hudson  &  Clinton  Railroad,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  built  a  bridge  for  it,  still  known  as  the  "  Howell  Bridge." 
His  next  removal  was  to  Illinois,  as  given  above.  In  1849,  he  crossed  the 
plains  to  California,  returned  in  1850,  and,  in  1859,  made  another  trip  to  the 
Golden  Grate.  His  experience  has  been  vast  and  varied  ;  and,  after  a  life 
crowded  with  stirring  episodes,  he  has  settled  down  once  more  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  early  home  in  Mason  County,  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

Hon.  Robert  McReynolds,  also  a  Pennsylvanian,  came  to  Illinois  in  1839y 
and  located  in  this  township.  He  was  a  neighbor  to  the  Dieffenbachers  in  Penn- 
sylvania, as  well  as  in  Mason  County.  During  his  long  residence  here,  he  was 
called  upon  to  fill  various  official  positions,  in  all  of  which  he  discharged  his 
duty  with  faithfulness  and  fidelity.  For  several  years,  he  served  as  County 
Judge.  He  died  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  From  his  obituary 
notice  we  make  the  following  extract :  "  For  more  than  a  year  the  hand  of  time 
bore  heavily  upon  him,  but,  happily  and  cheerfully,  he  could  say  with  Job, 
'  All  the  days  of  my  appointed  time  will  I  wait,  till  my  change  come.'  The 
deceased  was  an  old-time  Christian  and  united  with  the  M.  E.  Church  in 
1831,  consequently  was  not  only  a  pioneer  in  this  country  but  a  pioneer  in  Meth- 
odism in  the  West,  and  for  long  years  the  intimate  friend  of  the  venerable 
Peter  Cartwright,  who  so  recently  preceded  him  to  the  spirit  land."  Joseph 
Mowder  came  from  the  Quaker  State  the  same  year  as  did  McReynolds,  also 
a  Methodist  preacher  named  Coder  came  with  McReynolds.  Coder  had  a  son, 
who  was  a  doctor,  and  removed  to  Logan  County.  Mowder  still  lives  on  the 
place  where  he  originally  settled,  and  which  he  bought  from  one  of  the  Alex- 
anders. Jacob  T.  Mowder,  a  son  of  Joseph,  still  lives  in  this  township,  and 
was  a  child  when  his  father  moved  to  this  country.  John  R.  Chaney  came 
from  Kentucky  to  Illinois  in  1837,  and  located  in  Greene  County.  In  the  spring 
of  1839,  he  came  to  Mason  County  and  settled  in  Crane  Creek  Township,  and, 
in  the  fall  of  that  year,  came  to  this  township.  He  still  resides  on  his  original 
claim  made  in  this  town,  and  is  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers.  He  was  one  of 
the  second  corps  of  County  Commissioners  after*  the  organization  of  Mason 
County. 


HISTORY    OF   MASON   COUNTY.  515 

Asa  W.  Langford,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  came  to  Fulton  County,  111.,  in 
1824,  and  located  where  he  afterward  laid  out  the  old  town  of  Waterford.  Later, 
he  became  one  of  the  proprietors  of  Lewistown  and  of  Havana,  and,  in  the 
latter  place,  lived  for  a  number  of  years.  George  W.  Langford,  his  son,  located 
in  Havana  when  but  fifteen  years  old,  and  entered  the  employ  of  Walker,  Han- 
cock &  Co.,  and,  in  1856,  became  a  partner  in  the  firm.  He  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Havana,  which  place  he  still  makes 
his  home,  though  of  late  years  he  has  been  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  large 
wholesale  house  in  New  York. 

Col.  V.  B.  Holmes  and  John  W.  Wiggenton  were  early  settlers  here  as 
well  as  in  Bath  Township,  where  they  are  more  particularly  mentioned.  They 
were  among  the  first  merchants  of  Havana,  and  opened  a  store  in  the  village 
when  it  consisted  of  but  a  few  log  cabins.  The  Wrights,  represented  in  Hav- 
ana at  present  by  0.  H.  and  H.  A.  Wright,  are  not  as  early  settlers  as  many 
already  mentioned  in  this  chapter,  but  came  to  Illinois  in  1845,  and  located  in 
Fulton  County.  In  1849,  they  came  to  Havana.  .  George  Wright,  the  father 
of  these  boys  above  noticed,  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  a  son  of  Thad- 
deus  Wright,  a  Revolutionary  soldier  and  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  He  died 
in  Havana,  in  1865.  0.  H.  Wright  served  one  term  as  Circuit  Clerk  of  Mason 
County,  was  a  member  of  the  last  Constitutional  Convention  of  Illinois,  a'nd  is 
one  of  the  oldest  newspaper  men  of  Havana. 

Hon.  Luther  Dearborn  is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  came  to  Havana 
in  1844.  He  did  not  remain  here  long  but  removed  to  St.  Charles,  Kane  Co., 
111.,  and,  the  year  following,  located  at  Elgin.  In  1850,  he  was  elected  Sheriff 
of  Kane  County,  and  had  for  his  deputy  the  well-known  detective,  Allan  Pink- 
erton.  He  also  served  as  Circuit  Clerk  of  Kane  County,  and  during  the  term 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  1858,  he  returned  to  Havana,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  He  is  the  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Dearborn  &  Camp- 
bell, leading  lawyers,  not  only  of  Mason  County,  but  of  Central  Illinois. 

Among  the  prominent  positions  held  by  Mr.  Dearborn  was  that  of  State 
Senator  in  the  last  General  Assembly. 

Marcellus  Dearborn,  a  brother,  and  Jonathan  Dearborn,  their  father,  came 
at  the  same  time.  The  elder  Dearborn  built  the  hotel  now  known  as  the  Mason 
House,  and'  kept  a  hotel  for  a  time.  He  has  been  dead  for  a  number  of 
years. 

Dr.  E.  B.  Harpham  came  to  Illinois  in  1844,  and  located  in  Havana.  He 
is  a  native  of  the  "  City  of  Brotherly  Love,"  and,  at  the  age  of  five  years, 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Indiana.  After  arriving  at  manhood,  he  studied 
medicine  and  graduated,  when  he  came  to  Havana,  as  above,  where  he  has  prac- 
ticed his  profession  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  is  still  living,  one  of  the 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Havana. 

James,  Levi  and  Silas  Harpham  are  brothers,  and  came  soon  after  the  Doc 
tor,  and,  we  believe,  are  all  still  living   in   the   city  and   township  of  Havana. 


516  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Their  father,  Jonathan  Harpham,  came  to  Mason  County  in  1850,  and  died  in 
1852. 

William  Higbee  is  from  Lexington,  Ky.,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1836,  and 
located  in  Greene  County,  where  he  resided  until  1843,  when  he  removed  to 
Christian  County.  In  1847,  he  removed  to  Quiver,  and  now  lives  at  his  ease 
in  the  city  of  Havana. 

James  Quick  came  from  New  Jersey  to  Illinois  in  1841,  and  to  Havana 
Township  in  the  spring  of  1842,  where  he  still  resides. 

John  Hurley  is  also  from  New  Jersey,  and  removed  with  his  father's  family 
to  Illinois  in  the  spring  of  1834,  locating  in  De  Witt  County.  In  1843,  he 
came  to  Havana  Township  and  located  near  McHarry's  mill.  Here  he 
remained  until  1856,  when  he  went  to  Kansas,  and,  with  Jim  Lane,  partici- 
pated in  the  "  border  warfare  "  of  that  exciting  period.  He  returned  to  this 
township,  where  he  still  lives.  He  says  that  he  built  the  first  house  on  the 
prairie  between  Havana  and  McHarry's  mill;  that  he  helped  to  "raise" 
McHarry's  mill,  and  that  men  came  eighteen  and  twenty  miles  to  render  assist- 
ance. 

William  Wallace  came  from  Ohio  in  1843,  with  his  mother's  family  (his 
father  died  in  Ohio),  and  settled  in  this  township,  where  he  still  resides.  Julius 
Jone*s  also  came  from  Ohio.  He  located  in  Menard  County  in  1837,  and 
removed  to  Havana  Township  in  the  spring  of  1842.  In  company  with 
Charles  Howell  and  William  Pollard,  built  a  saw-mill  where  McHarry's  mill 
now  stands,  or  rather  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek  from  it,  which  is  noticed 
elsewhere.  A  son,  A.  H.  Jones,  lives  in  Havana  Township.  Nathan  Howell 
came  from  Pennsylvania  in  1840,  and  settled  in  Havana  Township.  He  has  a 
son,  B.  F.  Howell,  still  living  in  the  town,  who  is  a  man  of  great  physical 
force  and  endurance.  He  boasts  of  having  worked  through  every  harvest  for 
thirty-nine  years,  and  plowed  through  every  season,  without  missing  a  single 
week.  Ye  stripling  water-sprouts  of  this  fast  age,  "  make  a  note  on  it,"  as 
Oapt.  Cuttle  would  say. 

Alexander  Gray  came  from  the  "  banks  and  braes  o'  Bonny  Doon,"  and 
followed  the  sea  for  a  number  of  years.  He  settled  in  this  township  about  the 
year  1842,  and  has  a  son,  John  A.  Gray,  now  living  in  the  town,  a  prosperous 
farmer. 

Reuben  Henninger,  Philip  Opp  and  Simon  Frankenfield  came  from  the  old 
Quaker  State  of  Pennsylvania.  Henninger  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  located 
in  Havana  Township  in  1842.  He  followed  farming  until  1866,  when  he 
retired  from  active  life  and  moved  into  the  city  of  Havana,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  still  owns  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  county,  is  a  highly  respected 
citizen,  and  has  many  descendants  and  relatives,  who  are  among  the  active  and 
leading  citizens  of  the  community.  Opp  removed  to  Ohio,  and  from  the  Buck- 
eye State  to  Illinois  in  1842,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  where  he  still 
resides.  Frankenfield  settled  in  this  township  in  1841,  where  he  followed 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  517 

farming  for  a  few  years,  when  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Havana,  and  engaged 
in  tailoring,  a  trade  he  had  learned  in  Pennsylvania.  He  again  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming  until  1864,  when  he  returned  to  the  city,  and  from  1866  to 
1876,  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business,  from  which  he  has  retired,,  and  is  now 
living  at  his  ease.  Peter  A.  Thornburg  emigrated  from  Maryland  to  Illinois 
in  1840,  and  settled  in  Fulton  County.  He  located  in  Havana  Township  in 
18480  near  where  he  now  lives.  He  is  still  living,  and  is  the  proprietor  of 
Peterville,  a  small  village  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town,  which  he  laid  out 
in  1868.  S.  C.  Conwell  is  a  native  of  Delaware,  and  came  to  Mason  County 
in  1840.  He  located  in  Havana  in  1848,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of 
the  Mason  County  bar.  He  is  extensively  mentioned  in  other  portions  of  this 
work,  and  therefore  but  little  can  be  said  here  without  repetition.  Charles 
Pulling  is  a  native  of  England,  but  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  early 
childhood,  and  resided  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  until  1848.  He  then  moved 
to  Illinois  and  located  in  Havana  Township,  where  he  still  lives.  Isaac  N. 
Mitchell,  one  of  the  live  business  men  of  Havana,  may  be  termed  an  old  settler 
of  Mason  County,  but  is  mentioned  in  the  history  of  Bath  Township,  where  he 
lived  for  a  number  of  years.  Israel,  Jesse  and  David  Drone  were  from  Penn- 
sylvania. Jesse  still  lives  in  Havana,  Israel  in  Sangamon  County,  and  David 
died  here.  Jabez  Maranville  came  from  Fulton  County  here,  but  his  native 
place  is  not  known.  He  settled  here  somewhere  in  the  thirties,  and  died  years 
ago.  George,  William  and  Robert  Walker,  sons  of  James  Walker,  an  old  set- 
tler of  Walker's  Grove,  mentioned  in  another  chapter  of  this  work,  came  here 
about  1839—40.  They  came  from  Indiana.  George  was  in  business  here  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  now  lives  in  Peoria;  William  is  a  lawyer  and  lives  in 
Missouri ;  Robert  and  the  father  are  dead.  The  latter  died  at  an  advanced  age 
in  the  city  of  Havana.  Reuben  Coon  came  from  New  Jersey  at  an  early  day, 
but  of  him  not  much  is  known,  further  than  that  he  died  here. 

This  comprises  a  sketch  of  the  settlement  of  Havana,  city  and  township,  so 
far  as  we  have  been  able  to  gather  facts  and  incidents.  Although  white  men 
were  in  Menard  County  ten  years  or  more  before  there  was  a  settlement  made 
in  the  present  limits  of  Mason,  yet  a  sufficient  period  of  time  has  elapsed  since 
the  pioneer  found  his  way  to  this  immediate  region,  to  involve  these  early 
settlements^  in  some  uncertainty.  As  one  looks  back  over  fifty  years  gone  by, 
the  road  seems  long  and  tedious,  and,  if  those  who  have  plodded  over  its  weary 
miles  have  forgotten  events  that  transpired  in  those  early  times,  it  is  not  strange. 
We  have  exhausted  every  effort  to  get  the  early  history  of  the  country  correct, 
and  believe  we  have  it  as  nearly  so  as  it  is  possible  to  obtain  it  at  this  late  day. 

OTHER    EVENTS    AND    INCIDENTS. 

The  greater  part  of  the  early  history  of  this  township  is  so  closely  inter- 
woven with  that  of  the  city  of  Havana,  that  it  will  be  given  under  that  head. 
Indeed,  there  is  very  little,  aside  from  the  settlements  made  within  its  limits, 


518  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

to  write  about.  The  notice  of  early  settlers,  both  in  the  city  and  township,  is 
given  in  the  preceding  pages,  so  as  to  avoid  repetition  in  the  chapter  devoted 
to  the  city  of  Havana.  The  first  schools,  churches,  stores,  post  office,  etc.,  etc., 
were  at  Havana,  and  will  be  more  fully  noticed  in  that  connection.  With  a 
brief  sketch  of  some  incidents  belonging  more  particularly  to  the  township  his- 
tory, we  will  turn  our  attention  to  a  review  of  the  county's  metropolis. 

One  of  the  first  mills  in  Havana  Township,  outside  of  the  city,  was  built 
on  the  opposite  side  of  Quiver  Creek,  from  the  present  McHarry  Mill.  It  was 
put  up  by  Charles  Howell,  Julius  Jones  and  William  Pollard,  in  1842.  It  was 
a  saw-mill  only.  About  1845,  they  sold  it  to  McHarry,  who  erected  a  grist- 
mill on  the  south  side  of  the  creek.  The  building  of  this  mill  was  an  event  of 
great  interest  to  the  people,  and  Mr.  Hurley,  who  helped  •'  raise  "  the  edifice, 
informed  us  that  men  came  eighteen  and  twenty  miles  to  lend  their  assistance, 
in  order  to  have  a  mill  nearer  home  than  those  in  Fulton  or  Menard  Counties. 
This  mill  was  afterward  burned,  when  Mr.  McHarry  put  up  his  present  mill 
upon  the  same  site.  It  is  one  of  the  best  mills  in  Mason  County ;  is  a  three- 
story  frame  edifice,  with  four  run  of  buhrs,  and  is  driven  by  water-power,  which 
does  not  fail  through  the  entire  year. 

The  first  preachers  in  this  section  of  the  country  were  the  Methodist 
itinerants,  Peter  Cartwright  and  Michael  Shunk.  The  following  incident  is 
related  by  Mr.  Dieffenbacher,  of  the  organization  of  the  first  church  society  in 
the  county :  "  He  spent  a  few  weeks  in  the  cabin  of  Jesse  Brown,  until  he 
could  get  his  own  ready  for  use,  and  one  day,  while  at  work  in  the  yard,  a  man 
rode  up  and  asked  him  if  they  ever  had  any  preaching  there.  He  told  him  he 
had  heard  none  since  he  left  Pennsylvania.  He  was  then  asked  if  he  would 
allow  him  to  preach  there.  Dieffenbacher  pointed  to  Mr  Brown  (who  was  a 
very  profane  man),  and  told  him  that  was  the  owner,  that  he  had  no  house  as 
yet.  The  man  then  asked  Brown  if  he  might  preach  there,  and  Brown  told  him 
that  the  women  were  getting  dinner ;  if  he  would  wait  till  after  dinner,  he  might 
preach,  and  in  the  mean  time  he  would  feed  his  horse.  That  man  was  Michael 
Shunk,  and,  after  dinner,  he  preached  to  the  four  families  (Dieffenbacher's, 
Brown's,  Eli  Fisk's  and  Charles  Howell's),  who  then  composed  the  neighbor- 
hood. He  left  an  appointment  to  preach  there  again  in  eight  weeks.  Soon 
after  this,  several  families  arrived  from  Pennsylvania,  among  them  Judge  McRey- 
nolds,  who  built  a  residence,  in  which  he  set  apart  a  large  room  for  church 
purposes,  and  which  was  so  used  until  the  erection  of  Dieffenbacher's  School- 
house.  This  schoolhouse  was  used  as  both  church  and  school  edifice  until  1871, 
when  Mr.  Dieffenbacher  moved  into  the  city  of  Havana,  and  other  members 
united  elsewhere. 

Pleasant  Point  Methodist  Church  is  situated  about  two  miles  from  McHarry's 
Mill,  and  was  built  in  1859-60.  It  is  a  frame  building,  and  cost  about  $2,000. 
There  have  been  no  services  held  in  it  for  some  ten  years,  owing  to  the  fact  that 
the  roads  leading  to  it  have  been  fenced  up,  and  its  communication  with  the 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  519 

neighborhood  cut  off.  A  law  suit  has  been  instituted  for  the  purpose  of  re-open- 
ing them.  Much  of  the  early  school  history  belongs  also  to  Havana.  Prob- 
ably, the  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  by  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Dieffen- 
bacher's,  in  a  board  shanty  put  up  by  him  for  the  purpose,  and  was  patronized 
by  children  living  four  and  five  miles  distant.  This  was  finally  superseded  by 
the  schoolhouse  already  mentioned  as  being  so  long  used  as  a  church.  The  town- 
ship has  now  some  ten  or  twelve  comfortable  schoolhouses,  besides  the  elegant 
brick  in  the  city  of  Havana,  so  that  there  is  no  lack  of  school  facilities,  and  a 
good  common-school  education  is  within  the  reach  of  all  alike,  both  rich  and  poor. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township,  and  perhaps,  in  Mason  County, 
was  a  child  of  Hoakum,  who  kept  the  ferry  (Hoakum,  not  the  child)  for  Ross, 
and  occurred  about  1829-30.  The  first  deaths  and  marriages  are  not  remem- 
bered. The  little  mounds  in  the  graveyard  show  where  many  pioneers  sleep, 
but  do  not  give  the  date  of  their  demise.  The  present  population  would  indi- 
cate that  not  only  has  there  been  a  first  birth,  but  many  others  have  succeeded 
it.  The  early  justices  of  the  peace,  doctors,  blacksmiths,  etc.,  are  mentioned 
in  the  city's  history. 

The  railroads  of  Havana  Township  are  the  Peoria,  Pekin  &  Jacksonville ; 
the  Champaign,  Havana  &  Western,  formerly  known  as  the  extension  of  the 
Indianapolis,  Bloomington  &  Western,  and  the  Springfield  &  North- Western. 
The  last  two  mentioned  terminate  at  Havana  City  at  present,  but  all  necessary 
steps  have  been  taken  to  extend  the  line  of  the  Champaign,  Havana  &  West- 
ern to  the  Mississippi,  and  the  work,  we  are  told,  will  be  commenced  this  fall. 
In  addition  to  these  roads,  there  are  two  or  three  contemplated  narrow-gauge  roads 
working  this  way,  and  will,  doubtless,  in  time,  reach  this  point.  But  as  the 
railroad  history  is  thoroughly  written  up  by  Gen.  Ruggles,  in  another  depart- 
ment of  this  work,  we  will  not  repeat  it. 

Politically,  Havana  Township  and  City  are  Democratic.  In  the  days  of 
Whigs  and  Democrats,  it  was  very  closely  divided  in  politics.  During  the  war, 
the  town  was  truly  loyal  and  patriotic,  and  turned  out  many  soldiers,  not  only 
"  high  privates,"  but  officers  to  lead  them  to  glory  and  to  victory.  A  full  history 
of  their  exploits  will  be  found  in  our  war  record  in  another  page,  to  which  the 
reader  is  referred.  The  name  Havana  was  given  this  city  and  township  in 
honor  of  the  city  of  Havana,  in  the  Island  of  Cuba.  Our  forefathers,  other- 
wise the  early  settlers  of  this  section,  seem  to  have  had  a  penchant  for  famous 
names,  as  we  have  in  this  immediate  vicinity  Havana,  Bath,  Matanzas,  Mos- 
cow, Liverpool,  Point  Isabel,  Long  Branch  and  lastly,  the  Island  of  Cuba 
itself.  This  is  the  island  just  above  the  steamboat  landing,  which  presents 
now  a  kind  of  barren  waste,  but  at  the  time  of  the  early  settlement  of  the 
country,  was  covered  with  a  magnificent  forest.  Mr.  Low  and  Mr.  Krebaum 
informed  us  that  when  they  first  knew  Havana,  there  were  burr-oaks  on  that 
island,  five  and  six  feet  in  diameter,  and  cotton-woods  a  hundred  feet  in 
height,  besides  many  other  species. 


520  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

THE   CITY   OF    HAVANA. 

Havana,  the  capital  of  Mason  County,  a  flourishing  little  city  of  about 
3,000  inhabitants,  is  situated  on  the  Illinois  River,  on  thePeoria,  Pekin  &  Jackson- 
ville Railroad,  at  the  terminus  of  the  extension  of  the  Indianapolis,  Blooming- 
ton  &  Western  and  of  the  Springfield  &  North-Western  Railroads,  and  is  forty- 
seven  miles  from  Springfield,  forty  miles  from  Peoria  and  two  hundred  miles- 
southwest  of  Chicago.  It  was  surveyed  about  1827-28,  and  the  town  staked 
out  by  Stephen  Dewey,  for  Maj.  Ossian  M.  Ross,  who  had  entered  the  land 
upon  which  it  is  located,  and  the  plat  recorded,  in  1835,  in  Tazewell  County, 
to  which  this  part  of  Mason  County  then  belonged.  Maj.  Ross  entered  the 
land  in  1827,  and  established  a  ferry  across  the  Illinois  River  at  this  point, 
which  has  already  been  frequently  mentioned  in  these  pages.  The  first  house 
built  in  the  present  city  of  Havana,  if  we  may  except  a  few  rude  huts  and  a 
couple  of  block  houses  which  had  apparently  been  built  as  a  protection  against 
the  Indians  at  a  time  "  when  the  mind  of  man  runneth  not  to  the  contrary," 
was  erected  by  Maj.  Ross  about  the  year  1829,  and  is  still  remembered  in  the 
early  history  of  the  county,  as  "  Ross'  Hotel."  It  was  the  scene  of  many  of 
the  incidents  which  transpired  here  forty  and  fifty  years  ago.  Within  its  historical 
halls,  the  first  session  of  Circuit  Court  was  held  after  the  organization  of  the 
county ;  the  first  post  office  in  Mason  County  was  established  in  it,  and  the 
first  store  in  Havana  occupied  one  of  its  rooms.  It  stood  on  the  bluff,  at  the 
northwest  corner  of  Market  and  Water  streets,  of  Block  22  of  the  town  plat. 
Adolph  Krebaum  owns  two-thirds  of  the  original  lot  and  Alexander  Stuart  the 
remainder.  The  first  private  residence  was  also  built  by  Ross  where  the  Taylor 
House  now  stands.  It  was  a  frame  building,  and,  as  we  have  said,  the  first 
residence,  except  the  cabins  already  alluded  to  and  the  hotel.  Bernhard 
Krebaum  also  built  a  frame  residence  soon  after  he  came  to  the  town,  which  was 
the  next  after  that  erected  by  Ross.  Maj.  Ross  also  built  six  cottages  or  small 
dwellings  to  accommodate  new-comers  to  the  future  city.  The  first  building 
erected  purposely  for  a  storehouse  was  put  up  by  N.  J.  Rockwell,  on  the  river, 
very  near  to  where  Mr.  Myer's  brick  residence  now  stands.  The  first  store 
was  kept  by  Maj.  Ross  in  his  hotel,  and  was  in  operation  when  the  Krebaums 
came  in  1834.  The  next  store  was  kept  by  Col.  Holmes  and  John  W.  Wig- 
genton  and  also  occupied  a  room  in  Ross'  Hotel,  but  was  rather  a  small  affair, 
even  for  those  primitive  days.  Rockwell  was  one  of  the  early  merchants,  and 
was,  perhaps,  the  next  in  the  field  after  those  we  have  mentioned.  Orrin 
Foster  kept  the  next  hotel  after  Ross,  as  already  mentioned.  There  are  now 
three  hotels  in  the  city,  besides  several  restaurants.  The  hotels  are  the  Taylor 
House,  Mason  House  and  the  American  House.  The  Taylor  House,  kept  by 
that  prince  of  landlords,  Billy  Morgan,  is  the  leading  "caravansary"  of  the 
town,  the  great  resort  of  commercial  salesmen  and  of  the  traveling  public  gen- 
erally. The  other  two  are  less  pretentious,  but  have  a  good  run  of  custom. 


HISTORY    OF   MASON    COUNTY.  521 

George  Christian  was  the  first  regular  blacksmith.  Ross,  who  owned  a  large 
farm,  kept  a  shop,  but  principally  for  his  own  work.  Christian  was  here  very 
early  and  entered  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Havana.  In  1829,  a  post  office  was 
established  at  "  Ross'  Ferry,"  known  at  first,  we  believe,  by  the  name  of  The 
Ferry,  with  Ossian  M.  Ross  as  Postmaster.  This  was  before  the  city  of  Chicago 
had  a  post  office,  and  at  a  period  when  mails  were  usually  carried  on  horseback, 
and  letters  cost  twenty-five  cents  apiece  at  the  office  of  delivery.  Although 
this  office  outranks  the  Chicago  office  in  age,  it  has  suffered  the  latter  to  out- 
grow it  so  far,  that  serious  apprehensions  are  entertained  that  Havana  will 
never  overtake  it.  The  genial  0.  C.  Easton  is  the  present  Postmaster  General 
of  the  Havana  office. 

At  the  time  of  the  formation  of  Mason  County,  Havana  was  one  of  the  three 
original  voting  precincts,  and  included  all  of  that  part  of  the  county  taken  from 
Tazewell,  extending  from  the  north  line  of  Mason  as  far  south  as  the  north  line 
of  Town  20.  The  first  election  in  which  the  Havana  Precinct  cast  a  vote  was  held 
on  the  7th  of  August,  1837.*  A  copy  of  the  original  poll-book,  in  possession  of 
C.  W.  Andrus,  is  before  us,  and  from  it  we  learn  that  it  was  "  an  election  held  at 
the  town  of  Havana,  in  the  Havana  Precinct,  in  the  county  of  Tazewell,  and 
State  of  Illinois,"  etc.,  and  that  it  was  for  "  County  Clerk,  Probate  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  County  Treasurer  and  Notary  Public."  This  old  poll-book  shows 
that  there  were  twelve  votes  cast,  as  follows :  Daniel  Adams,  Henry  Shepherd, 
0.  E.  Foster,  N.  J.  Rockwell,  Anson  C.  Gregory,  A.  W.  Kemp,  B.  F.  Wig- 
genton,  V.  B.  Holmes,  C.  W.  Andrus,  William  Hyde,  J.  H.  Neteler.  (The 
last  named  we  are  unable  to  decipher,  it  presenting  an  appearance  of  having 
been  struck  by  a  tornado.)  B.  F.  Wiggenton  and  A.  W.  Kemp  were  Clerks. 
At  this  election,  the  candidates  voted  for  were  John  H.  Morrison,  for  County 
Clerk ;  Joshua  C.  Morgan,  for  Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace ;  Lewis  Pretty- 
man,  for  County  Treasurer,  and  William  H.  Sandusky,  for  Notary  Public. 
The  validity  of  the  election  is  attested  by  a  certificate,  duly  sworn  to  by  N.  J. 
Rockwell,  Henry  Shepherd  and  Daniel  Adams,  "Judges  of  the  Election." 
The  vote  of  the  city  and  township  of  Havana  has  increased  somewhat  since 
the  holding  of  the  election  above  described.  The  aggregate  vote  now,  when 
interesting  questions  call  out  the  "sturdy  yeomanry,"  is  not  far  from  eight 
hundred.  ^ 

The  first  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  whom  we  have  any  account  were  Eli  Fisk 
and  A.  W.  Kemp.  They  were  commissioned  as  such  before  the  organization  of 
the  county.  Daniel  Adams  and  Isaac  Parkhurst  were  also  early  Justices  of  the 
Peace  in  Havana  Precinct.  Such  a  formidable  array  of  legal  luminaries  is 
probably  due  to  the  fact  that  Havana,  in  an  early  day,  was  surrounded  by  some 
rather  hard  characters.  Fulton  County,  we  are  told,  used  to  come  over  in  force, 
and,  in  lieu  of  the  handy  revolver  of  the  present  day,  would  bring  billets  of 
cord-wood  with  which  to  pelt  their  foes.  To  such  an  extent  was  this  pastime 

*  Havana  was  then  in  Tazewell  County,  as  Mason  was  not  created  until  1841. 


522 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


carried,  that  Point  Isabel,  a  promising  village  that  once  stood  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river  from  Havana,  was  known  far  and  near  as  "Bloody  Point," 
and  the  melees  that  occurred  within  its  limits  were  somewhat  on  the  Donny- 
brook  order.  And  then,  too,  the  natives  from  Salt  Creek  timber  and  the  San- 
gamon  bottoms  would  pay  an  occasional  visit  to  Havana,  always  making  matters 
lively  while  they  remained.  There  is  still  a  prevailing  tradition  that  Jesse 
Baker  (peace  to  his  ashes !  we  intend  no  sacrilege)  once  raided  the  town,  and 
conducted  himself  with  such  a  high  hand  that  Mr.  Andrus  was  appointed  a 
posse  comitatus  to  arrest  him,  a  duty  he  performed  with  perfect  success.  It  is, 
however,  due  to  the  honor  and  credit  of  Havana  to  state  that  these  "  turbulent 
spirits  "  were  usually  from  abroad,  and  that  Havana's  own  citizens  were  of  a 
most  honorable  and  law-abiding  character,  traits  that  have  come  down  and 
are  deeply  seated  in  the  present  generation. 

The  first  brick  house  erected  in  the  present  city  of  Havana  was  a  store- 
house, built  by  J.  H.  &  D.  P.  Hole,  in  1857.  Prior  to  this,  the  buildings, 
with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  the  Court  House  and  Jail,  were  of  wood.  In 
the  same  year  (1857)  William  Walker  erected  a  brick  residence,  the  first  of 
that  kind  in  the  place.  Since  that  date,  many  substantial,  and  even  elegant 
residences  have  been  built  which  would  be  no  disgrace  to  a  much  larger  city. 
The  class  of  business  houses  are  good,  and  indicate  to  the  stranger  an  idea  of 
•energy  and  enterprise,  as  well  as  business  prosperity.  Although  making  no 
pretensions  to  a  wholesale  trade,  nor  claiming  to  be  a  manufacturing  city, 
Havana  commands  a  large  and  flourishing  retail  business,  and  but  for  its  close 
proximity  to  Pekin  and  Peoria,  might  become  an  extensive  manufacturing 
town. 

MILLS,    MANUFACTORIES,    ETC. 

The  first  mill  in  Havana  was  commenced  by  Thomas  and  Eliphaz  Low. 
Before  its  completion,  Pulaski  Scoville  bought  an  interest  in  it,  and,  after 
finishing  it,  they  operated  it  for  a  time,  when  Scoville  bought  out  the  Lows. 
Francis  Low  had  money  invested  in  it.  He  tells  the  following  story  of  his 
experience  while  interested  in  the  business  :  He  and  Scoville  were  cutting 
saw-logs  over  in  the  bottom  one  spring,  when  the  river  was  very  high,  and  the 
bottom  overflowed  to  the  depth  of  several  feet.  They  would  row  their  boat  to 
a,  tree,  cable  fast  to  it,  and  then  cut  the  tree  down,  always  cutting  on  the  side  of 
the  tree  first  in  the  direction  they  supposed  it  would  fall.  They  attacked  a 
large  oak  one  day,  in  their  boat,  as  usual,  and  where  the  water  was  about  six 
feet  deep.  Scoville  thought  the  tree  would  fall  one  way,  and  Low  thought  it 
would  fall  the  other ;  but  Scoville,  who  was  a  somewhat  determined  man,  would 
have  his  way.  Finally,  however,  when  the  tree  fell,  it  went  down  in  the  oppo- 
site direction  to  that  which  Scoville  thought  it  would.  Low  looked  up  and  saw 
it  coming,  and  called  to  Scoville  to  get  out  of  the  way.  One  jumped  from 
«ach  side  of  the  boat  into  the  water,  and  it  was  cold 'as  ice,  while  the  tree  came 
down  on  their  boat,  shivering  it  to  splinters,  leaving  them  in  a  worse  fix  than 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  523 

Crusoe  on  his  island.  Fortunately  for  them,  there  were  two  other  men  cutting 
logs  in  the  bottom  within  hearing  of  them,  who  came  to  their  rescue. 

This  mill  was  used  for  sawing  only,  and  was  located  at  the  foot  of  the 
"Island  of  Cuba,"  or  rather  opposite  the  foot  of  the  island,  and  was  run  by 
steam.  Upon  it  was  sawed  the  timber  used  in  building  the  first  railroad  in 
Illinois,  as  noted  elsewhere  in  this  history.  There  was  machinery  procured  at 
one  time  for  a  grist-mill  for  this  establishment,  but,  we  believe,  was  never  put 
into  it.  The  mill  was  employed  mostly  in  sawing  heavy  timbers,  such  as  are 
used  in  large  buildings,  and  was  patronized  to  a  considerable  extent  by  Alton 
and  St.  Louis.  It  was  finally  burned  down.  There  are  hints  that  its  destruc- 
tion by  fire  was  due  to  the  feud  engendered  between  Havana  and  Bath  in 
regard  to  the  county  seat  question,  but  those  who  are  informed  on  the  subject 
and  have  a  right  to  know,  scout  the  idea,  and  maintain  that  it  was  accidental, 
which  theory  is  doubtless  the  correct  one. 

About  1857-58,  William  C.  Thompson  put  up  a  distillery  on  the  corner  of 
Plum  and  Jefferson  streets,  which  he  operated  successfully  for  a  number  of 
years.  To  it  was  attached  a  corn-mill  for  the  purpose  of  grinding  material  for 
the  distillery.  Before  the  erection  of  the  distillery,  Thompson  had  carried  on 
a  brewery  for  a  time  near  the  same  place.  In  both'  ventures  he  made  money, 
and  finally  built  a  large  flouring-mill  on  the  site  of  the  present  Havana  Mills, 
north  of  town,  which  was  burned  about  1864-65.  He  then  erected  the 
Havana  Mills,  now  owned  by  F.  S.  Coggeshall.  About  1867-68,  he  sold  these 
mills  to  James  Hole  and  his  son-in-law,  Thomas  Jones,  and  built  another  large 
mill  over  the  river.  After  some  changes  in  ownership,  the  Havana  Mills 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Coggeshall,  as  above  noted.  They  comprise  a 
frame  building,  excellent  machinery  and  three  run  of  buhrs,  together  with  all 
other  attachments  of  a  first-class  mill. 

The  Havana  Brewery,  located  a  little  south  of  the  city  limits,  and  operated 
by  Dehm  &  Hoffman,  is  quite  an  extensive  establishment  of  the  kind,  and  does 
a  large  business  in  the  manufacture  of  the  favorite  beverage  of  the  Fatherland. 
This  and  the  mills  mentioned,  together  with  a  large  number  of  wagon,  black- 
smith shops,  etc.,  comprise  the  extent  of  Havana's  manufacturing  interests. 
It  seems  to  us,  however,  that  the  city,  with  the  benefit  of  its  railroads  and  the 
Illinois  River,  presents  an  excellent  opening  for  enterprising  business  men  and 
mechanics,  and  that  there  are  not  at  least  agricultural  implement  manufac- 
tories, if  no  others,  is  to  us  a  matter  of  some  surprise.  This  would  keep  a 
large  sum  of  money  at  home  that  is  annually  taken  out  of  the  county  for  these 
indispensable  articles. 

The  grain  trade  of  Havana  is  the  most  extensive  business  of  the  entire 
county,  and  dates  back  almost  to  the  very  first  settlements.  In  looking  up  the 
history  of  the  grain  interests,  we  find  that  Pulaski  Scoville  bought  1,000 
bushels  of  corn  from  a  Mr.  Reese,  "who  lived  where  Virginia  now  stands," 
and  1,200  bushels  from  James  Walker,  at  Walker's  Grove.  This  was  away 


624  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

back  in  the  thirties,  and  then  corn  could  be  bought  for  10  cents  a  bushel,  paid 
in  "store  truck  "  at  that.  One  of  the  first  firms  who  made  the  handling  of 
grain  a  regular  business,  was  H.  W.  McFadden  &  Co.,  who  are  still  prom- 
inently engaged  in  it.  They  commenced  in  1863,  and  are  among  the  heaviest 
dealers  in  this  section.  Low  &  Foster  are  another  able  firm,  and  are  extensive 
dealers,  and  handle  more  grain,  perhaps,  than  any  Other  firm  in  Mason  or 
Menard  County.  C.  G.  Krebaum  is  another  grain-dealer  of  Havana.  These 
three  firms  are  the  principal  dealers,  and  no  town  in  Illinois,  perhaps,  of  the 
size  of  Havana,  ships  as  large  amounts  of  grain  annually.  We  endeavored  to 
obtain  some  statistics  of  thef  grain  handled  and  shipped  at  this  point,  but  were 
unable  to  do  so,  and  must  let  it  pass  with  this  brief  notice.  ( 

The  banking  business  was  commenced  in  the  city  of  Havana  about  1854- 
55,  by  Rupert  Haines  &  Co.,  0.  H.  Wright  forming  the  company.  Some 
time  after  this,  a  bank  was  started  by  an  old  gentleman  whose  name  is  now 
forgotten.  He  had  for  his  cashier  a  man  named  Littlefield,  and  it  is  told  of 
him  that  when  a  customer  would  make  a  deposit,  he  (Littlefield)  would  take  the 
money  and  go  and  "  fight  the  tiger"  until  it  was  gone,  when  he  would  return 
to  his  post  and  be  ready  for  another  deposit.  As  a  natural  consequence,  the 
bank  did  not  last  long.  George  Walker  also  did  a  banking  business  for  a  few 
years,  beginning  about  1860.  In  1862—63,  Kemp  &  Cappel  opened  a  bank, 
which,  in  1866,  became  the  firm  of  McFadden,  Cappel  &  Kemp,  and  so  con- 
tinued until  the  death  of  Kemp  in  1867.  Since  that  date,  the  firm  has  been 
McFadden  &  Cappel,  and  their  establishment  is  known  as  the  Mason  County 
Bank. 

The  Havana  National  Bank  was  organized  May  17,  1875,  with  Francis 
Low  as  President ;  A.  Otto,  Vice  President ;  N.  C.  King,  Cashier ;  Thomas 
F.  Low,  Teller.  The  officers  are  still  the  same,  except  the  Vice  President, 
which  position  is  now  held  by  E.  B.  Harpham. 

RELIGIOUS,    BENEVOLENT,    EDUCATIONAL. 

The  religious  history  of  Havana  dates  back  almost  to  its  first  settlement. 
The  itinerant  preachers  of  the  Methodist  Church,  those  pioneer  soldiers  of  the 
Cross,  who  are  always  to  be  found  on  the  verge  of  civilization,  were  here  at  an 
early  day.  Rev.  Michael  Shunk,  whose  name  appears  so  often  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  Methodism  in  this  section  of  the  State,  was,  perhaps,  the  first  regular 
preacher  in  Havana  City  or  township.  The  following  extract  from  the  minutes 
of  the  Illinois  Annual  Conference,  seems  to  us  appropriate  in  this  connection  ; 
"Brother  Shunk  was  born  at  Berlin,  Somerset  Co.,  Penn.,  April  22,  1809; 
was  converted  at  Masontown,  Penn.,  in  1829 ;  received  into  the  Illinois  Con- 
ference in  1837.  *  *  *  Brother  Shunk  was  ordained  Deacon  in  1839, 
and  Elder  in  1841,  by  Bishop  Morris.  He  was  a  pattern  to  all  in  his  charac- 
teristic promptness  to  meet  all  his  engagements.  No  condition  of  weather  or 
roads  kept  him  from  his  appointments.  He  was  Scriptural  and  earnest  in  his 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  525 

preaching,  and  a  faithful  Pastor,  taking  special  pains  to  care  for  the  children, 
both  in  the  family  and  Sunday  school.  He  was  deeply  interested  in  Methodist 
literature,  circulating  periodicals  and  books  largely  among  his  people,  being 
himself  a  subscriber  for  the  New  York  Advocate  from  its  first  issue." 

Reliable  data  as  to  the  original  organization  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  the 
city  of  Havana,  are  somewhat  meager.  The  minutes  of  the  Conference  from 
which  we  have  quoted  above,  note  the  fact  that  Mr.  Shunk  had  charge  of  the 
Crane  Creek  Circuit  in  1888,  which  then  embraced  not  only  Havana  Town- 
ship, but  a  larger  scope  of  country  than  the  present  county  of  Mason.  It  also 
shows  him  in  charge  of  Havana  in  1846.  The  first  church  of  the  Methodist 
denomination,  however,  was  built  in  the  city  about  1845-46,  and  was  the  first 
church  edifice  within  its  limits.  The  society  was  organized  some' time  prior  to 
the  erection  of  the  building,  but  particulars  of  its  exact  date  appear  unattainable. 
This  building  served  as  a  temple  of  worship  until  1865,  when  the  present 
elegant  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $12,000.  Upon  the  erection 
of  the  new  church,  the  old  one  was  sold  to  Dr.  Paul,  who  used  the  lumber  him- 
self, but  sold  the  frame  to  a  man  living  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  for  a 
barn.  This  man  died  before  putting  it  to  that  use.  Rev.  George  M.  Fortune  is 
the  present  Pastor  of  the  Church,  which  has  about  one  hundred  members.  The 
Sunday  school  was  one  of  the  first  organized  in  Havana,  and  has  an  average 
attendance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  children  under  the  superintendence  of 
Charles  L.  Harpham. 

The  following  sketch  of  the  Reformed  Church  is  by  the  Pastor,  Rev.  George 
Seibert,  and  is  so  well  written  that  we  deem  no  apology  necessary  for  giving  it 
in  his  own  words  :  "  The  history  of  the  Reformed  Church  carries  us  back  to 
the  early  settlement  of  this  country  for,  as  early  as  1630,  adventurers  emigrated 
to  this  country  under  the  immediate  patronage  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Com- 
pany, which  had,  in  1623,  commenced  operations,  and,  in  1626,  set  up  the  ensign 
of  authority  by  erecting  a  fort  at  the  confluence  of  the  North  and  East  Rivers. 
The  Puritans  were  driven  to  seek  a  home  in  this  country  by  persecution.  The 
Hollanders  came  from  a  love  of  enterprise,  and  though  there  was  every  temp- 
tation to  leave  their  religion  behind  in  the  pursuit  of  wealth,  we  find  that  they 
did  not  forget  the  intellectual  and  moral  necessities  of  their  nature,  paying 
early  attention  to  the  culture  of  their  children,  and  the  public  worship  of  God, 
by  making  ample  provisions  for  both  in  the  organization  of  churches  and  schools, 
modeled  after  those  of  the  Netherlands. 

u  The  subject  of  a  church  organization  here  in  connection  with  the  Reformed 
denomination  was  under  consideration  as  early  as  1859.  The  Rev.  Van  Derveer 
of  the  Reformed  Church  came  to  Havana  under  the  auspices  of  the  Board  of 
Domestic  Missions,  in  August,  1859,  and  preached  in  Andrus'  Hall  to  good 
congregations  for  several  months.  He  organized  what  is  known  as  the  '  Old 
Union  Sabbath  School.'  After  Mr.  Van  Derveer  left,  Rev.  Mr.  Joralmon 
came  and  preached  for  a  short  time.  In  1865,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Williamson 


526  HISTORY   OF   MASON    COUNTY. 

came  and  organized  what  is  known  as  the  Reformed  Church  of  Havana.  At  a 
meeting  held  Tuesday  evening,  October  31,  1865,  in  Andrus'  Hall,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  forming  a  church,  Rev.  Uriah  D.  Gulick,  by  direction  of  the  Classis 
of  Illinois,  presided,  and  proceeded  to  examine  candidates  for  church  fellowship. 
The  following  persons  were  received  by  certificate  :  Dr.  Thomas  M.  Higgins 
and  Clara  Strong,  his  wife  ;  Harriet  Russell,  wife  of  William  Caldwell ;  Rob- 
ert L.  Durdy  and  Angeline,  his  wife,  and  Rebecca  L.  Rahauser,  wife  of  Joseph 
Cochrane.  On  confession  of  faith  :  Isabella  Trent,  wife  of  Robert  S.  Moore  ; 
Benjamin  H.  Otis  and  Anna  Mann,  his  wife,  and  Joseph  Cochrane.  In  the 
summer  of  1870,  the  corner-stone  of  the  present  edifice  was  laid  under  the 
direction  of  the  Pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Decker.  The  church  was  dedicated  in  Janu- 
uary,  1871,  with  proper  ceremonies.  The  building  cost  $5,575.25,  of  which 
$3,575.25  was  raised  East,  and  $2, 000  in  Havana.  The  church  is  an  ornament 
to  the  city,  and  a  credit  to  the  architect  and  builder.  The  present  Pastor,  Rev. 
George  Seibert,  came  in  March,  1873.  The  Church  has  received  since  its 
organization  in  1865,  seventy-four  members,  of  whom  about  thirty-nine  remain 
in  communion.  The  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  May,  1869,  and  has 
been  actively  engaged  in  its  legitimate  work  without  interruption  up  to  the 
present  time.  It  has  an  average  attendance  of  100  scholars.  The  Church  has 
been  the  home  of  many  who  came  from  other  parts  of  the  country,  having  in  its 
membership  representatives  from  nearly  all  denominations,  and  is  noted  for 
its  adherence  to  the  teachings  of  the  Divine  Word,  and  zealous  in  every  good 
word  and  work." 

The  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  Havana  July  14,  1849,  with  the  fol- 
lowing original  members  :  Henry  Humphrey,  S.  G.  Baldwin,  Elizabeth  Bald- 
win, Joseph  Brown,  Lydia  Brown,  Andrew  Britton,  Eunice  Britton,  Anna  and 
Eliza  Howell.  The  first  preacher  was  that  veteran  and  pioneer  Baptist  minis- 
ter of  Central  Illinois,  Rev.  J.  L.  Turner.  The  church,  a  frame  edifice,  was 
built  in  1866,  at  a  cost  of  $4,000,  and  is  without  a  regular  preacher  at  present. 
The  Church  membership  is  sixty-three.  The  Sunday  school  was  organized 
December  2,  1866,  and  has  at  present  an  average  attendance  of  about  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  children,  under  the  superintendence  of  John  W.  Jones.  The 
different  Pastors  who  have  had  charge  of  the  Church  since  its  organization  are 
as  follows  :  Revs.  J.  L.  Turner,  J.  H.  Daniels,  F.  W.  Ingmire,  M.  P.  Hartly, 
J.  M.  Wells,  J.  M.  Winn,  J.  L.  Irwin,  Sr.,  C.  E.  Bristol,  R.  B.  Coon,  Sr., 
and  Homer  E.  Morton. 

The  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church*  was  organized  on  the  27th  of 
January,  1850,  by  the  Revs.  Jacob  Schaerer  and  William  Bauermeister,  according 
to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  General  Synod,  of  which 
they  were  members.  Before  the  organization  of  this  Church,  the  Germans  in  and 
around  Havana  were  visited  by  an  old  minister  named' Bar tels,  who  preached  now 
and  then  at  their  residences.  The  original  members  of  the  Church  were  J.  H. 


*  This  sketch  was  prepared  by  the  Pastor,  Rev.  J.  Heiniger. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  527 

Dierker,  Fr.  Weber,  John  Peter  Kingshaus,  H.  Beselbeke,  Fr.  Speckmann, 
John  Kohrmann,  J.  W.  Holzgraefe,  G.  Wueste,  N.  and  D.  Vortmann,  Jacob 
Nies,  John  Dierker,  G.  Himmel,  I.  Himmel,  Israel  Drone,  Simon  Franken- 
field,  Herman  Tegedes  and  John  Somenmeier.  On  the  2d  of  December,  1850, 
the  congregation  resolved  to  build  a  church  edifice,  and,  accordingly,  .a  petition 
was  circulated  by  the  first  Board  of  Trustees,  viz.:  J.  H.  Dierker,  I.  Himmel, 
G.  Himmel,  Fred  Speckmann  and  William  Holzgraefe,  stating  that  they  had 
secured  a  lot  from  Lewis  Ross  for  the  sum  of  $60 — whereupon  he  and  Mr. 
Walker  had  presented  them  with  $55,  Ross  having  given  $30  and  Walker 
$25,  and  that  the  remaining  $5  had  been  paid  bj»the  said  Board.  The  build- 
ing was  commenced  April  14,  1851,  and  finished  and  formally  dedicated  June 
1,  1851.  The  following  are  the  Pastors  since  organization  ;  Revs.  Kobmann, 
1850-52,  Hunderdose,  1852-53;  P.  S.  Staiger,  1854-57.  During  a  brief 
vacancy  occurring  at  this  time,  the  congregation  was  administered  to  by  Revs. 
G.  Grau,  of  Beardstown,  and  Reis,  from  Arenzville,  when  Rev.  A.  Tismer 
came,  on  the  1st  of  May,  1859,  and  remained  until  1862 ;  Peter  Daniel, 
1862-64  ;  A.  Recker,  1864-72  (during  his  administration,  the  church  building 
was  repaired  and  a  vestibule  and  steeple  added,  also  a  little  schoolhouse  adjoined 
to  the  parsonage  in  1867).  A  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  1868.  Rev.  G. 
Gerken,  1872-78,  and  Rev.  Johannes  Heiniger  from  18th  of  August,  1878,  to 
the  present  time.  A  change  in  the  Synodical  Convention  took  place  in  1867. 
The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Illinois  was  separated  into  two  parts,  one 
part  accepting  the  name  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Illinois  and  other  States, 
and  the  other  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Central  Illinois  Synod.  Rev.  A.  Recker 
and  this  Church  joined  the  former.  This  change  required  a  re-organization  of 
this  Church,  which  was  accomplished  by  Rev.  G.  Gergen.  A  new  constitution 
was  adopted  March  16,  1873,  and  signed  by  the  following :  J.  H.  Dierker, 
Henry  Emme,  Herman  Uthmueller,  Henry  Hackmann,  Louis  Telle,  Charles 
Telle,  Robert  Becker,  Andrew  Dehm,  Leonard  Dehm,  George  Dehm,  J.  C. 
Dehm,  Fred  Dehm,  Louis  Emme,  Henry  Hahn,  Henry  L.  Hahn,  Louis  Halm, 
Philip  Rubenkonig,  William  Uthraueller,  H.  G.  Lienisch,  Ernst  Behre,  Leon- 
hardt  Schwenk,  Peter  Meireis,  William  Wepener,  Bernhard  Wittwer,  J.  H.  A. 
Laumeier,  Henry  Buhrmann  and  Herman  Hackmann.  Improvements  have 
been  made  in  the  schoolhouse,  as  well  as  around  the  church  edifice,  and  a  new 
organ  purchased.  There  are  at  present  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  communi- 
cants, sixty  to  one  hundred  Sunday-school  and  forty  to  fifty  day-school 
scholars. 

St.  Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  Church  was  built  about  the  close  of  the  war. 
Prior  to  this,  the  few  scattering  families  in  and  around  Havana  were  occasion- 
ally administered  to  by  visiting  priests  from  Pekin  and  Peoria.  About  the 
time  of  the  Building  of  the  church,  a  mission  society  was  formed,  which  was 
attended  once  a  month  by  a  regular  pastor  until  the  beginning  of  1878,  when, 
under  the  administration  of  Father  Ruby,  the  present  neat  little  parsonage  was 


528  HISTORY    OF  MASON   COUNTY. 

erected  adjacent  to  the  chapel.  Father  Ruby  was  succeeded  in  the  pastorate 
by  Father  Devine,  whose  sad  and  untimely  death  by  drowning  is  still  fresh  in 
the  memory  of  our  readers.  After  the  death  of  Father  Devine,  which  occurred 
in  the  early  part  of  the  present  summer,  Father  Henry  Delbaere  was  called  to 
the  charge,  and,  at  the  present  writing,  is  the  Pastor.  Every  alternate  Sunday, 
he  administers  to  the  society  at  Manito.  This  Church  has  a  membership  of 
about  forty  families,  and  a  flourishing  Sunday  school. 

Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  chartered  October  8,  1850, 
and  the  following  were  the  original  members :  George  Wright,  George  R.  Wil- 
son, Moses  Baldwin,  Roberfc  McReynolds,  Robly  Patterson,  Gustavus  Vigrus 
and  Mahlon  G.  Carter,  of  whom  George  Wright  was  Master,  George  R.  Wilson, 
Senior  Warden,  and  Moses  Baldwin,  Junior  Warden.  The  charter  was  signed 
by  Most  Worshipful  W.  C.  Hobbs,  Grand  Master,  and  W.  B.  Warren,  Grand 
Secretary.  Old  Time  Lodge,  No.  629,  was  formed  by  M.  W.  G.  Reynolds, 
Grand  Master,  and  0.  H.  Miner,  Grand  Secretary,  by  members  from  Havana 
Lodge,  No.  88,  as  follows :  L.  M.  Hillyer,  Elijah  Snyder,  G.  A.  Blanchard, 
J.  F.  Coppel,  C.  W.  Emmett,  W.  S.  Dray,  Anson  Low,  J.  B.  Jiraerson,  C.  C. 
Fager,  N.  Gary,  H.  Middlecamp,  F.  Pollitz,  J.  I.  Tinkham,  George  Weiner, 
H.  R.  Cleaver,  H.  A.  Fager,  J.  W.  Lyke,  J.  L.  Walker,  W.  H.  Webb  and  0. 
H.  Wright.  The  first  eight  names,  in  the  order  mentioned,  comprised  the  first 
set  of  officers.  On  the  14th  of  February,  1877,  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  and 
Old  Time  Lodge,  No.  629,  were  consolidated  under  a  charter  issued  by  Most 
Worshipful  Joseph  Robbins,  Grand  Master,  and  countersigned  by  Right  Wor- 
shipful John  F.  Burrell,  Grand  Secretary,  as  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  A.,  F.  & 

A.  M.     It'was  formally  organized  and  set  to  work  by  Right  Worshipful  Luther 
Dearborn,  as  proxy  of  the  Grand  Master.     The  following  were  the  first  officers 
under  consolidation  :  H.  W.  Lindley,  Master;  E.  A.  Wallace,  Senior  Warden; 
L.  R.  Haack,  Junior  Warden  ;  Charles  Schill,  Treasurer ;  L.  W.  Ross,  Secre- 
tary ;     S.  F.   Kyle,   Senior  Deacon ;    H.   R.  Nortrup,    Junior  Deacon,   and 
William  Davies,  Tiler.     The  present  officers  are:    H.  W.   Lindley,    Master; 
Daniel  Brown,   Senior  Warden  ;    George  McHose,  Junior  Warden ;    Charles 
Schill,  Treasurer ;  0.  H.  Harpham,  Secretary  ;  L.  R.  Haack,  Senior  Deacon  ; 

B.  P.  Yates,  Junior  Deacon,  and  William   Davies,   Tiler.     As  a  coincidence 
with  the  number  (88)  of  the  Lodge,  its  membership  at  present  is   also  eighty- 
eight. 

Havana  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  was  organized  under  dispensation 
August  3,  1865,  by  Most  Excellent  W.  M.  Egan,  Grand  High  Priest,  and,  in 
October  following,  it  was  chartered  as  Havana  Chapter  No.  86,  with  the  follow- 
ing members:  L.  M.  Hillyer,  M.-.E.-.High  Priest;  G.  R.  Wilson,  E.-. 
King;  A.  Briggs,  E. -.Scribe ;  C.  W.  Emmett,  Captain  of  the  Host;  J.  F. 
Coppel,  Principal  Sojourner;  E.  Snyder,  Royal  A'rch  Captain;  G.  A.  Blanch- 
ard, H.  A.  Fager  and  E.  B.  Laughton,  Masters  of  the  Veils;  S.  Frankenfeld, 
Treasurer ;  L.  Zolman,  Secretary  ;  Isaac  L.  Tinkham,  Tiler,  and  N.  Gary,  W. 


MASON  c/rr 


HISTORY   OF   MASON  COUNTY.  531 

H.  Webb,  J.  M.  Shook  and  A.  T.  Beck.  The  present  membership  is  fifty-one, 
•with  the  following  "companions"  in  office :  0.  H.  Harpham,  M.'.E. \High 
Priest;  L.  R.  Haack,  E.-.King;  George  H.  Sandford,  E. -.Scribe;  A.  T. 
Beck,  Captain  of  the  Host ;  E.  A.  Wallace,  Principal  Sojourner ;  Daniel 
Brown,  Royal  Arch  Captain  ;  H.  A.  Fager,  Treasurer ;  H.  W.  Lindley,  Secre- 
tary, and  William  Davies,  Tiler. 

Havana  Council,  No.  40,  Royal  and  Select  Masters,  was  organized  under 
dispensation  December  12,  1867,  with  the  following  members:  J.  F.  Coppel, 
T.-.I.-.G.-.M.;  C.  W.  Emmett,  Deputy;  H.  R,  Cleaver,  P.-.C.-.W.;  W.  S 
Dray,  Captain  of  the  Guard ;  J.  W.  Lyke,  Treasurer ;  H.  W.  Lindley,  Re- 
corder, and  W.  H.  Webb,  E.  B.  Laughton,  J.  W.  Kelley  and  J.  L.  Irwin.  It 
was  chartered  at  the  meeting  of  the  Grand  Council  in  October,  1868.  Coun- 
cil and  Chapter  Masonry  were  consolidated  by  their  respective  Grand  Bodies 
in  October,  1877. 

Damascus  Commandery,  No.  42,  Knights  Templar,  stationed  at  Havana, 
was  organized  under  dispensation  February  10,  1872.  The  following  were  the 
original  members :  Eminent  Sir  Luther  Dearborn,  Commander ;  Sir  Lewis 
Keyon,  Generalissimo ;  Sir  J.  F.  Coppel,  Captain  General ;  Sir  L.  M.  Hillyer, 
Prelate ;  Sir  C.  W.  Emmett,  Senior  Warden  ;  Sir  H.  G.  Belke,  Junior  War- 
den ;  Sir  H.  A.  Fager,  Treasurer ;  Sir  Charles  Doering,  Recorder ;  Sir  I.  J. 
Fasen,  Standard  Bearer ;  Sir  P.  S.  Anno,  Sword  Bearer,  and  Sir  0.  H.  Harp- 
ham,  Warder.  The  dispensation  was  issued  by  Right  Eminent  Sir  W.  M. 
Egan,  Grand  Commander  of  the  State,  and  at  the  meeting  of  the  Grand  Com- 
mandery in  the  following  October,  it  was  chartered  under  the  above  number 
and  title.  At  the  last  annual  report  the  roster  showed  thirty-two  members, 
with  Eminent  Sir  0.  H.  Harpham,  Commander  ;  Sir  L.  R.  Haack,  Generalis- 
simo ;  Sir  E.  A.  Wallace,  Captain  General ;  Rev.  Sir  G.  M.  Fortune,  Prelate ; 
Sir  N.  Siebenaler,  Senior  Warden  ;  Sir  Charles  Schill,  Junior  Warden ;  Sir 
H.  A  Fager,  Treasurer ;  Sir  Charles  Doering,  Recorder ;  Sir  William  Davies, 
Standard  Bearer ;  Sir  0.  H.  Shearer,  Sword  Bearer ;  Sir  W.  H.  Lindley, 
Warder,  and  Sir  Isaac  N.  Mitchell,  Captain  of  the  Guards. 

The  Masonic  Fraternity,  in  company  with  Anson  Low,  are  at  present 
engaged  in  the  erection  of  a  large  and  commodious  brick  building  on  Main 
street,  the  first  story  belonging  to  Low  and  the  upper  part  to  the  fraternity. 
The  building  is  37x76  feet;  the  main  hall  of  the  Masons  will  be  30x60  feet, 
with  all  the  necessary  anterooms,  offices,  etc.  The  Masonic  portion,  when 
finished  off  ready  for  occupancy,  will  cost  about  $3,000,  and  will  be  used  by 
the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Commandery  in  common.  The  building  will  be 
an  excellent  one,  and  an  ornament  to  the  city,  while  at  the  same  time  it  gives 
to  the  Masonic  fraternity  a  beautiful  home. 

Mason  Lodge,  No.  143,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  instituted  April  4,  1854,  by  Thomas 
J.  Burns,  D.  D.  G.  M.  The  charter  members  were  as  follows :  'Edwin  Rut- 
ledge,  David  Corey,  Hugh  Lamaster,  John  Hair  and  D.  J.  Waggoner.  The 

T 


532  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

charter  was  signed  by  William  Rounsaville,  Grand  Master,  and  S.  A.  Cornean, 
Grand  Secretary.  The  first  officers  elected  were  Edwin  Rutledge,  Noble 
Grand ;  David  Corey,  Vice  Grand ;  N.  J.  Rockwell,  Treasurer,  and  M.  Dear- 
born, Secretary.  The  membership  at  present  is  fifty,  with  the  following  offi- 
cers :  Thomas  B.  Kettell,  N.  G. ;  William  Rodecker,  V.  G. ;  L.  R.  Haack, 
Treasurer ;  Thomas  Covington,  Secretary  ;  John  S.  Kirk,  Con. ;  S.  A.  Mur- 
dock,  Warden ;  A.  H.  Jones,  I.  G. ;  P.  B.  Geary,  0.  G. ;  A.  T.  Beck,  R.  S. 
N.  G. ;  F.  S.  Coggeshall,  L.  S.  N.  G. ;  Thomas  Sea,  R.  S.  V.  G.;  George 
Schemerhorn,  L.  S.  V.  G.;  George  Geary,  R.  S.  S.;  W.  P.  Sigerson,  L.  S.  S.; 
L.  R.  Haack,  Representative  to  Grand  Lodge. 

State  Encampment,  No.  34,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  instituted  May  1,  1856,  by 
John  W.  Shinn,  D.  D.  G.  P.,  with  the  following  charter  members:  L.  F.  Ross, 
D.  J.  Waggoner,  R.  S.  Moore,  J.  C.  Kemp,  James  Boggs,  C.  W.  Emmett,  R^ 
R.  Simmons  and  John  Covington.  The  charter  was  signed  by  Horace  G. 
Anderson,  M.  W.  G.  P.,  and  Samuel  Willard,  Gr.  Scribe.  The  first  officers 
were  L.  F.  Ross,  G.  P.  ;  R.  S.  Moore,  H.  P.  ;  James  Boggs,  S.  W.  ;  C.  W. 
Emmett,  Treasurer ;  John  Covington,  Scribe,  and  R.  H.  Simmons,  J.  W.  The 
present  officers  are  Thomas  Covington,  C.  P.  ;  A.  T.  Beck,  H.  P. ;  A.  H. 
Jones,  S.  W.  ;  S.  A.  Murdock,  Scribe ;  T.  B.  Kettell,  Treasurer ;  L.  R.  Haack, 
J.  W. ;  C.  R.  Emmett,  G. ;  D.  C.  Metzgar,  S.  ;  J.  L.  Rochester  1st  W. ;  John 
S.  Kirk,  2d  W. ;  J.  W.  Boggs,  3d  W. ;  P.  B.  Geary,  4th  W. ;  S.  D.  Riggs, 
1st  G.  of  T. ;  J.  Dunbar,  2d  G.  of  T.  ;  L.  R.  Haack,  Representative  to  Grand 
Encampment. 

Havana  Lodge,  No.  743,  Knights  of  Honor,  was  instituted  September  17, 
1877.  The  following  are  the  present  officers :  L.  Aubere,  Dictator ;  L  S. 
Kirk,  Vice  Dictator ;  H.  Herback,  Assistant  Dictator ;  Thomas  Covington, 
Reporter;  G.  L.  Holzgraefe, Financial  Reporter;  E.  Snyder,  Treasurer ;  George 
Seibert,  Chaplain ;  H.  W.  Lindley,  Guard,  and  H.  Reynolds,  Sentinel. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  taught  in  Havana  that  is  remembered  by  any  of  the  old 
residents,  was  by  a  man  named  Price,  in  1836-37,  and  was  taught  in  a  little 
building  located  near  where  the  Taylor  House  now  stands.  One  of  the  early 
teachers,  probably  the  next  after  Price,  had  a  taste  of  the  experience  of  Eggle- 
ston's  Hoosier  schoolmaster.  Some  of  the  mischievous  young  men,  or  boys, 
one  morning  set  a  tub  of  water  over  the  door,  and  so  poised  it 

"  That  an  infant  s  touch  could  urge 
Its  headlong  passage  down  the  verge." 

Thus,  when  the  teacher  came  in,  the  opening  of  the  door  disturbed  its  equilib- 
rium, bringing  down  the  foaming  Niagara  upon  his  devoted  head.  The  finale 
of  the  matter  we  are  unable  to  chronicle,  but  doubt  not  that  it  was  in  strict 
accordance  with  the  prevailing  custom  practiced  in  the  early  schools,  and  a  free 
use  of  the  birch  was  brought  into  play  upon  the  unregenerate  perpetrators. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  533 

The  first  regular  schoolhouse  was  built  about  1837-38,  on  a  part  of  the 
present  public  square.  This  house  was  used  for  a  number  of  years,  when  a 
large  brick  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  school  -building.  Previously, 
however,  the  basement  of  the  old  Methodist  Church  was  used  as  a  schoolroom 
for  several  years.  The  present  magnificent  school  building  was  put  up  in  1875 
and  cost  $30,000.  It  is  well  arranged  for  school  purposes,  and  furnished  with 
all  the  modern  improvements  in  the  way  of  school  furniture.  In  addition  to 
this  building,  there  are  primary  schools  taught  both  in  the  north  and  south 
ends  of  the  city.  The  teachers  for  the  year  just  cbmmencing  are  as  follows: 
Prof.  T.  W.  Catlin,  Principal,  assisted  by  Miss  E.  M.  Bean,  Miss  Margaret 
Hurst,  Miss  Theresa  Bernell,  Miss  Nellie  Wickizer,  Miss  Kate  Paul,  Miss  Jen- 
nie Crane,  Mrs.  Sallie  Heninger,  Miss  Effie  Pierce  and  Miss  Fannie  Walker. 
The  present  is  Prof.  Catlin's  fourth  year  as  Principal.  The  schools  of  Havana 
have  kept  pace  with  the  other  institutions  of  this  vicinity,  and  the  citizens  have 
good  reason  to  feel  proud  of  their  excellence.  Besides  the  graded  system  at  the 
large  brick  scheolhouse,  the  city  maintains  primary  schools  in  other  portions  of 
it,  as  stated  above. 

VILLAGE   AND    CITY    INCORPORATION. 

A  local  history  of  Mason  County,  published  a  few  years  ago,  says  that  the 
town  of  Havana  was  incorporated  in  1848,  with  E.  B.  Harpham,  President  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  Fred  Krebaum,  Clerk,  and  that  the  first  ordinance 
was  dated  March  2,  1848,  and  signed  by  them.  We,  together  with  Mr.  Ket- 
tell,  the  present  City  Clerk,  took  a  look  through  the  city  records,  and,  as  a 
result  of  our  investigations,  found  an  act  of  incorporation  dated  1853,  in  which 
the  following  were  named  as  Village  Trustees  :  N.  J.  Rockwell,  S.  E.  Rogers, 
William  Higbee,  James  Boggs  and  Joseph  F.  Benner.  Of  this  Board,  Boggs 
was  elected  President,  Benner,  Secretary,  and  Higbee,  Treasurer.  A.  T.  Low 
was  elected  Constable,  and  J.  H.  West,  Street  Commissioner. 

In  1873,  it  was  incorporated  under  the  general  law  as  a  city,  and  an  elec- 
tion held  April  15,  for  Mayor  and  Aldermen.  The  city  was  divided  into  three 
Wards  and  two  Aldermen  allowed  to  each  Ward,  who  are  elected  for  two  years. 
That  each  Ward,  however,  may  elect  an  Alderman  each  year,  at  the  first  elec- 
tion they  were  elected  for  one  and  two  years.  The  Mayor,  also,  is  elected  for 
two  years.  The  following  is  a  statement  of  elections  from  the  incorporation  of 
the  city  to  the  present  time : 

1873 — Hugh  Fullerton,  Mayor  ;  0.  H.  Wright,  City  Attorney ;  Isaac  P. 
Price,  Clerk ;  Alex.  Stuart,  Treasurer.  Aldermen — R.  R.  Simmons,  August 
Schill,  First  Ward  ;  Anson  Low,  0.  C.  Town,  Second  Ward ;  J.  L.  Randall, 
Jabez  Dunbar,  Third  Ward. 

1874—0.  H.  Wright,  City  Attorney;  Isaac  P.  Price,  Clerk;  Alex.  Stuart, 
Treasurer  ;  W.  H.  Caldwell,  Marshal.  Aldermen — J.  F.  Coppell,  First  Ward; 
W.  G.  Stone,  Second  Ward ;  W.  H.  Fenton,  Third  Ward. 


534  HISTORY   OF    MASON   COUNTY. 

1875 — Isaac  N.  Mitchell,  Mayor;  0.  H.  Wright,  City  Attorney ;  C.  D. 
Lindley,  Clerk;  J.  H.  Knobbe,  Treasurer;  John  W.  Patton,  Marshal.  Alder- 
men— L.  R.  Haack,  First  Ward ;  Peter  Lindburg,  Second  Ward  ;  J.  W.  Boggs, 
Third  Ward. 

1876—0.  H.  Wright,  City  Attorney;  H.  H.  Hanrath,  Clerk;  J.  H. 
Knobbe,  Treasurer ;  J.  W.  Patton,  Marshal.  Aldermen — Max  Meyer,  First 
Ward;  W.  S.  Dray,  Second  Ward;  Jabez  Dunbar,  Third  Ward. 

1877 — J.  F.  Coppel,  Mayor;  E.  A.  Wallace,  City  Attorney;  H.  R. 
Nortrup,  Clerk ;  N.  Siebenaler,  Treasurer ;  J.  M.  Hillyer,  Marshal.  Alder- 
men— Fred.  Fette,  First  Ward ;  Peter  Lindburg,  Second  Ward ;  J.  L.  Ran- 
dall, Third  Ward. 

1878— E.  A.  Wallace,  City  Attorney ;  H.  R.  Nortrup,  Clerk ;  N.  Siebe- 
najer,  Treasurer ;  J.  M.  Hillyer,  Marshal ;  I.  S.  Kirk,  Police  Magistrate. 
Aldermen — J.  H.  Kessen,  First  Ward ;  W.  S.  Dray,  Second  Ward;  G.  H. 
Meyer,  Third  Ward. 

1879— W.  H.  Campbell,  Mayor;  H.  R.  Nortrup,  City  Attorney;  T.  B. 
Kettell,  Clerk ;  Max  Meyer,  Treasurer ;  0.  H.  Shearer,  Marshal ;  I.  S. 
Kirk,  Police  Magistrate;  Philip  F.  Smith,  Street  Commissioner.  Aldermen — 
Jesse  Pipkin,  First  Ward ;  Anson  Low,  Second  Ward ;  J.  F.  Kelsey,  Third 
Ward. 

Havana  City  and  Township,  taken  together,  are  Democratic  in  politics.  In 
city  and  county  offices,  the  spoils  are  usually  divided,  thus  promoting  peace 
and  harmony  in  the  political  family.  While  the  Mayor,  and,  probably,  all  of 
the  present  city  officers  are  Democrats,  the  Board  of  Aldermen  are  equally 
divided,  there  being  three  Democrats  and  three  Republicans.  In  the  county 
officers,  the  Circuit  Clerk  is  a  Republican,  the  County  Clerk  is  a  Democrat ; 
the  County  Treasurer  is  a  Republican  ;  the  County  Judge  is  a  Democrat ;  the 
Superintendent  of  Schools  is  a  Democrat;  the  County  Surveyor  is  a  Republi- 
can ;  the  Sheriff  is  a  Democrat  and  the  Coroner  is  a  Republican. 

By  a  provision  of  the  act  of  the  Legislature  forming  the  county  of  Mason, 
a  vote  was  taken  at  the  first  election,  for  the  purpose  of  determining  the  loca- 
tion of  the  seat  of  justice.  The  two  towns  competing  for  the  honor  were  Hav- 
ana and  Bath,  and,  after  a  very  exciting  contest,  Havana  won  the  victory.  It 
was  also  decreed  by  the  Legislature,  in  the  original  act,  that  the  friends  of 
each  place  voted  for  should  first  place  in  the  hands  of  the  judges  of  the  election 
a  note  drawn  to  the  order  of  the  County  Commissioners  for  $1,000,  and 
also  a  bond  making  a  donation  of  one.  block  of  lots  or  twenty  acres  of 
land  for  the  use  of  the  county.  The  required  note  of  $1,000  was  drawn 
by  N.  J.  Rockwell,  Pulaski  S^oville,  Lewis  W.  Ross  and  H.  L.  Ross,  and 
a  bond  was  executed  by  L.  W.  and  H.  L.  Ross,  donating  a  block  of  lots 
adjoining  the  public  square.  The  inhabitants  of  Bath  were  very  much 
dissatisfied  with  the  result  of  the  election,  and  finally  got  an  act  passed,  in  1843, 
authorizing  another  election.  This  election  took  place  in  February,  and 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  535 

resulted  in  making  Bath  the  county  seat,  an  honor  it  retained  till  1851,  when 
Havana  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  necessary  legislation  to  bring  the  question 
again  before  the  people,  and  again  Havana  won  the  day.  This  probably  settled 
the  question  for  all  time.  With  the  railroads  centering  at  this  place,  it  is  not 
likely  that  the  county  seat  question  will  ever  be  again  agitated.  But  a  more 
complete  history  of  the  county  seat  war  will  be  found  in  a  preceding  chapter. 

Although  Havana  as  the  capital  of  the  county  is  a  settled  point,  it  is 
an  established  fact  that  its  Court  House  is  rather  a  dilapidated  old  rookery. 
The  dingy  building  is  bronzed  with  age  and  "tottering  to  decay,"  and,  as  seen 
from  the  street,  its  "  gloomy  and  frowning  walls"  have  more  the  resemblance  of 
a  prison  than  a  Court  House.  But  a  redeeming  feature  of  the  place  is  the 
public  square.  It  is  well  set  in  grass,  and  is  filled  with  beautiful  trees,  which, 
when  clothed  in  summer  luxuriance,  renders  it  not  only  a  lovely  but  very  attract- 
ive place. 

The  legal  fraternity  of  Havana  embraces  a  corps  of  gentlemen  of  marked 
ability.  Among  them  are  Dearborn,  Fullerton,  Lacey,  Conwell,  Campbell, 
Mallory,  Wright,  Wallace  and  others,  all  of  whom  stand  high  in  the  profession, 
and  some  of  them  have  served  with  distinction  in  exalted  positions.  The  med- 
ical profession  is  also  ably  represented,  and  a  number  of  highly  educated  and 
experienced  physicians  zealously  guard  the  health  of  the  city  and  surrounding 
country.  The  merchants,  too,  are  a  class  of  enterprising,  upright,  energetic 
business  men,  and  withal  jolly  good  fellows.  The  city  does  not  aspire  to  a 
wholesale  trade,  but  enjoys  an  excellent  retail  business. 

Company  F,  stationed  at  Havana,  and  attached  to  the  Seventh  Regiment 
Illinois  National  Guards,  with  regimental  headquarters  at  Peoria,  was  organized 
August  17,  1877.  The  following  are  the  present  officers :  W.  H.  Webb,  Cap- 
tain ;  J.  C.  Yates,  First  Lieutenant ;  S.  F.  Kyle,  Second  Lieutenant  and  S. 
A.  Murdock,  Orderly  Sergeant.  The  company  is  about  sixty-five  strong,  and 
composed  of  the  young  men  of  the  city.  The  Captain,  First  Lieutenant  and 
Orderly  Sergeant  served  in  the  late  war,  and  are  the  only  members  who  have 
seen  service.  The  remainder  of  the  company  are  u  fresh  fish." 

The  city  press  consists  of  two  sprightly  newspapers,  viz. :  The  Democrat 
and  Republican.  The  former  is  a  four-page  paper,  conducted  by  Mounts  & 
Murdock,  and  is  all  printed  in  Havana ;  in  other  words,  it  has  no  patent  side, 
as  is  the  custom  with  so  many  country  weeklies.  The  Republican  is  also  a  four- 
page  paper,  with  "  patent  outside,"  and  is  owned  and  published  by  F.  Ketcham 
&  Son.  Each  paper  is  devoted  to  the  political  party,  whose  name  it  respectively 
bears.  As  the  history  of  the  county  press  has  been  fully  written  up  by  Gen. 
Ruggles,  we  will  not  repeat  that  portion  pertaining  to  Havana.  We  would, 
however,  drop  a  gentle  hint,  to  the  effect  that  the  newspapers  of  towns  and 
counties  usually  are  not'  treated  with  the  importance  they  merit.  The  county 
newspaper  is  the  county's  history.  Even  the.  advertisements  it  contains,  in  after 
years  become  matters  of  historical  interest,  and  are  of  themselves  historical 


536  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

facts.  It  is,  in  our  opinion,  an  oversight  that  a  copy  of  every  newspaper  pub- 
lished in  a  county  is  not  filed  away  in  the  county  offices  for  future  reference. 

The  city  of  Havana  is  connected  with  the  "  State  of  Fulton  "  by  a  mag- 
nificent wagon  bridge  spanning  the  Illinois  River  at  this  point.  It  was  built 
eight  or  ten  years  ago  on  substantial  stone  piers  at  intervals,  and  cost  originally 
about  $60,000.  A  few  years  ago,  it  was  sold  under  mortgage,  and  bought  by 
McHarry,  who  now  owns  it,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  shares  of  stock  owned 
by  Capt.  Bivens  and  others.  This  bridge  is  an  important  link  between  Mason 
and  Fulton  Counties,  and  brings  to  Havana  thousands  of  dollars  of  trade  that 
but  for  it  would  go  elsewhere. 

The  city  cemetery  of  Havana  is  an  excellent  and  beautiful  location  for  a 
burying-ground,  but  has  'the  appearance  to  us  of  receiving  less  attention  and 
beautifying  than  many  similar  places  we  have  noticed  in  other  cities.  It  con- 
tains the  moldering  remains  of  many  of  the  pioneers  of  Havana  City  and 
Township,  and  also  many  fine  stones  and  monuments,  and  a  few  hundred  dollars 
spent  upon  it  would  considerably  enhance  its  beauty  and  improve  its  appearance. 

The  little  hamlet  of  Peterville,  located  in  the  southern  part  of  Havana 
Township,  was  laid  out  in  1868  by  Peter  Thornburg,  on  Section  34,  and  con- 
tains a  church,  two  or  three  shops,  and  perhaps  a  half  dozen  dwellings.  A 
store  was  opened  here  about  1865—66  by  Samuel  Porter,  and  continued  for  sev- 
eral years,  but  at  present  the  place  boasts  not  of  a  single  store.  Thornburg  & 
Decker  carry  on  a  blacksmith  and  wood  shop.  A  similar  establishment  is 
operated  by  Benjamin  Pulling.  A  church  was  built  by  the  Baptist  denomina- 
tion about  1862-63  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  P.  G.  Clarke,  and  cost 
some  $1,400.  At  present,  it  is  not  used  as  a  temple  of  worship,  nor  has  it  been 
for  a  number  of  years  past,  the  original  members  having  united  with  other  con- 
gregations. The  house  stands  alone  and  deserted,  a  monument  of  departed 
glory. 

Sedan  Station  is  a  shipping  point  on  the  Springfield  &  North- Western  Rail- 
road, in  the  southern  part  of  the  township,  and  consists  merely  of  a  side  track 
for  shipping  purposes.  It  has  never  been  laid  out  as  a  town,  nor  even  a  house 
built  on  the  spot. 

MASON  CITY  TOWNSHIP. 

BY   J.    C.    WARNOCK,    ESQ. 

The  history  of  this  township,  contained  in  the  following  pages,  is  gathered  from 
those  who  lived  cotemporaneous  with  the  events  recorded,  and,  by  personal  obser- 
vation, have  become  living  witnesses  to  the  present  generation  of  the  history  of  the 
past,  and  from  these  recesses  of  memory  the  traditional  history  of  this  town- 
ship may  now  be  put  upon  perpetual  record  as  the  first  link  in  the  chain  that 
shall  be  continued  as  ages  and  generations  succeed  each  other.  In  attempting 
the  task,  we  are  met  on  the  very  threshold  with  the  fact  that  the  devastating 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  537 

hand  of  time  and  the  progress  of  art  are  remorseless  and  unsparing  of  primitive 
landmarks,  however  dear  they  may  have  been  to  a  former  generation  and  how- 
ever sacred  the  memories  that  cluster  around  them.  With  these  facts  before  us, 
we  have  attempted  to  surmount  the  barrier  by  obtaining  the  facts  and  incidents 
from  old  residents  who  were  personal  witnesses  of  them,  and  whose  recitals,  cor- 
roborating each  other  sufficiently,  establish  the  truth  of  the  historical  events 
herein  recorded. 

This  township  did  not  receive  its  present  name  until  the  county  was  organ- 
ized under  the  township  organization  law,  in  1862,  but  up  to  that  time  was 
designated  as  by  the  surveyor's  record,  Township  20  north,  Range  5  west  of 
the  Third  Principal  Meridian,  and  included  within  its  boundary  on  the  south 
side  about  seven  and  one-half  miles  of  Salt  Creek,  that  is,  by  following  the 
course  of  the  stream  in  its  curvings  and  windings,  and  about  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  of  Sugar  Creek,  and  on  the  east  about  four  miles  of  Prairie  Creek. 
Toward  the  north,  this  stream  takes  a  southwesterly  course  for  about  one-half 
mile,  then  a  winding  course  south  for  about  the  same  distance,  when  it  turns 
^ast  and  leaves  the  township  to  return  one  mile  farther  south,  now  taking  a  south- 
westerly course  until  it  reaches  Salt  Creek.  The  original  survey,  as  appears 
from  the  "field  notes,"  was  made  in  the  fall  of  1823,  and  in  conformity  with 
an  act  of  Congress,  Section  No.  16  was  set  apart  for  school  purposes,  and  was 
and  is  yet  known  as  the  "  school  section,"  the  proceeds  of  which  became  a  town- 
ship school  fund,  from  the  interest  of  which  the  several  districts  now  receive  an 
annual  income  for  the  support  of  their  public  schools. 

At  the  time  of  the  original  survey,  there  was  not  a  resident  or  habitation  in 
the  territory  of  the  township,  nor  for  several  years  after.  The  primitive  blue- 
stem  prairie  grass  was  a  marvel  of  luxuriant  growth  to  persons  unfamiliar  wbh 
such  scenery,  and  to  place  a  man  on  foot  out  in  this  unbroken  and  untrodden 
wilderness  with  no  other  outlook  than  the  far-away  heavens  above,  was  to  place 
him  in  a  position  from  which  it  was  almost  as  difficult  to  extricate  himself  as 
from  mid-ocean  without  rudder  or  compass,  though  not  so  perilous.  Late  in 
the  fall,  when  the  frosts  had  killed  the  grass,  the  great  prairie  fires  would  occur, 
which  would  be  started  by  hunters  shooting  into  the  tinder-like  material,  or 
with  the  flint,  for  matches  were  a  commodity  of  civilization  and  inventive  genius 
that  had  not  yet  reached  these  Western  wilds.  The  grandeur  of  those  prairie 
fires  can  only  be  fully  appreciated  by  being  seen.  The  flames,  at  times  reach- 
ing high  up  toward  the  star-decked  dome,  and  then,  swooping  down,  gathering 
in  their  devouring  grasp  the  grass  fifty  feet  in  advance  of  the  main  column, 
were  to  be  admired  and  apotheosized  from  the  rear,  but  to  be  feared  and  dreaded 
from  the  front  as  a  fierce  and  powerful  agent,  dealing  destruction  to  all  that 
came  within  its  reach.  In  the  north  half  of  the  township,  the  surface  of  the 
land  takes  a  gentle  and  regular  decline  toward  the  south,  and  from  this  to  the 
south  line,  it  is  somewhat  broken  by  blufts  and  ravines,  but  only  a  small  portion 
so  much  broken  as  to  be  untillable.  Salt  Creek  bottom  was  once  considered  a 


538  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

geological  mistake  of  nature,  and  counted  a  perpetual  and  irredeemable  waste 
because  of  its  frequent  inundation  by  the  overflowing  waters  of  Salt  Creek ; 
but,  by  leveeing,  the  last  few  years  have  demonstrated  their  safe  and  profitable 
cultivation,  and  a  few  more  years  will  find  the  most  prolific  farms  in  the  town- 
ship on  these  once  discarded  lowlands.  Corn,  wheat  and  oats  are  the  principal 
agricultural  products,  but  nearly  all  the  cereals,  as  well  as  the  various  fruits 
indigenous  to  the  climate,  are  produced  in  great  quantities. 

Coal  exists  in  great  quantities  at  a  depth  of  200  feet,  in  the  north  part  of 
the  township,  and,  at  one  point  on  the  bluffs  in  Swing's  Grove,  there  is  every 
evidence  of  coal  near  the  surface. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  settlement  made  in  the  township  was  by  Isaac  Engle,  in  1830,  at 
what  is  now  the  S.  C.  Donevan  place,  at  the  northeast  side  of  Swing's  Grove,. 
and,  during  the  same  year,  John  Powell  built  a  round-log  house  on  the  west 
side  of  the  place  now  owned  and  occupied  by  C.  L.  Stone,  about  one  hundred 
yards  southeast  of  W.  S.  Hardin's  present  residence.  This  rude  hut  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  hewed-log  house  built  by  Austin  Melton  in  1840,  Powell  having 
moved  to  Oregon.  Here  Melton  lived  until  1847,  and  kept  a  ferry  on  Salt 
Creek,  and  for  him  Melton's  Ford  was  named.  From  here,  he  moved  to  Mack- 
inaw, and,  after  several  years'  residence  there,  went  to  Walker's  Grove,  ia 
Crane  Creek  Township,  where  he  died  in  the  spring  of  1877.  Mr.  Melton 
was  succeeded  as  a  resident  at  Swing's  Grove,  in  1847,  by  John  Alkire,  who- 
built  a  frame  house,  which  has  long  since  been  removed,  and  the  site  being  culti- 
vated, hardly  a  trace  of  this  landmark  of  early  habitation  remains  visible. 

Isaac  Engle,  who,  as  before  stated,  settled  on  the  Donevan  place,  sold  out 
to  Michael  and  Abram  Swing,  in  1838,  when  he  moved  to  Fulton  County,  and 
died  there  some  years  ago.  The  Swing  brothers  were  both  unmarried  at  that 
time,  and,  by  a  trade  between  them,  Michael  became  sole  owner  of  the  land 
which,  up  to  1840,  they  had  held  in  partnership.  The  year  1846,  Michael 
Swing  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  was  the  first  member  ever  elected  to- 
that  body  from  this  county.  He  served  one  term  of  two  years,  and  while  at 
Springfield  attending  the  session  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  lady  who  soon 
afterward  became  his  wife.  Their  wedded  life  was  but  a  few  years,  for  Mr. 
Swing  died  of  the  measles,  the  latter  part  of  December,  1852,  at  that  place, 
although  he  had  sold  it  to  the  Donevan  brothers  a  couple  of  years  before,  still 
occupying  it,  however,  by  renting.  Mr.  Swing  was  a  surveyor,  and  taught 
school  occasionally  in  addition  to  his  other  somewhat  diversified  business.  The 
winter  of  1851-52,  he  taught  the  district  school  at  Big  Grove,  going  on  horse- 
back and  returning  home  each  day,  a  distance  of  six  miles,  for  the  compen- 
sation of  $1  per  day.  The  present  editor  of  the  Mason  City  Independent  was 
one  of  his  pupils  at  that  school.  At  his  death,  he  left  his  widow  with  one  childr 
a  daughter,  who,  upon  reaching  womanhood,  married  T.  M.  Beach,  Esq.,  a 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

prominent  lawyer,  of  Lincoln,  Logan  County,  but  she  died  a  month  or  two  ago, 
after  only  a  few  years  of  wedded  life.  The  widow  married  a  gentlemen  named 
Cass,  near  Mount  Pulaski,  Logan  County,  some  years  ago,  and  he  died.  She 
was  living  with  her  son-in-law,  Mr.  Beach,  at  Lincoln,  at  the  time  of  her 
daughter's  death,  and  is  still  keeping  house  for  him  and  taking  care  of  her  little 
grandchildren. 

The  year  1840,  Ephraim  Brooner  built  a  round-log  house  on  what  is  now 
the  Cease-Hubly  place,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  the  old  "  Beebe  place," 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  John  Appleman.  Mr.  Brooner  died  in  1841,  and 
his  widow  married  Rezin  Virgin,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Salt  Creek  Township, 
as  will  appear  in  the  history  of  that  subdivision  of  the  county.  Mr.  Brooner 
was  succeeded  at  that  place  by  Robert  Melton  (brother  of  Austin,  before  men- 
tioned), and  lived  there  until  1853,  when  his  wife,  himself  and  daughter  died 
within  the  space  of  only  a  few  months.  From  the. death  of  his  wife,  Mr. 
Melton  seemed  to  have  lost  all  interest  in  this  world,  and  gradually  his  life 
ebbed  away  in  silent  grief,  and,  in  a  few  months,  he,  too,  was  no  more.  He 
held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  several  years  during  his  residence  there, 
and  many  amusing  incidents  of  this  early  court  are  remembered  by  the 
proverbial  "  oldest  inhabitant,"  some  of  which  will  appear  in  their  proper 
order.  This  place  of  primitive  habitation  is  now  marked  only  by  a  few  storm- 
wrecked  and  venerable  apple-trees,  which  can  be  seen  by  the  traveler  as  he 
passes  along  the  public  road  to  and  from  the  Iron  Bridge  over  Salt  Creek. 

The  year  1840  seems  to 'have  been  favorable  to  the  immigration  of  pioneer 
adventurers  and  home-seekers.  Robert  Melton  and  S.  D.  Swing,  at  Swing's 
Grove,  and  Stiles  and  Homer  Peck,  on  Prairie  Creek,  settled  in  the  township 
that  year.  S.  D.  Swing,  now,  and  since  1860,  a  resident  of  Mason  City, 
improved  the  greater  part  of  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  C.  L.  Stone^ 
Having  married  Mary  A.  Sikes,  daughter  of  Edward  Sikes,  Sr.,  an  old  set- 
tler of  Salt  Creek  Township,  Mr.  Swing  and  his  young  wife  settled  there  in 
1840,  where,  by  years  of  toil  and  privation  unknown  to  the  beginners  of  life's 
matrimonial  voyage  now-a-days,  they  built  up  a  beautiful  home  and  valuable 
farm.  Swing's  Grove  Cemetery,  a  beautiful  location  on  a  high  point  of  Salt 
Creek  Bluff,  about  one-eighth  of  a  mile  southwest  of  the  house,  was  set  apart 
for  that  purpose  by  them,  and  consecrated  to  the  dead  by  the  burial  there  of 
their  first-born,  in  1846,  since  which  time  the  public  has  used  it  as  a  repository 
for  the  remains  of  the  departed,  until  this  "village  of  the  dead  "  now  numbers 
its  inhabitants  by  the  hundred.  Earlier  burials  were  made  at  the  place  now 
owned  by  Malcom  Robertson,  and  on  a  knoll  in  the  west  part  oi  the  grove ; 
but  only  a  few  were  buried  in  each,  and  they  were  entirely  abandoned  after  the 
one  given  by  Mr.  Swing  was  started.  Stiles  and  Homer  Peck,  brothers,  made 
a  settlement  on  Prairie  Creek,  in  1840,  about  a  mile  northwest  of  where  the 
village  of  New  Holland  now  stands.  They  erected  there  a  water-power,  saw- 
mill, and  the  mill-dam  was  used  as  a  public  wagon  road  in  crossing  the  creek. 


540  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Although  this  saw-mill  was  a  very  small  affair,  it  was  by  common  usage  and 
general  consent  a  "  signal  station  "  from  which  "  bearings  "  were  given  and 
taken  to  all  surrounding  points  for  many  miles  distant,  and  is  yet  relatively 
referred  to  by  old  residents.  As  there  were  no  means  of  estimating  distances, 
the  traveler  in  those  days  was  given  the  course  from  one  point  to  another.  At 
this  saw-mill,  the  pioneer  obtained  the  sawed  lumber  with  which  to  make  the 
doors,  door  and  window  frames  of  his  crude  dwelling,  and  from  which  they 
obtained,  after  a  few  years'  progress  in  aristocracy,  the  lumber  to  take  the  place 
of  the  primitive  puncheon  floor.  A.  S.  Jackson,  of  Mason  City,  made  a  wal- 
nut table  from  lumber  sawed  at  that  mill  in  1843,  which  relic  is  now  in  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  Cooper,  of  that  place. 

The  reader  will  pardon  the  digression  for  a  moment  while  we  give  a  brief 
description  of  the  dwelling-house  of  this  early  day.  The  usual  size  was  18x20 
feet,  made  of  round  logs,  notched  at  the  corners  so  as  to  make  the  logs  fit  as 
closely  as  possible  together,  and  give  strength  to  the  building  to  withstand  the 
frequent  storms  of  wind  which  swept  over  the  prairies  with  the  violence  of  a 
hurricane.  Chimneys  were  constructed  of  split  sticks  and  clay,  and  were  inva- 
riably placed  on  the  west  end  or  side  of  the  house,  so  that  the  strong  winds 
which  nearly  always  came  from  a  westerly  direction,  would  be  the  better 
resisted.  Those  primitive  domiciles  all  had  a  kitchen,  sitting-room,  parlor  and 
bedroom — but  all  in  one.  At  the  usual  mealtimes,  it  was  all  kitchen ;  on 
rainy  days,  when  the  neighbors  of  four  or  five  miles  away  came  in  to  have  a 
chat  about  the  number  of  deer  and  wild  turkeys  killed  since  they  last  met,  it 
was  all  sitting-room  ;  on  Sundays,  when  the  itinerant  preacher  was  around,  and 
the  young  men,  with  their  "  new  jeans,"  paid  their  tender  respects  to  the  young 
ladies  in  their  best  "tow  dresses,"  it  was  all  parlor;  at  night,  when  the  "wee, 
sma'  hours"  passed  imperceptibly  over  a  sleeping  world,  it  was  all  bedroom. 
The  crevices  between  the  logs  (the  best  that  could  be  done  to  fit  them)  were 
large,  and,  with  all  the  chinking  and  daubing,  afforded  ample  ventilation ;  a 
laughable  illustration  of  which  means  of  a  "free  circulation,"  is  given  by  John 
Powers — "Irish  John,"  as  he  was  universally  cognomened  in  the  days  of  this 
incident.  He  now  lives  in  a  beautiful  and  substantial  farm  house  about  a  mile 
south  of  Mason  City  ;  but  when  he  first  went  to  housekeeping,  about  twenty- 
five  years  ago,  he  lived  in  a  round-log  house  of  the  primitive  pattern,  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  south  of  his  present  residence.  This  house  was  not  in  any  inclosure 
of  fence,  and  was  protected  from  cattle  making  too  free  of  the  premises,  by 
dogs.  One  Sunday,  he  and  his  young  wife  went  to  spend  the  day  with  a 
neighbor ;  and,  while  they  were  gone,  the  cattle  gathered  about  his  house  and, 
with  their  tongues,  they  pulled  out  of  his  bed,  through  the  crevice  between  the 
logs,  the  straw  of  his  bed,  and  finished  up  the  day's  sport  by  chewing  the  tick 
into  the  consistency  of  a  cud,  in  which  condition  he  found  his  dormitory  depart- 
ment on  his  return.  These  log  huts  were  covered  with  "clapboards"  about 
three  feet  in  length,  and  held  to  place  by  "  rib  poles  "  underneath  and  "  weight 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  541 

poles"  on  the  top  of  each  course  of  boards.  The  floors  were  laid  of  puncheon 
slabs,  split  from  three  to  four  inches  in  thickness,  and  from  six  to  eight  feet  in 
length.  The  top  side  and  edges  were  hewed  so  as  to  make  them  as  nearly  level 
as  possible,  and  fit  close  enough  together  to  prevent  the  foot  from  going  down 
between  them  in  walking  about  the  house.  The  fire-place  was  from  four  to 
eight  feet  wide,  and  supplied  cooking  facilities,  heat  to  keep  the  inmates  com- 
fortable, and  light  to  do  the  night  indoor  work  by.  The  jambs,  in  the  proper 
season  of  the  year,  were  decorated  with  strands  of  apples,  cut  in  quarters  with 
the  peel  on,  and  the  joists  bore  a  heavy  burden  of  pumpkins,  cut  in  rings  and 
hung  on  poles.  The  bedsteads  were  improvised  by  boring  holes  in  the  logs 
and  driving  in  wooden  pins  supported  at  the  inner  end  by  upright  pieces. 
This  rude  frame  was  interwoven  with  buckskin  rawhide  or  bedcord,  if  the  lat- 
ter could  be  had  ;  and  with  a  tick  of  prairie  hay  and  one  of  wild-goose  feath- 
ers, our  ancestors  slept  soundly  and  snored  as  contentedly  as  the  people  now 
do  on  veneered  bedsteads,  woven-wire  mattresses  and  all  the  gaudy  surround- 
ings of  a  high-toned  bed-chamber. 

In  1846,  John  Douglas  built  a  log  house  in  the  prairie,  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  west  of  Peck's  Mill.  This  was  the  first  house  out  in  the  prairie,  and  his 
venture  so  far  from  timber  was  looked  upon  as  a  daring  one.  The  site  of  this 
habitation  is  now  marked  by  a  few  dilapidated  apple-trees,  which  are  desolate 
monuments  of  the  first  settlement  of  this  prairie.  Mr.  Douglas  died  a  few 
years  ago,  and  two  of  his  sons,  Ebenezer  and  William,  now  reside  on  good 
farms  with  their  families,  near  the  wild  scenes  of  their  boyhood  days.  A  man 
named  Tullis  also  settled  on  the  place  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Alexander 
Appleman,  about  the  same  time  that  Douglas  settled  there. 

INCIDENTS   OF    PIONEER   DAYS. 

The  first  school  ever  taught  in  this  township  was  in  the  winter  of  1846-47, 
in  a  log  hut,  near  the  county  line,  about  a  half-mile  north  of  the  site  of  New 
Holland.  The  name  of  the  heroine  who  was  destined  to  become  immortal  in 
history  by  this  circumstance  was  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Stephens,  who  afterward 
became  the  wife  of  Randolph  Robins,  and  died  in  Kansas  a  few  years  ago. 
However  insignificant  and  crude  this  school,  it  was  the  beginning  of  what  is  now 
justly  and  really  the  grandest  and  most  prominent  feature  of  our  society,  and 
of  which  we  shall  write  in  full  and  detail  in  its  proper  order.  But  at  this  time 
it  is  due  the  pioneer  school  teacher  to  say  that  he,  she  or  they  will  be  remem- 
bered in  history  with  unfeigned  gratitude  for  the  labors  and  toils  of  these  early 
days.  The  pioneer  teacher  who  had  to  contend  with  the  almost  untamed  spirit 
of  the  wild  girls  and  boys  of  this  wilderness,  submit  to  being  barred  out  of  the 
schoolhouse  on  Christmas  and  New  Year's  mornings,  until  compromised  with  a 
"treat,"  trudge  through  the  snow  and  driving  storm  for  miles,  in  "boarding 
around  among  the  scholars,"  collect  his  money  after  his  term  was  ended,  in  such 
installments  as  he  could  get,  is  deserving  a  prominent  place  in  history. 


542  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Settlements  now  began  to  increase  rapidly,  and  .the  log  huts  dotted  the 
prairie  with  the  habitations  of  the  aggressive  pioneers  farther  and  farther  out 
into  the  boundless  wilderness  of  grass,  hitherto  the  undisputed  home  of  the 
deer  and  wolf.  The  former  ranged  together  in  herds  of  sometimes  over  a 
hundred,  and  the  latter  had  cities  of  dens  in  the  favorable  locations,  where  they 
held  their  nocturnal  orgies  of  yelps  and  howls.  Those  prairie  wolves  were 
usually  harmless,  except  as  to  domestic  animals,  for  which  they  manifested  a  disas- 
trous fondness,  and  they  were  especially  partial  in  the  selection  of  the  tender 
meat  of  lambs  and  pigs,  when  it  was  a  matter  of  choice  with  them.  But,  under 
certain  conditions  of  hunger,  and  favorable  circumstances  of  advantage,  they 
would  show  a  disposition  to  attack  the  human  family,  illustrative  of  which  is  the 
following  incident,  which  occurred  about  the  year  1848 :  "  John  Auxier,  who 
had  been  to  Pekin  with  a  drove  of  hogs  made  up  by  himself  and  several  of  his 
neighbors,  and"  who  had  remained  behind,  as  was  the  usual  custom,  until  the 
hogs  were  slaughtered  and  weighed,  started  home  on  foot  late  in  the  afternoon. 
In  assisting  in  the  slaughter,  he  had  received  a  cut  in  the  arm,  which  bled  con- 
siderably, and  in  crossing  the  sand  ridge,  which  is  now  High  street,  Mason  City, 
the  wolres  scented  the  blood,  and  immediately  set  up  their  characteristic  howl, 
which  was  well  understood  by  the  pioneer  to  "  mean  blood  "  of  some  kind.  This 
midnight  declaration  of  war  and  no  quarter,  served  to  quicken  Mr.  Auxier's 
steps,  and  until  he  reached  home  on  Salt  Creek  bluff  he  could  hear  the  yelps  and 
howls  of  his  bloodthirsty  pursuers  as  they  gained  upon,  but,  fortunately  did  not 
overtake  him. 

Those  hog-driving  expeditions  to  Pekin,  and  Bath  in  the  west  part  of  this 
county,  were  always  made  in  the  winter,  and  usually  at  the  coldest  and  most 
disagreeable  time  of  winter,  but,  notwithstanding  the  excruciating  suffering  from 
the  cold,  when  the  party  got  "  thawed  out "  by  the  log-heap  fire  in  the  pioneer's 
cabin  at  night,  they  were  as  jolly  a  set  as  ever  "cracked  a  joke  or  played  a 
trick."  All  the  innate  mischief  and  pent-up  devilment  of  their  inherent  and 
individual  natures  came  to  the  surface  on  such  occasions,  and  the  nightly  con- 
vivialities of  the  party  would  surpass  the  wildest  conceptions  of  this  sedate  and 
long-faced  generation. 

In  those  days,  going  to  mill  was  one  of  the  dreaded  burdens  of  our  people. 
With  the  exception  of  a  small  horse-power  corn-cracker,  owned  by  Alexander 
Meadows,  at  Sugar  Grove,  there  was  no  mill  nearer  than  the  Mackinaw,  jn 
Tazewell  County,  about  twenty  miles  distant,  and  its  regularity  being  dependent 
upon  the  stage  of  water,  and  its  capacity  deficient,  a  trip  to  mill  meant  any 
space  of  time  from  two  days  to  a  week.  The  people  would  borrow  breadstuff  of 
each  other  until  the  whole  neighborhood  was  exhausted  of  the  supply,  and  then 
they  would  each  put  in  a  "grist,"  and  two  or  three  teams  would  go  together  to 
mill,  taking  turns. 

The  administration  of  justice  and  execution  of  the  laws  in  those  days 
were  done  with  the  best  intentions,  but  in  a  way  that  would  be  regarded  very 


HISTORY   OF   MASON  COUNTY.  543 

*'  irregular  "  nowadays.  The  Squire  usually  made  up  his  decisions  from  his 
ideas  of  equity,  and  did  not  cumber  his  mind  much  with  the  statute  law.  Robert 
.Melton's  court  was  the  scene  of  many  amusing  legal  contests,  and  during  the 
residence  of  Dr.  J.  G.  H.  Smith  at  Swing's  Grove,  from  1848  to  1850,  who  was 
notorious  for  litigation,  this  court  was  kept  in  almost  constant  session.  One 
ludicrous  incident  is  thus  related :  The  prominent  Constable  in  this  section  at 
that  time  was  William  Taylor,  "  Crooked-Necked  Bill  Taylor,"  as  he  was  famil- 
iarly known.  One  day,  while  he  and  Dr.  Smith  were  riding  across  the  prairie 
together,  the  Doctor  proposed  to  straighten  Taylor's  neck,  and  without  the  use 
of  knife  or  any  operation  that  would  cause  him  pain.  Taylor  told  him  if  he 
would  do  so,  he  would  give  him  the  pony  he  was  riding,  which  offer  was  accepted 
by  the  Doctor,  and  the  pony  delivered  into  his  possession  that  evening,  and  the 
time,  a  few  days  on,  was  fixed  for  the  operation.  When  Taylor  presented  him- 
self at  the  appointed  time,  the  Doctor  took  out  his  knife  and  was  preparing  to 
restore  the  perpendicularity  of  his  patient's  head,  by  cutting  into  the  contracted 
side  of  his  neck.  This  Taylor  objected  to,  and  a  wordy  and  stormy  conflict 
between  physiological  and  anatomical  science  and  the  legal  points  of  a  contract 
ensued.  Taylor  preferred  a  crooked  neck  to  one  half  cut  -off,  and  demanded  his 
pony.  This  demand  was  peremptorily  refused,  and  Taylor  went  to  Squire 
Melton's  and  commenced  a  replevin  suit  against  the  Doctor  to  recover  his  pony. 
On  the  day  set  for  the  trial,  the  whole  neighborhood  turned  out  to  hear  the  case, 
for  they  knew  there  was  "music  in  the  air,"  from  the  known  character  of  the 
contestants.  Preliminary  to  going  into  trial,  the  parties  went  out  and  engaged 
in  a  pitched  battle  with  such  knives  and  clubs  as  were  conveniently  at  hand, 
after  which  they  compromised  the  matter. 

However  wild  the  country  and  those  pioneers,  those  people,  with  but  few 
exceptions,  were  actuated  by  a  spirit  of  justice  and  right  as  between  man  and 
man,  and  with  these  few  exceptions,  appeals  to  the  law  were  unknown  in  their 
business  transactions  and  settlements.  Sometimes,  unavoidable  and  honest  dif- 
ferences arose  with  reference  to  the  ownership  of  cattle,  but  these  were  usually 
amicably  and  satisfactorily  settled  without  the  intervention  of  courts.  '  These 
disputes  were  unavoidable  from  the  fact  that  when  grass  came  on  in  the  spring, 
everybody  would  turn  his  cattle  out  to  roam  and  grow,  and,  as  was  often  the 
case,  the  owner  would  not  see  them  again  until  feeding  time  in  the  fall.  In  this 
interval,  young  cattle  would  grow  and  change  color  almost  beyond  recognition. 

In  those  days,  and  even  down  to  the  first  half  of  the  decade  from  1850  to 
1860,  wild  game  was  plentiful.  Deer  and  turkeys  were  here  in  large  numbers, 
and  wild  geese  and  sand-hill  cranes  abounded  in  immense  numbers,  and  were  a 
devouring  pest  to  the  farmers,  whose  crops,  the  young  wheat  and  ripening  corn, 
in  the  fall,  afforded  food  for  countless  thousands  of  these  feathered  foragers. 
They  would  retire  to  the  ponds  and  creeks  at<  night,  and  in  their  flight  to  the 
fields  in  the  morning,  and  return  to  the  "  watering  places  "  in  the  evening, 
the  very  heavens  would  seem  to  lower  with  a  massive  feathery  cloud,  and  the 


544  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

quawking  and  screeching  made  a  discord  that  could  not  be  surpassed  by  a 
united  convention  of  all  the  bedlam  inmates  on  the  continent. 

RELIGIOUS    HISTORY. 

The  professed  religious  devotees  were  in  a  decided  minority  in  those  days, 
but  there  were  enough  to  establish  the  foundation  of  the  numerous  religious 
societies  which  distinguish  us  as  a  moral  people  to-day.  Private  houses  were 
used  for  religioua  services  until  sciioolhouses  afforded  the  accommodations. 
While  these  religious  services  were  not  conducted  with  the  clock-work  precision 
and  machine  worship  of  our  later  and  more  systematically  refined  worship,  they 
had  the  merit  of  heart  and  soul  devotion,  which  defied  the  adverse  criticism  of 
the  world.  The  preachers  were  not  college  graduates,  nor  theological  prodigies, 
but  what  they  lacked  in  mental  force  they  made  up  in  physical  power,  and  they 
could  be  heard  a  mile  away  in  favorable  conditions  of  the  atmosphere.  Peter  Cart- 
wright,  whose  eccentric  and  "  bull-dozing  '•'*  propensities  gave  him  a  continental 
reputation  and  notoriety,  dispensed  the  Gospel  to  our  pioneers  frequently,  and 
some  of  the  incidents  and  anecdotes  related  by  him  in  his  autobiography  find  a 
location  in  this  vicinity.  Cotemporaneous  with  him  was  Peter  Akers,  now 
superannuated  and  retired,  at  Jacksonville,  who  was  the  very  antipode  of  Cart- 
wright  in  mental  characteristics.  He  was  a  man  of  great  ability,  learned  in 
theology,  science  and  literature,  and  a  master  of  elocution  and  oratory.  Thirty- 
minute  sermons  were  not  fashionable  in  those  days,  and  often  this  eminent  divine 
would  storm  the  citadel  of  Satan,  and  expatiate  upon  the  beatitudes  of  heaven  for 
four  hours  at  a  time.  So  matchless  was  his  eloquence,  and  invincible  his  logic, 
that  his  audience  never  tired  or  manifested  restlessness  during  his  discourses. 
To  make  it  known  that  "  Old  Pete  Akers  "  (for  he  was  even  then  considered  old) 
would  preach  at  a  given  place  on  such  a  day,  was  to  guarantee  nearly  the  whole 
county  as  an  audience,  if  the  weather  proved  favorable.  A  little  later,  John  L. 
Turner,  a  Baptist  minister,  settled  west  of  Crane  Creek.  He  was  a  man  of  good 
abilities,  and  held  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  here  that  has  never  been  sup- 
plied by  any  other  minister.  When  the  angel  of  death  visited  a  household,  John 
L.  Turner  was  called  upon  to  preach  at  the  funeral,  and,  although  a  man  of  rather 
frail'  frame,  he  exposed  himself  to^  inclement  weather,  and  faced  storms  of  rain 
and  sleet  and  snow  in  answer  to  the  call  of  distress  by  his  stricken  fellow-pioneers. 
Of  him  it  may  may  be  truly  said,  "  He  went  about  doing  good."  Levi  Engle, 
of  the  Christian  (Campbellite)  faith,  occasionally  preached  at  Swing's  Grove,  at 
some  private  house.  These  irregular  services  were  held  at  such  time  and  places 
as  the  combination  of  circumstances  would  permit,  until  about  1850,  when  the 
settlement  had  become  numerous  enough  to  organize  church  societies,  which  will 
be  more  definitely  and  systematically  arranged  under  that  special  department  of 
this  historical  sketch  of  the  township. 

*  Bull-doziug.  as  a  common  term,  was  not  invented  then,  but  it  is  applicable  to  the  old  pioneer  preacher  all  the 
same'. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  545 

The  population  increased  steadily,  but  not  very  rapidly,  until  1856,  when  the 
project  of  the  Tonica,  Petersburg  &  Jacksonville  Railroad  assumed  an  earnest 
aspect  by  the  survey  of  a  random  line  during  the  month  of  July.  This  line 
barely  touched  the  northwest  corner  of  this  township.  The  same  year,  in  the 
fall,  another  line  was  surveyed,  running  almost  parallel  with,  and  less  than  a 
mile  east,  of  the  first.  People  were  led  to  believe  that  this  second  line  would  be 
the  permanent  and  fixed  one  for  the  railroad,  and  subscriptions  were  lavishly 
given,  and  bartering  of  lands  among  individuals  was  the  order  of  the  day. 
Imaginary  towns  dotted  the  line  on  almost  every  section,  and  the  owners  of  the 
sites  reveled  in  their  sudden  transition  from  poverty  to  affluence.  But  these 
fickle  dreams  of  fortune  were  dispelled  a  few  months  later,  when  the  third  line 
was  run,  and  the  road  located  thereon — where  it  now  is,  and  is  an  important 
branch  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railway.  This  line  was,  at  this  point,  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  east  of  the  second  line  surveyed.  Grading  was  commenced  the 
summer  of  1857,  a  number  of  farmers  working  out  their  subscription  of  stock 
in  that  way.  The  work  progressed  as  well  as  the  limited  means  and  many 
unfavorable  circumstances  would  admit,  until  the  financial  crash  of  1859,  when 
the  work  was  suspended,  except  the  completion  and  putting  in  operation  that 
part  of  the  road  between  Petersburg  and  Jacksonville,  and  was  not  resumed 
again  until  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  But  the  certainty  of  its 
ultimate  completion  gave  an  impetus  to  immigration,  that  neither  the  financial 
crash  nor  the  paralyzing  influence  of  the  war  could  very  materially  check.  The 
heretofore  vast  expanse  of  unoccupied  prairie  was  rapidly  converted  into  corn- 
producing  farms,  and  became  one  of  the  most  prolific  townships  in  the  county 
for  that  king  staple  product  of  the  west. 

THE    CITY    OF    MASON    CITY. 

The  land  upon  which  Mason  City  now  stands  was  entered  at  the  United 
States  Land  Office  in  Springfield,  the  year  1849,  by  an  Irishman  named  William 
Maloney,  who  improved  and  settled  on  a  forty-acre  tract  of  his  purchase  adjoin- 
ing the  present  corporation  line  on  the  northwest.  He  built  a  log  cabin  thereon, 
the  dilapidated  remains  of  which  are  still  standing,  surrounded  by  a  cluster  of  for- 
est trees.  To  protect  his  crop  from  stock  running  at  large,  he  surrounded  his 
forty-acre  field  with  a  sod  fence,  having  no  fencing  material  within  his  reach. 
Those  sod  fences,  which  were  very  common  in  the  first  prairie  settlements,  were 
made  by  digging  a  trench  about  two  feet  wide  and  two  feet  deep,  throwing  the 
dirt  into  a  narrow  and  high  ridge  close  on  the  inside,  and  then  placing  the  sod 
removed  in  opening  the  trench  carefully  on  top  of  the  ridge,  so  that  the  grass 
would  grow,  and  soon  make  a  sod  over  the  whole  of  it,  thereby  preventing  its 
being  beaten  down  by  the  rains.  Before  the  railroad  was  located,  how- 
ever, George  Straut,  a  man  of  wealth,  an  influential  member  of  the  Board  of 
Directors,  and  with  an  eye  to  business,  bought  out  Mr.  Maloney's  land  posses- 
sions, and  laid  out  this  town,  embracing  within  the  original  plat  240  acres,  in 


546  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

an  oblong  square  of  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  length,  from  north  to  south,  and 
one-half  mile  in  width,  from  east  to  west.  The  survey  was  made  in  September, 
1857,  by  E.  Z.  Hunt,  assisted  by  John  M.  Sweeney,  the  plat  of  which  was  filed 
of  record  in  the  Circuit  Clerk's  office  the  29th  of  that  month.  There  are  thir- 
ty-seven full,  and  twenty-two  fractional  blocks  in  the  original  town.  The  blocks 
are  320  feet  square,  and  divided  into  fourteen  lots  each,  twelve  of  which  are  50 
x!50  feet,  and  two  are  20x150,  in  the  center  of  each  block  and  extending  east 
and  west,  to  correspond  with  the  twenty-foot  alley  extending  through  each  block 
north  and  south.  The  streets  are  eighty  feet  in  width.  The  alley  running 
through  the  blocks  between  Tonica  and  Main  streets,  and  extending  from  Court 
to  Pine  streets,  however,  is  an  exception  to  the  rule  in  that  it  is  forty  feet  wide, 
the  additional  twenty  feet  of  width  being  taken  from  the  east  half  of  those  blocks, 
which  leaves  the  lots  on  that  side  130  instead  of  150  feet  in  length.  This  wide 
alley  serves  as  a  very  convenient  thoroughfare  and  by-way  when  the  streets  are 
crowded.  The  lots  are  numbered  from  north  to  south  in  each  block,  commenc- 
ing at  the  northwest  corner,  which  brings  Lot  7  in  the  southwest  corner, 
Lot  8  in  the  northeast,  and  Lot  14  in  the  in  the  southeast  corner.  An  exception 
to  this  rule  of  numbering  are  the  lots  fronting  Tonica  street,  on  either  side, 
between  Court  and  Pine.  The  half  blocks  fronting  this  street,  in  the  limit  just 
described,  are  divided  into  lots  as  follows :  The  east  half  of  Blocks  13  and  16 
divided  into  twenty  lots  each ;  the  east  half  of  fractional  Block  13  is  divided  into 
thirteen  full,  and  four  fractional  lots;  the  west  half  of  fractional  Block  15  is 
divided  in  to  six  fractional  and  two  full  lots;  fractional  Blocks  8  and  12,  and  the 
east  half  of  fractional  Block  14,  divided  into  ten  lots  each.  These  lots  and 
blocks  are  made  fractional,  because  of  the  grounds  reserved  to  the  railroad  com- 
pany, upon  which  the  depot  and  grain  elevators  are  located.  Block  No.  30  was 
dedicated  to  the  public  by  Mr.  Straut,  as  a  public  square,  and  Block  No.  36  as 
a  park.  The  east  and  south  sides  of  Block  13,  east,  north  and  west  sides  of 
Block  16,  aud  the  east  side  of  Block  17,  contains  all  the  mercantile  business 
houses  in  the  city  now.  Strawn's  addition  was  surveyed  by  J.  C.  Warnock  and 
plat  filed  of  record  August  8,  1866,  Henry  T.  Strawn,  proprietor.  This  addi- 
tion consisted  of  six  blocks,  laid  off  in  conformity  to  the  plan  of  the  original 
plat.  It  is  three  blocks  in  length  from  west  to  east,  and  two  blocks  in  width, 
from  north  to  south,  and  lies  on  the  north  side  of  the  original  town,  com- 
mencing at  the  northwest  corner-.  Work  having  been  resumed  on  the 
'  railroad,  called  forth  this  addition.  Elliott's  Addition  was  also  surveyed 
by  J.  C.  Warnock,  the  same  year,  and  the  plat  filed  of  record  September 
25,  1866,  Collin  J.  Elliott,  proprietor.  This  addition  consisted  of  three 
full  and  two  half  blocks,  extending  three  and  a  half  blocks  in  length  from 
east  to  west,  and  two  blocks  in  width  from  north  to  south.  The  streets 
and  alleys  correspond  with  those  of  the  original  plat,  but  the  blocks  are 
divided  into  four  lots  each,  especially  designed  for  residences,  with  which 
it  is  most  all  now  occupied.  It  lies  on  the  north  side  of  the  original  town, 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  549 

extending  in  length  from  Strawn's  Addition  east  to  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
original  town. 

Rosebrough's  Addition  was  surveyed  by  Bentley  Buxton  and  plat  filed  of 
record  October  18,  1867,  Benajah  A.  Rosebrough,  proprietor.  This  addition 
consisted  of  two  full,  two  half  and  one  small  fractional  blocks,  laid  out  on  the 
plan  of  Elliott's  Addition,  and  is  situated  on  the  south  side  of  the  original  town, 
bounded  on  the  east  by  the  C.  &  A.  Railroad. 

Northeast  Addition  was  surveyed  by  Bentley  Buxton  in  the  autumn  of 
1867,  and  the  plat  was  filed  of  record  February  29,  1868,  William  G.  Greene, 
of  Menard  County,  Gov.  Richard  Yates  and  John  Mathers,  of  Morgan  County, 
proprietors.  This  addition  contains  an  area  of  eighty  acres,  and  is  divided  into 
twenty  full,  four  half  and  one  fractional  blocks.  Its  streets  running  east  and 
west  correspond  with  and  are  a  continuation  of  those  of  the  original  town ;  but 
its  streets  running  north  and  south  are  only  fifty  feet  wide.  The  alleys  run 
east  and  west  through  the  blocks.  The  blocks  are  divided  into  twelve  equal 
lots  each.  The  lots  are  numbered  from  east  to  west  on  the  north  side  of  the ' 
blocks,  and  from  west  to  east  on  the  south  side,  which  brings  No.  1  in  the  north- 
east corner,  No.  6  in  the  northwest  corner,  No.  7  in  the  southwest  corner  and 
No.  12  in  the  southeast  corner.  This  part  of  town  is  wholly  occupied,  so  far 
as  improved,  by  residences,  except  Block  11,  upon  which  the  beautiful  new 
brick  schoolhouse  is  located.  This  addition  extends  from  the  section  line  on 
north  side  of  Elliott  and  Strawn's  Additions  south,  along  east  end  of  Elliott's 
Addition  and  east  side  of  original  town,  to  the  quarter-section  line  midway 
between  Elm  and  Arch  streets. 

West  Addition  was  surveyed  by  John  R.  Faulkner,  and  the  plat  filed  of 
record  September  29,  1868,  George  Straut,  proprietor.  This  is  laid  out  on  the 
same  plan  as  the  Northeast  Addition,  except  that  the  blocks  are  divided  into 
fourteen  lots,  which  are  numbered  as  those  of  the  Northeast  Addition.  The 
east  half  of  Block  No.  7  was  given  by  Mr.  Straut  for  a  schoolhouse  site,  and 
upon  it  stands  a  large  three-story  brick  schoolhouse.  The  west  half  of  the 
block  has  since  been  purchased  by  the  School  Board,  and  the  entire  block  is 
now  used  for  that  purpose.  This  addition  lies  on  the  west  side  of  the  original 
town,  commencing  at  the  northwest  corner,  extending  west  three  blocks,  and 
south  along  west  boundary  of  original  town  five  blocks,  containing  fifteen  full 
blocks. 

Mason  City  now  embraces  about  three-fourths  of  a  section,  laid  out  in  lots, 
and  is  divided  near  the  center  by  the  section-line  running  north  and  south, 
between  Sections  7  and  8. 

We  will  now  return  to  the  early  settlement  of  Mason  City,  and  its  subse- 
quent growth  and  prosperity.  The  inaugural  steps  to  found  a  town,  after  lay- 
ing it  off  in  lots,  was  the  sale  of  the  lots.  A  public  sale  of  lots  was  advertised  to 
commence  September  27, 1857,  which  was  continued  for  two  days,  and  which  sale 
was  attended  by  a  large  number  of  buyers  and  curious  spectators,  aggregating 


550  HISTORY   OF   MASON    COUNTY. 

in  number  over  a  thousand.  The  whole  county  was  agog  with  excitement 
over  the  novelty  of  a  town  "  so  far  from  no  place,"  as  they  expressed  it.  Not- 
withstanding the  uninviting,  wild  location,  lots  sold  at  from  the  high  figure  of  $75 
up  to  the  extravagant  price  of  $300 — the  latter  price  for  choice  lots  in  the  sup- 
posed-to-be future  business  center  of  the  town.  Soon  after  the  sale,  David 
Dare  put  up  the  first  building  in  the  new  town — a  blacksmith-shop — in  the  east 
part  of  the  laid-out  town,  on  Lot  14,  Block  14,  now  owned  by  David  Powell, 
on  which  is  a  neat  dwelling,  occupied  by  E.  J.  Eggleston.  The  next  was  a 
frame  building  for  mercantile  business,  erected  by  Henry  Keefer  (who  is  now 
an  agricultural  implement  dealer  in  Lincoln,  Neb.),  the  same  fall,  near  the 
laid-out  line  of  the  railroad,  in  Fractional  Block  13,  which,  as  soon  as  com- 
pleted, was  occupied  by  A.  A.  Cargill  (now  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Car- 
gill  &  Swing)  and  W.  L.  Woodward,  who  opened  and  operated  the  first  store  in 
town.  After  some  years  and  several  changes  in  the  business  firms  occupying 
it,  this  house  was  wholly  abandoned  as  a  mercantile  establishment.  But  this 
building  is  of  historic  interest  in  numerous  other  ways.  Here  was  centered  the 
first  recognition  of  our  town  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  by 
establishing  in  it  a  post  office ;  and  President  Buchanan  conferred  upon  A.  A. 
Cargill  the  distinguished  honor  of  the  appointment  as  its  Postmaster — the 
first  Postmaster  of  the  town.  Another  is  that  the  upper  story  was  used  as  the 
initiatory  step  and  nucleus  of  the  crowning  glory  and  pride  of  our  town  to-day 
— our  public  schools ;  and  Miss  Rhoda  Allen  (now  Mrs.  J.  L.  Hastings)  was 
the  teacher  who  taught  the  first  school.  Here,  Mason  City  Lodge,  No.  403, 
A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  organized  under  dispensation,  early  in  the  year  1864. 
Here,  also,  in  the  spring  of  1866,  the  nucleus  of  the  first  newspaper  in  the  town 
was  founded,  in  a  small  job  office,  by  Elder  J.  M.  Haughey  and  Sheridan 
Eulass,  who,  at  the  time,  were  engaged  in  the  picture  business  at  that  place. 
Here,  also,  the  first  religious  services  were  held,  Rev.  Mr.  Holtsclaw,  a  Baptist 
minister  of  Crane  Creek,  officiating. 

The  .second  store  was  that  of  C.  Hume,  on  the  corner  of  Tonica  and  Chest- 
nut streets,  but  this  building  was  removed  some  years  ago,  and  its  site  occupied 
by  the  handsome  brick  buildings  known  as  La  Forge  Block.  The  old  frame 
building  was  erected  by  Joseph  Elliott  late  in  the  fall  of  1858,  and,  in  the  upper 
story  of  which  was  organized  early  the  following  spring  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  this  city,  with  Rev.  John  Andrews  as  Pastor. 

The  third  store  was  that  of  Abraham  and  S.  D.  Swing,  the  building  which 
now  stands  a  short  distance  northeast  of  the  La  Forge  elevator. 

The  first  hotel  was  a  small  frame,  erected  by  William  Hibberd,  which  still 
stands  on  the  north  side  of  the  Sherman  House.  This  house  was  built  late  in 
the  fall  of  1857,  on  a  lot  donated  by  Mr.  Straut  for  that  purpose,  and  was  ded- 
icated on  Christmas  night  by  a  dance,  which  was  attended,  for  the  novelty  of  the 
thing,  by  parties  from  all  the  surrounding  towns.  The  summer  of  1858,  Henry 
Keefer  erected  the  building  which  is  now  the  wooden  part  of  the  St.  Nicholas 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  551 

Hotel,  which,  as  soon  as  completed,  commenced  business  with  Jeremiah  Deitrich 
as  proprietor.  The  same  year,  John  Sutley  built  the  house  which  now  stands 
on  the  northeast  corner  of  Tonica  and  Chestnut  streets,  and  commenced  hotel 
business  in  the  name  of  the  Sutley  House,  but  which  was  given  the  name  of  Lion 
House  by  the  town  wags  because  the  sign  bore  the  figures  of  two  lions.  In 
those  days,  and  up  to  1867,  all  building  material,  merchandise  and  every  other 
imported  commodity  had  to  be  hauled  with  teams  from  Pekin,  Lincoln  and 
Havana,  and  that  was  a  very  profitable  though  laborious  business,  and  neces- 
itated  exposure  to  all  kinds  of  weather.  The  first  and  still  the  largest  steam 
grain-elevator  was  erected  in  1868,  by  Jefferson  Brown  and  Nicholas  Travis,  and 
is  now  know  as  the  La  Forge  elevator. 

The  first  wedding  of  resident  parties  in  town,  was  that  of  Sheridan  Eulass 
and  Miss  Emma  Hibberd,  daughter  of  Squire  Hibberd,  October  12,  1859,  the 
ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev.  S.  Wheadon,  of  Havana. 

The  first  child  born  in  town  was  Charles  M.  Keefer,  son  of  Henry  Keefer, 
in  December,  1857. 

Although,  in  1858,  our  people  were  few  in  number,  the  "  fire  of  '76  "  burned 
deeply  and  fervently  in  their  patriotic  hearts,  and  they  decided  to  have  a  regular 
old-fashioned  Fourth  of  July  celebration  and  public  dinner,  which  they  did  in 
no  half-way  manner.  Every  man,  woman  and  child  in  the  town  staked  their 
reputations  and  fortunes  upon  the  success  of  the  enterprise,  and  with  one  accord 
expunged  the  word  failure  from  their  vocabulary.  With  these  fundamentals  to 
commence  with,  it  is  almost  superfluous  to  say  the  celebration  and  all  of  its  con- 
comitants were  an  immense  success.  That  was  a  year  in  which  this  section  was 
visited  by  frost  every  month  of  the  year,  and  the  July  frost  came  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  4th.  At  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  long  processions  of  teams  came 
in  from  all  directions,  and  by  10  o'clock  an  immense  crowd,  for  this  sparsely 
settled  country,  had  gathered  in.  A  platform  had  been  erected,  and  seats,  tem- 
porarily constructed  of  such  building  material  as  could  be  found  loose,  were  pro- 
vided. R.  A.  Hurt,  one  of  the  early  merchants  and  the  village  lawyer,  read  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  Hon.  William  Walker,  a  prominent  lawyer  of 
Havana,  delivered  the  oration,  after  which  the  hosts  were  martialed  and  con- 
ducted in  good  order  to  the  extensive  and  burdened  tables,  where  all  were  sumpt- 
uously fed  from  the  lavish  contributions  of  the  people. 

The  4th  of  July,  1867,  witnessed  the  advent  of  the  first  locomotive  engine 
in  Mason  City,  and  was  hailed  with  great  demonstrations  of  delight  by  the  peo- 
ple, which  wound  up  with  a  free  fight  between  the  railroad  construction  hands 
and  our  town  bloods.  The  completion  of  the  road  to  Bloomington  that  same 
fall  opened  a  new  era  in  our  commerce,  both  in  produce  and  merchandise.  Chi- 
cago, which  had  before  been  looked  upon  as  a  far-away  and  almost  inaccessible 
metropolis,  suddenly  was  brought  near,  and  a  very  small  amount  of  business  was 
a  sufficient  inducement  to  make  a  visit  there.  Business  enterprise  of  all  kinds  ran 


552  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

wild  with  excitement,  and  all  the  mechanical  labor  within  reach  was  brought 
into  requisition  to  supply  the  demand  in  the  construction  of  new  buildings,  both 
of  mercantile  houses  and  dwellings.  Improved  and  unimproved  lots  commanded 
almost  fabulous  prices,  and  the  demand  for  residence  locations  induced  the  lay- 
ing-out of  the  Northeast  and  West  Additions,  the  former  of  which  was  soon 
dotted  with  handsome  dwellings.  For  a  few  years,  the  prosperity  and  growth 
of  the  town  was  the  wonder  and  the  admiration  or  envy,  as  interests  might 
inspire,  of  all  the  country  and  adjoining  towns. 

Our  own  people  were  not  indifferent  to  their  growing  importance  as  a  town, 
and  the  village  government  under  which  their  public  affairs  were  administered 
began  to  look  too  small  in  name  to  some  of  our  more  pretentious  citizens ;  so, 
late  in  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  the  winter  of  1868—69,  a  few  of  these 
high-toned  gentry  of  city  ambition  went  down  to  Springfield  and  procured  the 
passage  of  a  special  charter  act,  incorporating  our  village  as  a  city.  A  large 
majority  of  our  citizens  were  thunder-struck  with  surprise  when  they  learned 
the  fact,  and  denounced  it  as  an  imposition  and  a  fraud ;  but  the  edict  had  gone 
forth,  and  there  was  no  alternative  but  to  submit  to  the  new  order  of  things, 
under  protest.  The  parties  who  procured  this  charter  have  never  been  certainly 
known  to  the  public  up  to  this  day,  and  probably  never  will  be  until  some  one 
of  them  discloses  it  in  a  dying  confession.  By  this  charter,  the  city  was 
divided  into  four  wards,  and  the  first  election  was  held  in  April,  1869,  the 
result  of  which  will  appear  in  its  proper  order. 

Mason  City  was  organized  as  a  village  by  an  ordinance  approved  April  7, 
1866,  signed  by  J.  P.  Walker,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  attested 
by  J.  A.  Walker,  Clerk  of  the  Board,  including  in  the  corporate  limits  the 
original  plat.  This  form  of  government  continued  until  the  spring  of  1869, 
when  the  first  election  under  the  new  charter  took  place,  as  above  stated.  At 
the  city  election,  the  following  officers  were  elected:  T.  J.  Watkins,  Mayor; 
Thomas  Lamoreux,  City  Judge ;  S.  N.  Hornbuckle,  City  Marshal ;  William 
Warnock,  Jr.,  City  Collector ;  Dr.  I.  N.  Ellsberry,  Alderman,  First  Ward ;  J. 
C.  Montgomery,  Alderman,  Second  Ward;  S.  D.  Swing,  Alderman,  Third 
Ward;  Dr.  J.  A.  W.  Davis,  Alderman,  Fourth  Ward.  Officers  appointed  by 
the  new  Council :  Dr.  J.  A.  Walker,  Treasurer ;  S.  N.  Hornbuckle,  Assessor ; 
G.  W.  Ellsberry,  Clerk. 

City  ehction  April  4,  1870 :  H.  T.  Strawn,  Mayor ;  Well.  Housworth, 
City  Marshal ;  D.  M.  Childs,  City  Collector ;  D.  E.  Le  Sourd,  Alderman,  First 
Ward;  J.  A.  Phelps,  Alderman,  Second  Ward;  John  Pritchett,  Alderman, 
Third  Ward;  George  Young,  Alderman,  Fourth  Ward;  R.  C.  Dement 
(appointed),  City  Clerk.  Judge  Lamoreux  and  Marshal  Housworth  having 
resigned,  a  special  election  was  held  December,  1870,  to  fill  the  vacancies, 
which  resulted  in  the  election  of  J.  S.  Shuck,  City  Judge,  and  George  Tippey, 
Marshal. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  553 

City  election  April  5,  1871  :  Luther  Naylor,  Mayor ;  M.  C.  Vanloon,  City 
Marshal ;  F.  N.  Smith,  City  Collector  ;  H.  M.  Anderson,  Alderman,  First 
Ward ;  George  A.  Withers,  Alderman,  Second  Ward ;  N.  Travis,  Alderman, 
Third  Ward  ;  J.  S.  Gates,  Alderman,  Fourth  Ward.  Officers  appointed  by  the 
Council :  J.  F.  Gulp,  City  Clerk  ;  John  Lazell,  Treasurer.  F.  N.  Smith , 
having  failed  to  qualify  as  Collector,  and  Judge  Shuck  having  resigned,  a 
special  election  to  fill  the  vacancies  was  held  August  1,  1871,  at  which 
J.  H.  Wandle  was  elected  City  Judge,  and  Jeremiah  Riggins  was  elected 
Collector. 

City  election,  April  1,  1872  :  Luther  Naylor,  Mayor;  Joseph  Statler,  City 
Judge ;  A.  S.  Jackson,  City  Marshal ;  Rev.  S.  S.  Martin,  City  Collector. 
Aldermen — H.  M.  Anderson,  First  Ward ;  Andrew  McElhany,  Second  Ward  ; 
N.  Travis,  Third  Ward  ;  J.  S.  Gates,  Fourth  Ward. 

J.  F.  Gulp  was  re-appointed  City  Clerk,  and  John  Lazell,  Treasurer. 

A  petition,  as  provided  by  law,  having  been  presented  to  the  City  Council, 
an  election  was  ordered  to  take  place  August  5,  1872,  to  vote  upon  the  question 
of  organizing  under  the  general  incorporation  act,  which  was  carried  by  a  large 
majority  of  the  voters,  who  were  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  "  set  down  on  "  the 
old  "  Tweed  charter,"  as  they  contemptuously  called  the  one  which  they  were 
then  under.  This  required  a  change  in  the  boundaries  of  the  wards,  as  it  was 
found,  by  a  census,  that  we  were  entitled  to  but  three  wards  and  two  Aldermen 
from  each  ward.  The  Clerk  and  Treasurer  now  became  elective  officers,  and  a 
City  Attorney  was  added  to  the  list.  The  city  government  went  into  operation 
under,  the  general  incorporation  act  at  the  beginning  of  the  next  fiscal  year. 

City  election,  April  15,  1873:  T.  J.  Watkins,  Mayor;  J.  C.  Warnock, 
City  Clerk  ;  John  Lazell,  City  Treasurer ;  W.  P.  Freeman,  City  Attorney ; 
Jacob  Benscoter,  Police  Magistrate ;  Dennis  Pride  (appointed),  City  Marshal. 
Aldermen— A.  A.  Cargill,  J.  S.  Gates,  First  Ward ;  W.  I.  Kincaid,  J.  C.  Ells- 
berry,  Second  Ward ;  W.  S.  Chenoweth,  L.  D.  Case,  Third  Ward. 

City  election,  April  21,  1874:  Aldermen — Dr.  J.  A.  Walker,  First  Ward; 
W.  I.  Kincaid,  Second  Ward ;  M.  C.  Vanloon  (to  fill  vacancy),  Second  Ward ; 
S.  D.  Swing,  Third  Ward.  John  Lazell,  City  Treasurer ;  J.  C.  Warnock,  City 
Clerk ;  G.  W.  Ellsberry,  City  Attorney  ;  John  B.  Wilson  (appointed),  City 
Marshal. 

City  election,  April  20,  1875  :  T.  J.  Watkins,  Mayor  ;  J.  C.  Warnock, 
City  Clerk :  John  Lazell,  City  Treasurer ;  I.  R.  Brown,  City  Attorney.  Ald- 
ermen—J.  S.  Gates,  First  Ward;  M.  C.  Vanloon,  Second  Ward;  W.  S.  Che- 
noweth, Third  Ward.  John  B.  Wilson  (appointed),  City  Marshal. 

City  election,  April  18,1876:  J.  C.  Warnock,  City  Clerk;  John  Lazell, 
City  Treasurer;  I.  R.  Brown,  City  Attorney.  Aldermen — Augustus  Green, 
First  Ward ;  John  Dietrich,  Second  Ward  ;  S.  D.  Swing,  Third  Ward.  D.  E. 
Lessourd  (appointed),  City  Marshal. 


554  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

City  election,  April  17,1877:  T.  J.  Watkins,  Mayor;  J.  C.  Warnock, 
City  Clerk  ;  John  Lazell,  City  Treasurer  ;  W.  A.  Bartholomew,  City  Attorney; 
D.  E.  Lessourd  (appointed),  City  Marshal.  Aldermen — J.  S.  Gates,  First 
Ward ;  F.  N.  Smith,  Second  Ward;  Luther  Nay  lor,  Third  Ward. 
•  J.  C.  Warnock  having  resigned  the  office  of  City  Clerk,  an  election  was 
ordered  by  the  Council  to  take  place  October  16,  1877,  to  fill  the  vacancy. 
The  election  was  held,  but  was  decided  to  be  unwarranted  by  the  charter, 
consequently  null  and  void,  and  the  vote  was  not  canvassed.  At  the  meet- 
ing of  October  27,  1877,  the  Mayor  appointed  W.  H.  Weaver  to  fill  the 
vacancy. 

City  election,  April  16,  1878 :  J.  C.  Johnson,  Police  Magistrate.  Alder- 
men— Nelson  Warnock,  First  Ward ;  John  Dietrich,  Second  Ward ;  S.  D. 
Swing,  Third  Ward.  D.  E.  Lessourd  (appointed),  City  Marshal. 

Mayor  Watkins  having  died  soon  after  this  election,  Alderman  J.  S.  Gates 
was  unanimously  appointed  Mayor  for  the  unexpired  term,  by  his  colleagues  in 
the  Council. 

In  consequence  of  the  continued  absence  of  W.  H.  Weaver  in  business,  the 
office  of  City  Clerk  was  declared  vacant  at  the  meeting  of  April  5,  1879,  and 
Frank  M.  Conehay  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

City  election,  April  15,  1879  :  J.  C.  Warnock,  Mayor;  F.  M.  Conehay, 
City  Clerk;  J.  H.  Faith,  City  Treasurer;  I.  R.  Brown,  City  Attorney. 
Aldermen — Dr.  A.  M.  Bird,  First  Ward;  Henry  Wakeman,  Second  Ward ; 
J.  C.  Ambrose,  Third  Ward.  D.  E.  Lessourd  (appointed),  City  Marshal. 

TOWNSHIP    OFFICERS. 

In  this  connection  we  will  give  a  list  of  the  principal  township  officers 
elected  at  the  annual  town  meetings  since  the  adoption  of  township  organization. 
We  will  state,  however,  that  the  two  Justices  of  the  Peace  elected  in  this 
township  after  it  was  organized  a  voting  precinct  and  thereby  separated  from 
Salt  Creek  Township  were  William  Hibberd  and  William  Pollock  in  1857.  In 
1861,  William  Hibberd  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Israel  Hibberd,  who,  with 
the  exception  of  one  short  interval,  has  held  the  office  by  re-election  from  that 
time  until  now. 

The  first  election  under  township  organization  was  held  in  the  old  frame 
schoolhouse  (which  was  recently  removed  and  converted  into  a  machine-shop), 
April  1,  1862,  at  which  town  meeting  Rev.  John  Andrews  presided  as  Modera- 
tor, and  George  Young  acted  as  Clerk. 

The  full  list  of  officers  elected  at  that  meeting  was  as  follows  :  R.  A.  Hurt, 
Supervisor ;  John  H.  Duvall,  Town  Clerk ;  John  S.  Wilburn,  Assessor ;  Will- 
iam Warnock,  Jr.,  Collector;  C.  Hume,  Overseer  Poor;  J.  C.  Temple,  W. 
H.  Mitchell,  E.  M.  Douglas,  Commissioners  of  Highways  ;  Israel  Hibberd, 
Dr.  W.  J.  Chamblin,  Justices  of  the  Peace  ;  J.  L.  Hastings,  William  McDown, 
Constables. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


555 


Tear. 

Supervisor. 

Town  Clerk. 

Assessor. 

Collector. 

18(53 
18U4 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
187-2 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 

B.  A.  Rosebrough.... 
J   S   Wilburn 

Abram  Swing  

W.  J.   Chamblin  

William  Warnock,  Jr. 
William  Warnock,  Jr. 
William  Warnock,  Jr. 
William  Warnock,  Jr. 
J.  S.  Wilburn. 
William  Warnock,  Jr. 
William  Warnock,  Jr. 
J.  A.  Phelps. 
S.  M.  Badger. 
S.  M.  Badger. 
J.  C.  Ellsberry. 
Dr.  J.  A.  Walker. 
B.  A.  Rosebrough. 
J.  C.  Johnson. 
J.  H.  Faith. 
George  Brooker. 
W.  H.  Tooker. 

Ahrnm    Swina 

Joseph  Taylor  

J    S    Wilburn  tSarnuel  Sites  

-Tnsenh    Tavlnr  .   . 

J     L    Hastings            ...  Hr    J     A     WnlkAr    IS     n     Swintr 

Israel  Hibberd  Joseph  Taylor  

J   S   Baner  

William    Hibberd  iN^lson  Warnonk  

Edward  Copland  
D   E   LeSourd  

G.  W.  Ellsberry  

D.  W.  Wilson  

S    M.   Badger  

Joseph  Taylor  

D   E  LeSourd  

J  C   Ellsberry        

Joseph  Taylor  

W   H   Mitchell  

J  J    Strome       

Joseph  Taylor 

D   E   LeSourd  

Dr.  J.  A.  Walker  

Joseph  Taylor  

Augustus  Green  

U.  Naylor  

Joseph  Taylor  

P  Norton      

,1.  C.  Ellsberry  
J.  C.  Ellsberry  
J  C  Ellsberry 

Joseph  Taylor.....  

B.  A.  Rosebrough.... 
B.  A.  Rosebrough.... 
B.  A.  Rosebrough  — 
B.  A.  Rosebrough.... 

A.  L.  Clary  
A  .  S.  Jankson... 

J.  C.  Ellsberry  IA.  S.  Jackson  

J   C.  Ellsberry  IA.  S.  Jackson  

CITY    PUBLIC    SCHOOLS. 

While  Mason  City  has  much  to  be  proud  of  in  general  improvements,  bus- 
iness facilities  and  beauty  of  location  and  surrounding  country,  none  of  these 
transcends  in  importance  and  influence  her  public  schools,  for  here  her  children 
are  provided  a  good  and  substantial  education,  thorough  in  every  department, 
from  the  fundamentals  well  up  into  the  classics  and  the  higher  mathematics. 

In  1860,  a  frame  school  building  was  erected  in  the  east  part  of  town, 
which  served  its  purpose  well  until  the  population  rendered  a  more  commodious 
building  necessary.  After  renting  such  additional  rooms  as  could  be  obtained 
to  accommodate  the  pupils,  a  large  three-story  brick  building  on  the  west  side 
was  projected,  and,  after  considerable  contention,  it  was  decided  at  an  election 
to  build  a  $20,000  schoolhouse  on  the  half-block  donated  for  that  purpose  by 
Mr.  Straut,  in  his  West  Addition.  This  building  is  three  stories  in  height, 
•with  two  schoolrooms  on  each  floor.  It  was  built  the  year  1868,  and,  as  soon 
as  completed,  a  graded  school  was  organized,  with  Prof.  F.  C.  Grarbutt  as 
Principal. 

•  In  1877,  our  school  population  had  further  increased  until  another  school 
building  was  demanded,  and,  to  meet  that  demand,  the  beautiful  new  brick 
schoolhouse  on  the  east  side  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  about  $7,000.  This  is  a 
substantial  two-story  brick,  with  two  schoolrooms  on  each  floor. 

The  names  of  the  Principals  who  have  presided  over  our  graded  public 
schools,  since  their  organization  as  such,  are  as  follows,  in  the  order  of  their 
succession  :  F.  C.  Garbutt,  three  years ;  G.  W.  Dominique,  three  years  ;  W. 
H.  Williamson,  two  years ;  C.  L.  Raymond,  one  year ;  W.  H.  Williamson, 
one  year ;  0.  T.  Denny,  one  year.  We  give  a  list  of  teachers  employed  each 
term  since  1876,  in  the  order  of  their  respective  grades ! 

Term  commencing  September,  1876 :  Prof.  C.  L.  Raymond,  Principal ; 
Miss  L.  Effie  Peter,  Mrs.  Sara  E.  Pierce,  Miss  Hettie  I.  Hamilton,  Miss 


556  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Nellie  E.  Wickizer,  Miss  Belle  May,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Slade,  Miss  Josie  Yost,  Miss 
Lilla  Cook. 

Term  commencing  September,  1877:  Prof.  W.  H.  Williamson,  Principal; 
Mrs.  Sara  E.  Pierce,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Slade,  Miss  Nellie  E.  Wickizer,  Miss  Josie 
Yost,  Miss  Emma  Patterson,  Miss  Belle  May,  Miss  Rinta  Lamoreux,  Miss  Lilla 
Cook. 

Term  commencing  September,  1878  :  Prof.  0.  T.  Denny,  Principal  ; 
Mrs.  Sara  E.  Pierce,  Miss  Agnes  A.  Gamble,  Miss  Olive  A.  Hudson,  Miss 
Nellie  E.  Wickizer,  Miss  Belle  May,  Miss  Ida  Patten,  Miss  Rinta  Lamoreuxr 
Miss  Lilla  Cook. 

Term  commencing  September,  1879:  Prof.  0.  T.  Denny,  Principal; 
Mrs.  Sara  E.  Pierce,  Miss  Agnes  A.  Gamble,  Miss  Olive  A.  Hudson,  Miss- 
Adelia  Henry,  Miss  Belle  May,  Miss  Gertie  Chase,  Miss  Rinta  Lamoreux, 
Miss  Lilla  Cook. 

The  country  district  schools  throughout  the  township  are  all  in  good  condi- 
tion, and  each  district  is  provided  with  a  good  schoolhouse.  The  ladies  are  to 
be  especially  commended  for  the  heroism  with  which  they  have  contended 
against  and  effectually  broken  down  the  old  pioneer  prejudice  against  them  as 
school  teachers,  until  now  their  abilities  are  recognized  and  appreciated  in  this 
grand  and  noble  avocation,  and,  by  dint  of  inexorable  perseverance,  they  are 
largely  in  the'majority  as  teachers  in  this  township. 

The  names  of  the  School  Treasurers  of  the  township  from  its  organization 
down  to  the  present  time  are  as  follows,  in  the  order  of  succession;  First,. 
Michael  Swing;  second,  Rev.  L.  R.  Hastings  ;  third,  William  Warnock,  Jr.; 
fourth,  Henry  Cease  ;  fifth,  John  Lazell,  present  incumbent. 

The  report  of  the  Township  Treasurer  for  this  year  shows  the  following 
statistics  : 


Number  males  under  twenty-one  years  of  age 

Number  females  under  twenty-one  years  of  age 

Total  under  twenty-one  years  of  age 

Number  males  between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one 

Number  females  between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one 

Total  between  the  ages  of  six  and"  twenty-one 

Number  School  Districts  in  township 

Number  districts  having  school  five  months  or  more 

Whole  number  public  schools  in  township 

Whole  number  months  of  school 

Average  number  months  of  school 

Number  male  pupils  enrolled 

Number  female  pupils  enrolled 

Total  pupils  enrolled  ...............................  . 

Number  male  teachers  employed 

Number  female  teachers  employed  ........................ 

Total  teachers  employed 
Number  months  taught  by  males 
Number  months  taught  by  females 
Total  months  taught 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  551 

Grand  total  days'  attendance 63,355£ 

Number  graded  schools  in  township 1 

Number  months  taught  in  graded  school 8 

Number  public  high  schools  in  township 1 

Whole  number  schoolhouses  in  township 5 

Principal  township  fund $1  291  28 

Amount  of  township  fund  invested  or  loaned 1,291  28 

Highest  monthly  wages  paid  any  male  teacher 100  00 

Highest  monthly  wages  paid  any  female  teacher 45  00 

Lowest  monthly  wages  paid   any  male  teacher 3000 

Lowest  monthly  wages  paid  any  female  teacher 27  60 

Average  monthly  wages  paid  male  teachers 59  72 

Average  monthly  wages  paid  female  teachers 39  53 

Amount  borrowed  for  building  purposes 9,600  00 

Amount  district  tax  levy  for  school  purposes  (1878) 7,250  00 

Estimated  value  of  school  property 18,000  00 

Estimated  value  school  apparatus 100  00 

Paid  male  teachers  last  year 1,433  50 

Paid  female  teachers  last  year 2,846  82 

Paid  for  repairs  and  improvements  9  90 

Paid  for  school  furniture 6  40 

Paid  for  fuel  and  incidental  expenses 664  73 

Paid  Township  Treasurer  for  services 121  25 

Paid  interest  on  district   bonds 536  75 

Paid  on  outstanding  indebtedness 500  00 

Paid  Treasurer  Township  21,  Range  5 132  68 

Total  expenditures  during  year ,.  6,252  03 

The  County  Superintendent  of  Schools  is  a  resident  of  this  city,  and  the 
above  is  from  the  last  report  of  the  Township  Treasurer,  on  file  in  the  County 
"Superintendent's  office. 

The  first  Board  of  School  Directors  in  this  town  was  composed  of  Messrs. 
William  Hibberd,  Dr.  A.  R.  Cooper  and  L.  D.  Cox.  The  present  Board  is 
composed  of  A.  A.  Cargill,  L.  B.  Eulass  and  Mrs.  T.  C.  Chamblin.  The  latter 
is  the  first  lady  upon  whom  the  official  honor  of  an  elective  school  office  was 
ever  conferred  in  this  county. 

TRAGEDIES. 

While  this  city  has  always  maintained  a  high  moral  standard,  it  is  not 
wholly  exempt  from  those  shocking  tragedies  into  which  perverse  humanity 
often  develops.  The  first  was  in  the  fall  of  1864,  a  few  days  after  the  Presi- 
dential election,  when  political  bitterness  and  strife  had  reached  and  assumed 
its  most  desperate  depth.  Frank  M.  Jones,  who  came  into  this  vicinity  from 
Virginia  about  a  year  before  the  tragical  event  now  under  consideration,  had,, 
from  the  accident  of  his  nativity,  coupled  with  his  undisguised  and  outspoken 
sentiments  on  the  political  question  of  the  day,  incurred  the  hostility  of  several 
parties  of  the  opposite  political  belief,  which  was  fully  reciprocated  by  Jones, 
and  the  bitterness  soon  ripened  into  a  crisis.  Jones  was  teaching  school  at  the 
time,  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  town,  and,  learning  that  a  man  from  Salt 


558  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Creek  Township,  named  Moses  Thompson,  had  been  in  town  several  days 
watching  for  him,  to  "settle  a  grudge"  that  had  been  engendered  on  election- 
day,  about  a  week  before,  he  armed  himself  with  a  double-barrel  shotgun,  and, 
in  the  evening,  after  school  wns  dismissed,  proceeded  to  town.  He  saw  Thomp- 
son out  on  the  south  side  of  a  saloon  which  was  kept  in. a  building  a  short  dis- 
tance northwest  of  where  the  La  Forge  grain  elevator  now  stands,  and  heard 
Ms  threats  against  him  (Jones),  upon  which,  from  the  rear  of  A.  &  S.  D. 
Swing's  store,  through  which  he  passed,  he  fired  upon  Thompson,  mortally 
wounding  him,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died  next  day.  Jones  leisurely 
departed,  and  was  never  captured  and  brought  to  trial.  It  is  reported  that  he 
went  to  Missouri,  and,  a  few  years  after,  was  himself  shot  and  killed. 

The  next  was  the  tragical  death  of  Dr.  W.  J.  Chamblin,  in  the  spring  of 
1871,  at  the  hands  of  Zopher  Case.  This  grew  out  of  a  land  title  contest 
with  reference  to  a  beautiful  quarter-section  adjoining  town,  on  the  southeast. 
Case  moved  a  house  on  to  one  forty-acre  lot  of  the  disputed  land,  claiming  title 
from  one  Tunison,  Chamblin's  contestant.  Case  moved  his  hpuse  on  the 
premises  in  the  night,  and  moved  his  family  into  it,  which  brought  about  an 
ejectment  suit.  In  plowing,  in  the  spring  of  1871,  Dr.  Chamblin  ordered  his 
men  to  plow  across  Case's  front  yard,  in  the  forenoon  of  the  day  of  this  tragical 
event ;  but  Case  would  not  allow  them  to  do  so.  The  matter  was  reported  to 
Dr.  Chamblin  by  his  men  at  noon,  and,  when  they  went  out  to  work  in  the 
afternoon,  he  took  a  shotgun  and  bade  his  plowmen  follow  him,  which  they  did. 
He  proceeded  a  short  distance  in  advance  of  the  teams  toward  Case's  premises, 
and,  when  he  reached  the  disputed  line.  Case,  who  was  watching  him  from  his 
door,  took  up  his  shotgun  and  fired  upon  the  Doctor,  killing  him  instantly. 
<Jase  surrendered  to  the  authorities,  and,  after  a  tedious  drag  and  continuance 
from  time  to  time  of  the  case  in  the  Circuit  Court,  was  finally  acquitted,  and 
he,  too,  in  July,  1876,  met  a  violent  death  at  the  hands  of  the  night-watchman, 
John  B.  Wilson,  who  was  acquitted  by  the  grand  jury. 

In  the  spring  of  1873,  Charges  H.  Linticum,  who  was  then  a  farmer,  out 
near  the  mouth  of  Prairie  Creek,  made  a  deadly  assault  upon  Joseph  Cowper- 
thwaite,  another  farmer  of  that  neighborhood,  they  having  met  in  town.  This 
tragedy  occurred  in  what  is  now  J.  D.  Hawes  &  Co.'s  harness-shop,  on  Tonica 
street.  The  assault  was  made  with  a  revolver,  Linticum  shooting  at  Cowper- 
thwaite  some  three  times,  the  last  taking  effect  in  the  side,  glancing  off  on  a 
rib.  This  created  intense  excitement,  and,  for  the  first  time,  lynch  law  was 
freely  talked ;  but  the  injured  party  proved  to  be  not  dangerously  wounded,  and 
better  counsel  prevailed.  Linticum  was  arrested,  and  sent  for  Col.  R.  G. 
Ingersoll,  of  Peoria,  to  conduct  his  defense  in  the  preliminary  examination. 
After  dragging  along  several  terms,  the  indictment  was  quashed,  and  the  mat- 
ter dropped  out  of  court. 

The  next  was  in  the  spring  of  1874,  and  was  an  attempt  by  one  Alonzo 
Winn  to  murder  his  wife.  The  attack  was  made  about  8  o'clock  at  night, 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  559 

April  21,  at  the  residence  of  Samuel  Wilson,  on  Main  street,  with  a  pistol,  the 
shot  taking  effect  in  the  eye,  totally  destroying  it ;  but,  after  much  suffering, 
the  lady  recovered.  Winn  made  his  escape,  but  was  captured  over  near  Deca- 
tur,  and  imprisoned.  This  tragedy  created  the  most  intense  excitement,  and, 
if  Winn  had  been  brought  through  this  place  on  his  way  to  the  County  Jail  at 
Havana,  he  would  surely  have  been  hung.  A  great  crowd  gathered  at  the 
depots  at  the  arrival  of  every  train,  and  the  undercurrent  of  suppressed  feeling 
unmistakably  indicated  determined  vengeance.  He  was  tried  at  the  term  of 
court  following,  and  sentenced  to  the  Penitentiary  for  a  term  of  seven  years. 

In  1873.  early  in  the  year,  the  I.,  B.  &  W.  Extension  Railway  was  com- 
pleted through  this  city  and  county.  The  new  road  had  been  estimated  of  incal- 
culable benefit  to  our  town,  but  the  reverse  was  the  result,  for,  upon  its  line  east 
and  west,  grain  shipping  and  trading  stations  were  built,  which  materially 
diminished  the  trade  in  this  place. 

RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 

In  this  region,  perhaps,  the  Methodist  Church  canjustly  claim  priority,  for 
its  ministers  have  ever  been  in  the  vanguard  of  civilization,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  in  the  advance  "picket  line,"  yet,  in  this  vicinity,  the  Baptist  and 
Christian  (Campbellite)  sects  had  their  representatives  in  the  new  and  wild 
vineyard,  at  about  an  equally  early  day.  It  is  impossible  to  obtain  reliable 
data  of  the  first  "  class  "  organized  in  this  township,  but  it  was  far  back  in 
the  forties,  though  the  entire  county  was  included  in  one  circuit  until  1856. 
Up  to  this  date,  the  "circuit-rider"  resided  in  Havana,  and  made  his  indefinite 
rounds  on  horseback.  The  organization  from  which  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
society  in  this  town  was  formed,  was  at  the  Pollock  Schoolhouse,  about  three 
miles  east  of  Mason  City. 

This  was  made  one  of  the  "appointments"  in  the  circuit  as  early  as  1858, 
and  religious  service  was  held  at  such  places  as  could  be  obtained  until  the 
frame  schoolhouse,  east  of  the  railroad,  was  built,  after  which,  meetings  were 
held  there  until  the  erection  of  the  present  church  building  in  1863,  during  the 
pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  W.  P.  Paxton,  who  was  succeeded,  in  the  order  named, 
by  Revs.  Barthelow  and  Rutledge.  The  Church  in  town  was  constituted  a 
charge  in  1868,  and  Rev.  Simmons  appointed  Pastor,  who  was  succeeded,  in 
the  order  named,  by  Revs.  Warfield,  Parkhurst,  Carroll,  Armentrout,  Sinnock 
and  Moore,  the  latter  now  Pastor  in  charge.  The  Methodist  congregation  in 
this  city  has  a  goodly  membership,  both  in  number  and  quality,  and  sustains  a 
good  Sunday  school. 

Next,  in  order  of  age,  is  the  Baptist  society.  The  organization  in  town  had 
its  origin  in  the  Church  organized  at  the  Pollock  Schoolhou-se,  east  of  town,  in 
1856,  which  was  bodily  transferred  to  Maso"h  City,  in  November,  1859.  Elder 
L.  R.  Hastings  was  the  first  resident  Baptist  minister  of  this  township,  having 
settled  on  and  improved  a  farm  about  two  miles  east  of  town  in  1851,  and  it 


560  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

was  mainly  through  his  efforts  that  the  organization  at  the  Pollock  Schoolhouse 
was  formed  in  1856.  He  now  resides  in  town,  and  is  a  veteran,  faithful  servant  of 
the  Master,  and  is  universally  honored  and  esteemed  for  his  upright  life.  The 
meetings  of  this  Church  were  principally  held  in  the  frame  schoolhouse,  which 
was  the  "meeting-house"  of  the  day  for  all  religious  sects  and  opinions,  until 
1867,  when  the  present  Baptist  Church  was  built.  Since  its  organization,  the 
following  ministers  have  officiated  as  Pastors,  in  the  order  named  :  Elders 
Hastings,  Hartley,  Holtsclaw,  Curry,  Haughey,  Blunt,  Martin,  Scott  and  Hobbsr 
the  latter  now  in  his  tenth  year.  This  society  now  numbers  nearly  two  hun- 
dred members. 

The  Presbyterian  society  dates  its  organization  from  1857,  when  a  society 
was  organized  by  Revs.  Templeton  and  Andrews — the  latter,  Rev.  John 
Andrews,  presiding  as  Pastor  until  1867,  when  the  present  Pastor,  Rev. 
Stephen  J.  Bogle,  assumed  pastoral  charge.  Service  was  principally  held  in 
the  schoolhouse  until  the  building  of  the  frame  church  (now  the  Catholic 
Church),  in  1864.  This  church  house  cost  about  $2,000,  and  was  quite  an 
enterprise  for  the  prairie  town  at  that  time.  In  1871,  owing  to  the  increase  of 
membership  and  large  attendance  at  the  Sunday  service,  this  house  was  found 
to  be  too  small  to  accommodate  the  congregation,  and  it  was  decided  to  sell  the 
old  church  house  and  build  a  larger  one.  The  present  fine  brick  edifice  was 
then  projected  and  successfully  carried  through  to  completion,  ready  for  dedica- 
tion in  February,  1872.  This  society  has  a  membership  of  about  two  hundred. 
The  Pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Bogle,  owns  the  residence  and  grounds  he  occupies,  andr 
as  an  exception  to  the  rule  with  which  ministers  are  regarded,  he  is  looked  upon 
as  a  permanent  citizen. 

The  Catholic  society  was  organized  here  in  1872,  when  it  purchased  the 
wooden  church  building  of  the  Presbyterian  society.  They  added  to  it  and 
re-arranged  it  so  as  to  meet  the  wants  of  their  service.  They  have  only  part 
of  the  time  had  a  resident  priest,  but  have  been  provided  service  at  regular 
times. 

The  Union  Chapel  had  its  origin  in  a  somewhat  dilapidated  dwelling  in  the 
southeast  part  of  town,  where,  in  the  spring  of  1876,  E.  M.  Sharp,  Dr.  J. 
Taylor,  and  others,  organized  a  Sunday  school,  as  members  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  for  the  special  benefit  of  the  poor  of  the  city.  A 
wonderful  interest  was  soon  aroused  among  those  who,  by  their  poverty,  con- 
sidered themselves  shut  out  from  the  means  of  grace  dispensed  at  the  regular 
churches,  where,  unfortunately,  a  great  many  attend  servi.ce  more  to  display 
crinoline  and  millinery  styles  than  the  "beauty  of  holiness."  This  building 
was  soon  found  inadequate  to  the  demand  for  room,  and  an  old  billiard-room,  of 
abundant  capacity,  was  purchased,  moved  to  a  suitable  location  near  the  scene 
of  the  first  effort  of  "leaven,"  remodeled  and  made  pleasant  and  comfortable, 
and  now  maintains  a  good  Sunday  school  and  affords  a  comfortable  place  of 
worship  for  all  who  wish  to  avail  themselves  of  it. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  561 

The  first  benevolent  society  organized  here  was  Mason  City  Lodge,  No. 
403,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  This  Lodge  was  organized  in  January,  1864,  and  now 
contains  a  membership  of  about  one  hundred.  The  year  1869,  this  Lodge  built  a 
third  story  on  the  brick  building  now  occupied  as  a  drug  store  by  A.  Bradley, 
which  was  then  being  erected,  which  furnishes  a  handsome,  commodious  and 
secure  lodge-room.  The  elective  officers  now  serving  are:  H.  C.  Burnham,  W. 
M. ;  S.  M.  Badger,  S.  W. ;  J.  C.  Warnock,  J.  W.  ;  F.  N.  Smith,  Treasurer ; 
J.  F.  Gulp,  Secretary. 

Mason  City  Lodge,  No.  337,  I.  0.  of  0.  F.,  was  also  organized  the  year 
1866,  and  now  contains  a  membership  of  about  one  hundred.  The  present 
incumbent  elective  officers  are :  J.  F.  Gulp,  N.  G.  ;  G.  W.  Ellsberry,  V.  G. ; 
J.  J.  Cox,  Secretary  ;  H.  M.  Anderson,  Recording  Secretary ;  John  Cameron. 
Treasurer ;  J.  H.  Faith,  Deputy.  This  Lodge  meets  in  a  third-floor  room,  in 
La  Forge  Block. 

Mason  City  Encampment,  No.  175,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  organized  in  1876, 
and  holds  its  meetings  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall.  The  present  incumbent  elective 
officers  are :  F.  H.  Cook,  C.  P. ;  H.  M.  Anderson,  H.  P. ;  C.  W.  Thomas,  S. 
W. ;  S.  Eulass,  J.  W. ;  A.  E.  Whitney,  Scribe ;  G.  W.  Ellsberry,  Treasurer ; 
G.  W.  Ellsberry,  Deputy. 

Unity  Lodge,  No.  792,  Knights  of  Honor,  was  organized  in  the  fall  of 
1877.  and  now  contains  fifty  members ;  holds  its  meetings  in  Masonic  Hall. 
The  present  incumbent  elective  officers  are :  J.  P.  Canfield,  Past  Dictator ;  F. 
M.  Swing,  Dictator  ;  H.  C.  Parker,  Vice  Dictator  ;  D.  E.  Le  Sourd,  Assistant 
Dictator ;  Lafe  Swing,  Guide ;  J.  F.  Gulp,  Reporter ;  W.  H.  Tooker,  Finan- 
cial Reporter;  B.  D.  Riner,  Treasurer;  I.  A.  Smith,  Chaplain  ;  0.  S.  King, 
Guardian  ;  George  Brooker,  Sentinel ;  Dr.  A.  M.  Bird,  Medical  Examiner ; 
Lafe  Swing,  Marcus  Kahn  and  I.  R.  Brown,  Trustees. 

Modoc  Tribe,  No.  14,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men  (I.  0.  of  R.  M.),  was 
organized  in  November,  1878,  and  now  contains  a  membership  of  sixty- two.  It 
holds  its  councils  in  the  room  over  H.  T.  Lewin's  grocery  store.  H.  T.  Lewin, 
of  this  city,  is  Grand  Deputy  Sachem  for  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  Representa- 
tive of  the  State  in  the  Grand  Council  of  the  United  States.  The  present 
incumbent  elective  officers  of  the  Tribe  are :  S.  M.  Badger,  Sachem  ;  F.  N. 
Smith,  Senior  Sagamore ;  W.  A.  Hoover,  Junior  Sagamore ;  Thomas  Entwistle, 
Prophet;  F.  M.  Conehay,  Assistant  Chief  of  Records ;  James  D.  Hawes,  Keeper 
of  Wampum. 

Pioneer  Relief  Association,  Division  No.  12,  was  organized  in  this  city 
in  April,  1879,  and  has  its  regular  meetings  the  last  Friday  evening  in 
every  month.  Its  officers  are  J.  C.  Warnock,  President,  and  J.  J.  Cox, 
Secretary. 

In  this  connection  and  under  this  head  it  is  proper  to  state  that  a  library 
association  has  just  been  formed  in  this  city  in  the  name  of  the  Mason  City 
Library  Association,  with  forty-two  members,  and  the  first  invoice  of  books, 


562  HISTORY   OF  MASON   COUNTY. 

numbering  100  volumes.  The  regular  meetings  of  this  Association  are  the 
second  Monday  evenings  of  every  month.  The  Association  was  permanently 
organized  August  25,  1879,  and  the  following  officers  elected :  Rev.  S.  J. 
Bogle,  President ;  0.  S.  King,  Vice  President ;  J.  F.  Gulp,  Secretary ;  Miss 
Olive  A.  Hudson,  Treasurer ;  Ira  A.  Smith,  Librarian,  and  Miss  Belle  May, 
Mrs.  E.  Craig,  N.  S.  Forsyth,  James  Stebbings  and  Dr.  J.  M.  Taylor,  Execu- 
tive Committee. 

BUSINESS   AND   PROFESSIONS. 

At  first,  as  is  usually  and  necessarily  the  case,  the  merchandising  business 
was  not  classified,  but  each  store  kept  a  stock  of  general  merchandise,  not  so- 
extensive  in  quantity  as  in  variety.  Dry  goods,  clothing,  boots  and  shoes, 
harness,  saddles,  plows,  groceries,  hardware,  and  all  departments  of  the  mer- 
chandise business,  was  conducted  in  the  one  house. 

Mr.  A.  A.  Cargill  is  the  veteran  merchant  in  town,  and  the  only  one  of 
the  pioneer  merchants  who  has  continued  in  business  ever  since  and  is  now  so 
engaged,  as  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Cargill  &  Swing,  in  an  extensive 
dry  goods,  groceries,  boots  and  shoes,  occupying  three  separate  rooms  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Chestnut  streets.  C.  Hume,  another  pioneer  of  the  town, 
commenced  business  in  1858,  but  for  several  years  of  the  intervening  time 
since,  was  out  on  a  farm,  but  is  now  engaged  in  the  agricultural  implement 
trade,  east  of  the  C.  &  A.  Railroad,  on  the  corner  of  Mason  and  Chestnut 
streets.  S.  D.  Swing,  now  retired,  still  lives  in  town,  but  for  a  number  of 
years  has  been  out  of  active  business.  Dr.  A.  R.  Cooper  was  the  first  resi- 
dent physician  in  town,  and  built  and  occupied  the  house  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  R.  Proctor,  near  the  La  Forge  Elevator.  Travis  &  Brown  built 
the  first  steam  grain  elevator,  of  which  mention  has  before  been  made.  Propst 
&  Cottrell  opened  the  first  drug  store  in  the  brick  building  on  the  corner  north 
of  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel,  who  was  succeeded  by  Drs.  Patterson  &  Conover, 
they  by  Dr.  J.  S.  Walker,  and  he  by  Kincaid  &  Bradley,  who  moved  it  from 
that  place  to  the  brick  building  now  occupied  in  the  business  by  Allen  Bradley. 
Hume  &  Warnock  built  the  drug-store  room  now  occupied  by  Dr.  W.  A.  Dunn, 
on  Chestnut  street,  who  bought  it  of  Smith  &  Strome  a  few  years  ago.  The 
drug  store  owned  by  John  H.  Hopkins,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Chestnut 
streets,  was  built  for  that  purpose  in  1871,  and  has  been  so  used  ever  since. 
N.  Cottrell  opened  the  first  picture  gallery  in  town,  up-stairs  over  the  Propst 
&  Cottrell  drug  store,  in  1860.  Before  that,  he  traveled  about  in  a  car  from 
place  to  place,  and  made  pictures  of  the  old-style  daguerreotype  pattern.  The 
next  was  by  Eld.  J.  M.  Haughey,  in  the  upper  story  of  the  old  Keefer  store 
building.  Mr.  Haughey  was  then  the  Pastor  of  the  Baptist  congregations  in 
this  vicinity,  and  often  supplemented  the  matrimonial  knot  by  taking  a  picture 
of  the  happy  pair.  Next  in  the  picture  business  was  S.  M.  Miller,  who  now 
occupies  rooms  over  the  First  National  Bank. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  56£ 

The  first  newspaper  was  the  Mason  City  News,  the  nucleus  of  which  was  a 
small  job  printing  office,  owned  by  Haughey  &  Eulass.  The  first  issue  of  the 
paper  was  July  4,  1867,  the  day  the  laying  of  the  track  on  the  Jacksonville 
branch  of  the  C.  &  A.  Railroad  reached  the  corporation  line  from  the  south. 
The  paper  was  published  by  Eld.  J.  M.  Haughey  and  W.  S.  Walker,  the  latter 
having  bought  an  interest  in  the  office  about  a  month  before.  In  1871,  W.  S. 
Walker  sold  his  interest  to  J.  C.  Warnock,  and  the  name  of  the  paper  was 
changed  to  Mason  City  Independent.  Mr.  Haughey  has  retained  his  interest 
and  position  as  senior  proprietor  ever  since  the  paper  was  started,  except 
awhile  the  year  1869,  and  from  September  1,  1877,  to  September  1,  1878,  when 
he  was  sole  proprietor  by  buying  out  his  partner.  J.  C.  Warnock  has  edited 
the  paper  since  February  9,  1871,  with  the  exception  of  one  year  he  was  away 
as  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Mason  County  Democrat,  at  Havana.  The 
Independent  is  now  in  its  thirteenth  volume. 

The  Mason  City  Journal  was  established  late  in  the  fall  of  1871  by  I.  E» 
Knapp,  by  whom  the  material  of  the  Havana  Reveille  office  was  bought  and  here 
moved  for  that  purpose,  and  was  edited  by  Capt.  A.  P.  Stover  until  January, 
1872,  when  Mr.  Knapp  sold  out  to  W.  S.  Walker,  who  assumed  editorial 
charge.  In  1874,  Mr.  Walker  sold  out  to  Dr.  J.  A.  Walker  and  Wells  Corey, 
and  soon  after,  the  former  sold  his  interest  to  the  latter,  by  whom  it  has  since 
been  continued. 

The  first  fiouring-mill  was  built  in  1868  by  Hulshizer  &  Smith,  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  afterward,  and  never  rebuilt.  The  next  was 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  one  by  Warnock  &  Montgomery  in  1870. 
This  one  was  also  destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  afterward,  and  the  present  com- 
modious building  erected  in  its  stead,  and  is  now  owned  and  operated  by  Iron- 
monger &  Tibbetts. 

The  first  bank  was  that  of  Warnock  &  Co.,  which  went  into  operation  in 
1866,  and  failed  in  1870. 

The  next  was  that  of  Campbell  &  Porter,  in  their  store  called  the  "  Double 
Mammoth,"  now  used  as  a  restaurant  and  billiard  hall.  This  bank  went  into 
operation  in  1868,  and  was  the  nucleus  from  which  the  First  National  Bank 
was  organized,  in  1871,  with  a  paid-up  capital  stock  of  $50,000,  and  has  been 
in  successful  operation  ever  since.  Otho  S,  King,  formerly  of  Lewistown,  Ful- 
ton County,  was  elected  Cashier,  and  has  retained  the  position  ever  since.  G. 
H.  Campbell  was  elected  President,  and  held  the  position  till  1877,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  R.  W.  Porter,  and  he  by  A.  A.  Blunt,  the  present  incum- 
bent, in  1879.  This  bank  is  located  on  Main  street,  in  a  building  erected  for 
the  purpose  a  few  years  ago.  In  1871,  J.  B.  Massey,  of  Mount  Sterling, 
Brown  County,  commenced  the  banking  business  here,  under  the  name  of  Mason 
City  Exchange  Bank,  but  closed  business  after  a  few  years.  In  1875,  the  bank 
of  F.  N.  Smith  &  Co.  commenced  business,  and  is  still  in  successful  operation, 
in  a  suitable  brick  building  on  Chestnut  street.  F.  N.  Smith,  a  former 


564  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

druggist,  and  David  Powell,  a  former  merchant  of  this  place,  are  associated 
together  in  this  bank. 

The  public  improvements  in  this  city  are  not  extensive  as  yet,  but  are  per- 
manent and  substantial  so  far  as  they  go.  The  schoolhouses  have  been  treated 
of  under  the  head  of  public  schools.  The  Mason  County  Soldiers'  Monument 
stands  in  the  center  of  our  park  square,  and  was  erected  by  voluntary  contri- 
butions soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  at  a  cost  of  $5,000, 
and  is  a  handsome  and  fitting  tribute  to  the  memory  of  those  who  gave  their 
lives  for  their  country's  cause.  It  has  been  the  unvarying  custom  of  our  peo- 
ple since  the  erection  of  this  monument,  to  assemble  there  the  80th  of  May 
•each  year,  and  decorate  it  with  flowers  with  appropriate  ceremonies. 

The  public  well  and  water-tank  is  a  public  improvement  of  great  value  and 
advantage.  A  large  tank  is  built  high  above,  into  which  the  water  is  pumped 
by  a  wind-mill,  from  which  an  abundance  of  water  is  supplied  for  all  the  pub- 
lic wants  of  the  town.  The  fire  engine  was  purchased  several  years  ago,  and  a 
fire  company  formed  to  operate  it  when  needed.  It  is  a  Champion  chemical 
engine.  The  streets  are  well  graded  and  are  beautiful  and  pleasant  drives. 
The  sidewalk  improvements  now  in  process  of  construction  are  being  made  of 
brick,  and  are  good,  substantial  and  permanent. 

The  first  calaboose  in  town  was  made  of  sawed  2x6  oak  timber,  spiked 
together  so  as  to  make  almost  a  solid  wooden  wall  of  six  inches  in  thickness. 
At  best,  it  was  a  decidedly  dismal-looking  place.  It  first  stood  on  Pine  street, 
but  was  moved  to  Tonica  street,  where,  a  few  years  ago,  it  caught  fire  one 
rainy  night  and  was  totally  destroyed.  A  new  brick  calaboose  was  then 
•erected  and  provided  with  cells,  which  is  now  the  city  prison. 

The  city  cemetery  is  located  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  east  of  town, 
and  is  inclosed  by  a  neat  fence,  and  considerable  interest  is  manifested  by  the 
people  who  have  purchased  lots  in  beautifying  them.  It  contains  forty  acres, 
about  one-half  of  which  is  laid  off  in  lots  one  rod  in  width  and  two  rods  in 
length,  and  two  lots  in  each  block. 

A  little  more  than  two  years  ago,  a  company  of  militia  was  formed  in  this 
•eity  and  vicinity  as  Illinois  National  Guards,  under  the  general  militia  law  of 
the  State,  of  which  see  roster  in  the  general  history  of  the  county. 

A  vein  of  coal  five  feet  and  eleven  inches  in  thickness  was  recently  found 
by  boring,  a  short  distance  north  of  town,  at  a  depth  of  217  feet,  and  it  is 
probable  that  a  shaft  will  be  sunk  there  within  a  few  years. 

BATH  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  has  considerable  river-front,  and,  excepting  Lynchburg,  is 
the  southwest  town  of  Mason  County.  It  has  an  area  nearly  equal  to  two 
Congressional  towns,  embracing  about  seventy  sections,  and  is  some  twelve 
miles  long  by  six  to  eight  miles  wide.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  northwest 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  567 

by  Havana  Township  and  the  Illinois  River,  on  the  west  by  Lynchburg 
Township,  on  the  south  by  the  Sangamon  River,  and  on  the  east  by  Kilbourne 
Township.  The  soil,  like  that  of  most  of  Mason  County,  partakes  of  a  sandy 
nature,  but  is  exceedingly  fertile,  producing  corn,  oats  and  wheat  in  great 
abundance.  At  the  time  of  its  settlement,  about  one-third  of  the  land  included 
in  Bath  Township  was  timbered,  the  remainder  rolling  prairie ;  well  watered  by 
the  numerous  little  lakes  here  and  there,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  Wolf, 
Wiggenton,  Swan,  Fish,  Goose,  Bell,  and,  perhaps,  others,  while  it  is  drained 
by  the  Illinois  and  Sangamon  Rivers,  White  Oak  Creek  and  numerous  sloughs. 
Artificial  draining  has  also  been  added,  by  the  opening  of  ditches  at  the 
public  expense.  One  of  these  modern  but  valuable  improvements  extends 
through  the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  and  is  known  as  the  Ruggles'  Ditch,  car- 
rying off  the  superfluous  water,  through  Jordan  Slough,  into  the  Sangamon 
River ;  and  another  in  the  northeast,  Black  Jack  Ditch,  conveys  the  water, 
through  White  Oak  Creek,  into  the  Illinois.  The  "Main  Branch"  of  the 
Illinois  River,  as  it  is  termed,  and  which  is  the  deeper  channel,  but  the  nar- 
rower, diverges  from  the  broader  stream  about  two  miles  north  of  the  village  of 
Bath,  thereby  forming  an  island  west  of  the  village,  some  six  sections  in  extent, 
called  Grand  Island,  and  containing  several  farms  and  residences,  to  which 
reference  will  again  be  made.  The  Peoria,  Pekin  &  Jacksonville  Railroad, 
more  particularly  noticed  in  the  general  county  history,  traverses  the  entire 
length  of  Bath  Township,  entering  the  north  part  through  Section  26  and  run- 
ning, in  a  southwest  direction,  to  the  village  of  Bath,  when  it  takes  a  course 
due  south,  on  the  section  line,  crossing  the  Sangamon  River  between  Sections 
29  and  30.  This  road  has  been  of  great  benefit  to  this  section  in  transporting 
the  large  quantities  of  grain  produced,  and,  with  the  competition  afforded  by 
the  river,  the  farmers  are  enabled  to  secure  reasonable  rates  of  freight.  The 
stations  in  this  town  are  Bath  and  Saidora,  the  history  of  which  will  be  given 
in  another  chapter. 

SETTLEMENT   OF   THE   TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  dwellings  reared  by  white  men  in  the  present  town  of  Bath  were 
built  by  John  Stewart  and  John  Gillespie  in  1828.  Gillespie  erected  his  cabin 
on  the  old  site  of  Moscow,  and  Stewart  on  Snicarte  Island,  a  portion  of  which 
belongs  to  this  township.  They  were  from  Tennessee,  and  though  acknowl- 
edged the  first  actual  settlers,  did  not  remain  long  in  the  town,  but  in  a  year  or 
two  removed  to  Schuyler  County.  Gillespie  left  his  claim  "  for  better  or  worse," 
but  Stewart  sold  out  to  Amos  Richardson,  and  he,  in  turn,  sold  it  to  John 
Knight,  who  had  entered  the  land.  This  was  the  first  land  entered  in  what  is 
now  known  as  Bath  Township.  Knight  was  from  the  East,  and  was  what  was 
called  in  those  early  days,  by  the  Southern  people,  who  composed  the  majority 
of  the  settlers,  a  "  flat-mouthed  Yankee."  Knight  settled  here  in  1829-30, 

but  in  a  few  years  removed  to  Fulton  County,  where  he  died  soon  after.     He 

v 


568  HISTORY   Of    MASON   COUNTY. 

sold  the  place  to  James  H.  'Allen,  with  whom  he  had  an  extensive  law-suit.  He 
sued  Allen  for  the  improvements  made  on  the  place,  but,  before  the  cause  was 
decided,  he  died. 

Henry  Shepherd  was  the  first  settler  in  the  north  part  of  the  township, 
locating  on  the  spot  where  afterward  rose  the  village  of  Matanzas.  He  was 
from  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  is  acknowledged  to  have  been  the  first  settler 
in  this  immediate  neighborhood,  though  no  one  now  can  tell  the  exact  time 
of  his  settlement.  He  entered  his  land,  however,  in  1832,  and  probably  came 
but  a  short  time  prior  to  that  date.  It  is  related  of  him  that  he  would  never 
allow  a  plow  in  his  corn,  but  cultivated  it  exclusively  with  hoes,  a  mode  of 
farming  that  would  be  looked  on  at  the  present  day  as  decidedly  peculiar.  His 
death  was  a  singular  one,  but  as  we  are  not  sufficiently  skilled  in  medical  tech- 
nicalities to  describe  it  in  fitting  terms,  we  will  refer  our  readers  for  particulars 
to  some  of  the  old  settlers  (Charley  Richardson,  for  instance),  who  still  remem- 
ber the  circumstances. 

From  Kentucky,  the  "  dark  and  bloody  ground  "  of  aboriginal  story  and 
song,  the  towtiship  received  the  following  additions  to  its  population :  Joseph 
A.  Phelps,^F.  S.  D.  Marshall,  Col.  A.  S.  West,  Dr.  Harvey  Oneal,  Maj.  B.  H. 
Gatton  and  his  brother,  R.  P.  Gatton,  John  S.  Wilburn,  C.  P.  Richardson,. 
Rev.  J.  A.  Daniels,  James  Holland,  Thomas  F.,  Samuel,  Laban  and  Richard 
Blunt,  William  H.  Nelms,  William,  John  G.  and  C.  Conover,  Samuel  Pettitt, 
and  perhaps  others. 

Joseph  A.  Phelps  settled  in  the  township  about  1840,  but  shortly  after 
moved  into  the  village  of  Bath.  He  was  the  first  Circuit  Clerk  of  Mason 
County,  and  was  at  one  time  Probate  Judge,  and  for  a  number  of  years  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace.  He  finally  removed  to  Nebraska,  where  he  died  in  1878. 
Marshall  came  from  Cass  County  to  this  settlement,  but  was  originally  from 
Kentucky.  He  was  a  young  lawyer  when  he  caine  here,  was  elected  the  first 
Master  in  Chancery,  and,  in  1845,  appointed  Circuit  Clerk  by  Judge  Lock- 
wood ;  was  also  elected  to  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1847-48.  His 
death  occurred  in  1854-55.  He  married  a  Miss  Berry,  who  taught  one  of 
the  early  schools  of  Bath. 

Col.  West  first  came  to  the  State  in  1827-28,  and  settled  near  the  present 
city  of  Virginia,  in  Cass  County,  and  in  1844  came  to  this  township,  where 
he  still  owns  a  large  farm,  though  for  some  time  has  been  living  in  Kansas. 
He  visits  his  former  home  and  old  neighbors  occasionally,  and  still  vividly 
remembers  the  privations  of  early  timeg  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
After  the  county  seat  was  moved  to  Bath,  and  before  a  court  house 
was  built,  Circuit  Court  was  held  at  his  residence.  He  was  one  of  the 
early  merchants  of  Bath ;  served  also  with  distinction  in  the  Winnebago 
war.  Dr.  Oneal,  an  old  settler  of  this  township,  married  his  daughter. 
He  came  from  Virginia,  Cass  County,  to  this  township,  but,  as  already 
noted,  was  from  Kentucky,  and  settled  here  about  1842-43,  but  lives  at 


HISTORY  OF  MASON  COUNTY.  569 

present  in  Kilbourne  Township,  and   will  be  further  noticed  in   the  chapter 
devoted  to  that  town.  I 

Maj.  Gatton  came  to  the  State  with  his  father,  in  1824,  and  settled  in  Cass 
County  (then  a  part  of  Morgan),  when  he  was  but  sixteen  years  old.  In  1831, 
having  begun  the  battle  of  life,  he  located  in  Beardstown,  where  he  resided 
until  his  removal  to  Bath,  in  May,  1841,  soon  after  the  formation  of  Mason 
County.  When  Maj.  Gatton  settled  in  the  present  village  of  Bath,  there  was 
but  one  little  pole  cabin  then  in  the  place,  besides  the  house  he  had  had  built 
for  his  own  use  before  his  removal.  His  brother,  R.  P.  Gatton,  came  on  before 
him  and  attended  to  the  building  of  it,  that  it  might  be*  ready  for  his  brother's 
family.  It  was  of  hewed  logs,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  pole  cabin  already 
alluded  to,  was  the  first  residence  in  Bath  Village.  The  body  of  this  building 
is  still  standing,  though  moved  from  its  original  site,  and  modernized  by  being 
weatherboarded  and  lathed  and  plastered.  R.  P.  Gatton  lived  in  the  village 
until  his  death,  in  1873.  Maj.  Gatton  is  still  living,  enjoying  fine  health  for 
man  of  threescore  and  ten  years.  He  has  been  one  of  the  solid  business  men 
of  the  place,  one  of  the  first  merchants  and  grain-dealers,  and  still  follows  the 
latter  business  to  some  extent.  To  his  active  memory,  we  are  indebted  for 
much  of  the  history  of  this  township.  He  is  noticed  further  in  the  history  of 
the  village.  John  F.  Wilbourn  first  settled  in  Beardstown  upon  coming  to  the 
State,  but  came  to  Bath  in  1843.  He  served  as  Circuit  Clerk,  and  was  the 
second  Postmaster  at  Bath.  He  lives  at  present  two  and  a  half  miles  east  of 
Mason  City.  Charles  P.  Richardson  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Bath  Town- 
ship, now  living,  having  settled  here  in  1836,  and  lived  in  the  town  ever  since. 
He  first  settled  on  Grand  Island,  opposite  Bath,  and  for  ten  or  twelve  years  has 
been  living  in  the  village.  He  came  to  the  State  with  his  father  in  1819,  the 
next  year  after  it  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  but  did  not  settle  in  this  county 
until  1836,  as  noted  above.  He  was  one  of  the  chain-carriers  to  President 
Lincoln,  when  he  surveyed  the  original  village  of  Bath,  as  hereafter  noticed. 
The  surveying  party  made  their  home  at  Mr.  Richardson's  while  engaged  in 
the  work,  who,  with  true  Kentucky  hospitality,  refused  all  offers  of  remuner- 
ation, but  "  honest  Old  Abe,"  determined  to  compensate  him  for  the  trouble 
his  party  had  caused  him,  surveyed  his  land  free  of  charge.  Mr.  Richardson 
is  still  living  and  in  vigorous  health,  with  a  mind  well  stored  with  ,the  his- 
tory of  the  county  and  anecdotes  of  the  pioneer  days,  some  of  which  are  given 
to  embellish  these  pages.  Rev.  J.  A.  Daniels  was  born  in  Virginia,  but 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Kentucky  when  a  child.  He  came  to  Illinois  in 
1835,  and  settled  in  Cass  County,  and,  in  1845,  came  to  this  township,  where 
he  has  resided  ever  since,  most  of  the  time  in  the  village  of  Bath.  He  is  one 
of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  James  Holland  was  his 
father-in-law,  and  came  to  the  town  with  Daniels.  He  died  a  number  of  years 
ago.  The  Blunts  came  here  in  the  thirties.  Thomas  F.  and  Laban  came  first. 
Just  here  we  give  the  following  from  A.  A.  Blunt,  a  son  of  Thomas  F.,  PS  of 


570  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

interest  to  his  family  and  old  friends  :  ''  Thomas  F.  Blunt  was  born  in  Kent 
County,  Md.,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Kentucky  in  boyhood.  He 
married  Miss  Alderson,  of  Hart  County,  Ky.,  and  of  eight  children  born  to 
them,  four  are  still  living.  In  the  fall  of  1831,  he  removed  to  Missouri,  and,  in 
1833,  to  Illinois.  He  came  to  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Mason  County 
in  December  of  that  year.  In  1849,  unaided  and  alone,  he  built  a  schoolhouse, 
for  school  and  church  purposes,  and  provided  a  teacher  for  the  ensuing  winter. 
He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  Mount  Zion  Baptist  Church  (mentioned 
elsewhere),  and  the  only  one  now  living  in  the  county.  He  owned  the  first 
threshing  machine  and  the  first  reaper  ever  operated  in  Mason  County.  In 
1872,  he  was  attacked  with  palsy  in  his  right  side,  with  which  he  is  still  a 
sufferer."  A  few  years  later,  Richard  Blunt,  a  brother  to  Thomas  and  Laban, 
came  to  the  settlement.  He  and  Laban  died  in  the  township.  Samuel  Blunt, 
one  of  the  brothers,  lives  at  present  in  Kilbourne  Township.  William  H. 
Nelms  first  settled  in  Cass  County,  and  came  from  Beardstown  to  Bath  in  1842. 
He  and  Maj.  Gatton  had  the  first  store  in  Bath,  a  business  continued  for  some 
time,  and  a  son  of  Mr.  Neltns  now  lives  in  Havana,  and  is  engaged  in  the  grain 
business.  The  elder  Mr.  Nelms  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Bath.  The  Conovers  came  to  the  township  and  settled  within  a  mile  of 
Bath,  about  the  year  1841.  There  were  three  brothers  of  them — Combs,  Will- 
iam and  John  G.,  and  their  father  settled  in  Morgan  County  in  1821,  where 
the  family  lived  until  the  sons  came  here  as  above.  All  are  dead  except  John 
G.,  who  lives  in  another  part  of  the  county — Sherman  Township,  we  believe. 
Samuel  Pettitt  settled  here  about  1848,  and  some  years  later  moved  to  Missouri, 
where  he  died. 

From  Tennessee,  the  home  of  Old  Hickory,  we  have  the  following  recruits: 
Joseph  Adkins,  Joseph  Wallace,  William  and  James  Dew,  Manning  and  Thomas 
Bruce,  Nelson  R.  Ashurst,  John  Johnson,  Matthew  Wiley  and  son,  Patrick 
W.  Campbell,  and  his  son,  George  H.  Campbell,  and  probably  others,  whose 
names  we  have  failed  to  obtain.  The  Campbells  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Bath  Township,  were  prominent  business  and  professional  men,  and  accumu- 
lated a  large  property.  George  II.  Campbell,  a  son  of  Patrick  W.  Campbell, 
came  to  the  township  as  early  as  1838,  then  a  youth  of  but  seventeen  years  ; 
his  father  came  in  1840,  and  settled  down  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town  near 
Smith  Turner's.  He  was  the  first  Surveyor  of  Mason  County,  an  office  he 
held  for  a  number  of  years,  and  was  one  of  the  highly  respected  citizens  of  the 
town  and  county.  George  H.,  upon  whose  shoulders  the  father's  mantle  wor- 
thily rests,  was  elected  to  office  in  early  life,  that  of  Assessor  and  Treasurer  of 
the  county,  soon  after  attaining  his  majority.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Maj'. 
Gatton,  and  their  eldest  son,  William  H.  Campbell,  is  an  able  lawyer  of  Havana, 
and  the  present  Mayor  of  that  city.  George  H.  Campbell  is  a  lawyer  of  ability 
and  has  served  his  country  at  the  bar,  in  the  legislative  halls  of  the  State,  and 
on  the  tented  field.  His  record  as  County  Judge  is  well  known  and  needs  no 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  571 

comment.  He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1858,  and  served  with  ability. 
During  the  late  war,  he  assisted  in  raising  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regi- 
ment of  Illinois  Infantry,  of  which  he  was  made  Lieutenant  Colonel,  but 
resigned  in  about  a  year  on  account  of  ill  health.  At  present  he  resides  in 
Mason  City,  where  he  is  further  noticed. 

The  Dews  settled  here  about  1842,  and  consisted  of  four  brothers,  viz.: 
Joseph,  Wallace,  William  and  James,  the  latter  being  the  youngest,  and  not 
coming  until  several  years  after  the  others.  Wallace  and  William  are  dead, 
but  Joseph  and  James  are  still  living.  The  Bruces  settled  here  about  1846-47. 
Manning  removed  to  Logan  County  long  ago,  and  Thomas  has  been  lost  sight 
of.  Joseph  Adkins  came  in  1840,  and  lived  in  the  town  until  his  death  in 
1878.  He  died  near  Saidora,  and  owned  the  land  on  which  that  station  is 
located.  Nelson  R.  Ashurst  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  located  here 
about  1839.  He  died  of  cholera  many  years  ago,  but  has  two  sons  still  living 
in  the  township.  John  Johnson  settled  just  east,  of  the  village  of  Bath,  as 
early  as  1837-38,  where  he  resided  for  a  time,  and  then  removed  into  Lynch- 
burg  Township,  and  is  there  mentioned  further  among  the  early  settlers  of  that 
town.  Matthew  Wiley  was  among  the  early  comers  to  this  section,  but  what 
year  he  located  here  we  could  not  learn.  He  had  a  son  named  Matthew,  who 
lived  with  him.  The  old  gentleman  settled  in  Stewart's  house,  already  men- 
tioned as  one  of  the  first  built  in  the  township.  The  family  finally  moved  ta 
Texas. 

William  F.  Bunton  is  a  North  Carolinian,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1840, 
and  to  Bath  in  1842.  His  brother,  John  N.  Bunton,  came  to  the  town  with 
him,  but  died  June  23,  1861.  W.  F.  Bunton  is  still  living,  one  of  the 
respected  citizens  of  Bath  Village.  When  the  county  seat  was  located  at  Bath, 
and  a  temple  of  justice  erected,  Mr.  Bunton  put  the  roof  upon  the  structure. 
Arthur  Morrow,  with  two  brothers,  Thomas  and  Allen,  settled  in  Bath  Town- 
ship about  1838-39.  All  of  them  are  now  dead.  They  were  from  North 
Carolina,  and  were  highly  respected  citizens.  Arthur  Morrow  has  a  son  living 
in  the  village  of  Bath,  who  though  but  a  boy  when  his  father  came  here,  has  a 
vivid  recollection  of  the  early  times ;  and  to  his  excellent  memory  we  are 
indebted  for  many  facts  pertaining  to  the  early  history  of  the  township.  A 
man  named  Thomas  Hubbard  settled  in  the  south  part  of  the  township  among 
the  earliest.  He  came  from  Greene  County  to  this  neighborhood,  and  after 
a  few  years  returned  whence  he  came.  He  was  a  son-in-law  of  Allen 
Morrow. 

George  A.  Bonney  came  from  the  Empire  State  to  Illinois,  in  1833,  with 
his  sister,  mother  and  stepfather,  locating  in  what  is  now  Cass  County.  His 
ancestors  settled  in  Massachusetts,  in  colonial  times,  and  his  grandfather,  a 
Colonel  of  the  State  troops  commanded  a  regiment  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  in 
an  engagement  during  what  is  known  as  the  whisky  insurrection.  Some  years 
after  coming  to  Illinois,  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  though  quite  young,  and 


572  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

joined  the  Illinois  Conference.  He  was  transferred  to  Missouri,  but  remained 
but  a  few  years,  on  account  of  poor  health.  After  his  return  to  Illinois,  he 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Among  other  objects  of  enterprise,  he  built 
a  large  grain  warehouse  on  the  Snicarte  Slough,  which  flowed  through  his 
farm  ;  but  this  was  burnt  by  incendiaries.  He  died  a  few  years  ago,  lamented 
by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  relatives. 

Isaac  Vail  was  a  native,  of  Ohio,  and  sprang  from  a  solid  old  Buckeye  fam- 
ily. He  came  to  Illinois  in  1843,  locating  in  Vermont,  Fulton  County,  and, 
in  1845,  came  to  Bath  Township.  He  was  one  of  the  energetic  merchants  and 
business  men  of  Bath,  and  to  him  the  village  owes  much  of  its  prosperity. 
Having  accumulated  a  large  property,  he  retired  from  the  cares  of  business, 
spending  the  last  years  of  a  busy  life  in  comparative  quiet,  and  died  in  Febru- 
ary, 1878,  upon  the  threshold  of  fourscore  years.  Warren  Heberling,  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  and  stanch  business  men  of  Bath,  married  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  Vail. 

Smith  Turner  came  to  Bath  about  1838  or  1839,  and  settled  in  the  south 
part  of  the  township.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Drury  S.  Field,  an  early 
settler  of  this  section,  and  who  entered  a  large  body  of  land  of  the  town.  Mr. 
Turner  was  a  lawyer  of  ability,  and  upon  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  to 
Bath,  he  located  in  the  village,  where  he  practiced  his  profession,  arfd  was,  for 
a  term  or  two,  Probate  Judge.  He  finally  removed  to  Missouri  about  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war. 

V.  B.  Holmes  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  Matanzas, 
and  was  a  stately  old  Virginian.  He  entered  12,000  acres  of  land  for  Dr. 
Field,  and  for  his  services  received  a  fourth  interest  in  the  land.  He  is  remem- 
bered as  a  man  of  ,many  peculiarities,  but  as  he  is  more  particularly  mentioned 
in  the  county  history,  we  will  not  speak  of  him  further  in  this  connection,  but 
to  note  the  fact  that  he  moved  to  Tazewell  County,  where  he  died.  He  bought 
land  near  Matanzas  from  the  elder  Schulte,  whose  son,  John  H.,  lives  in 
Havana  at  present,  and  is  the  Deputy  County  Clerk.  Henry  Wiggenton,  also, 
was  interested  at  Matanzas,  with  Holmes,  but  sold  out  and  moved  to  Missouri 
prior  to  1850. 

Joseph  F.  Benner  came  from  Ohio,  and  settled  in  this  township.  He 
assisted  in  building  the  Court  House  when  the  seat  of  justice  was  moved  to 
Bath.  Mr.  Benner  removed  to  Lincoln,  Logan  County,  a  good  many  years 
ago.  Samuel  Craggs  came  to  this  section  in  1845  or  1846  ;  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade,  and  came  from  "  Old  Hengland."  His  wife  was  a  sister  to  Smith 
Turner.  Two  brothers — William  and  Charles  Craggs— at  present  live  in  Kil- 
bourne  Township.  His  father  was  also  among  the  early  settlers,  but  died 
many  years  ago. 

William,  Daniel,  Francis  and  John  Bell  may  also  be  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers,  though  the  exact  year  of  their  settlement  is  not  remembered.  After 
a  few  years  they  returned  to  Greene  County,  where  they  came  from.  They 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  573 

were  a  chime  of  Bells  that  were  perfectly  harmonious  in  tone,  as  we  were  told  that 
all  four  of  the  brothers  married  sisters  (Morrows),  and  soon  little  Bells  began 
to  jingle.  They  married  sisters  to  Thomas  Hubbard's  wife.  William  and 
Daniel  were  preachers ;  William  entering  the  ministry  as  soon  as  he  reached 
manhood.  J.  P.  Hudson  came  from  Massachusetts  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Macoupin  County  in  1838,  removed  to  this  town  in  1845,  and  located  at  Matan- 
zas,  where  he  resided  several  years,  and  then  removed  to  his  farm  about  five 
miles  east  of  Havana,  and  afterward  to  the  city  "of  Havana.  About  1866,  he 
removed  to  Mason  City.  He  claims  to  have  introduced  the  first  McCormick's 
Reaper  into  this  county,  and  sold  it  afterward  to  William  Ainsworth,  of  Lynch- 
burg  Township. 

The  Clotfelters  settled  in  Bath  Township  in  1839-40.  They  came  from 
Morgan  County  here,  but  were  natives  of  some  of  the  older  settled  States.  The 
family  consisted  of  Jacob  Clotfelter,  Sr.,and  his  sons  Jacob  and  Michael.  The 
old  gentleman  has  been  dead  some  ten  years,  having  removed  to  Kansas  with 
his  son  Jacob,  where  he  died.  Michael  lives  in  this  township.  Kean  Mahoney 
came  from  the  "  auld  sod  "  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Bath.  He 
owned  land  near  the  village,  and  made  an  addition  to  it  known  as  Mahoney's 
Addition.  •  He  went  to  California  in  1853,  and  as  he  has  never  returned,  if  living, 
is  probably  laboring  with  Dennis  Kearney  to  compel  the  "  Chinese  to  go."  The 
Beesleys  were  from  New  Jersey,  and  finding  plenty  of  sand  here,  like  their 
own  little  State  down  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  located  in  Cass  County,  and  in 
1845  came  to  this  township.  The  elder  Beesley  lives  at  present  with  his  son 
Frank  in  Jacksonville,  while  John,  another  son,  lives  in  the  city  of  Virginia. 
They  were  prominent  merchants  and  grain-dealers  at  Bath,  and  did  an  exten- 
sive business.  D.  B.  Frost,  a  down-east  Yankee,  settled  here  in  1843,  and 
afterward  sold  out  and  moved  to  Wisconsin. 

Drury  S.  Field  came  from  "Old  Virginny,"  and  settled  in  Mason  County 
in  183-,  on  what  is  known  as  Field's  Prairie,  where  he  died  in  1838.  He  was 
a  physician,  and  said  to  be  the  first  practitioner  in  Mason  County.  He  was  a 
man  of  wealth,  and  entered  considerable  land,  or  had  it  entered  by  V.  B. 
Holmes,  as  already  noted  in  this  chapter.  A.  E.  Field  was  a  son,  and,  like  his 
father,  a  "doctor,"  also  a  man  of  intellect  and  influence  in  the  community. 
Mr.  Field  raised  a  large  family  of  children,  most  of  whom  are  dead.  As  they 
settled  in  that  portion  of  Bath  which  was  taken  off  to  form  Kilbourne,  they  are 
further  noticed  in  the  history  of  the  latter  town.  Edward  Field,  the  father  of 
Dr.  Drury  S.  Field,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  served  through 
the  long  and  desperate  struggle  for  independence.  Stokes  Edwards  came  here 
among  the  pioneers,  and  still  lives  in  this  township,  or  on  the  line  between  this 
and  Kilbourne  Township.  John  A.  Martin,  another  pioneer,  from  the  sands  of 
New  Jersey,  came  here  about  1846  or  1847.  He  first  settled  in  Morgan  County, 
but  came  to  Bath,  as  recorded  above,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  about  four 
years  ago.  Thomas  Howard,  a  brother-in-law  to  F.  S.  D.  Marshall,  came  about 


574  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

1845,  and  died  some  years  ago.  Thomas  Hardisty  came  from  Peoria  to  this  settle- 
ment, but  was  originally  from  Kentucky,  and  used  to  regale  his  friends  with  many 
stories  and  anecdotes  of  that  famous  old  State.  He  settled  here  in  1847  or  1848r 
remained  but  a  few  years,  and  then  moved  away.  J.  W.  Northern  was  also  an  early 
settler,  and  removed  to  Kansas,  since  which  little  has  been  heard  from  him. 
Israel  Carman  and  James  Gee,  brothers-in-law,  came  here  together  from  New 
York,  in  an  early  day,  and  are  both  long  since  dead.  -Tohn  B.  Renshaw  came 
in  1845,  and  was  one  of  the  first  blacksmiths  in  the  settlement.  He  went  to 
California,  and  whether  living  or  dead  his  old  associates  do  not  know.  J.  A. 
Burlingame  is  from  New  York,  and  came  to  Bath  in  the  forties.  He  is  the 
genial  agent  for  the  Peoria,  Pekin  &  Jacksonville  Railroad,  at  Bath,  and  is  a 
fixture  in  that  position,  which  he  has  held  since  the  completion  of  the  road. 
S.  S.  Rochester  came  from  Greene  County,  this  State,  somewhere  in  the 
forties,  and  is  still  living  in  Bath  Village.  He  was  a  strong  Democrat,  but,  at 
the  election  of  1860,  for  certain  reasons,  voted  the  Republican  ticket.  After 
the  election  was  over,  the  victorious  party  met  in  the  saloon  to  glorify  the  result, 
which  they  did  by  drinking  toasts.  A  Mr.  Samuels,  who  was  a  zealous  Repub- 
lican, drank  the  following  toast  to  Mr.  Rochester,  which,  for  years,  was  a 
byword  among  his  friends:  "Here  is  to  'Sydney  Breese'  Rochester,  who 
voted  the  Republican  ticket  late  in  the  evening,"  with  a  heavy  emphasis  on  the 
last  words.  Many  of  Mr.  Rochester's  old  friends  will  remember  this  with  some 
amusement.  A  son,  B.  F.  Rochester,  also  lives  in  Bath,  and  is  one  of  the 
respected  citizens  of  the  place ;  another  is  mentioned  as  Lieutenant  in  the 
Twenty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry.  Lewis  Clarkson  came  in  1833,  and  was  the 
first  settler  on  Field's  Prairie.  He  went  to  Missouri  in  1837  or  1838. 

Gen.  J.  M.  Ruggles  is  a  native  of  the  old  Buckeye  State,  and  came  to 
Illinois  in  1837.  He  first  came  to  Mason  County  in  1844,  but  did  not  locate 
until  1846.  He  settled  in  Bath  in.  that  year,  and  commenced  the  mercantile 
business  with  Maj.  Gatton.  He  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  in  1852,  for 
the  district  composed  of  Sangamon,  Menard  and  Mason  Counties,  Abraham 
Lincoln  being  a  member  of  the  Lower  House.  In  1856,  he  was  appointed  on 
a  committee  with  Lincoln  and  Ebenezer  Peck,  to  draft  a  platform  and  resolu- 
tions for  the  new  party  then  forming  upon  the  ruins  of  the  old  Whig  party. 
The  other  members  of  the  committee  being  otherwise  engaged,  the  duty 
devolved  on  Ruggles,  who  drew  up  the  first  platform  of  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  In  1861,  Gov.  Yates  tendered  him  a  commission  as  Quartermaster 
of  the  First  Illinois  Cavalry.  He  was  soon  promoted  to  the  office  of  Major  of 
the  Third  Cavalry,  in  which  regiment  he  remained  until  mustered  out  of  service 
in  1864,  as  noted  in  another  part  of  this  chapter.  In  all  the  positions  held  by 
Gen.  Ruggles,  whether  civil  or  military,  his  duty  has  been  discharged  with 
faithful  fidelity.  He  owns  a  fine  lot  of  land  in  the  county,  mostly  in  Kilbourne 
Township,  and  resides  at  present  in  Havana.  Franklin  Ruggles,  a  brother  of 
Gen.  Ruggles,  came  to  Bath  in  1851,  and  took  an  interest  in  the  flouring-mill 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  575 

then  building  by  Gatton  &  Ruggles.  A  saw-mill  was  also  built,  which  was 
operated  by  the  same  power  as  the  flouring-mill,  and  did  a  large  business  for 
several  years,  under  the  superintendence  of  Franklin  Ruggles.  He  finally 
wore  himself  out  by  hard  work  and  exposure  in  his  business,  and  died  in  1855r 
leaving  two  sons,  John  and  James,  who  now  lie  in  the  grave  beside  their  father 
in  Bath  Cemetery.  John  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh. 

Isaac  N.  Mitchell  is  a  native-born  "  Sucker."  His  parents  were  among  the 
pioneers  of  Morgan  County,  and  came  there  from  Kentucky.  When  Isaac  was 
seventeen  years  old,  the  family  moved  to  Field's  Prairie,  in  this  township,  where 
he  worked  on  the  farm  until  the  age  of  twenty-one,  when  he  came  to  the  village 
of  Bath.  In  1867,  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Mason  County,  and,  in  1869, 
County  Clerk.  He  has  held  various  other  minor  offices,  in  all  of  which  he  has 
given  satisfaction.  He  is  at  present  one  of  the  respected  citizens  of  Havana. 
Daniel  R.  Davis  and  Benjamin  Sisson  were  from  New  England.  The  latter 
came  to  the  settlement  about  1842,  and  died  several  years  ago.  Davis  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  on  the  prairie  east  of  Bath,  and  came  as  early  as  1838-39. 
He  was  an  old  sailor,  and  had  been  all  over  the  world.  In  an  altercation,  one 
day  in  Bath,  he  was  struck  with  a  scale  weight,  from  the  effect  of  which  he 
died.  Leslie  and  George  Lacy  were  from  the  old  Quaker  State  of  Pennsylva- 
nia and  came  to  the  settlement  about  1842.  Both  are  still  living  in  the  town- 
ship. Henry  McCleary  was  a  jolly  Irishman,  and  the  life  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Bath.  He  is  recorded  among  the  pioneers  and  many  are  the  jokes  traced  to 
his  authorship.  One  beautiful  Sabbath  "morning  about  sunrise,  he  was  slip- 
ping out  with  his  gun,  when  some  one  asked  him  where  he  was  going.  With 
ready  Irish  repartee,  replied,  that  he  had  an  appointment  to  meet  Messrs.  Hol- 
land and  Lefever  (two  very  strict  church  members),  down  by  the  river  and  go 
hunting,  and  he  was  afraid  he  would  be  late."  He  was  a  carpenter,  and  when 
Dr.  Oneal  created  anew  office  in  Bath,  McCleary  was  engaged  to  do  the  work. 
Dr.  Oneal  had  a  partition  put  in  the  office,  which  seemed  to  puzzle  the  Irish 
man.  One  day  he  stopped  work  and  told  the  Doctor  if  he  would  pardon  his 
curiosity,  he  would  like  to  ask  "what  he  was  having  that  partition  put  in  for, 
anyhow  'i  "  The  Doctor  told  him  that  a  couple  of  young  men,  viz.:  Toler  and 
Atherton,  were  going  to  study  medicine  with  him,  and  he  wanted  a  back  room 
where  the  young  men  would  be  secure  against  interruption.  McCleary,  scratch- 
ing his  head,  replied,  "  Well,  I  don't  know  anything  about  Atherton,  but  that 
Toler  boy  is  just  —  fool  enough  to  make  a  doctor."  Dr.  John  C.  Galloway  was 
an  early  settler  of  Bath  and  had  a  successful  run  of  practice  for  several  years, 
and  then  moved  to  Kansas.  John  R.  Teney  is  an  old  resident  of  the  county, 
living  in  Bath  ;  also,  B.  C.  Anton.  James  M.  Robinson  came  about  1852, 
and  was  elected  the  first  Police  Magistrate  of  Bath.  He  had  been  in  the  Leg- 
islature from  Menard  County. 

From  "Bingen  on  the  Rhine,"  the  following  sturdy  citizens  came  to  Bath 
Township:  G.  H.  and  J.  H.  Kramer,  J.  H.  and  Diedrich'  Strube,  Peter  Luly, 


-676  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Adolph  Krebaum,  John  Havighorst,  and  two  brothers,  John  Rudolph  Horstman 
and  John  Henry  Horstman.  The  Kramers  came  to  this  country  together,  and 
are  both  still  living,  highly  respected  citizens  of  Bath.  They  are  among  the 
prominent  business  men  of  the  place,  and  have  accumulated  a  good  deal  of  the 
world's  wealth.  J.  H.  and  Diedrich  Strube  were  also  brothers,  and  came  about 
1844-45.  J.  H.  Strube  is  still  living,  but  Diedrich  has  been  dead  some  time. 
Their  father  came  to  Illinois  with  them,  but  he  too,  died  years  ago.  Adolph 
Krebaum  was  elected  Circuit  Clerk  and  moved  to  Bath  in  1845,  and  remained 
there  until  1851,  when  the  county  seat  was  moved  back  to  Havana.  Peter 
Luly  is  among  the  early  settlers,  but  it  is  not  known  what  year  he  came  to  the 
town.  He  went  to  Peoria  and  died  there.  John  Rudolph  Horstman  came  to 
Bath  in  1836,  and  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  His  brother,  John  Henry  Horst- 
man, came  about  four  years  later.  A  peculiarity  of  these  brothers  was  both 
bearing  the  name  of  John.  They  have  been  dead  some  time.  Havighorst  is 
.among  the  early  settlers,  and  located  at  Matanzas,  but  now  lives  in  Havana, 
where  the  Havighorst  family  is  more  particularly  referred  to  among  the  early 
settlers,  as  well  as  the  Schultes  and  Krebaums.  They  have  grown  up  with 
this  great  country,  of  which  they  had  heard  in  their  own  land,  and  crossed  the 
ocean  to  try  their  fortunes  where  all  are  free,  regardless  of  the  poet's  pleading 
•words  to  the  contrary  : 

0  sprecht !   warum  zogt  ihr  von  dannen  ? 
Das  Neckarthal  hat  Wein  und  Korn  ; 

Dor  Schwarzwald  steht  voll  finstrer  Tannen, 
Im  Spessart  klingt  des  Alpler's  Horn. 

EARLY    SCENES    AND    PRIVATIONS. 

When  the  pioneers  whose  names  are  recorded  above  came  to  this  section, 
Bath  Township  was  not  the  highly  cultivated  farming  district  it  is  noAV.  Wild 
prairies,  timber-land,  marshes  and  sloughs  then,  are  now  finely-improved  farms. 
The  timber  has  been  cleared  off,  prairies  turned  upside  down  and  marshes 
•drained.  By  ditching  and  artificial  draining,  much  land  once  supposed  to  be 
worthless  may  now  be  reckoned  among  the  best  in  the  town.  In  place  of  the 
elegant  country  residences  of  the  present  day.  a  cabin  of  black-jack  poles, 
daubed  with  mud,  sheltered  the  settler  and  his  family.  Wolves  were  plenty, 
with  now  and  then  a  panther  to  relieve  the  monotony.  The  present  generation 
know  little  of  what  their  parents  had  to  undergo  in  opening  up  the  country. 

In  the  early  times,  the  people  went  to  mill  at  Duncan's,  on  Spoon  River, 
in  Fulton  County,  until  Simmonds  built  a  mill  on  Quiver,  which  was  more 
convenient,  inasmuch  as  it  was  on  the  same  side  of  the  Illinois  River  that  they 
were  themselves.  A  few  years  after  Simmons  built  his  mill,  McHarry  erected 
one,  also,  on  Quiver  Creek.  These  supplied  the  people  of  this  section  until  the 
erection  of  a  mill  in  the  village  of  Bath.  There  are  no  mills  in  the  township 
outside  of  the  village. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  577 

The  first  blacksmith  in  the  township  was  Guy  Spencer.  He  was  an  East- 
ern man  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county.  He  died  twenty  or 
twenty-five  years  ago.  The  first  stores  and  post  offices  were  in  the  villages, 
and  are  noticed  in  that  connection. 

The  first  school,  it  is  believed,  was  taught  by  Miss  Berry,  who,  some  time 
after,  married  F.  S.  D.  Marshall,  noticed  in  this  chapter  as  one  of  the  pio- 
neers. She  was  a  stepdaughter  of  B.  F.  Turner,  brother  of  Smith  Turner. 

The  first  death  to  Dccur  in  the  settlement  was  Louis  Van  Court,  an  old 
hunter.  He  was  a  bachelor,  and  lived  u  around,"  staying  first  with  one  and 
then  with  another,  and  was  very  wealthy — owning  a  gun,  a  fiddle  and  an  axe. 
He  died  in  1836,  and,  as  an  old  settler  informed  us,  was  buried  in  the  sand, 
near  where  the  village  of  Moscow  once  stood.  Since  his  day,  many  of  the  pio- 
neers have  followed  him  to  the  land  of  shadows. 

Hiram  Blunt,  a  son  of  Thomas  Blunt,  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first 
birth  in  Bath.  At  any  rate,  he  always  claimed  to  have  been  the  first  born  in 
the  county — contesting  that  honor  with  Mr.  Krebaum,  who  is  elsewhere  men- 
tioned as  the  first  in  the  county.  The  first  marriage  is  lost  in  the  mists  of 
antiquity  ;  but  that  there  has  been  a  first  marriage,  followed  by  many  others, 
the  present  population  bears  indisputable  evidence. 

The  first  messenger  to  proclaim  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  the  people 
of  Bath  Township  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shunk,  a  Methodist  minister.  He  estab- 
lished the  first  class  and  church  of  that  denomination,  and  used  to  preach  at 
Maj.  Gatton's  before  there  was  any  church  edifice  erected  in  the  town.  He 
came  originally  from  Pennsylvania  about  1841,  and  died  some  three  years  ago 
from  the  effects  of  sunstroke.  Another  of  the  early  preachers  was  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Daniels,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  who  is  still  living  in  the  village  of  Bath, 
arid  occasionally  preaches  in  the  Christian  Church  of  Bath.  Rev.  George  A. 
Bonney  was  also  an  early  preacher  in  this  section,  and  of  the  Methodist  denomi- 
nation. There  are  two  church  edifices  in  the  township  outside  of  the  village, 
viz. :  Mt.  Zion  Baptist  Church,  on  Sec.  35,  some  five  or  six  miles  southeast  of 
Bath ;  it  was  erected  twenty  years  or  more  ago,  and  is  an  ordinary  frame 
building.  The  other  is  a  German  Lutheran  Church,  in  the  northeast  part  of 
the  town.  It  is  a  neat  frame  edifice,  built  about  1864—65,  and  well  attended 
by  the  German  citizens,  who  comprise  most  of  the  population  in  this  part  of 
the  town. 

THE    RAILROADS. 

Bath  Township  is  traversed  by  the  Peoria,  Pekin  &  Jacksonville  Railroad, 
which  was  completed  through  the  town  in  1859.  A  full  history  of  this  road 
is  given  elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  will  not  be  repeated  in  this  chapter.  It  is 
the  only  railroad  running  through  Bath,  about  twelve  or  thirteen  miles  of  it 
being  in  the  town.  The  Springfield  &  North- Western  Railroad,  which  was  com- 
pleted through  from  Springfield  to  Havana  in  1873,  although  not  touching  this 


578  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

township,  receives  considerable  freight  from  it,  much  of  the  grain  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Bath  being  hauled  to  Kilbourne  and  shipped  over  this  road.  Thus  it 
will  be  seen  that  Bath  Township,  with  the  benefit  of  two  railroads  and  river 
transportation,  is  well  supplied  with  shipping  facilities. 

Mason  County  adopted  township  organization  in  1861,  when  some  changes- 
were  made  in  the  boundaries  of  the  original  townships,  or  election  precincts. 
Bath  formerly  included  in  its  boundary  one  half  of  the  present  town  of  Kil- 
bourne, as  noticed  in  the  history  of  that  town.  Under  the  new  order  of  things 
J.  H.  Allen  was  the  first  Supervisor  of  Bath  Township,  while  J.  H.  Dierker 
represents  it  at  present  in  the  honorable  County  Board. 

In  politics,  Bath  Township  has  always  been  Democratic,  and,  since  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  it  has  been  more  strongly  Democratic 
than  ever.  During  the  late  war,  it  was  loyal  to  the  core,  and  furnished  troops  in 
excess  of  all  calls.  No  draft  occurred  in  the  town  during  the  entire  struggle, 
and  it  could  have  stood  another  call  without  having  been  subjected  to  one — 
pretty  good  evidence  in  support  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  assertion,  that  he  could  never 
put  down  the  rebellion  without  the  assistance  of  the  War  Democrats  of  the 
We.4.  Bath  turned  out  a  number  of  shoulder-straps,  as  well  as  her  full  quota- 
of  muskets.  Among  the  former,  we  may  mention  the  gallant  Ruggles,  noticed 
in  the  list  of  early  settlers  in  another  page.  He  went  into  the  war  as  Lieuten- 
ant and  Quartermaster  of  the  First  Illinois  Cavalry,  but  was  soon  promoted  to- 
Major  of  the  Third  Cavalry,  and,  at  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  to  Lieutenant 
Colonel.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  breveted  Brigadier  General  for  meri- 
torious services.  Charles  "W.  Houghton,  Captain  in  the  Eighty-fifth  Regiment 
of  infantry ;  T.  F.  Patterson,  Captain  in  same  regiment ;  Charles  H.  Chat- 
field  entered  as  a  private,  was  wounded,  came  home  and  veteranized,  and  was 
elected  Captain  in  same  regiment,  and  was  killed  at  Chickamauga ;  Samuel 
Young  was  Lieutenant  in  same  regiment ;  C.  H.  Raymond,  First  Lieutenant 
in  same  ;  George  O.  Craddock,  entered  as  private,  and  was  promoted  to  a 
Lieutenancy  in  same  regiment  before  close  of  war ;  A.  J.  Bruner  (killed  in 
Missouri),  J.  H.  Mitchell  and  A.  T.  Davis  were  Lieutenants  in  the  Seventeenth 
Infantry;  J.  H.  Schulte,  Captain,  and  W.  W.  Nelson,  Lieutenant,  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighth  Infantry  ;  W.  H.  Rochester,  Lieutenant  in  Twenty-sev- 
enth Infantry ;  J.  W.  Chatfield,  Second  Lieutenant  in  same  regiment ;  A.  H. 
Frazer,  Second  Lieutenant,  First  Lieutenant  and  then  Captain  in  the  Fifty-first 
Infantry ;  Robert  Huston,  Lieutenant  in  same  regiment ;  Charles  Reichman, 
Second  Lieutenant  in  Twenty-eighth  Infantry ;  F.  S.  Cogshall  and  W.  W. 
Turner,  Lieutenants  in  Eighty-fifth  Infantry  ;  Frank  A.  Mosely  and  John  B. 
Brush,  Lieutenants  in  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-ninth  Regiment  (one  hundred 
days).  The  rank  and  file,  too  numerous  to  be  mentioned  in  this  limited  space, 
were  of  the  sturdy  "  sons  of  the  soil,"  who  bore  themselves  bravely  in  the  front, 
of  the  fray.  To  those  who  laid  down  their  lives  upon  Southern  battle-fields, 
Requiescant  in  Pace. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  579 

THE   VILLAGE   OF   BATH. 

Bath  was  laid  out  in  1836  for  John  Curtain,  who  owned  the  land.  It  was 
surveyed  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  Deputy  Surveyor  of  Sangamon  County ;  and 
the  plat  of  the  original  fifteen  blocks,  surveyed  by  the  martyred  President,  is 
now  in  the  possession  of  Maj.  Gatton,  but  so  defaced  that  little  is  to  be 
learned  from  the  document.  The  plat  was  acknowledged  before  Thomas  Mof- 
fatt  (afterward  Judge  Moffatt,  of  Springfield),  and  recorded  by  Benjamin  Tal- 
bot,  Recorder  of  Sangamon  County,  under  date  of  December  13,  1836.  Maj. 
Gatton  bought  out  Curtain,  and  thus  became  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
town.  There  have  been  several  additions  made  to  the  original  fifteen  blocks  of 
Bath,  among  which  we  may  notice  those  of  Dummer  &  Mahoney,  Ross,  Gat- 
ton, Bunton  &  Martin,  and  Ruggles'  Addition. 

Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  surveying  party,  during  their  work  at  Bath,  boarded 
with  Charley  Richardson,  who  acted  as  one  of  the  chain-carriers.  The  follow- 
ing good  story  is  told  as  having  occurred,  while  the  surveyors  were  domiciled 
at  Mr.  Richardson's.  A  party  of  sportsmen  from  Schuyler  County  came  over 
on  a  hunt,  and,  as  the  hotels  were  all  full  at  the  time  (with  Sunday-school  and 
temperance  excursionists),  they  were  "  taken  in  "  by  Mr.  Richardson,  and  pro- 
vided for  as  well  as  the  nature  of  the  case  would  permit.  "  Billy  "  Brown, 
one  of  the  Schuyler  County  "  tads  "  (who  had  partaken  bountifully  of  deer 
meat  and  wild  honey),  like  John  on  the  Isle  of  Patmos  (Richardson  lived  then 
on  Grand  Island)  had  a  vision  during  the  night,  in  which  he  saw  the  world  on 
fire,  an  event  he  seemed  desirous  to  evade.  Rising  from  the  soft  side  of  one  of 
the  puncheons  of  Mr.  Richardson's  cabin  floor,  still  half  asleep,  he  looked 
through  a  crack  between  logs  of  the  wall,  and  saw  the  blazing  furnace  of  an  Illi- 
nois River  steamer  with  her  prow  turned  shoreward,  near  where  the  cabin 
stood.  Her  shrill  whistle,  for  the  purpose  of  awakening  the  men  at  the  wood- 
yard,  was  mistaken  by  Brown  for  Gabriel's  trumpet.  Dropping  upon  his  knees, 
he  engaged  in  fervent  prayer,  much  to  the  amusement  of  Mr.  Lincoln  and  the 
others  of  the  party.  Brown  did  not  hear  the  last  of  his  devotional  exercises 
while  the  hunters  remained,  and  perhaps  not  for  many  a  day  after  their  return 
home. 

The  first  house  erected  in  the  present  village,  deserving  the  name  of  dwell- 
ing, was  built  by  Maj.  Gatton,  or  rather  he  had  it  built.  His  brother,  R.  P. 
Gatton,  came  up  and  superintended  its  erection,  and  when  it  was  completed 
Maj.  Gatton  moved  into  it.  When  his  house  was  erected,  there  was  a  little 
pole  cabin  standing  in  the  precincts  of  the  present  village,  which  had  been  built 
by  a  man  named  Carey.  Gatton's  house  was  of  hewed  logs,  as  already  noticed 
in-  the  township  history,  and  is  still  standing. 

The  first  store  was  opened  by  Nelms  &  Gatton  in  1842,  and  soon  after  them 
Col.  West  began  merchandising,  and  kept  the  second  store  in  Bath.  The  first 
blacksmith  is  the  same  as  mentioned  in  the  township  history.  The  mercantile 


580  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

business  steadily  increased  until  Bath  became  a  successful  competitor  of  Havana,, 
the  oldest  town  in  the  county. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  in  1842,  and  B.  H.  Gatton  appointed 
Postmaster.  He  carried  the  mail  himself  from  Havana  to  Bath  for  six  months, 
for  which  Uncle  Sam  neglected  to  pay  him,  notwithstanding  the  old  gentle- 
man has  always  been  considered  good  for  his  debts  to  his  public  servants.  His 
first  quarter's  pay  as  Postmaster  amounted  to  the  rousing  sum  of  43J  cents, 
principally  cash.  John  S.  Wilbourn  succeeded  Mr.  Gatton  as  Postmaster. 
After  various  changes  in  this  department,  TJ.  B.  Lindsley  has  succeeded  to  the 
office. 

Gatton  &  Ruggles  built  the  first  mill  in  Bath,  about  1850-51,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $12,000,  which  had  two  run  of  buhrs.  After  several  years'  opera- 
tion, it  became  the  property  of  a  man  named  Robinson,  who  took  out  the 
machinery  and  moved  it  across  the  river,  and  the  frame  was  moved  down  on 
the  railroad  and  converted  into  a  grain  elevator,  which  purpose  it  still  serves.- 
Craggs,  noticed  among  the  early  settlers,  built  a  saw-mill  in  the  bottom,  some 
years  after  the  one  mentioned  above,  which  was  bought  by  Marshall,  and  was 
afterward  moved  into  the  village.  He  made  several  additions  to  it,  changed  it 

O  7  O 

into  a  flouring-mill,  and  finally  made  a  fortune  out  of  it  during  the  war.  He 
sold  it  to  Cameron  &  Fletcher.  Some  years  ago,  it  was  burned,  and  the  present 
"Bath  Mills  "  built.  The  structure  is  a  substantial  frame,  with  three  run  of 
buhrs,  and  cost  about  $6,000.  The  first  tavern  was  kept  by  Col.  West,  in  what 
is  now  the  Central  Hotel,  though  it  has  been  enlarged  and  improved  since  its 
first  occupation  as  a  place  of  public  entertainment.  It  is  now  kept  by  Mr. 
Barr,  and  is  the  only  hotel  in  the  village.  Before  it  was  opened  by  Col. 
West,  Maj.  Gatton  used  to  entertain  the  wayfaring  men  who  chanced  to  come 
this  way. 

The  grain  trade  at  Bath  was,  at  one  time,  the  most  extensive  in  the  county, 
except  Havana.  .  The  first  dealer  was  Maj.  Gatton,  who  commenced  the  bus- 
iness very  early.  He  bought  grain  here  for  about  four  years,  when  J.  M. 
Ruggles  became  his  partner.  This  partnership  continued  at  intervals  from 
1846  to  I860.  The  first  was  under  the  firm  name  of  Ruggles  &  Co.,  and 
extended  from  1846  to  1849,  when  Gatton  had  a  violent  attack  of  gold  fever, 
sold  out  and  crossed  the  plains  to  Califoraia.  On  his  return,  business  was 
resumed  with  Ruggles,  under  the  firm  name  of  Gatton,  Ruggles  &  Co.,  when 
Gatton  took  a  relapse  of  the  gold  fever,  and  again  made  an  overland  trip  to 
California.  When  he  again  came  back  to  Illinois,  the  old  partnership  was 
renewed^  as  Gatton  &  Ruggles.  The  first  elevator  was  built  by  Gatton,  but 
the  most  of  the  shipping  by  him  and  his  firm  was  by  river,  in  barges  and  canal 
boats.  Barges  were  often  loaded  at  their  wharf  and  shipped  direct  to  New  York, 
Boston  and  New  Orleans.  There  are  two  large  grain  elevators  and  grain  ware- 
houses on  the  railroad,  with  large  storage  capacity.  Mrs.  Simmons  now  owns 
the  one  built  by  Gatton.  The  other  is  owned  by  the  Havighorst  estate.  The 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  581 

grain  trade  at  present  is  carried  on  by  Gatton,*  Low  &  Foster,  of  Havana,  and 
Wilson,  Garm  &  Co.,  of  Beardstown.  The  latter  firm  do  the  largest  business, 
and  ship  by  the  river  exclusively,  owning  their  own  boats  and  barges,  and  will, 
eventually  (Mr.  Gatton  says),  absorb  the  entire  grain  trade  of  the  place. 
Before  the  completion  of  the  Springfield  &  North- Western  Railroad,  the  business- 
at  this  point  reached  an  average  of  500,000  bushels  annually,  but  has  been 
diminishing  ever  since  its  completion,  owing  to  the  fact  that  those  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  township,  who'  used  to  come  to  Bath  with  their  grain,  now  ship  over 
that  road. 

CHURCH   AND    SCHOOL    EDIFICES. 

The  first  church  erected  in  the  village  of  Bath  was  by  the  Old  School 
Presbyterians,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town,  assisted  by  all  "  sects,  kindred 
and  tongues,"  with  the  understanding  that  it  was  to  be  free  to  all  denomina- 
tions. But  no  sooner  was  it  finished  than  the  doors  were  shut  against  them. 
This  denomination,  however,  at  no  time  was  very  strong,  and  finally  became 
almost  extinct  by  removals  and  death,  when  the  church  was  sold  to  the  authori- 
ties, moved  into  the  public  square,  and  converted  into  a  town  hall.  The  Metho- 
dist Church  was  built  soon  after  the  Presbyterian,  on  a  lot  donated  by  Gatton. 
for  the  purpose.  It  is  a  frame  building,  and  cost  about  $1,500.  The  mem- 
bership is  twenty-five,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Lowe  is  Pastor.  A  flourishing  Sunday 
school  is  maintained,  under  the  superintendence  of  Warren  Heberling.  About 
sixty-five  is  the  average  attendance  of  the  school. 

A  few  years  later,  the  Christian  Church  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,500. 
It  is  also  a  frame  building,  and  was  built  on  lots  donated  for  the  purpose  by 
Gen.  Ruggles.  The  membership  is  small,  and  no  regular  pastor  is  in  attend- 
ance. Rev.  J.  A.  Daniels,  a  local  minister  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  fill* 
the  pulpit  occasionally,  with  now  and  then  a  visiting  brother  of  their  own 
creed  from  some  neighboring  diocese.  A  Sunday  school,  somewhat  limited  in 
attendance,  is  carried  on,  of  which  Stephen  Brown  is  Superintendent. 

The  name  of  the  first  pedagogue  in  the  village  of  Bath  is  not  now  remem- 
bered. The  first  schoolhouse  was  the  building  erected  for  a  Court  House, 
when -Bath  was  the  seat  of  justice  of  the  county,  and  which  reverted  to  the 
proprietors  of  the  town  when  the  county  seat  was  moved  back  to  Havana.  They 
sold  the  building  to  the  School  Boerd,  and  thus  it  became  a  temple  of  learning 
instead  of  a  temple  of  justice.  It  was  used  as  a  schoolhouse  until  the  erec- 
tion of  the  present  elegant  brick,  which  stands  in  the  old  Court  House  Square, 
and  was  built  in  1872,  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.  It  is  a  handsome  structure,  and 
an  ornament  to  the  town.  Prof.  McKean  was  Principal  for  the  term  just  closed, 
with  Mrs.  McKean,  Miss  Norbury  and  Mrs.  Hudnall  as  teachers. 

Freemasonry  and  Odd  Fellowship,  those  benevolent  organizations  that  fol- 
low close  in  the  footsteps  of  civilization,  are  represented  by  flourishing  Lodges 

*  Since  this  was  written,  MBJ.  Gatton  has  removed  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Gunn  City,  Cass  County. 


582  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

in  Bath.  The  Odd  Fellows  were  the  first  to  establish  a  Lodge  here.  From 
B.  F.  Rochester,  Secretary,  we  received  the  following  facts  in  regard  to 
it:  "Bath  Lodge,  No.  125,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  instituted  July  29,  1853, 
by  M.  H.  L.  Schooley,  D.  G.  M.,  assisted  by  the  following  gentlemen, 
who  represented  the  Grand  Lodge :  J.  W.  Nay  lor,  Grand  Marshal  ;  V.  G. 
Sims,  Grand  Secretary  ;  L.  H.  Doss,  Grand  Treasurer  ;  S.  P.  Guin,  Grand 
Warden  ;  Zachariah  Gatton,  G.  G.,  and  P.  0.  Brien,  G.  C.  The  charter  mem- 
bers were  Harvey  Oneal,  R.  P.  Gatton,  J.  J.  Taylor,  George  W.  Pettitt,  U. 
B.  Lindsley,  G.  H.  Havighorst  and  John  H.  Havighorst.  The  first  officers 
were  :  Harvey  Oneal,  Noble  Grand ;  J.  J.  Taylor,  Vice  Grand  ;  G.  H.  Havig- 
horst, Secretary  ;  R.  P.  Gatton,  Treasurer  ;  John  H.  Havighorst,  Conductor ; 
G.  W.  Pettitt,  Warden,  and  U.  B.  Lindsley,  Inside  Guard.  A  list  of  138 
signatures  are  attached  to  the  roll  of  membership,  and,  at  present,  there  are 
15  active  members,  among  whom  is  J.  A.  Burlingame,  who  was  initiated  A-ugust 
15,  1853,  and  has  ever  retained  his  membership,  is  a  Past  Grand,  and,  we  pre- 
sume, the  oldest  member  of  the  Order  in  the  county.  Within  the  past  five 
years,  the  Lodge  and  its  members  have  contributed  nearly  $800  for  the  relief 
of  the  members  and  their  families.  It  owns  real  estate  and  lodge-fixtures 
Talued  at  $1,000,  and  its  warrants  are  regarded  as  cash.  The  officers-elect  for 
the  term  commencing  July  1,  1879,  are  as  follows,  viz.:  John  F.  Bond,  N.  G.; 
John  L.  Ashurst,  V.  G.  ;  John  M.  Martin,  Treasurer,  and  B.  F.  Rochester, 
Secretary.  The  meetings  of  the  Lodge  are  on  the  Monday  evenings  of  each 
"week." 

Bath  Lodge,  A.,  F.  &  A.  Masons,  was  organized  under  dispensation  in  June, 
1866,  issued  by  Jerome  B.  Gorin,  Acting  Grand  Master.  The  charter  mem- 
bers were  William  W.  Turner,  Charles  Reichman,  Charles  W.  Houghton,  John 
P.  Foland,  John  H.  Johnson,  Thomas  Webb  and  J.  M.  Beesley,  of  whom 
•Charles  W.  Houghton  was  named  in  tKe  dispensation  as  Master,  Charles  Reich- 
man, Senior  Warden,  and  John  H.  Johnson,  Junior  Warden.  October  3,  1866, 
it  was  chartered  as  Bath  Lodge,  No.  494,  and  its  charter  signed  by  Most  Wor- 
shipful H'.  P.  H.  Bromwell,  Grand  Master.  The  first  officers  elected  under 
the  charter  were  :  Charles  W.  Houghton,  Master  ;  Charles  Reichman,  Senior 
Warden ;  J.  C.  Wright,  Junior  Warden  ;  J.  H.  Johnson,  Treasurer  ;  J.  M. 
Beesley,  Secretary ;  Warren  Heberling,  Senior  Deacon ;  T.  P.  Renshaw,  Junior 
Deacon,  and  W.  W.  Turner,  Tiler.  The  present  officers  are  :  Warren  Heber- 
ling, Master ;  J.  H.  Dierker,  Senior  Warden  ;  M.  Frank,  Junior  Warden  ;  B. 
H.  Gatton,  Treasurer ;  J.  S.  Duncan,  Secretary ;  G.  W.  Moore,  Senior  Dea- 
eon ;  J.  S.  Allen,  Junior  Deacon,  and  F.  E.  Shirtcliff,  Tiler,  with  forty-four 
names  on  the  roll  of  membership.  The  Lodge  is  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
owns  the  elegant  and  handsomely  furnished  hall  in  which  it  meets,  and  its  affairs 
.are  conducted  by  an  efficient  corps  of  officers. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON  COUNTY.  585 

THE    COUNTY   SEAT    QUESTION. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  future  readers  of  this  authentic  history,  to  know 
that  Bath  was  once  the  capital  of  Mason  County.  She  not  only  aspired  to 
that  dignity  but  attained  it,  and  for  a  period  of  eight  years  was  the  seat  of 
justice.  As  pertinent  to  the  subject,  we  copy  the  following  from  the  county 
map.  Speaking  of  the  location  of  the  county  seat,  it  says:  "There  was 
much  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  Bath,  who,  justly  or 
unjustly,  thought  that  their  town  offered  superior  advantages  as  the  seat  of  jus- 
tice of  Mason  County.  An  agitation  of  the  subject  was  kept  up,  and  finally 
an  act,  approved  January  19,  1843,  was  obtained  from  the  Legislature,  author- 
izing another  election  to  be  held  on  the  second  Monday  of  February  of  that 
year.  Polls  were  opened  at  three  places ;  at  James  Walker's,  in  Havana,  at 
Lynchburg  and  at  Bath,  where  votes  were  received  for  the  towns  of  Bath  ami 
Havana  for  the  county  seat.  Bath  received  a  majority  of  votes  and  was 
declared  the  county  seat.  Its  inhabitants  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
the  archives  of  the  county  removed  to  their  town.  The  June  term  of  the 
Circuit  Court  for  1844  was  held  at  Bath,  the  previous  June  term  having  been 
held  at  "Havana.  Entire  satisfaction  was  not  yet  obtained.  Havana  still  had 
aspirations  which  could  only  be  satisfied  by  another  removal  of  the  seat  of  jus- 
tice, and,  in  February,  1851,  legislation  was  obtained  by  which  another  elec- 
tion was  held  on  the  second  Monday  of  March,  1851,  at  which  the  question 
was  again  brought  before  the  people.  The  clerks  of  election  opened  two  col- 
umns, one  'For  Havana,'  and  the  other  'Against  Removal.'  The  election 
resulted  in  again  making  Havana  the  county  seat,  which  it  has  since  continued 
to  be."  Thus  Bath  lost  its  hard-earned  dignity,  was  shorn  of  its  fleeting  hon- 
ors, and  as  a  consequence,  its  "glory  departed  forever."  This  county  seat 
question,  however,  is  more  particularly  referred  to  in  the  county  history. 

As  stated  in  the  above  extract,  the  first  session  of  Circuit  Court  was  held 
at  Bath,  in  June,  1844,  and,  as  no  building  had  yet  been  erected,  it  was  held  at 
the  house  of  Col.  West.  But  a  Court  House  was  at  once  erected  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  village.  It  was  a  commodious  brick  structure,  two  stories  high, 
with  offices  on  the  first  floor  and  the  hall  of  justice  above.  The  building  was 
36x40  feet,  and  cost  about  $3,000.  It  was  built  as  cheaply  as  possible,  the 
brick  being  manufactured  near  the  spot,  and  the  other  material  procured  at  the 
lowest  figures.  When  the  county  seat  was  moved  back  to  Havana,  the  build- 
ing was  sold  to  the  village  for  school  purposes,  as  elsewhere  stated. 

* 

VILLAGE    ORGANIZATION. 

The  village  of  Bath  was  originally  incorporated  under  a  special  act  of  the 
Legislature,  approved  February,  1857.  The  charter  was  prepared  by  Gen. 
Ruggles  with  great  care,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  best  and  most  perfect 
instrument  of  its  kind  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  An  election  was  held  on  the 


586  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

first  Monday  in  April  of  the  same  year,  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  J, 
M.  Ruggles,  Harvey  Oneal,  B.  H.  Gatton,  Samuel  Young  and  Richard  Bigsby, 
Town  Councilmen.  The  Board  organized  by  electing  B.  H.  Gatton,  President; 
G.  H.  Campbell,  Clerk  and  Treasurer;  James  M.  Robinson,  Police  Magistrate, 
and  John  H.  Johnson,  Town  Constable.  It  remained  under  this  style  of  gov- 
ernment until  1876,  when  it  was  organized  under  the  general  law,  and  the 
following  Board  of  Trustees  elected,  viz.:  Warren  Heberling,  F.  S.  Cogeshall, 
B.  H.  Gatton,  P.  Perkins  and  J.  S.  Allen.  This  Board  was  organized  with 
B.  H.  Gatton,  President,  and  L.  Carpenter,  Clerk  and  Treasurer.  At  present 
the  Board  consists  of  John  L.  Rochester,  J.  H.  Allen,  A.  Schaaf,  M.  Frank, 
John  R.  Horstman  and  J.  H.  Daniels.  John  L.  Rochester  is  President  of  the 
Board;  L.  Carpenter,  Clerk;  H.  Middlecamp,  Treasurer,  and  G.  W.  Moorer 
Police  Magistrate. 

The  cemetery  on  the  southern  limits  of  the  village  is  a  beautiful  burying- 
ground,  inclosed  by  a  handsome  fence,  and  kept  in  most  excellent  order.  The 
first  interment  in  its  "silent  shades"  was  a  daughter  of  Col.  West.  She  was 
teaching  school  at  Virginia,  Cass  County,  at  the  time  of  her  death,  and  her 
father  (Col.  West)  came  to  Gen.  Ruggles  and  suggested  the  propriety  of  a 
burying-ground  being  laid  off,  and  remarked  that  he  would  like  to  bring  his 
daughter  here  for  interment.  Ruggles  went  and  staked  off  the  present  ceme- 
tery, saw  the  parties  who  owned  the  land,  and  arranged  for  its  purchase. 
Having  surveyor's  instruments,  he  surveyed  it  and  laid  off  the  lots  before  the 
first  burial  in  it.  Since  then,  many  of  the  pioneers  of  the  village  and  town- 
ship have  been  laid  beneath  its  weeping  willows,  to  take  their  last  long  sleep. 

"Where  are  their  spirits  flown? 

We  gaze  above — their  looks  are  imaged  there  ; 
We  listen — and  their  gentle  tones 
Are  on  the  air." 

Although  the  business  of  Bath  has  been  waning  for  several  years,  as  other 
villages  have  sprung  up  in  its  vicinity,  yet  it  is  the  center  of  trade  for  a  large 
and  rich  scope  of  country.  Its  grain  trade  has  always  been  its  most  valuable 
branch  of  business.  Its  mercantile  trade  boasts  of  some  able  firms  and  ener- 
getic and  wide-awake  business  men..  The  following  summary  shows  the  pres- 
ent status  of  the  business  of  the  place:  Two  dry- goods  stores,  two  drug  stores,, 
two  tinware,  one  hardware,  four  grocery  stores,  one  furniture,  one  hotel,  with 
blacksmith,  wagon  and  shoe  shops,  grain  dealers,  etc.  Several  well-filled  mil- 
linery stores  furnish  the  fair  portion  of  the  population  with  all  the  fashionable 
flummery  and  female  toggery  of  the  times. 

Saidora  Station,  in  the  south  part  of  the  town,  has  scarcely  attained  to  the 
dignity  of  a  village.  It  consists  of  a  store,  depot  and  grain  elevator,  but  has 
never,  we  believe,  been  laid  out  as  a  village.  The  station  is  located  on  the 
land  of  Joseph  Adkins,  and  the  only  store  of  the  place  is  kept  by  a  son  of 
Adkins,  who  also  buys  grain  for  Low  &  Foster,  of  Havana.  Large  shipments 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  587 

'are  made  from  this  point,  considering  its  close  proximity  to  Bath  and  Chandler- 
ville. 

NON    EST    INVENTUS. 

Among  the  early  villages  laid  out  in  what  is  now  Mason  County,  were  those 
of  Matanzas  and  Moscow.  But  they  have  paid  nature's  great  debt,  and  no 
trace  of  them  remains  at  the  present  day  to  mark  their  site.  Matanzas  was 
laid  out  April  10,  1839,  by  V.  B.  Holmes  and  a  man  named  Watkins  Powellr 
and  was  located  on  portions  of  Sections  28  and  33,  of  Bath  Township,  near  the 
northern  part.  When  laid  out,  it  was  in  Tazewell  County,  Mason  not  being  created 
until  two  years  later."  J.  H.  Schulte,  an  early  settler  of  Havana  Township^ 
had  the  first  store  in  Matanzas,  and  was  followed  later  by  one  or  two  others. 
Shops  were  established,  a  steam  saw-mill  was  built,  which  did  a  large  business 
for  several  years.  It  became  quite  a  point  for  grain-shipping,  and,  being 
located  on  the  river,  it  was  confidently  believed  that  its  situation  would  be  the 
means  of  making  a  town  of  it.  We  believe,  too,  that  it  once  entered  into  com- 
petition for  the  county  seat,  after  the  formation  of  Mason  County.  But 
Havana  on  the  one  side  and  Bath  on  the  other,  soon  blasted  its  hopes  in  that 
direction,  and,  literally  speaking,  swallowed  it  up-  Its  streets,  public  parks 
and  pleasure  gardens  are  now  corn-fields,  and  the  passing  stranger  would  be 
struck  with  wonder,  that  a  lively  town  had  once  flourished  there. 

The  fate  of  Matanzas  will  also  apply  to  Moscow.  It  is  another  of  the 
villages  of  Bath  Township  that  was  and  is  not.  It  was  laid  out  May  30, 1836,. 
on  Section  24,  by  Erastus  Wright,  for  Ossian  M.  Ross,  and  was,  at  one  time, 
an  enterprising  little  village.  Joseph  A.  Phelps  had  a  store  here,  perhaps  the 
first  one  in  the  place.  Situated  on  the  river,  it,  too,  was  a  grain  point  of  con- 
siderable note,  Maj.  Gatton  being  one  of  the  most  extensive  operators  here^ 
But  in  the  zenith  of  its  glory  and  prosperity,  it  never  equaled  in  magnificence 
its  namesake — the  ancient  capital  of  Russia.  Since  the  day  of  railroads  in 
Mason  County,  Moscow  has  disappeared,  and,  like  Matanzas,  the  site  whereon 
it  stood  is  now  a  productive  farm.  Thus  two  lively  villages  of  Bath  Township 
have  been  totally  eclipsed  by  more  fortunate  rivals,  and  the  places  that  once; 
knew  them  will  know  them  no  more. 


MANITO  TOWNSHIP. 

He  who  attempts  to  present  with  unvarying  accuracy  the  annals  of  a  countyr 
or  even  of  a  district  no  larger  than  a  township,  the  history  of  which  reaches- 
back  through  a  period  of  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  imposes  upon  him- 
self a  task  beset  with  difficulties  on  every  hand.  These  difficulties  are  often 
augmented  by  statements  widely  at  variance,  furnished  by  early  settlers  and 
their  descendants  as  data  from  which  to  compile  a  true  and  faithful  record  of 
past  events.  To  claim  for  a  work  of  this  character  perfect  freedom  from  the 
slightest  inaccuracies  would  be  simply  to  arrogate  to  one's  self  that  degree  of 


588  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

wisdom  which  alone  resides  in  the  councils  of  the  omniscient  I  Am.  If,  there- 
fore, kind  reader,  the  time  and  place  of  recorded  events  may  not,  in  every  par- 
ticular, agree  with  your  individual  opinion,  please  bear  in  mind  we  will  ever 
incline  to  those  statements  which  seem  supported  by  the  greater  weight  of  tes- 
timony. To  give  FACTS,  and  facts  only,  should  be  the  highest  aim  and  ambi- 
tion of  every  writer  who  professes  to  deal  with  incidents  of  the  past.  This  shall 
be  our  goal,  this  our  guiding-star.  How  well  the  task  shall  be  performed, 
we  submit  to  the  judgment  of  a  discriminating  public.  The  township  of 
Manito  is  situated  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Mason  County,  and  comprises 
within  its  present  limits  a  little  more  than  forty-five  sections.  It  is  somewhat 
irregular  in  shape,  being  eight  miles  in  extent  along  its  northern  boundary 
line,  by  nine  miles  north  and  south  along  its  eastern  boundary  line.  The 
extreme  west  line  of  the  township  is  but  four  miles  in  extent  from  north  to  south. 
With  the  exception  of  two  or  three  small  groves  in  the  north  and  northwestern 
portions  of  the  township,  the  entire  area  of  Manito  Township  is  prairie.  The 
central,  eastern  and  southeastern  portions  are  somewhat  flat,  yet  for  the  most 
part  easily  susceptible  of  drainage.  When  the  first  settlers  came,  much  of 
these  portions  were  denominated  swamp-lands,  but  these,  by  artificial  drainage, 
have  been  converted  into  the  most  productive  farms  within  her  limits.  And 
where  once  wild  geese  and  ducks  in  countless  numbers  swam  lazily  about  amidst 
the  rank-growing  rushes  or  floated  calmly  and  undisturbed  upon  the  stagnant 
waters,  may  now  be  seen  finely  cultivated  fields  teeming  with  the  fast-ripening 
harvest.  The  soil  in  this  portion  of  the  township  is  of  a  deep  black  loam, 
freely  intermixed  with  sand,  but  is  exceedingly  fertile  and  productive.  Indeed, 
such  a  vast  amount  of  corn,  oats,  rye  and  wheat  is  annually  produced  in  this 
portion  of  Manito  and  those  adjacent  to  it,  that  the  citizens  have  for  many 
years  recognized  the  propriety  of  designating  it  as  their  Egypt.  Corn,  how- 
ever, is  the  staple  product  of  this,  as  well  as  most  other  portions  of  the  county. 
No  tortuous  stream  courses  its  way  through  the  township.  Water,  however,  is 
easily  obtained  even  in  the  highest  portions  at  a  depth  of  from  twenty  to  thirty 
feet.  A  hollow,  pointed  iron  tube,  one  and  one-half  inches  in  diameter,  with 
slottings  near  the  point  for  the  admission  of  water,  is  driven  to  the  required 
depth  below  the  surface,  and,  when  once  a  vein  is  tapped,  an  inexhaustible 
supply  is  afforded.  In  this  manner,  a  ''drove-well"  thirty  feet  deep  can  be 
begun  and  completed  in  a  few  hours'  time.  The  northwestern  and  western  por- 
tions of  the  township  varies  in  its  surface  configurations  from  that  which  we 
have  described.  The  soil  is  of  a  somewhat  different  character,  the  lighter 
colored  and  more  argillaceous  subsoil  appearing  at  or  near  the  surface.  The 
surface  is  a  plane  of  higher  elevation  and  is  somewhat  broken  and  hilly.  It  is, 
however,  quite  productive  and  yields  fine  crops  of  corn.  One  peculiar 
characteristic  of  the  soil  is  that  it  can  withstand  excessive  drought  or  long  con- 
tinued wet  weather  better  than  that  portion  known  as  Egypt.  The  greatest 
drawback  to  this  section  is  its  lack  of  pasturage  and  meadow  lands.  Farmers 


HISTORY   OP   MASON   COUNTY.  589 

are  necessitated  to  feed  their  stock  throughout  the  entire  year  and  to  procure 
their  hay  from  a  distance,  varying  from  twelve  to  fifteen  miles.  In  position, 
this  township  lies  north  of  Forest  City  Township,  east  of  Quiver  Township, 
south  and  west  of  Tazewell  County.  Passing  from  the  topography  of  the 
township,  we  enter  at  once  upon  that  period  of  its  history  pertaining  to  its 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

As  has  already  been  stated,  the  timbered  area  of  Manito  Township  was  of 
limited  extent.  Black  Oak  Grove  in  the  northeast,  Coon  Grove  on  Sections 
31  and  32,  together  with  the  outskirts  of  Long  Point  Timber  on  the  extreme 
western  boundary,  comprise  the  timbered  district,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
grove  on  Section  30,  not  exceeding  six  acres  in  extent,  called  Walnut  Grove, 
from  the  character  of  the  timber  found  there.  And  as  in  other  portions  of  our 
Western  country,  the  earliest  settlements  and  improvements  are  found  in  and 
along  the  outskirts  of  the  timber,  so,  likewise,  the  earliest  settlements  were 
made  here  in  the  groves  of  this  township.  No  matter  how  unproductive  the 
soil  along  the  timber  line,  nor  how  rich  and  fertile  the  broad  acres  of  out- 
stretching prairie  might  be  a  few  miles  away,  the  early  pioneer  built  his  rude 
log  cabin  near  the  timber  and  began  the  work  of  opening  up  his  farm,  leaving 
for  those  who  should  succeed  him  after  the  lapse  of  a  decade  or  more  of  years, 
the  most  productive  and  finest  farming  lands  in  all  his  section  of  territory. 
Among  the  earliest,  if  not  the  earliest  settler  of  the  township,  was  one  William 
Herron,  who  settled  as  early  as  1838  or  1839,  just  east  of  the  present  village 
of  Manito,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  John  Woodworth.  He  had  emigrated 
from  Ohio  to  Mackinaw,  Tazewell  County,  some  years  earlier,  and  from  Mack- 
inaw to  Mason  County,  and  settled  in  the  edge  of  Black  Oak  Grove,  as  before 
stated.  A  maiden  sister  kept  his  house  for  him.  He  lived  the  life  of  a  bach- 
elor and,  dying,  was  buried  on  the  farm  on  which  he  settled,  few,  if  any  now 
living,  can  point  out  the  exact  spot  where  repose  the  mortal  remains  of  Man- 
ito's  earliest  settler.  To  him  may  be  applied  most  fittingly  the  words  of  the 

"Not  in  the  churchyard's  hallowed  ground, 
AVhere  marble  columns  rise  around, 
By  willow  or  by  cypress  shade, 
Are  thy  poor  mortal  relics  laid. 
Thou  sleepest  here,  all,  all  alone — 
No  other  grave  is  near  thine  own. 
'Tis  well,  'tis  well,  but  oh,  such  fate 
Seems  very,  very  desolate." 

At  or  near  the  same  time  came  Stephen  W.  Porter,  accompanied  by  his 
wife,  and  settled  near  the  edge  of  the  pond  now  included  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  the  village  of  Manito.  Porter  was  a  nephew  of  Herron's,  and  came 
here  from  Mackinaw.  He  continued  to  live  in  this  section  of  the  county  up 
to  the  date  of  his  demise.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Ray  came  from  New  York 


590  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

and  settled  in  Coon  Grove,  or  rather  between  Coon  Grove  and  Long  Point 
timber,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  W.  H.  Cogdell,  as  early  as  1840.  He 
built  a  log  cabin  and  was  the  third  permanent  settler  in  the  township.  Soon 
after  coming,  he  planted  a  quantity  of  apple-seeds,  and  from  the  seedlings  thus 
raised  put  out  the  first  apple  orchard  made  in  this  section  of  the  county.  The 
line  of  the  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.  passes  through  this  orchard  a  short  distance  north- 
east of  Forest  City.  There  yet  remain  a  few  of  the  trees  planted  by  the 
hands  of  the  early  settler  nearly  forty  years  ago.  After  a  few  years'  residence, 
he  sold  out  his  possessions  and  started  back  to  the  Empire  State,  but  sickened 
and  died  on  the  way.  As  an  evidence  that  labor  was  cheap  and  money  scarce 
with  the  early  settlers,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  making  of  rails  could  be  con- 
tracted for  two  bits  or  25  cents  per  hundred,  and  the  pay  was  taken  in  meat  at 
12J  cents  per  pound,  two  pounds  paying  for  the  labor  of  making  one  hundred 
rails.  Of  settlers  in  the  township  as  early  as  1845.  the  following  names  occur: 
Abel  Maloney,  Layton  Rice,  George  Baxter,  John  Davis,  King  Hibbard, 
James  Green,  Thomas  Landreth,  Zeno  Ashmon,  William  Mayes,  Douglas 
Osborne,  Alexander  and  Wesley  Brisbaur.  Maloney  came  originally  from  the 
Old  Dominion  and  settled  in  Menard  in  1838.  In  1841,  he  came  to  Manito 
Township  and  settled  in  Coon  Grove  near  the  location  of  Union  Station,  on 
the  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.  He  was  in  poor  circumstances  when  he  came,  but  accu- 
mulated means  rapidly  and  was  considered  wealthy  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  event  occurred  in  1849.  His  son  William  and  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Rob- 
ert M.  Cox,  at  present  reside  in  the  village  of  Manito.  Rice  came  from  Ken- 
tucky and  first  settled  in  Menard,  but,  in  1842,  came  to  Coon  Grove  and  began 
the  improvement  of  a  farm.  George  Baxter  was  from  Kentucky,  and  "  squat- 
ted" in  the  edge  of  Long  Point  timber  as  early  as  1843.  He  was  somewhat 
noted  among  the  early  settlers  but  not  by  any  means  popular,  as  his  precon- 
ceived notions  of  the  eternal  fitness  of  all  things  had  led  him  to  form  a  matri- 
monial alliance  with  one  of  Kentucky's  ebon  daughters,  whom  he  made  the 
sharer  of  his  sorrows  and  the  doubler  of  his  joys.  He  had  come  to  this  great 
and  growing  State,  where  he  might  enjoy  the  society  of  his  loved  companion 
and  the  comforts  of  his  home  unmolested,  where,  figuratively  speaking,  he 
might  worship  beneath  his  own  vine  and  fig-tree,  but  soon  it  seems  the  red 
hand  of  persecution  was  raised  against  him.  Robert  Green  entered  him  out  in 
1845,  and  he  next  located  west  of  Simmond's  Mills,  in  Quiver  Township. 
Green  followed  him  up,  and,  a  few  years  later,  he  moved  with  his  fair  bride  to 
the  State  of  Missouri,  and  was  seen  no  more  in  this  goodly  land.  The  year 
1843  brought  into  the  settlement  Davis,  Hibbard  and  Green.  Davis  was 
from  Virginia,  and  had  first  settled  in  Menard  before  coming  to  Mason 
County.  He  settled  the  farm  now  known  as  the  Randolph  farm,  and  had,  at 
the  date  of  his  settlement,  a  family  of  four  girls  and  three  boys.  He  is 
remembered  among  the  old  settlers  as  the  man  who  never  was  seen  wearing  a 
pair  of  gloves  or  mittens.  No  matter  how  inclement  the  weather,  his  labor 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  591 

was  always  performed  bare-handed.  Hibbard  came  from  Mackinaw,  and  set- 
tled at  the  north  end  of  Black  Oak  Grove.  After  a  residence  of  a  few  years, 
lie  sold  out,  purchased  three  yoke  of  oxen  from  Thomas  Landreth  and  started 
by  the  overland  route  for  Oregon.  As  he  was  never  heard  of  afterward,  it 
is  presumed  that  both  he  and  his  family  fell  victims  to  the  unerring  rifle  or 
tomahawk  of  the  noble  red  man  of  the  forest.  James  Green  came  from  Men- 
ard  County  to  Coon  Groye,  but,  a  few  years  later,  returned  to  his  former  resi- 
dence. About  the  same  date,  Indiana  furnished  to  the  population  Zeno  Ash- 
more  and  a  brother  named  Calvin,  the  latter  popularly  known  far  and  wide  as 
*'  Jefunky."  The  Ashmores  are  represented  as  being  rather  shiftless  in  their 
dispositions.  Zeno  settled  and  lived  for  a  time  on  what  is  known  as  the 
McHarry  place,  a  part  of  which  is  included  in  the  present  limits  of  the  village 
of  Manito.  "Jefunky"  lived  around  promiscuously  for  a  number  of  years  and 
finally  located  in  Washington,  Tazewell  County,  where  he  died  some  eight 
or  ten  years  ago.  Thomas  Landreth  came  from  Virginia  and  settled  at  Mack- 
inaw, Tazewell  County,  as  early  as  1824  or  1825.  In  1844,  he  came  to  Coon 
GroveT  Mason  County,  where  for  $200  he  purchased  the  claim  of  Layton  Rice. 
Rice  returned  to  Menard  County,  and  now  resides  not  far  from  Mason  City. 
Landreth  became  a  permanent  settler,  remaining  until  his  decease.  At  the  • 
•date  of  his  coming,  he  had  a  family  of  six  children.  He  was  twice  married 
and  was  the  father  of  twenty-two  children.  His  son,  John  S.  Landreth,  is  now 
a  citizen  of  Manito  Village.  William  Mayes  and  Douglas  Osborne  were 
from  Kentucky,  and  the  Brisbaurs  from  Mackinaw.  These  came  in  during  the 
year  1845.  Mayes  was  familiarly  known  as  "Hame-Legs"  Mayes,  a  name 
applied  to  him  on  account  of  his  excessive  bow-leggedness.  Of  the  Brisbaurs, 
it  may  be  stated  that  in  quite  an  early  day,  Alexander  removed  to  Texas  and 
Wesley  to  Oregon.  While  this  portion  of  the  county  did  not  rapidly  increase 
in  population  till  some  years  later,  nevertheless  there  was  annually  a  steady, 
healthy  increase.  As  early  as  1850,  we  may  add  to  the  list  of  names  already 
given,  those  of  Jacob  Jacobs  and  family,  James  Overton,  Amos  Ganson, 
William  and  Nult  Green,  and  that  of  Col.  Robert  S.  Moore.  Jacobs  was 
from  New  York  and  Overton  from  Kentucky.  Amos  Ganson  settled  in  Egypt, 
southeast  of  Manito,  and  opened  a  blacksmith-shop,  the  first  in  the  township. 
Col.  Moore  was  originally  from  Kentucky.  His  parents  settled  in  Sangamon 
(now  Menard)  County,  in  1837.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war,  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Vera  Cruz,  Cerro  Gordo,  etc.  He  located  his 
land  warrant  in  Manito  Township,  and  became  a  resident  of  the  county  in 
April.  1849.  He  was  the  founder  of  the  village  of  Spring  Lake,  a  village 
established  at  the  head  of  a  small  lake  of  the  same  name,  near  the  boundary  line 
between  Tazewell  and  Mason  Counties.  He  built  a  grain  warehouse  here  as 
early  as  1850  or  1851,  and  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  grain.  John 
Pemberton,  Emery  Hall,  Matthew  Langston,  James  M.  Langston,  M.  W. 
Rodgers,  James  K.  Cox  and  his  son  Robert  M.  Cox,  Riley  Morris  and  John 


592  HISTORY    OF  MASON   COUNTY. 

0.  Randolph  were  citizens  of  Manito  Township  as  early  as  1851.  Pemberton 
and  Hall  may  possibly  have  come  as  early  as  1849.  The  others  all  came  in 
1850,  except  the  Coxes,  who  came  in  1851.  The  Langstons  came  from  Ten- 
nessee to  that  part  of  Morgan  County  afterward  included  within  the  limits  of 
Scott  County,  and  from  Scott  to  Mason.  Rodgers  was  from  Kentucky.  The 
Langstons  and  Rodgerses  purchased  the  pre-emption  rights  and  improvements 
of  James  McCoy,  who  had  settled  just  across  the  line  in  that  part  of  Tazewell 
County  lying  east  of  Manito  Township.  Matthew  Langston  had  served  in  the 
war  with  Mexico,  and  laid  his  land  warrant  in  Section  1,  Manito  Township. 
James  M.  Langston  located  in  the  same  section,  and  Rodgers  just  north  of  the 
Langstons,  on  Section  35.  These  were  among  the  earliest  settlements  made  on 
the  prairie  any  considerable  distance  from  the  timber.  Joseph  Leese  settled  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood  in  the  summer  of  1850.  He  came  from  England,. 
and,  after  a  residence  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  years,  sold  out  and  returned  to  his 
native  land.  James  K.  Cox  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  In  1810,  he  emigrated 
to  Tennessee,  thence  to  Madison  County,  111.,  in  1819.  From  there  he 
removed  to  Morgan  County  in  1822,  and,  in  1851,  to  Mason  County,  locating 
on  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Manito.  During  the  years  1851,  1852r 
1853,  1854  and  1855,  the  prairie  portion  of  the  township  settled  up  very  rap- 
idly, so  that  any  attempt  to  give  the  names  of  settlers  and  the  order  of  their 
coming  in  would  be  utterly  vain.  With  this  somewhat  hasty  glance  at  the 
early  settlements  of  the  township,  we  will  proceed  at  once  to  note,  somewhat,, 
the  general  appearance  of  the  country  as  it  appeared  to  the  early  pioneer,  and 
some  of  the  many  difficulties  with  which  he  had  to  contend  in  procuring  and 
establishing  a  home  for  himself  and  those  dependent  upon  him. 

GENERAL    FEATURES,    ETC. 

When  the  first  settlers  came,  the  prairie,  stretching  back  east  from  the  riverr 
presented  to  the  eye  a  grand  and  imposing  scene.  As  far  away  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  the  tall,  blue- stem  prairie  grass  was  waving  in  the  autumn  breeze 
like  a  boundless  sea.  This,  with  the  myriads  of  flowers  of  all  hues  and  colors  inter- 
spersed, awakened  feelings  of  admiration  which  the  finest  landscape  gardening 
fails  to  inspire.  Nature  had  wrought  a  work  which  art  can  never  equal.  Many 
of  the  flowers  planted  and  nourished  by  the  hand  of  Nature's  God  far  surpassed 
in  delicacy  and  beauty  those  of  rarest  culture  of  to-day.  Every  fall,  the  whole 
face  of  the  country  was  swept  over  by  fire,  the  flames  of  which  would  reach 
high  up  toward  the  heavens,  then  swoop  down,  reaching  a  hundred  feet  ahead, 
taking  into  their  grasp  the  tinder-like  material.  None  but  those  who  have  seen 
our  prairie  fires  of  twenty  or  thirty  years  ago  can  comprehend  their  magnifi- 
cent grandeur.  At  the  date  of  the  earliest  settlements,  game  of  all  kinds 
abounded  in  plenteous  profusion.  It  was  by  no  means  an  uncommon  thing  to 
see  herds  of  deer  ranging  in  numbers  of  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred,  and 
their  course  was  plainly  marked  by  the  parting  of  the  tall  grass.  Oftentimes 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  593 

would  they  approach  within  rifle-distance  of  the  pioneer's  cabin,  and  many  the 
fine  fat  buck  or  juicy  doe  that  paid  the  forfeit  of  its  life  for  this  act  of  forward 
ness.  Oftentimes,  too,  would  they  put  the  husbandman's  labor  to  naught  by 
completely  destroying  his  patch  of  "  garden-sass "  in  a  single  night.  Wild 
geese,  ducks,  cranes  and  other  water-fowls  were  here  in  abundance,  and  were 
not  a  little  source  of  annoyance  to  the  early  settlers  in  the  destruction  of  their 
crops.  Sometimes,  an  entire  field  of  wheat  would  be  destroyed  in  a  few  days 
by  flocks  of  geese,  as  the  biting  of  the  geese  seemed  to  poison  the  tender  plant 
and  utterly  destroy  it.  The  wily  wolf  and  artful  fox  came  in  for  their  share 
of  depredations,  in  robbing  hen-roosts,  pig-sties  and  sheep-cotes ;  and  what  a 
wolf  didn't  know  about  howling  wasn't  worth  knowing.  When  Abel  Maloney, 
who  has  already  been  mentioned  as  one  of  the  earliest  settlers,  first  came,  he 
brought  with  him  his  two  oldest  boys,  William  and  John,  together  with  some 
little  stock.  After  erecting  his  log  cabin,  he  returned  to  Menard  County  for 
his  companion  and  the  rest  of  the  family.  The  boys  were  left  to  take  care  of 
the  house  and  look  after  the  stock.  William,  who  now  resides  in  the  village  of 
Manito,  thus  relates  his  experience  :  "  Soon  after  my  father  left  us,  a  continu- 
ous rain  set  in,  by  which  the  Sangamon  and  its  tributaries  were  so  swollen  that 
he  was  unable  to  return  until  after  the  lapse  of  four  long  weeks.  During  that 
period,  we  looked  upon  no  human  face  save  that  of  each  other.  At  night,  we 
would  take  the  geese,  ducks  and  chickens,  along  with  the  dogs,  into  the  cabin 
and  securely  bar  the  doors,  preparatory  to  trying  to  sleep.  As  soon  as  the  twi- 
light began  to  deepen,  the  wolves  began  their  orgies.  Between  the  squealing 
of  the  hogs  and  the  howling  of  the  wolves,  night  was  rendered  hideous  and 
sleep  seemed  to  be  forever  divorced  from  our  eyelids.  Indeed,  we  sometimes 
feared,  from  the  vigor  with  which  they  howled  around  our  cabin  and  scratched 
at  its  rude  door,  that  they  might  effect  an  entrance  and  make  mincemeat  out 
of  our  poor  little  bodies  ere  the  coming  of  the  gray  morning  in  the  east  should 
force  them  again  into  their  secret  coverts.  Not  a  hog  was  left  out  of  the  num- 
ber brought,  on  my  father's  return.  You  may  imagine  we  welcomed  the  old 
folks  right  heartily  when  they  did  put  in  an  appearance."  Coon  Grove  was  so 
named  from  the  vast  number  of  coons  found  there  in  an  early  day.  The  same 
authority  states  that,  when  they  came  in  1841,  "the  woods  were  full  of 'em." 
Many  of  the  trees  were  hollow,  and  had  beside  them  Indian  ladders  (saplings 
with  the  limbs  cut  off  some  distance  from  the  body),  and  holes  chopped  into  the 
trees — evidently  the  work  of  the  Indians,  made  in  their  attempts  to  catch  "old 
Zip  Coon."  At  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  Mr.  Maloney  states  that  they  were 
wont  to  go,  about  sunset,  and  drive  them  from  the  fields  like  droves  of  sheep. 
The  were  very  destructive  to  crops  near  the  grove.  While  the  early  pioneers 
of  this  section  were  exempt  from  many  of  the"  graver  difficulties  with  which  the 
settlers  of  other  portions  who  had  preceded  them  by  a  decade  or  more  of  years  were 
forced  to  contend,  yet  theirs  was  by  no  means  a  life  of  ease  and  luxury.  Homes 
were  to  be  provided,  farms  to  be  made,  and  implements  necessary  to  their 


594  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

successful  cultivation  to  be  procured.  Money  with  them  was  scarce,  for,  generally 
speaking,  they  were  men  of  limited  means,  who  had  left  the  more  densely  popu- 
lated portions  of  our  own  country  to  try  their  fortunes  in  the  great  and  grow- 
ing West.  Their  milling  was  done,  oftentimes,  fifteen  to  eighteen  miles  away. 
Their  principal  trading  was  done  at  Pekin,  Mackinaw,  Delavan  and  Havana. 
At  these  points,  they  sold  their  products  and  laid  in  their  supplies  of  dry  goods 
and  groceries.  In  times  of  high-water,  they  would  take  their  grists  to  Spring 
Lake  by  ox-team,  and  from  thence  in  skiffs  down  through  the  lake,  up  the 
river,  and  thence,  through  Copperas  Creek,  to  Utica,  in  Fulton  County,  rowing  a 
distance  of  eight  or  ten  miles.  If  a  plow  needed  repairing,  it  must  needs  be 
•carried  to  Pekin,  Mackinaw  or  Havana.  It  took  all  summer  to  raise  a  crop, 
and  all  winter  to  deliver  it. 

If  we  may  credit  the  statements  of  their  descendants,  the  early  settlers  of 
this  section  were  not  men  of  deep  religious  convictions.  Although  the  invin- 
cible circuit-rider  was  among  them  at  an  early  day,  we.  hear  of  no  general 
religious  awakening  until  comparatively  a  recent  date.  An  unfailing  indica- 
tion that  the  Sabbath  Day  had  dawned,  was  to  see  the  women  equipped  with 
fishing-tackle,  the  men  with  their  guns  and  accouterments,  all  parties  mov- 
ing out  headed  toward  Spring  Lake.  Here  the  day  was  passed  in  pleasure- 
seeking  and  merry-making.  Sometimes  the  men  would  stake  off  a  race-course, 
and,  attired  in  a  garb  which  was  rather  an  abridgment  of  a  Hottentot's  costume, 
would  indulge  in  foot-racing.  We  are  by  no  means  to  conclude  from  this  that 
they  were  savage  in  their  dispositions,  for  none  more  hospitable  to  the  stranger, 
•or  the  one  in  need,  could  be  found  than  the  early  settlers  of  Manito.  It  was 
simply  their  way  of  having  sport.  Fighting  and  quarreling  were  almost 
unknown  amongst  them ;  and  if  a  friendly  fisticuff  sometimes  occurred,  the 
combatants  generally  left  the  battle-field  good  friends.  They  did  not  forget 
nor  neglect  the  early  educational  interests  of  their  children  .\  Consequently, 
we  find  them  at  an  early  day  in  their  history  building  a  schoolhouse,  and  main- 
taining a  school  by  subscriptions.  The  first  schoolhouse  in  the  township  was 
erected  near  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  William  Starritt,  in  Coon  Grove. 
It  was  constructed  of  round  logs,  notched  down  at  the  corners,  and  was  chinked 
and  daubed  after  the  approved  pioneer  style.  The  building  was  sixteen  feet 
square,  had  one  window  of  three  lights,  8x10,  and  a  door  of  entrance.  It  may  have 
been  a  little  dark  for  purposes  of  study  on  a  cloudy  day,  but  it  was  certainly 
admirably  adapted  to  weak  eyes.  It  was  covered  with  clapboards,  and  when  it 
rained  drops  came  down  about  as  well  inside  as  out,  though  not  quite  as  fast. 
Stephen  W.  Porter  is  given  as  the  first  Solon  who  directed  the  footsteps  of  the 
aspiring  youth  of  Manito  up  the  rugged  steeps  of  science.  The  second  school 
building  was  a  hewed-log  house,  erected  in  the  limits  of  the  present  village  of 
Manito.  Miss  Adeline  Broderick  and  Mrs.  Rachel  Ott  were  among  the  first 
teachers  in  this  house.  At  present  the  township  has  seven  school  buildings, 
each  a  neat  frame,  supplied  with  the  more  modern  improvements  for  the 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  595 

comfort  of  the  pupils.  From  the  Treasurer's  last  report  to  the  County  Superin- 
tendent, we  find  the  principal  of  the  township  fund  to  be  $2,963  ;  amount  of 
tax  levied.  $1,925  ;  value  of  school  property,  $2,100  ;  number  of  scholars  under 
twenty-one  (including  color),  178 ;  between  six  and  twenty-one,  195  ;  males 
between  six  and  twenty-one,  130  ;  females,  139  ;  highest  wages  paid  male  teach- 
ers, $50 ;  highest  paid  females,  $55 ;  'total  amount  paid  for  school  purposes, 
$1,316.50  ;  males  between  twelve  and  twenty-one  unable  to  read  and  write,  2 ; 
cause,  neglect  of  parents  and  willful  neglect  of  child. 

EARLY    POST    OFFICES,  PREACHERS,  DOCTORS,  ETC. 

The  first  post  office  established  in  Manito  Township  was  kept  by  Col.  R. 
S.  Moore,  at  his  residence,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  P.  W.  Gay  farm.  This 
was  established  in  1851,  on  the  route  leading  from  Havana  to  Delavan.  It  was 
called  Pilot  Hill  Post  Office,  after  a  high  hill  on  the  route,  some  three  or  four 
miles  northwest  of  the  point  at  which  it  was  kept.  A  year  or  two  later,  it  was 
moved  farther  south,  toward  Havana,  to  the  residence  of  John  Pemberton,  who 
was  the  second  Postmaster.  At  a  still  later  date,  it  was  taken  to  Berkstresser's 
store,  at  a  point  called  Egypt  Station,  and  was  re-christened  with  the  name  of 
Egypt  Station  Post  Office.  Finally,  on  the  establishment  of  the  village  of 
Manito,  and  the  consequent  overthrow  of  Egypt  Station,  it  was  removed  to 
Manito,  and  the  name  of  the  office  was  changed  to  that  of  the  town. 

Ministers,  in  connection  with  the  Methodist,  Baptist  and  Presbyterian 
Churches,  came  among  the  people  in  an  early  day,  to  preach  to  them  the  word 
of  life.  Meetings  were  held  at  the  homes  of  the  settlers.  Rev.  Caldwell,  a 
Methodist  minister,  was,  perhaps,  the  first  who  had  regular  stated  appoint- 
ments. The  Baptist  and  Presbyterian  brethren  were  not  far  behind  him  in 
point  of  time. 

At  a  later  date,  the  ubiquitous  Methodist  itinerant,  Peter  Cartwright,  was 
in  their  midst.  He  was  present  in  1852  or  1853,  and  conducted  a  camp-meet- 
ing at  Walnut  Grove,  at  which  there  was  a  great  awakening  among  the  people. 
Many  were  happily  converted,  and  remained  faithful  workers  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Church  throughout  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  As  late  as  the  spring  of 
1865,  he  preached  in  the  village  of  Manito,  in  the  upper  story  of  the  building 
now  occupied  by  Messrs.  Burnett  &  Perrill  as  a  general  merchandise  and  drug 
store. 

Dr.  John  Allen,  who  resided  near  Mcllarry's  mill,  in  what  is  now  Quiver 
Township,  was  the  first  practitioner  who  sought  to  alleviate  their  aches  and 
pains.  Dr.  Mastiller  came  at  quite  an  early  day.  He  was  a  student  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  Allen.  Dr.  Holton,  who  located  at  Spring  Lake,  in  Tazewell 
County,  was  also  among  the  earlier  practitioners.  The  first  resident  physician 
in  the  township  was  Dr.  John  B.  Meigs,  a  young  man  who  came  in  1855  or 
1856,  and  who  still  resides  in  the  village  of  Manito.  He  came  from  Macou- 
pin  County.  Others  have  followed,  too  numerous  to  mention. 


596  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Richard  L.  Porter,  a  son  of  Stephen  W.  Porter,  was,  so  far  as  can  be 
ascertained,  the  first  child  born  of  white  parents  in  the  township.  His  birth 
dates  back  to  1841.  The  first  death  of  which  we  have  any  account  given  was 
that  of  William  Herron,  who  has  already  been  mentioned  as  the  earliest  settler, 
and  whose  grave  is  on  the  farm  on  which  he  first  settled.  The  exact  date  of 
his  death  cannot  be  ascertained,  though  it  must  have  occurred  as  early  as  1844 
or  1845.  The  first  wedding  was  celebrated  between  Alexander  Graves  and 
Polly  Ashmon.  This  happy  event  occurred  in  1846,  at  the  residence  of  the 
bride's  father,  Zeno  Ashmon,  one  of  the  early  settlers. 

Outside  of  the  village  of  Manito,  but  two  houses  of  worship  have  been 
erected  in  the  township.  These  are  both  in  the  eastern  portion.  One  is  a 
German  Lutheran,  or  Lutheran  Evangelical,  and  the  other  a  German  Meth- 
odist, or,  as  it  is  commonly  designated,  Albright.  These  churches  were  both 
built  in  1869.  Rev.  Reisinger  organized  the  Lutheran  congregation  in  1867, 
and  was  Pastor  of  the  Church  some  years.  Rev.  Henry  Siering  followed  him,, 
and  was' the  spiritual  teacher  of  the  congregation  about  five  years,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  brother,  Rev.  Hermann  Siering,  the  present  Pastor  in  charge. 
The  Church  has  a  membership  of  about  fifty  souls.  They  have  regular  services 
and  a  flourishing  Sunday  school.  Of  the  Albright,  or  German  Methodist,  we 
were  unable  to  learn  any  particulars  other  than  that  the  society  is  in  a  prosper- 
ous condition,  meeting  regularly  for  worship,  and  having  a  Sunday  school  con- 
nected with  it  of  fine  interest. 

No  mill  was  ever  built  in  the  township  save  the  one  of  recent  date,  built  in 
the  village,  and  to  which  reference  will  be  made  in  its  history.  The  P.,  P.  & 
J.  R.  road  enters  the  township  near  the  center  of  the  southern  boundary  of 
Section  6,  and,  passing  through  in  a  general  northeastern  direction,  leaves  it 
at  the  northeast  corner  of  Section  21,  thus  giving  to  the  township  about  five- 
miles  of  railroad. 

Among  her  citizens  who  have  received  political  preferment  at  the  hands  of 
the  citizens  of  the  county,  we  may  mention  the  names  of  John  Pemberton  and 
Matthew  Langston.  John  Pemberton  or  "  Uncle  Jackey,"  as  he  is  familiarly 
called,  was  chosen  Associate  Justice  of  the  county  in  1849.  The  other  mem- 
bers who  assisted  in  holding  down  the  seat  of  justice  were  Smith  Turner,. 
County  Judge,  and  Robert  McReynolds,  Associate.  This  position  he  held 
until  1853.  He  was  also  chosen  to  represent  the  county  in  the  Lower  House 
in  quite  an  early  day.  It  is  said  of  him  that,  so  great  was  his  zeal  to  secure  a 
successful  issue  of  the  campaign,  whereby  Mason  County  might  be  properly 
represented  at  the  capital  and  a  seat  for  himself  secured  in  the  Grand  Council,, 
that  he  was  found  once  or  twice  outside  the  limits  of  his  county,  earnestly 
engaged  in  trying  to  persuade  the  citizens  of  an  adjoining  county  that  he  was 
the  proper  man  to  represent  Mason  County  in  the  General  Assembly,  and  that 
he  would  be  grateful  to  them  for  their  support.  This  he  did,  not  with  any 
design  of  obtaining  his  seat  fraudulently,  but  simply  from  the  fact  that  he  did 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  597 

not  recognize  that  he  had  passed  beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  county.  A 
vote  for  and  against  township  organization  was  taken  November  11,  1861, 
to  take  effect  April,  1862  The  vote  for  adoption  prevailed,  and  Hon.  Lyman 
Lacy,  of  Havana,  Maj.  B.  H.  Gatton,  of  Bath,  and  Hon.  Matthew  Langston, 
of  Manito,  were  chosen  Commissioners  to  divide  the  county  into  townships. 
Mr.  Langston  was  chosen  first  Supervisor  of  Manito  Township,  and  held  the 
office  three  terms  in  succession.  In  1865,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
County  Judge,  and  sat  upon  the  judicial  bench  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
he  resigned  the  position  to  devote  himself  more  fully  to  his  private  affairs. 
In  1871  and  1872,  he  represented  his  county  in  the  Lower  House,  at  Spring- 
field. Since  then,  he  has  devoted  himself  to  the  quiet  pursuits  of  agricul- 
tural life. 

The  township  of  Manito  acquired  its  name  from  that  of  the  village, 
which  had  been  platted  and  recorded  before  the  township  was  laid  out. 
About  twenty-five  years  ago,  a  tragedy  occurred  within  her  borders,  and  with 
a  brief  allusion  to  this  we  will  close  our  township  history.  In  1849  or  1850, 
Benjamin  Alwood  and  family,  consisting  of  his  two  sons — Andrew  Jackson 
and  Hugh  M. — and  two  daughters,  came  from  New  Jersey  and  settled  not 
far  southeast  of  the  present  village  of  Manito.  The  Alwood  family  were  pos- 
sessed of  considerable  means,  and  entered  a  large  amount  of  land.  From  vari- 
ous causes,  they  soon  became  unpopular  with  their  neighbors,  whether  justly 
or  otherwise  it  is  not  our  province  to  explain.  The  feeling  of  hatred  grew 
into  gigantic  proportions,  and  finally  culminated  in  open  demonstrations.  As 
early  as  1853  or  1854,  a  party  in  disguise  waited  upon  the  family  and  informed 
them  that  they  must  quit  the  neighborhood.  The  Alwoods  informed  them  that 
they  had  come  to  stay,  and  did  not  propose  to  be  frightened  away.  Not  long 
afterward,  a  crop  of  wheat  belonging  to  a  man  by  the  name  of  Hoyt  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  It  was  the  generally  received  opinion,  though  it  was  by  no  means 
supported  by  positive  proof,  that  the  Alwoods  had  a  hand  in  the  burning,  or, 
at  least,  had  privy  knowledge  of  the  fact  that  it  would  occur.  At  any  rate, 
this  was  made  a  pretext  for  destroying*  their  entire  crop,  by  way,  as  it  was  said, 
of  retaliation.  This  was  followed  up  by  the  burning  of  their  house  and  the 
shooting  of  Hugh  M.  and  one  of  his  sisters.  The  shooting  in  this  instance 
did  not,  however,  prove  fatal.  It  so  happened  that  at  the  burning  of  the 
wheat  crop,  Jack  Alwood  followed  the  parties,  and  succeeded  in  identify- 
ing some  of  them  before  he  was  discovered  and  forced  to  flee  for  his  life. 
Legal  proceedings  were  instituted,  and  a  number  of  persons  were  indicted 
before  the  grand  jury.  Trials  were  appointed,  but  were  postponed  from  time 
to  time. 

After  the  burning  of  their  home,  the  Alwood  family  moved  to  Quiver 
Township  and  remained  a  short  time.  Returning,  they  built  a  hewed-log 
house  and  set  about  raising  their  crops.  In  the  fall  of  1856,  while  Jack 
Alwood  was  in  his  field,  engaged  in  cutting  up  corn,  he  was  shot  by  unknown 


598  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

parties,  and  instantly  killed.  This  put  an  end  to  the  prosecution  of  indict- 
ments against  parties  supposed  to  have  been  engaged  in  the  destruction  of 
their  property.  While  this  sad  occurrence  was  deeply  deplored  by  the  better 
class  of  citizens,  it  was  nothing  more  than  had  been  expected  for  months  pre- 
vious to  its  commission.  He  had  been  warned  time  and  again  that  a  continued 
attempt  on  his  part  to  prosecute  the  indictments  found  would  speedily  lead  him 
to  an  untimely  grave.  Let  us  hope  that  no  similar  occurrence  may  ever  again 
darken  the  fair  name  of  Manito  Township  and  those  of  her  citizens. 

% 

MANITO    VILLAGE. 

This  village,  situated  on  the  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.,  near  the  center  of  the  north- 
ern boundary  of  the  township,  was  surveyed  and  platted  by  James  Boggs,  Deputy 
County  Surveyor,  for  James  K.  Cox,  Robert  M.  Cox  and  William  A.  Langston, 
in  1858.  Soon  after  the  laying-out  of  the  town,  Hon.  Hugh  Fullerton,  of 
Havana,  acquired  an  interest  for  the  influence  exerted  by  him  in  procuring  the 
location  of  the  depot  on  the  village  site.  The  expectations  of  the  proprietors 
must  have  been  very  great,  and  they  possibly  may  have  imagined  that  in  the 
rearing  of  the  first  two  or  three  buildings  they  beheld  a  miniature  Chicago  in 
embryo  arising  in  their  midst.  One  hundred  and  ten  acres  were  laid  out  in 
blocks,  streets  and  alleys.  Manito  did  not  increase  in  growth  very  rapidly, 
until  the  close  of  the  war,-  in  1865.  Egypt  Station  had  been  laid  out  in  1857, 
on  the  line  of  the  railroad,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  southwest  of  where 
Manito  now  stands,  and  when  the  road  went  into  operation,  in  1859,  from  Pekin 
to  Virginia,  the  contest  for  the  mastery  waxed  warm.  Egypt  Station  had  the 
advantage  in  the  beginning,  in  that  she'  already  had  two  or  three  stores  and  the 
post  office,  but  Manito  secured  the  location  of  the  depot,  and  immediately  the 
scepter  departed  out  of  Egypt.  The  village  of  Spring  Lake,  which  has  already 
been  mentioned  as  having  been  established  by  Col.  Robert  S.  Moore,  as  early 
as  1851,  contributed  to  j;he  upbuilding  of  Manito,  by  giving  her  business  men 
and  citizenship  to  swell  the  population  of  the  newly  begun  village.  The  farm 
residence  of  James  K.  Cox,  erected  in  1851,  stands  near  the  center  of  the  busi- 
ness part  of  the  village,  east  of  the  railroad,  and  may  be  easily  recognized  from 
the  fact  that  it  stands  at  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees  with  the  street 
fronting  it.  The  first  business  house  in  the  village  was  erected  by  James  K. 
Cox,  and  was  occupied  early  in  1860  by  E.  A.  Rosher,  as  a  general  merchan- 
dise store.  Mr.  Rosher  is  still  a  citizen,  and  is  the  veteran  merchant  of  the 
village.  The  second  store  in  the  villa.ge  was  kept  by  J.  P.  &  Alexander  Trent. 
A.  M.  Pollard,  from  Spring  Lake,  opened  a  grocery  store  in  1861.  Langston 
&  Havens,  Rankin  &  Luckenburg,  had  each  a  general  store  quite  early  in  its 
history.  J.  Mosher  opened  the  first  drug  store  in  1865  or  1866.  In  1868, 
Smith,  Hippen  &  Co.,  of  Pekin,  built  an  elevator,  at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  It  has 
a  capacity  of  15,000  bushels,  and  10,000  bushels  cah  be  handled  through  it  per 
day.  It  is  operated  under  the  personal  supervision  of  Fred  Knollhoff,  who  is  a. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  5991 

member  of  the  firm.  The  firm  of  Smith,  Hippen  &  Co.  was  the  first  in  tho- 
place  to  purchase  grain  on  an  extensive  scale.  Their  annual  shipments  range 
from  250,000  to  300,000  bushels.  Previous  to  the  building  of  the  elevator,  a 
Mr.  Cranwill  had  bought  grain  for  some  years,  at  this  point,  and  shipped 
in  gunny  sacks  on  flats.  In  1876,  James  A.  McComas  built  the  Manito  ele- 
vator, at  a  cost  of  $6,500.  It  had  a  capacity  of  20,000  bushels,  and,  in  annual 
shipments,  ranged  from  200,000  to  250,000  bushels,  making  the  total  annual 
shipments  from  the  village  from  500,000  to  600,000  bushels.  This  was 
operated  by  McComas  one  year;  afterward  by  different  parties,  and,  in  1878, 
Grier  &  Co.,  of  Peoria,  took  charge  of  it.  It  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire  on 
the  29th  of  May,  1879.  The  building  contained  5,000  bushels  of  grain  at  the 
time  of  its  destruction.  The  village  of  Manito  is  conceded  to  be  the  best  grain 
point  on  the  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.,  from  Peoria  to  Havana,  except  Pekin.  The 
business  trade  of  the  village  aggregates  about  $500,000  annually.  Some  of  the 
statements  in  regard  to  the  history  of  the  village  and  the  dates  of  their  occur- 
rence may  not  be,  in  every  particular,  correct,  but  this  is  owing  to  the  fact  that 
the  village  records  have  been  twice  destroyed  by  fire,  and  the  dates  given  are 
those  that  have  been  furnished  us  by  the  citizens  who  took  an  active  part  in  the 
proceedings.  The  village  was  incorporated  under  the  special  act  known  as  the 
Springfield  and  Quincy  Act,  in  1866.  The  following  named  persons  were 
chosen  as  members  of  the  first  Board  of  Trustees :  R.  S.  Eakin,  Joe  W. 
Brooks,  Smith  Mosher,  Joe  Cranwill  and  E.  W.  Crispell.  The  Board  selected 
R.,S.  Eakin,  President;  Joe  W.  Brooks,  Treasurer,  and  Joe  Cranwill,  Clerk. 
Stephen  W.  Porter  was  first  Police  Magistrate.  The  village  continued  under 
this  organization  till  1875,  when  the  charter  was  surrendered  by  vote,  and  it 
was  re-organized  under  the  general  law  for  cities  and  villages.  The  present 
Board  consists  of  W.  B.  Robison,  Thomas  Boon,  Joel  Cowan,  J.  S.  Pollard,  M. 
Lins  and  A.  J.  Roberts.  The  officers  of  the  Board  are  :  W.  B.  Robison,  Pres- 
ident ;  J.  S.  Walker,  Treasurer ;  W.  C.  Hall,  Clerk ;  R.  S.  Eakin,  Police 
Justice. 

CHUKCHES,    LODGES,    ETC. 

The  Methodist  Church  was  erected  in  1867.  Among  the  early  pastors,  we 
find  the  names  of  Revs.  Middleton,  Sloan,  Shagley  and  Goldsmith.  Rev. 
Sloan  is  remembered  as  the  minister  who  was  accustomed  to  make  the  entire 
round  of  his  circuits  on  foot.  Stephen  W.  Porter  and  family,  Thomas  Boon 
and  family,  Father  Nash,  P.  S.  Trent  and  family,  were  among  the  early  com- 
municants of  the  Church.  Elders  Miller  and  Page,  of  the  Campbellite  order, 
held  meetings  here  at  an  early  day,  and  had  at  one  time  an  organization,  but 
did  not  build  a  house  of  worship.  The  Catholic  Church  was  built  about  1870. 
The  building  is  a  neat  frame,  patterned  after  the  modern  style  of  church  build- 
ings. They  have  a  large  and  flourishing  congregation.  Sabbath  schools  are 
regularly  held  at  both  churches.  In  1861,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the 
Post  Office  Department,  praying  for  a  removal  of  the  post  office  from  Egypt 


•600  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Station  to  Manito,  with  a  change  in  name  to  that  of  the  village.  The  prayer 
of  the  petition  was  granted,  and  Smith  Mosher  was  appointed  first  Postmaster. 
He  was  succeeded  in  office  by  his  brother,  John  Mosher,  in  1865.  In  1866, 
A.  M.  Pollard  was  appointed,  and,  in  1869,  E.  A.  Kosher  received  the  appoint- 
ment, and  still  holds  the  position. 

In  1870,  J.  N.  Shanholtzer  erected  a  steam  grist-mill  in  the  village.  This 
is  the  first  and  only  mill  ever  built  in  the  township.  The  cost  of  construction 
was  about  $6,000.  It  has  two  runs  of  stone,  and  is  capable  of  turning  out 
about  eighteen  or  twenty  barrels  of  flour  per  day.  It  has  a  fine  run  of  custom, 
and  manufactures  a  first-class  quality  of  flour. 

Manito  Lodge,  A.,  F.  and  A.  Masons,  was  organized  under  dispensation 
from  Most  Worshipful  Deputy  Grand  Master  J.  M.  Gorin,  in  1865.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1866,  a  charter  was  issued  from  the  Grand  Lodge,  over  the  signatures  of 
H.  P.  H.  Bromwell,  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master,  and  H.  G.  Reynolds, 
Grand  Secretary,  to  Henry  A.  Sweet,  R.  S.  Eakin,  A.  G.  H.  Conover,  John 
Thomas,  Peter  W.  Gay,  B.  Ruthenburg,  A.  A.  Griffin,  Smith  Mosher,  Perry 
W.  Thomas,  Hubbard  Latham,  Zachariah  Miller  and  W.  W.  Pierce  as  charter 
members.  Henry  A.  Sweet  was  appointed  W.  M. ;  R.  S.  Eakin,  S.  W. ;  A. 
G.  H.  Conover.  J.  W.  Regular  meetings  occur  on  the  first  and  third  Wednes- 
days of  each  month.  In  1878,  the  lodge  room  was  built  by  a  joint-stock  asso- 
ciation. In  the  destructive  fire  which  occurred  December  22,  1878,  the  Lodge 
sustained  heavy  loss,  the  records,  furniture  and  paraphernalia  being  entirely, 
consumed.  At  present  it  has  a  membership  of  twenty-two.  The  present  offi- 
cers are:  R.  S.  Eakin,  W.  M.;  W.  B.  Robison,  S.  W.;  E.  S.  Starrett,  J.W.;  J. 
P.  Cowan,  Treasurer:  Fred  KnollhofF,  Secretary  ;  J.  C.  Perkins,  S.  D.;  R.W. 
Whiteford,  J.  D.;  M.  W.  Rodgers,  Tiler.  A  Lodge  of  I.  0.  0.  F.  was  organ- 
ized about  the  year  1871,  but  "has  some  time  since  ceased  to  exist. 

The  village  at  present  has  a  population  of  about  600,  and  has  four  general 
merchandise  stores,  two  groceries,  two  drug  and  notion  stores,  one  harness-shop, 
two  boot  and  shoe  shops,  one  hardware  store  and  tin-shop,  one  millinery,  notion 
and  fancy  goods  establishment,  three  general  blacksmithing  and  repair  shops. 
Drs.  J.  S.  Walker  and  J.  R.  McCluggage  are  resident  physicians,  and  deal  out 
pills  and  powders  for  the  pains  and  aches  of  the  people,  while  William  Maloney 
deals  out  coal  in  quantities  to  suit  the  purchaser. 

The  early  settlers  of  the  village  were  fond  of  playing  practical  jokes  upon 
each  other,  and  frequently  did  not  scruple  to  tackle  even  strangers.  Before 
corporate  powers  were  conferred,  it  is  stated  that  a  man  by  the  name  of  Moore 
came  in  and  desired  to  start  a  saloon.  He  approached  Joe  Cranwill  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  Joe  furnished  him  the  necessary  license,  for  which  he  charged  him  the 
round  sum  of  $25.  Joe  shoved  the  money  down  in  his  own  pocket,  and  let  the 
boys  into  the  secret,  and,  as  he  spent  most  if  not  all  of  it  in  "  setting  'em  up," 
nothing  was  said  about  it,  and  it  was  many  moons  before  Moore  found  out  that 
his  license  was  a  fraud,  and  that  he  had  been  tricked  out  of  his  money.  Many 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  603 

of  the  early  denizens  of  the  village  will  remember  the  days  when  "  High  Cod 
Court,"  as  it  was  called,  was  in  vogue.  This  was  not  a  chartered  institution, 
so  far  as  we  could  learn,  nor  do  we  know  that  it  had  the  sanction  of  the  powers 
that  be,  ordained  to  meet  in  solemn  conclave  at  Springfield  biennially,  in  its 
establishment.  But  certain  it  is  that  it  existed.  Having  charged  some  indi- 
vidual with  an  offense  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  village,  the  Court 
would  assemble  and  proceed  to  try  the  offender.  The  person  presiding  was 
dubbed  the  Hon.  Judge  Advocate,  to  whom  all  matters  of  difference  between 
the  lawyers  for  prosecution  and  defense  were  submitted,  and  from  whose  decis- 
ion there  was  no  appeal.  Witnesses  were  called  and  examined,  who  were  not 
expected  to  tell  the  truth  any  more  than  a  witness  of  to-day  is  expected  to  tes- 
tify to  facts  before  a  Congressional  Investigating  Committee.  Indeed,  the  oath 
administered  had  a  saving  clause  for  the  prosecution,  couched  in  these  words  : 
"  And  you  furthermore  swear  that  you  will  not  tell  the  truth  in  the  case  now 
pending,  wherein,"  etc.  No  matter  how  clearly  the  defendant  might  prove  his 
innocence,  conviction  was  sure  to  follow.  The  penalty  was  generally  drinks 
for  the  crowd,  and  usually  cost  the  accused  about  $1.  But  these  days  have 
long  since  passed  away,  and  the  citizens  of  Manito  are  as  staid  and  sober-going 
people  as  are  their  neighbors.  And  yet  the  old  citizens  love  to  recount  these 
days  of  fun  and  frolic,  and,  in  imagination,  live  over  again  the  scenes  and 
incidents  of  their  early  manhood's  years.  The  name  Manito  was  undoubtedly 
taken  from  the  Indian  word  Manitou,  though  with  just  what  significance  it  was 
applied  to  the  village,  we  have  no  means  of  determining. 

ALLEN'S  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 

This  division  is  on  the  eastern  line  of  the  county,  and  is  known  as  Town- 
ship 21  and  22  north,  Range  5  west  of  the  Third  Principal  Meridian.  It 
embraces  in  its  limits  thirty-six  full  sections — a  Congressional  Township — but 
does  not  exactly  coincide  with  the  Congressional  survey.  In  establishing  the 
boundaries  of  the  townships,  the  southern  tier  of  sections  of  Town  21,  Range 
'  5,  was  included  in  Mason  City  Township,  and  the  southern  tier  of  Town  22, 
same  range,  was  made  the  northern  limit  of  Allen's  Grove  Township.  The 
position  of  the  township  is  north  of  Mason  City  Township,  east  of  Pennsyl- 
vania Township,  south  of  Tazewell  County  and  west  of  Logan  County. 
Excepting  two  or  three  copses  or  groves  of  timber  of  limited  extent,  which 
stand  out  in  the  prairie  like  islands  in  the  ocean,  the  entire  area  of  the  town- 
ship is  prairie  land.  The  most  important  of  these  is  Allen's  Grove,  from  which 
the  township  took  its  name.  It  comprises  about  five  hundred  acres,  mostly  in 
Section  9,  and  is  the  point  in  and  around  which  the  early  settlements  in  the 
township  were  made.  In  an  early  day,  before  the  clear,  ringing  note  of  the 
woodman's  ax  was  heard  reverberating  throughout  its  aisles  and  along  its  cor- 
ridors, much  timber,  valuable  for  building  and  other  purposes,  was  here  found. 


604  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

At  present,  but  little  that  is  valuable,  except  for  fencing  and  firewood,  remains. 
Swamp  Grove,  in  the  northwest  corner,  and  Lake  Grove,  on  Sections  19  and 
20,  are  of  far  less  importance,  and  contain  no  valuable  timber.  These  three 
groves,  together  with  a  portion  of  Cherry  Grove,  on  the  line  between  Mason 
City  and  Allen's  Grove  Townships,  constitute  the  entire  woodland  districts  of 
this  section.  No  natural  water-course  is  found  in  any  portion  of  the  township. 
Norton's  Lake,  in  Section  23,  occupying  the  space  of  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  is  the  only  body  of  water  of  any  consequence  within  its  limits. 
This  is  a  place  of  resort  for  bathing  and  fishing.  The  eastern  and  southern 
sections  of  the.  township  are  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  vegetables,  corn, 
wheat,  rye,  barley  and  oats.  The  soil  is  of  a  somewhat  sandy  nature,  very 
similar  in  character  to  that  found  in  adjacent  townships  and  in  the  western 
part  of  Logan  County.  To  the  willing  husbandman  it  yields  rich  and  boun- 
teous harvests.  The  northwestern  portion  is  low  and  level,  and  is  embraced 
within  the  district  known  as  swamp-lands.  By  a  system  of  artificial  drainage 
much  of  this  has  been  rendered  arable,  and  when  sufficiently  drained  for  farm- 
ing purposes  it  is  found  to  be  highly  productive,  possessing  a  soil  of  almost 
exhaustless  fertility.  In  the  past  few  years,  many  fine  farms  have  been  opened 
up  in  this  heretofore  discarded  section  of  the  township.  The  early  settlers 
found  this  portion  of  the  county  covered  with  tall  grass  and  the  flower-produc- 
ing weeds.  In  the  summer,  the  plains  seemed  an  ocean  of  flowers  of  various 
hues,  gracefully  waving  to  the  breezes  that  swept  over  them.  In  the  language  of 
poesy  it  may  be  fitly  said  that 

"  Travelers  entering  here,  behold  around 

A  large  and  spacious  plain  on  every  side, 

Strewed  with  beauty,  whose  fair  grassy  mound 

Mantled  with  green,  and  goodly  beautified 

With  all  the  ornaments  of  Flora's  pride." 

The  township  contains  two  villages,  San  Jose  and  Natrona,  the  history  of 
which  will  be  given  in  detail  at  the  close  of  this  chapter.  The  Jacksonville 
Branch  of  the  C.  &  A.  Railway  enters  the  township  near  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  Section  1,  and,  traversing  it  in  a  general  southwestern  direction,  leaves 
it  near  the  center  of  the  southern  boundary  of  Section  28,  giving  about  seven 
miles  of  road-bed  to  the  township.  That  we  find  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
county  but  sparsely  settled  until  recently,  when  compared  with  other  sections,. 
is  doubtless  owing  to  the  fact  that  a  large  district  of  swamp-land,  occupying 
the  more  central  portion  of  the  county,  completely  cut  off  the  eastern  settler 
from  Havana,  the  only  shipping-point,  at  that  time,  for  his  various  products. 
The  absence  of  timber  and  water-course  also  exercised  a  retarding  influence 
over  the  early  settlement.  Not  until  the  advent  of  railroads  through  this  sec- 
tion, and  the  bringing  of  market-places  and  shipping-points  to  their  very  doors, 
did  settlements  begin  to  be  made  in  rapid  succession. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  605 

EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

The  first  individual,  of  whom  we  have  any  very  reliable  information,  to 
lay  a  claim  in  the  township  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Allen.  The  best 
information  now  obtainable  indicates  that  he  came  to  the  grove  which  now 
bears  his  name  as  early  as  the  spring  or  summer  of  1830.  That  he  was  here 
thus  early  is  established  by  the  fact  of  his  having  in  cultivation,  in  wheat,  some 
forty  or  fifty  acres  east  of  the  grove  during  the  winter  of  the  deep  snow.  The 
yield  is  said  to  have  been  fifty  bushels  per  acre.  What  disposition  was  made 
of  it  is  left  to  conjecture  though  it  is  probable  that  it  found  its  way  into  the  St. 
Louis  market.  It  is  asserted  by  some  that  a  man  by  the  name  of  Smith  pre- 
ceded Allen  a  short  time,  and  that  in  his  cabin  (erected  at  the  north  end  of  the 
grove)  Allen  sojourned  for  a  time  after  coming.  Both  were  bachelors,  and, 
8ince  "  Birds  of  a  feather  flock  together," 

it  may  be  true  that  they  together  enjoyed  the  sweet  seclusion  of  their  bachelor 
home  some  years  before  permanent  settlements  began  to  be  made.  Of  Smith 
nothing  is  known,  either  whence  he  came  or  whither  he  went.  Allen  is  said 
to  have  come  from  Kentucky,  and,  after  a  sojourn  of  a  year  or  two,  to  have 
gone  to  St.  Louis.  We  are  strongly  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  much  of  the 
account  given  of  these  two  primitive  squatters,  for  such  they  must  have  been, 
should  be  regarded  as  traditional  rather  than  historical.  David  Taylor,  from 
Tennessee,  is  said  to  have  come  in  the  fall  of  1831  or  spring  of  1832,  and  to 
have  purchased  Allen's  claim.  He  continued  a  resident  to  the  date  of  his 
decease,  which  occurred  a  number  of  years  ago.  His  remains  lie  entombed 
within  the  shady  grove  near  the  spot  of  his  early  struggles  and  triumphs.  A 
number  of  his  near  relatives  are  yet  citizens  of  the  township.  From  a  careful 
search  of  the  records,  we  find  that  the  first  entry  of  land  made  in  Allen's 
Grove  was  by  Benjamin  Kellogg,  Jr.,  of  Pekin.  This  was  under  a  patent 
from  the  United  States,  bearing  date  September  29,  1832.  No  additional 
entries  were  made  prior  to  1836,  when  Messrs.  Horace  P.  Johnson,  Ebenezer 
Montague  and  Robert  Goggin  entered  portions  of  Sections  4,  8  and  9  respec- 
tively. Samuel  Larimore,  a  scion  of  the  "  Old  Dominion,"  had  settled  near 
the  Mackinaw  in  quite  an  early  day,  and  thence  came  to  Allen's  Grove, 
near  the  close  of  the  thirties,  though  the  exact  date  of  his  removal  to  this  point 
cannot  be  ascertained.  He  remained  a  citizen,  making  various  removals,  until 
about  two  years  ago,  when  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Western  Kansas,  and,  at 
last  accounts,  was  still  living.  James  Higgins  and  James  Sherry  are  recorded 
as  having  come  as  early  as  1844.  They  were,  probably,  from  Kentucky,  though 
it  is  by  no  means  absolutely  certain  that  that  was  the  State  of  their  nativity. 
Sherry  was  single  at  the  time,  but  soon  after  coming  was  married  to  a  daughter 
of  David  Taylor. 

Settlements  were  made  very  slowly  here  for  some  years,  and  it  was  not 
until  land  was  growing  scarce  in  what  were  considered  more  favored  localities 


606  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

that  purchases  began  to  be  made  here.  Harvey  B.  Hawthorne  settled  east  of 
the  grove  in  1848.  He  was  originally  from  Kentucky,  but  had  been  a  resi- 
dent of  what  is  now  Crane  Creek  Township  some  years  prior  to  coming  to 
Allen's  Grove.  After  a  residence  of  several  years,  he  returned  to  Crane  Creek 
Township,  where  he  at  present  resides,  enjoying  the  competency  gained  by  a 
life  of  honest  toil  and  well-directed  energies.  About  the  same  time,  the  settle- 
ment was  augmented  by  the  coming  of  Hiram  Stanton,  Alexander  Woods,  Levi 
Tngle  and  George  Alkire.  Stanton  was  from  New  Jersey,  Woods  and  Alkire 
from  the  Buckeye  State.  Ingle  was  a  Hoosier,  and  was  the  first  to  proclaim  in 
the  wilderness  the  "glad  tidings  of  great  joy"  to  the  early  settlers  in  and 
around  the  grove.  These  were  all  that  were  in  the  township,  so  far  as  we  have 
been  able  to  learn,  prior  to  1850.  During  the  years  1850  and  1851,  we  find 
the  names  of  the  following  settlers :  Samuel  Hungleford,  George  and  Lewis 
Dowell,  John  McGhee,  William  Legg,  Hank  Watkins,  Benjamin  Davenport, 
Joseph  Taylor,  George  Leoni  and  Jackson  Houchin.  These  all  settled  not  far 
from  the  grove,  and  it  was  not  till  some  years  later  that  those  coming  in  had 
sufficient  courage  to  venture  out  upon  the  prairie.  Of  those  who  located  in  the 
township  as  early  as  1851.  but  a  single  one,  Jackson  Houchin,  remains  a  citi- 
zen to-day.  The  others  have  either  passed  over  the  dark  river  to  that 
bourne  whence  they  come  not  again,  or  have  sought  out  other  fields  of  labor. 
Jackson  Roundtree  was  a  young  man  who  came  from  Ohio  in  1851,  with 
McGhee  and  family.  He  had  quite  an  amount  of  money  for  those  days,  and, 
as  a  means  of  safe-keeping  (there  being  no  bank  of  deposit  at  a  convenient  dis- 
tance), he  intrusted  it  to  the  bosom  of  Mother  Earth.  Some  time  after  burying 
his  treasure,  he  became  desirous  of  making  a  draw,  and,  after  much  fruitless 
searching,  gave  it  up  for  lost.  Some  days  later,  a  hen,  plying  her  daily  voca- 
tion, that  of  scratching  for  food,  gladdened  the  sad  heart  of  young  Roundtree 
lay  bringing  the  lost  treasure  to  the  surface.  The  Houchin  family  came  from 
Kentucky  to  Pike  County,  Ind.,  in  1836.  In  the  spring  of  1850,  Jackson, 
mention  of  whom  has  already  been  made,  severing  the  ties  that  bound  him  to 
the  paternal  roof  and  the  scenes  of  his  early  boyhood,  set  sail  in  an  ox-team 
express  for  Mason  County.  He  built  a  cabin,  and  spent  the  summer  and  win- 
ter of  1850  in  what  is  now  Salt  Creek  Township.  In  the  spring  of  1851,  he 
came  to  Allen's  Grove,  where  he  entered  a  quarter- section,  built  a  cabin,  and 
began  farming.  Here  he  has  since  resided,  and,  through  industry  and  good 
management,  has  possessed  himself  of  a  fine  tract  of  land,  on  which  he  expects 
to  spend  the  remnant  of  his  days.  At  the  date  of  his  settlement,  but  three 
cabins  had  been  erected  on  the  route  from  the  grove  to  Delavan,  in  Tazewell 
County,  a  distance  of  fourteen  miles.  On  either  hand,  the  broad,  uninhabited 
expanse  of  prairie  stretched  away,  a  boundless  and  unbounded  plain.  The  first 
year  after  Houchin  came  proved  to  be  a  very  sickly  one ;  to  such  an  extent  did 
bilious  fever,  flux  and  chills  prevail  that,  at  one  time,  there  were  but  two  well 
families  in  the  entire  settlement.  The  noble  sons  of  Esculapius  were  not  then. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  607 

as  now,  to  be  found  at  every  cross-roads  and  in  every  town  and  hamlet.  Hiram 
Sikes,  M.  D.,  who,  in  this  day,  would  be  esteemed  a  home-made  physician, 
lived  at  Sugar  Grove,  and  to  his  hands  the  entire  settlement  committed  itself  in 
this  hour  of  its  direst  calamity.  With  a  feeling  almost  akin  to  desperation,  he 
undertook  the  task  of  restoring  the  settlement  to  its  wonted  health.  By  strict 
personal  attention  to  all  patients,  aided  by  the  absence  of  many  remedies  that 
kill  about  as  many  as  they  cure,  at  the  end  of  one  month's  faithful  service,  he 
had  so  far  mastered  the  different  diseases  as  to  be  permitted  to  visit  his  own 
home  for  the  first  time  since  coming  to  Allen's  Grove.  The  following  year,  a 
difficulty  having  arisen  between  the  Doctor  and  his  eldest  son,  he  mounted  his 
horse,  and,  riding  away,  has  since  remained  a  stranger  to  his  family  and  the 
borders  of  Mason  County.  The  old  settlers  of  Allen's  Grove  have  ever  held  in 
grateful  remembrance  the  labors  of  him  who  served  them  thus  faithfully,  and 
whatever  may  have  been  his  faults,  over  all  they  are  disposed  to  throw  the 
broad  mantle  of  charity.  During  the  years  1852  and  1853,  the  names  of  Dan- 
iel Dillon,  Jonathan  Hyatt,  Hay  thorn  Tallman,  the  McKinneys,  and  perhaps 
others  not  now  remembered,  were  added  to  the  settlers  in  the  township.  From  a 
pamphlet  of  some  thirty  pages,  published  by  Mr.  Dillon  in  1873,  which,  though 
nameless,  is  strongly  tinctured  with  modern  spiritualism,  we  learn  the  following 
facts  in  regard  to  his  early  history :  He  is  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and, 
when  two  years  of  age,  removed  with  the  family  to  Clinton  County,  Ohio.  This 
was  in  1804.  Eight  brothers  of  them  came  West  and  settled  in  what  is  now 
Tazewell  County,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Mackinaw,  in  1824.  They  opened 
up  their  farms  not  far  from  the  present  town  of  Tremont,  in  what  is  now  called 
Dillon  Township.  The  red  men  of  the  forest  were  their  only  neighbors,  and 
Mr  Dillon  refers  with  just  pride  to  his  personal  acquaintance  with  Delaware 
chiefs,  Waupansa  and  Shabbona.  Their  early  habitations  gave  rest  and  com- 
fort to  many  a  weary,  wayworn  traveler,  without  money  and  without  price.  At 
the  time  of  settlement,  they  were  included  in  the  limits  of  Sangamon  County. 
The  jurisdiction  of  his  brother,  Nathan,  v/ho  was  an  early  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
extended  to  Chicago,  and  frequently  he  issued  summonses  to  Chicago,  returna- 
ble to  his  office,  the  distance  between  the  two  points  being  150  miles.  Daniel 
Dillon  took  up  his  residence,  in  1852,  on  Section  36,  Allen's  Grove  Township, 
and  has  since  permanently  resided  here.  He  was  one  of  the  original  propri- 
etors of  the  village  of  San  Jose,  and  his  name  will  again  occur  in  the  history 
of  that  town.  Hyatt  and  the  McKinneys  were  from  Hoosierdom,  some  of  whose 
descendants  are  still  citizens  of  the  township.  Tallman  was  from  the  East,  and 
had  spent  much  of  his  early  life  upon  the  sea.  He  is  represented  as  a  jolly 
old  tar,  who  was  made  the  butt  of  many  a  joke  by  the  youngsters  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. 

TRADING   AND    MILLING.  POINTS. 

The  nearest  trading-point,  as  well  as  the  one  most  easily  accessible  to  the 
first  settlers  of  this  portion  of  the  county,  was  Delavan.    To  procure  the  smallest 


608  HISTORY   OF  MASON   COUNTY. 

amount  of  merchandise  required  a  journey  of  thirty  miles  to  be  performed. 
The  sharpening  of  a  plow  necessitated  the  same  pilgrimage.  Their  milling  was 
done  at  the  Mackinaw,  either  at  Doolittle's  or  Woodrow's  mill.  Their  letters, 
which,  like  angel's  visits,  were  few  and  far  between,  were  likewise  received 
at  Delavan.  The  era  of  railroads  gave  to  almost  every  community  conven- 
iences to  which  otherwise  they  must  have  remained  strangers  for  many  years. 
Dr.  J.  P.  Walker  was  the  first  physician  to  engage  in  the  practice  of  the  heal- 
ing art,  as  a  resident  practitioner.  In  1857,  he  joined  with  others  in  laying 
out  Mason  City,  and,  in  1859,  made  its  his  permanent  home.  The  first  school 
building  in  the  township  was  erected  in  the  grove,  in  1853.  The  old  "  timber 
schoolhouse,"  long  since  removed,  and,  though  lost  to  sight,  yet  still  to  memory 
dear,  was  presided  over  at  its  opening  by  a  young  Miss  Woods,  daughter  of 
Alexander  Woods,  of  whose  settlement  in  the  grove  mention  has  already  been 
made.  The  earliest  religious  services  were  held  by  Rev.  Levi  Ingle,  a  minister 
of  the  New  Light  or  Old  Christian  order.  Rev.  George  Miller  was  the  first  cir- 
cuit-rider. Meetings  were  held  at  the  residences  of  the  settlers,  till  the  build- 
ing of  the  schoolhouse,  when  they  were  transferred  to  it.  No  public  house  of 
worship,  with  its  tall  spire  towering  heavenward,  adorns  the  township  outside  of 
the  villages  of  San  Jose  and  Natrona.  The  remarkable  hailstorm  that  occurred 
throughout  this  section  of  the  country  on  the  27th  of  May,  1850,  mention  of 
which  is  made  in  other  portions  of  this  work,  is  well  remembered  by  some  of 
the  earlier  settlers.  The  storm,  accompanied  by  a  high  wind,  was  of  short 
duration,  yet  so  vast  was  the  amount  of  hail  that  fell,  and  to  such  a  depth  was 
it  drifted,  in  some  instances  from  six  to  eight  feet — that  on  the  following  4th  of 
July  large  quantities  of  it  could  still  be  gathered  from  the  drift  piles.  Mr. 
Houchin,  who  was  an  eye-witness  to  the  storm,  avers  this  to  be  a  fact,  and  says 
that  its  effects  were  plainly  visible  for  years  afterward.  As  late  as  1851,  fully 
four-fifths  of  the  township  was  Congress  land.  During  the  years  1851  and 
1852,  large  tracts  throughout  the  township  were  entered  by  capitalists  and 
speculators,  and  it  was  not  till  some  years  later  that  these  lands  passed  into  the 
hands  of  permanent  settlers.  The  year  1867  witnessed  the  completion  of  the 
Jacksonville  Branch  of  the  C.  &  A.  R.  R.  from  Jacksonville  to  Bloomington 
and  with  it  came  a  flood  of  settlers,  the  establishment  and  laying-out  of  villages, 
etc.,  etc.  Though  of  but  recent  settlement,  when  compared  with  other  sections 
of  the  county,  in  the  importance  and  value  of  its  products,  it  ranks  second  to 
but  few  townships  in  the  county.  It  embraces  within  its  limits  large  areas  as 
well  adapted  to  agriculture  a?  any  to  be  found  in  this  entire  region.  With  her 
rapid  development,  her  educational  interests  have  kept  equal  pace.  She  has 
eight  school  districts,  each  supplied  with  a  good  frame  building,  in  which  schools 
are  kept  the  greater  part  of  the  year. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  609 


VILLAGE    OF    SAN   JOSE. 

This  village,  situated  in  the  extreme  northeast  corner  of  the  township,  on 
the  Jacksonville  Branch  of  the  C.  &  «A.  R.  R.,  was  surveyed  and  platted  by  E. 
Z.  Hunt,  County  Surveyor,  in  1857,  for  Daniel  Dillon,  Alexander  W.  Mor- 
gan, Silas  Parker  and  Zenas  B.  Kidder.  The  original  plat  contained  fifteen 
blocks  300  feet  square,  and  eleven  fractional  blocks ;  these  were  subdivided 
into  235  lots  and  fifteen  fractional  lots.  The  lots  adjoining  the  railroad  were 
donated  to  the  company  to  secure  the  location  of  the  station  and  the  building 
of  the  depot.  After  the  laying-out  of  the  village,  a  public  sale  of  lots  was 
held,  at  which  some  $3,000  was  realized.  Private  sales  were  made  until  the 
sum  realized  was  from  $4,000  to  $5,000.  The  investment,  in  many  instances, 
proved  a  financial  loss,  inasmuch  as  the  town  failed  to  grow  as  rapidly  as  pur- 
chasers had  anticipated,  and  many  feeling  that  they  had  made  a  bad  investment 
of  means,  sold  their  interest  at  a  sacrifice.  Moses  C.  Hicks  made  an  addition 
on  the  south  in  1868.  At  a  later  date,  Willis  Crabb  and  John  Linbarger  made 
additions  on  the  east.  These  last  are  just  across  the  line,  in  Logan  County. 
Moses  C.  Hicks  erected  the  first  building  in  the  village,  a  residence  and  busi- 
ness house  combined,  in  the  summer  of  1858.  In  this  he  opened  a  stock  of 
general  merchandise.  He  came  from  Atlanta,  Logan  County,  at  which  point 
he  had  been  engaged  in  the  same  business.  This  building  is  at  present  occu- 
pied by  N.  Wool  as  a  boot  and  shoe  shop.  The  second  building  was  erected 
on  the  corner  of  Second  and  Main  streets,  and  was  occupied  as  a  hardware 
store  by  Messrs  Morgan  &  Leeper.  Dillon  &  Morgan  soon  afterward  became 
the  proprietors,  and,  at  the  end  of  six  months,  Dillon  purchased  the  interest  of 
his  partner  and  for  some  time  conducted  the  business  alone.  This  building  is 
now  occupied  by  Stuart  Hight  as  a  dwelling.  With  the  exception  of  two  or 
three  small  dwellings,  erected  by  different  parties  during  1858  and  1859,  the 
village  took  a  rest  for  about  ten  years.  On  the  prospective  completion  of  the 
railroad,  new  life  was  infused  into  the  well-nigb  defunct  village,  and  a  number 
of  dwellings  and  business  houses  were  erected.  Nat  Beardsley,  from  Jersey- 
ville,  opened  out  a  stock  of  general  merchandise,  in  1862  or  1863,  and,  after 
operating  it  about  two  years,  sold  to  Dr.  Knapp  and  returned  whence  he  came. 
In  1865,  Dr.  Charles  D.  Knapp  built  and  opened  a  drug  store  in  the  room  now  occu- 
pied by  E.  S.  Linbarger.  Hull  &  Morrison,  from  Henry,  Marshall  County,  came 
in  1866,  erected  the  building  now  occupied  by  Chestnut  &  Thomas,  and  started 
a  hardware  store.  Others  came  in  from  time  to  time,  and  San  Jose  was  soon 
established  upon  a  firm  footing.  The  first  grain  merchants  in  the  village  were 
Buck  &  Scott,  who  began  the  purchase  of  grain  in  1866.  A  warehouse,  built 
by  Peter  Defries,  was  converted  by  Buck  &  Brother  into  an  elevator,  about  the 
same  date,  and  was  the  first  in  the  village.  In  1866,  Moses  C.  Hicks  built  a 
steam  elevator,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1868.  Thomas  Little  operated 
a  warehouse  here  for  some  time,  which  was  finally  taken  down  and  moved  to 


610  HISTORY   OF   MASON    COUNTY. 

Teheran.  In  1874,  D.  G.  Cunningham  built  an  elevator  on  the  site  of  that 
formerly  occupied  by  Hicks.  This  he  at  present  operates.  E.  W.  Nelson,  of 
Natroria,  is  also  engaged  in  grain-buying  at  this  point.  The  amount  of  grain 
shipped  from  this  point  ranges  from  200,000  to  250,000  bushels  annually.  Before 
the  building  of  the  P.,  D.  &  L.  road  a  much  greater  amount  was  handled. 
During  the  summer  of  1868,  two  very  important  additions  were  made  to  the 
town  in  the  way  of  buildings.  Moses  C.  Hicks  erected  a  large  and  commo- 
dious hotel,  at  a  cost  of  not  less  than  $6,000.  At  one  time,  he  had  as  high  as 
forty-two  regular  boarders,  in  addition  to  a  large  transient  custom.  The  same 
year,  C.  B.  Vanhorn  moved  the  machinery  of  his  grist-mill  from  Atlanta, 
Logan  County,  to  San  Jose,  erected  a  mill-house,  and  began  the  manufacture 
of  flour.  It  has  two  run  of  stone  and  can  turn  off  twenty  barrels  per  day. 
The  machinery  was  originally  put  in  use  at  Waynesville,  De  Witt  County,  by 
C.  Livingston.  In  1857,  Vanhorn  purchased  and  moved  it  to  Atlanta  and 
from  there  to  San  Jose,  as  before  mentioned.  This  is  the  first  and  only  grist- 
mill that  has  ever  been  erected  in  Allen's  Grove  Township.  In  1869,  A. 
Jacobs  &  Co.  removed  their  wagon  and  general  blacksmithing  shops  from  Pekin 
to  this  point.  They  manufacture  from  thirty  to  forty  wagons  annually  and  do- 
a  large  amount  of  general  blacksmithing.  They  have  also  a  branch  establish- 
ment in  Mason  City.  Zenas  B.  Kidder  was,  perhaps,  the  first  blacksmith  in 
the  village.  The  post  office  was  established  as  early  as  1858,  and  Moses  C. 
Hicks  was  appointed  first  Postmaster.  Albert  McCollister  at  present  occupies 
the  position  and  is  also  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Among  the  early  practitioners 
of  the  village,  we  find  the  names  of  Drs.  Parker,  Yoke,  Rider  and  Fain.  Just 
which  was  the  first  to  locate  we  are  at  a  loss  to  determine.  Dr.  Charles  W. 
Knapp,  now  of  Chicago,  was  formerly  a  merchant  and  practicing  physician  of 
the  place.  Dr.  Fain  is  still  a  resident  of  the  place,  but  the  accumulated  weight 
of  years  has  largely  disqualified  him  for  the  active  pursuit  of  his  profession  for 
some  years  past.  Drs.  Wathan,  Holmes  and  E.  P.  Crispell  are  the  present  resi- 
dent physicians. 

CHURCHES,    LODGES,    ETC. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  built  about  1862  or  1863,  at  a  cost 
of  $2,000.  Rev.  W.  M.  B.  Colt,  from  Delavan,  labored  for  the  society  before 
their  house  of  worship  was  erected.  The  first  meetings  of  the  organization 
were  held  at  Sjmon  Goodale's  Schoolhouse,  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village. 
Under  the  administration  of  Rev.  Colt,  the  subscription  for  the  present  house 
in  the  town  was  started.  Isaac  C.  Brown,  wife  and  daughter,  Dr.  Yoke,  Zenas 
B.  Kidder  and  wife,  R.  B.  Summers  and  wife,  Edward  Lyons  and  wife.  Nich- 
olas Lehey  and  others,  to  the  number  of  fourteen,  comprised  the  original  organ- 
ization. Rev.  George  W.  Wolfe  was  the  first  regular  Pastor.  Rev.  Hamill 
at  present  officiates.  Services  are  held  regularly,  and  a  Sunday  school,  with 
an  average  attendance  of  100  pupils,  is  presided  over  by  Miss  Hamill,  daughter 
of  the  Pastor. 


HISTORY   OF    MASON   COUNTY.  611 

The  German  M.  E.  Church  was  built  in  1870,  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  A 
parsonage,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  is  also  the  property  of  the  Church.  The 
house  was  dedicated  January  22,  1871,  Rev.  Dr.  Leibhardt,  of  Cincinnati,  offi- 
ciating. The  society  was  organized  in  1866,  and  held  its  first  services  at  a 
schoolhouse  some  distance  in  the  country.  After  the  building  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  they  leased  it  for  a  portion  of  the  time  for  a  term  of  five  years,  but 
only  occupied  it  between  two  and  three  years.  Rev.  Christian  Bruegger  was 
the  first  Pastor.  In  1868,  Rev.  C.  F.  Schlinger  became  Pastor  in  charge,  and 
remained  till  1871.  Under  his  labors  the  house  was  built.  Rev.  Wilhelm 
Winter  succeeded  him,  remaining  two  years.  Rev.  David  Hume  next  became 
minister  in  charge  for  three  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Frederick  Stoflf- 
regan,  the  present  Pastor.  The  society  numbers  at  present  about  167.  A 
Sunday  school  was  organized  at  the  same  time  the  Church  was  organized.  It 
has  an  average  attendance  of  thirty  officers  and  teachers,  and  from  125  to  150 
pupils.  The  first  Superintendent  was  George  Suits  ;  the  position  is  now  held 
by  Rev.  C.  F.  Schlinger.  In  1876,  forty-six  members  withdrew  from  the  con- 
gregation, and  were  added  to  the  organizations  at  Emden  and  Hartsburg. 
Among  the  early  communicants  of  the  Church,  we  find  the  names  of  Fred 
Smith  and  family,  John  Rapp  and  family,  Mrs.  Wiemer,  Henry  Schweizer  and 
family,  John  Neef,  and  others.  Regular  services  are  held  each  Sunday. 

The  Society  of  Regular  Baptists  was  organized  in  1868  by  members  from 
the  Church  at  Delavan.  They  have  as  yet  no  church  building.  Rev.  William 
H.  Briggs  was  the  first  Pastor,  and  labored  for  the  congregation  four  or  five 
years.  The  early  meetings  of  the  society  were  held  in  the  hall  over  the  store- 
room now  occupied  by  Newman  &  Knapp.  In  October,  1877,  the  Church  fit- 
ted up  a  hall  in  the  hotel,  which  is  its  present  place  of  meeting.  The  Church 
has  enjoyed  the  services  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Brown  one  year,  Rev.  S.  S.  Martin 
three  years.  Rev.  J.  M.  Homey  is  now  Pastor,  and  holds  services  twice  per 
month.  The  Sunday  school  meets  every  Lord's  Day,  and  has  an  attendance 
of  seventy-five  pupils.  T.  S.  Knapp  is  Superintendent. 

San  Jose  Lodge,  No.  645,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  organized  under  charter 
from  the  Grand  Lodge,  bearing  date  October  4,  A.  L.  5870,  A.  D.  1870. 
H.  G.  Reynolds  was  Grand  Master,  and  Orlin  H.  Miner  Grand  Secretary. 
Edmund  Rodgers,  William  J.  Cunningham,  Willis  Crabb,  Andrew  T.  Linbar- 
ger,  R.  B.  Williams,. William  D.  Oswald,  Daniel  W.  Dillon,  Rufus  B.  Sum- 
mers, Edward  Lyons,  Timothy  Sullivan,  H.  C.  McDowell,  Samuel  Dement, 
Edwin  Cutler,  James  J.  Kern,  Charles  Forsythe  and  Watkin  Watkins  were 
charter  members.  The  first  officers  of  the  Lodge  were :  Edmund  Rodgers,  W. 
M.;  William  J.  Cunningham,  S.  W.;  Willis  Crabb,  J.  W.  Regular  communi- 
cations are  held  the  first  and  third  Thursdays  of  each  month,  in  their  hall 
over  Chestnut  &  Thomas'  store.  Membership,  thirty-three.  Present  officers  : 
D.  G.  Cunningham,  W.  M.;  H.  C.  McDowell,  S.  W.;  Willis  Crabb,  J.  W.; 
R.  B.  Williams,  Treasurer  ;  J.  J.  Newman,  Secretary.  Messrs.  Crabb  and 


•612  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Williams  have  held  their  respective  offices  ever  since  the  organization  of  the 
Lodge. 

San  Jose  Lodge,  No.  380,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  instituted  under  dispensation 
December  23,  1868.  A  charter  was  issued  from  the  Grand  Lodge  October  12, 
1869,  bearing  the  signatures  of  J.  Ward  Ellis,  G.  M.,  and  Samuel  Willard,  G. 
S.  The  charter  members  were  :  Jonathan  Cory,  P.  G.;  John  S.  Buck,  P.  G.; 
William  M.  Duffy,  Charles  N.  Hull,  John  W.  Morrison,  Samuel  Biggs  and 
William  Kent.  First  officers  :  Jonathan  Cory,  N.  G.;  J.  W.  Morrison,  V.  G.; 
Samuel  Biggs,  Treasurer,  and  J.  S.  Buck,  Secretary.  Valley  Encampment, 
No.  120,  was  organized  under  dispensation  in  May,  1871.  A  charter  was 
granted  October  10,  1871,  over  the  signatures  of  D.  W.  Jacoby,  Grand  Patri- 
arch, and  N.  C.  Nason,  Grand  Scribe.  The  following  persons  were  named  in 
the  charter :  John  S.  Buck,  John  W.  Morrison,  Jonathan  Cory,  Robert  M. 
Buck,  Fred  W.  Paas,  J.  W.  Hight,  A.  M.  Summers.  William  Kent,  J.  Alefs, 
L.  Nieukirk,  T.  S.  Knapp,  A.  R.  Chestnut,  C.  B.  'Vanhorn  and  A.  Jacobs. 
These  two  societies  meet  in  their  well-furnished  and  well-appointed  hall  in  the 
second  story  of  the  hotel  building.  The  first  officers  of  the  Encampment  were : 
J.  S.  Buck,  C.  P.;  R.  M.  Buck,  H.  P.;  J.  W.  Morrison,  S.  W.;  A.  R.  Chest- 
nut, J.  W.;  John  Alefs,  Treasurer;  C.  B.  Vanhorn,  Scribe. 

Santa  Maria  Chapter,  Order  Eastern  Star,  No.  70,  was  organized  March 
22,  1872.  Charter  members  :  E.  Rodgers,  E.  Cutler,  C.  Forsythe,  R.  B. 
Williams,  H.  C.  McDowell,  W.  J.  Cunningham,  E.  Lyons,  Willis  Crabb  and 
H.  Thorne.  Its  meetings  were  held  in  the  hall  of  San  Jose  Lodge,  No.  645, 
and  the  Chapter  prospered  indifferently  well  till  July,  1876,  when  it  surren- 
dered its  charter. 

In  May,  1873,  W.  H.  Postlewait  opened  the  San  Jose  Job  Printing  Office, 
which,  after  a  brief  term  of  existence,  succumbed  to  financial  embarrassment. 
October  18,  1878,  the  San  Jose  Gazette  was  established  by  J.  J.  Smith,  and 
closed  a  brilliant  career  at  the  end  of  six  months,  leaving  an  aching  void  in 
the  pockets  of  some  of  the  citizens  who  had  contributed  to  the  starting  of  the 
enterprise. 

VILLAGE    INCORPORATED. 

On  the  13th  day  of  April,  1870,  pursuant  to  notice,  the  citizens  assembled 
at  the  schoolhouse  and  organized  by  electing  Rev.  T.  J.  N.  Simmons,  President, 
and  Samuel  Dement,  Clerk.  The  vote  stood  31  for  and  9  against  incorporating. 
On  the  21st  of  the  same  month,  the  following  Board  of  Trustees  was  chosen  : 
Edmund  Rodgers,  Jonathan  Cory,  Andrew  Jacobs,  Zenas  B.  Kidder,  Samuel 
Dement  and  Dr.  Charles  D.  Knapp.  The  following  officers  were  chosen  at  a 
subsequent  meeting  of  the  Board  ;  Jonathan  Cory,  President ;  Thomas  S. 
Knapp,  Clerk  ;  Zenas  B.  Kidder  was  chosen  Street  Commissioner,  and  C.  C. 
Ragan,  Police  Constable.  June  12,  1876,  the  town  was  incorporated  as  a  vil- 
lage, under  the  general  law  of  1872,  by  a  vote  of  29  for  to  0  against.  The 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  613 

following  are  the  present  Board  of  officers  :  Thomas  S.  Knapp,  J.  Parmentier, 
T.  Bennett,  E.  P.  Crispell,  N.  Woll,  St..  W.  Steffan.  L.  J.  Dillon  holds  the 
office  of  Police  Magistrate,  and  R.  W.  Fleming  that  of  Clerk.  The  village 
has  a  population  of  from  three  hundred  and  fifty  to  four  hundred,  and  has  three 
general  merchandise  stores,  one  hardware  and  tin  store,  one  drug  store,  one 
saddle  and  harness  shop,  one  meat  market,  two  millinery  establishments,  one 
boot  and  shoe  shop,  one  wagon-shop  and  one  first-class  smith-shop.  In  1874, 
A.  R.  Chestnut  and  I.  Thomas  established  an  exchange  bank  in  connection  with 
their  general  merchandise  trade.  This  has  proved  a  source  of  great  conven- 
ience to  both  grain-buyers  and  merchants.  The  firm  does  a  general  banking 
and  exchange  business.  The  prospects  are  flattering  that,  before  the  cycle  of 
many  moons,  San  Jose  will  have  secured  to  herself  an  additional  means  of 
entrance  and  exit.  Her  full  quota  of  stock  toward  the  construction  of  the 
Havana,  Rantoul  &  Eastern  Narrow-Gauge  Railroad  has  already  been  sub- 
scribed. Should  the  road  be  brought  to  completion,  it  will  give  her  an  eastern 
outlet  and  bring  her  in  direct  communication  with  Havana ;  but  whether  the 
building  ot  the  road  will  materially  enhance  her  best  interests  is  yet  a  mooted  ques- 
tion in  the  minds  of  some  of  her  best  citizens.  The  completion  and  successful 
operation  of  seventy-six  miles  of  the  route  augurs  the  speedy  construction  of 
the  line  to  San  Jose,  and  from  thence  to  some  point  on  the  Illinois  River.  The 
village  was  named  by  Alexander  W.  Morgan,  from  the  city  of  the  same  orthog- 
raphy, but  differently  pronounced,  in  the  Golden  State.  Situated,  as  it  is,. in 
the  midst  of  a  fine  agricultural  region,  but  for  its  proximity  to  Delavan  on  the 
north  and  Mason  City  on  the  south,  San  Jose  might,  at  no  distant  future, 
exceed  in  size  and  importance  the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  its  original 
founders. 

NATRONA  VILLAGE. 

The  village  of  Natrona  was  surveyed  and  platted  by  E.  Z.  Hunt,  County 
Surveyor,  for  James  C.  Conkling,  of  Springfield,  111.,  and  George  S.  Thompson, 
>of  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  in  1857.  The  original  plat  contained  sixty  blocks,  320 
feet  square,  subdivided  into  912  lots,  40x152  feet.  The  streets  were  80  feet  in 
width,  alleys,  16  feet.  Soon  after  the  laying-out  of  the  town,  Daniel  Crabb 
purchased  the  site,  and  is  at  present  proprietor  of  a  large  portion  of  it. 
Nothing  was  done  in  the  way  of  building  up  the  village  prior  to  the  building  of 
the  railroad.  In  1866  and  1867,  Daniel  Crabb  built  a  few  small  houses  east 
of  the  railroad.  Samuel  Ayers,  Lear  and  McDonald,  each  erected  a  building 
about  the  same  time.  Crabb  erected  a  warehouse  also,  in  1867.  This  was  con- 
verted into  a  horse-power  elevator  in  1871,  by  Henry  A.  Baily,  his  son-in-law. 
Lear  was  the  first  merchant  in  the  village  of  whom  we  have  any  account.  He 
kept  a  grocery  and  saloon  in  a  small  building  just  east  of  the  railroad  track, 
still  standing,  and  now  used  by  John  B.  Abbott  as  a  grain  bin.  In  1868,  E. 
W.  Nelson  came  from  Wisconsin,  and,  in  connection  with  Samuel  Ayers, 
engaged  in  buying  grain.  They  were  the  first  to  handle  grain  in  the  place. 


614  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

During  that  and  the  year  previous,  a  number  of  buildings  were  put  up  west  of 
the  track.  George  Heckel  and  John  N.  Cathcart  each  built  a  large  store 
building  on  the  west  side,  and  E.  W.  Nelson  a  small  business  house  on  the  east 
side.  Heckel  occupied  his  building  with  a  full  stock  of  furnitdre,  James 
Hampson  that  of  Cathcart  with  a  stock  of  general  merchandise.  Nelson  opened 
up  a  general  stock  in  his  building.  The  first  school  kept  in  the  village  was 
presided  over  by  Miss  Emma  Bendy.  The  school  was  kept  in  the  second  story 
of  Crabb's  warehouse.  A  neat  frame  building  for  school  purposes  was  built  in 
1873,  at  a  cost  of  $1,800.  George  W.  Murphy,  from  Ohio,  taught  the  first 
school  in  the  new  building.  The  post  office  was  established  in  1868,  and  J.  E. 
Reynolds  was  first  Postmaster.  E.  W.  Nelson  is  present  Postmaster  and  sta- 
tion agent,  though  the  duties  are  discharged  by  R.  Williams,  at  whose  store  the 
offices  are  kept.  In  1871,  E.  W.  Nelson  built  a  steam  elevator,  and  this,  as 
well  as  the  one  built  by  Baily,  is  now  operated  by  John  B.  Abbott — the  only 
grain  merchant  in  the  village.  The  amount  of  grain  shipped  from  this  point 
ranges  from  three  hundred  thousand  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
bushels  per  annum.  R.  Williams  has  the  only  store  in  town,  and  carries  a 
general  stock.  The  Protestant  Methodist  Church  was  built  in  1877.  It  is  a 
neat  frame  building  arid  cost  $1,600.  Rev.  Starling  Turner  was  first  Pastor. 
Rev.  Hamill,  of  San  Jose,  at  present  supplies  the  pulpit.  Among  the  early 
communicants  we  find  the  names  of  Jeremiah  Corson,  William  Preston  and 
wife,  George  Langley  and  wife,  Richard  Langley  and  wife,  Robert  Preston, 
Mrs.  Larimore,  Reuben  Dowell  and  wife,  and  H.  S.  Jackson  and  wife.  No  one 
individual  has  contributed  to  the  building-up  of  the  village  more  than  E.  W. 
Nelson,  who  has  built  several  of  the  more  substantial  buildings  on  the  east  side. 
Natrona  was  erst  known  as  Altoona,  and  is  so  recorded.  And  since  the  greatest 
creative  genius  that  ever  li^ed  has  said,  "  There  is  nothing  in  a  name,"  we  doubt 
not  that  Natrona  would  have  attained  its  present  importance  among  the  villages 
of  the  county  had  its  name  remained  unchanged.  The  change  was,  doubtless, 
suggested  by  the  fact  that  the  village  of  Altona,  of  prior  existence  in  Knox 
County,  from  the  similarity  of  name,  often  led  to  annoyances  in  the  transmission 
of  mail  and  express  matter  intended  for  this  point.  We  do  not  give  this  as 
positive  knowledge,  but  simply  as  a  reasonable  explanation  of  why  the  change 
was  made. 

KILBOURNE  TOWNSHIP. 

When  Mason  County  was  first  laid  off  into  townships  or  election  precincts, 
what  is  now  Kilbourne  was  included  in  the  present  townships  of  Bath  and 
Crane  Creek,  and  was  not  created  until  1873,  about  the  time  of  the  build- 
ing of  the  Springfield  &  North-Western  Railroad.  In  its  formation, 
three  tiers  of  sections  were  taken  from  Crane  Creek  and  a  like  number  from 
Bath.  It  is  described  as  Town  20  north,  Range  8  west  of  the  Third  Princi- 
pal Meridian,  and  contains  a  few  sections  in  the  southwest  part  over  and  above 


HISTORY    OF   MASON   COUNTY.  615 

a  regular  Congressional  Township.  The  soil,  like  that  of  Bath  and  Havana, 
is  somewhat  sandy,  particularly  in  the  timbered  part  of  it,  but  produces  well, 
and,  as  an  agricultural  district,  is  equal  to  any  portion  of  the  county.  About 
three-fourths  of  the  township  is  prairie,  and  generally  of  a  level  nature.  The 
level  land  has>  been  well  utilized  by  artificial  drainage,  and  numerous  ditches 
traverse  it,  carrying  away  the  surface  water,  until  much  of  this  level  prairie 
may  be  set  down  as  among  the  most  productive  land  in  the  county. 

.  Kilbourne  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Havana  Township,  on  the  west  by  Bath, 
on  the  south  by  the  Sangamon  River  and  on  the  east  by  Crane  Creek  Town- 
ship. The  Sangamon  River,  on  its  southern  boundary,  and  Crane  Creek  in  the 
southeast  part,  with  numerous  artificial  ditches,  effectually  drain  its  level  lands. 
The  Springfield  £  North- Western  Railroad  runs  through  in  almost  a  northwest 
direction,  crossing  the  Sangamon  River  near  the  center,  and  passes  out  through 
Section  6,  in  the  northwest  corner  toward  Havana,  its  terminus.  This  road  has 
benefited  the  town  to  a  considerable  extent,  and,  together  with  the  villages  of 
Kilbourne  and  Long  Branch,  will  again  be  alluded  to  in  this  chapter. 

THE    EARLY    PIONEERS. 

When  the  first  white  people  came  to  this  section,  it  was  then  a  part  of  San- 
gamon County.  A  few  years  later,  it  became  a  part  of  Menard,  and,  later 
still,  was  embraced  in  Mason.  Mrs.  Blakely  and  Dr.  Field,  now  .among  the 
oldest  settlers  left,  say  that  they  lived  in  three  counties  without  moving  from 
their  original  places  of  residence.  The  first  settlement  made  by  a  "white  man, 
in  Kilbourne  Township,  was  by  Absalom  Mounts.  He  was  from  that  portion 
of  Sangamon  County  now  embraced  in  Menard,  where  he  had  built  a  little  mill 
on  Clary's  Creek.  He  came  here  about  1831-32,  and  settled  in  the  southeast 
part  of  the  present  town  of  Kilbourne,  and  there  built  a  mill  on  Crane  Creek, 
which  is  graphically  described  elsewhere.  The  next  settlement  was  made  by 
Gibson  Garrett.  He  settled  here,  it  is  supposed,  in  1835—36  ;  was  from  either 
Virginia  or  Tennessee,  and  had  first  settled  in  the  Sugar  Grove  neighborhood. 
He  has  long  ago  paid  nature's  last  great  debt.  Jesse  Baker  came  in  1836,  and 
was  from  Tennessee.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1816,  and  located  in  Morgan 
dounty,  where  he  resided  until  he  came  to  this  neighborhood ;  he  is  still  liv- 
ing in  the  east  part  of  the  township.  John  Close  and  Charles  Sidwell  came  in 
a  year  or  two  after  Garrett.  Close  was  from  the  South,  probably  from  Ken- 
tucky, was  an  old  man  when  he  came  to  the  country,  and  died  many  years  ago. 
Some  of  his  descendants  are  still  living  in  Crane  Creek  Township.  Sidwell 
was  from  New  York  ;  he  had  but  one  child,  a  daughter,  who  married  and  went 
to  Texas,  accompanied  by  her  father,  where  he  died  some  fourteen  years  ago. 
The  Fields  and  Blakelys  were  the  next  settlers  and  came  in  the  fall  of  1836. 
The  former  are  mentioned  in  the  history  of  Bath  Township,  as  their  settlement 
was  made  in  the  portion  of  Bath  included  in  this  township  at  its  formation  at 
a  recent  date.  As  stated  there,  Dr.  Drury  S.  Field  entered  a  large  amount  of 


616  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

land  here  in  an  early  day.  His  son,  Dr.  A.  E.  Field,  lives  at  present  in  th( 
village  of  Kilbourne.  He  pointed  out  to  us  the  old  house  of  his  father,  the 
third  frame  house  built  in  Mason  County,  and  the  first  in  this  township.  It 
begins  to  show  the  "  foot-prints  of  time."  Another  son  of  Dr.  Field,  Albert 
J.,  lives  now  in  Cass  County,  Mo.  James  Blakely  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  first  settled  in  Sangamon  County,  seven  miles  from  Springfield, 
and.  after  remaining  there  a  year  or  two,  crossed  the  Rubicon,  otherwise  the 
Sangamon,  where  he  stopped  for  nearly  a  year,  and  until  he  had  built  a  cabin 
on  land  which  he  had  entered  in  the  present  town  of  Kilbourne.  In  this 
cabin  he  lived  for  nine  years,  when  he  moved  over  the  line  into  Havana 
Township,  where  he  died  in  September,  1870.  He  married  a  daughter  of 
Aaron  Scott,  also  an  early  settler  of  Mason  County,  and  who  settled  in  what  is 
now  Sherman  Township,  where  he  is  mentioned  among  the  pioneers.  Mrs. 
Blakely  is  still  living  on  the  place  where  her  husband  died,  an  active  old 
lady  of  seventy  years,  possessing  an  excellent  memory,  and  to  her  we  are 
indebted  for  many  facts  embraced  in  this  chapter. 

Thomas  Martin  and  Joel  Garrett  came  in  1837 ;  the  latter  is  still  living  in 
the  township.  Martin  was  from  Kentucky,  and  settled  about  three  miles  from 
the  village  of  Kilbourne,  where  he  died  many  years  ago.  He  had  but  one 
child,  who  lived  at  last  accounts  of  her,  in  Sullivan  County,  Mo.  Henry  Nor- 
ris  came  from  Kentucky  and  settled  in  the  north  part  of  the  township.  He  is 
said  to  have  erected  the  third  cabin  in  that  immediate  vicinity.  He  has  been 
dead  many  years.  Jacob  Cross  may  be  noted  among  the  early  settlers,  but 
belonged  to  the  "floating  population,"  and  did  not  remain  long.  He  borrowed 
a  span  of  horses  and  wagon,  which  he  neglected  to  return,  and  for  which  little 
delinquency  he  was  followed  by  Dr.  Field  and  some  others,  several  hundred 
miles.  The  horses  were  recovered,  but  Cross  and  the  wagon  eluded  capture. 
John  Young  was  from  Kentucky,  but  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  came 
here  about  1837-38.  He  had  a  large  family.  Anderson,  John,  William  and 
Mitchell  were  his  sons,  of  whom  only  Mitchell  is  living,  and  at  present  resides 
in  Missouri.  There  is  one  daughter,  also  living.  The  old  gentleman  died  in 
1847.  The  Danielses  came  in  1837,  and  were  from  Tennessee.  They  consisted 
of  G.  W.  Daniels  and  his  sons,  Isely,  Galloway,  George  and  Martin.  The  old 
gentleman  is  long  since  dead,  but  the  sons  named  are  all  living,  and  are  among 
the  substantial  citizens  of  Kilbourne  Township.  Another  son  lives  in  Lynch- 
burg  Township.  The  Craggs  were  early  settlers,  but  lived  in  that  portion  of 
the  town  taken  from  Bath,  and,  like  the  Fields,  were  mentioned  in  the  history 
of  Bath.  Rev.  Elisha  Stevens,  one  of  the  early  divines  of  this  section,  came 
from  York  State,  as  he  always  called  it,  in  1839.  He  was  a  Methodist  preacher, 
and  is  referred  to  again.  He  died  in  the  spring  of  1855.  John  Pratt  was 
also  from  New  York,  and  located  in  the  settlement  in  1838.  He  died  in  1878, 
having  lived  here  for  a  period  of  just  forty  years.  David  Pratt,  his  father, 
came  a  few  months  after  him.  They  had  been  living  some  time  across  the 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  617 

river,  in  what  is  now  Cass  County.  The  old  gentleman,  after  living  here  a 
number  of  years,  returned  to  Cass  County,  where  he  died  about  eighteen  years 
ago.  Moses  Ray  and  his  son,  Aaron,  settled  on  the  present  site  of  Kilbourne 
Village,  in  the  fall  of  1838.  They  came  from  Indiana  here,  but  whether  that 
was  their  native  place  could  not  be  learned.  James  and  Hiram  Ray,  sons  of 
Moses  Ray,  came  about  two  years  later.  All  of  them  are  now  dead.  Moses 
Ray,  the  elder,  "died  on  the  10th  of  December,  1845,"  says  Dr.  Field,  "for 
I  was  married  the  same  day  and  ought  to  remember  the  event."  Burgess  Ray, 
a  grandson  of  "Old  Moses,"  came  a  few  years  later,  remained  here  a  number 
of  years  and  then  moved  to  Missouri.  "Old  Becka,"  a  negress,  with  a  face 
like  the  mouth  of  a  coal-pit,  came  with  the  Rays,  and  was  the  first  of  Ethiopia's 
fated  race  to  tread  the  sacred  soil  of  Kilbourne. 

John  Cookson  and  John  Lamb  were  from  Indiana,  Posey  County,  the  land 
of  hoop-poles  and  pumpkins.  Cookson  came  in  the  fall  of  1839,  and  several 
years  later  moved  to  Missouri,  where  he  lived  at  last  accounts  of  him.  Lamb- 
was  a  Pennsylvania  Dutchman,  born  and  reared  in  Indiana ;  or,  to  be  more 
explicit,  his  parents  were  from  Pennsylvania,  and  of  the  good  old  Dutch  stock. 
Of  eleven  children  born  to  John  Lamb,  all  are  now  dead  except  Christine,  the 
youngest  daughter.  They  were  a  heavy  family,  ranging  in  avoirdupois  from 
one  hundred  and  sixty  to  three  hundred  pounds.  It  is  said  that  the  old 
gentleman  weighed  three  hundred  pounds,  and  his  wife  two  hundred  pounds, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  one  daughter  who  weighed  one  hundred  and  sixty, 
not  one  but  tilted  the  beam  at  two  hundred  and  upward.  Dr.  Mastick  was 
among  the  early  settlers,  but  just  what  year  he  located  could  not  be  ascertained. 
He  was  originally  from  Ohio,  and  is  elsewhere  mentioned  as  the  first  medical 
practitioner  of  the  township ;  he  died  a  few  years  ago.  William  McDaniels 
came  to  the  neighborhood  in  1838,  and  remained  a  citizen  until  his  death  in 
1854.  James  Ross  came  in  1840,  and  was  a  Southron,  though  what  State  he 
came  from  is  not  now  remembered.  He  moved  to  Peoria,  and  there,  in  that 
great  city,  all  trace  of  him  is  lost.  Abraham  Williamson  came  from  Kentucky 
in  1843.  He  first  settled  in  Morgan  County,  where  he  remained  a  few  years 
before  coming  to  this  section.  He  died  here  some  three  or  four  years  ago. 
William  Turner  also  came  from  Morgan  County  to  this  settlement  in  1843 ;  he 
died  here  many  years  ago.  Michael  Ott,  another  Pennsylvania  Dutchman,  set- 
tled in  1841 ;  was  a  very  old  man  when  he  died — about  five  years  ago.  James 
and  John  Tolley,  two  brothers,  came  from  Kentucky  in  1842.  John  is  still  liv- 
ing, and  at  present  a  resident  of  Menard  County  ;  but  Ja^mes  died  some  years 
ago  in  Kansas. 

This  comprises  the  settlement  of  the  township,  so  far  as  names  can  be  ascer- 
tained, up  to  1845,  when  emigrants  began  to  pour  in  with  such  rapidity  as  to 
render  it  impossible  for  the  chronicler  to  keep  track  of  them.  Among  the 
arrivals  in  1845,  we  may  notice  those  of  J.  M.  Hardin,  John  Ranson,  Edward 
Gore,  Joseph  Groves,  John  Micklam,  Edmund  McCormick,  A.  H.  Neal,  James 


618  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Angelo,  Samuel  Cannon  and  a  host  of  others,  comprising  much  of  the  "  bone 
and  sinew"  of  the  town.  Dr.  Oneal,  now  a  resident  of  Kilbourne  Township, 
was  an  early  settler  of  Bath,  where  he  is  more  particularly  noticed.  John  B. 
Gum,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Kilbourne,  and  one  of  the  largest  land- 
owners in  the  county,  was  a  very  early  settler  of  Petersburg  Precinct,  Menard 
Oounty,  where  he  is  further  alluded  to.  If  any  of  the  early  settlers  of  Bath, 
Crane  Creek  and  this  township  should  find  themselves  a  little  mixed  as  to  their 
place  of  residence,  it  results  from  the  fact  already  mentioned,  viz. :  tbat  Kil- 
bourne was  a  part  of  the  two  former  towns  until  a  few  years  ago,  and  drew  on 
them  about  equally  for  its  territory.  We  have  endeavored  to  keep  "  things 
straight,"  but  may,  in  some  cases,  have  lost  our  bearings  and  drifted  "across 
the  line"  into  one  or  the  other  of  those  towns.  If  so,  we  console  ourselves 
with  the  reflection  that  it  is  "  all  in  the  family,  anyway." 

SCRAPS    OF   HISTORY. 

The  first  "  messenger  of  glad  tidings"  in  the  young  settlement  was  Rev. 
Moses  Ray,  mentioned  among  the  early  settlers.  He  was  of  the  "  Hardshell  " 
Baptist  persuasion  and  used  to  sing  out  his  sermons  to  the  tune  of  Old  Hun- 
-dred.  His  peculiarities  are  still  remembered  by  the  old  settlers,  how,  when  well 
warmed  up  to  his  work,  and  making  what  he  thought  a  good  point,  would  slap 
his  hands  down  on  his  "  bow-legs,"  then  fling  them  aloft  in  Talmagian  style, 
and  sing  out,  "  And  my  dear  bretheren  and  sisteren,  whaf  do  you  think  of  that, 
ah?"  Rev.  Elisha  Stevens  and  Rev.  M.  Shunkwere  Methodist  preachers,  and 
the  next  laborers  in  the  Master's  vineyard.  Rev.  Mr.  Shunk  used  to  preach  at  the 
people's  cabins,  long  before  there  were  any  churches  or  schoolhouses.  One  of  his 
regular  preaching  places  was  at  Mr.  Aaron  Scott's,  who  is  alluded  to  as  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Sherman  Township.  The  first,  and  the  only  church  edi- 
fice in  Kilbourne  Township  is  New  Lebanon  Church,  on  Section  13,  in  the 
east  part  of  the  township.  It  was  erected  by  the  Missionary  Baptists,  during 
the  war,  probably  in  1863,  and  is  a  frame  building.  The  present  Pastor  is  Rev. 
Mr.  Curry.  Alexander  Dick  was  the  first  pedagogue,  and  taught  the  first 
school,  in  the  spring  of  1840,  in  the  first  schoolhouse  built  in  the  township. 
The  house  was  built  by  individual  contributions  of  the  neighbors,  Dr.  Field 
contributing  the  logs  and  boards.  It  will  be  seen  from  the  material  used,  that 
it  was  the  genuine  pioneer  schoolhouse.  Mrs.  Blakely  mentions  a  school  taught 
by  an  old  gentleman  named  Lease,  in  a  cabin  built  for  a  residence,  but  had  been 
vacated,  and  thinks  it  the  first  in  the  neighborhood.  I.  A.  Hurd  was  also  an 
early  teacher  in  this  section.  There  are  now  seven  comfortable  and  commodious 
frame  school  buildings  in  the  township,  in  which  schools  are  maintained  during 
the  usual  period  each  year.  Kilbourne  is  fully  up  to  the  times  in  its  school 
facilities. 

The  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  town  was  Albert  J.  Field,  and  Aaron 
Ray  was  the  first  Constable.  The  early  courts  of  these  gentlemen  abounded 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  621 

with  incidents  sometimes  very  ludicrous.  But  as  our  space  will  not  admit 
of  their  repetition  here,  our  readers  are  referred  to  Dr.  Field,  who  is  a  regular 
walking  encyclopedia  of  early  facts  and  fancies.  The  first  marriage  that  can 
he  called  to  mind  in  the  neighborhood  was  that  of  Jacob  Clotfelter,  of  Bath, 
to  Mary  Garrett,  in  1839.  They  were  married  by  Albert  J.  Field,  Justice  of 
the  Peace.  Death  entered  the  community  the  same  year,  and  his  victim  was 
"old  Becka,"  the  negress  before  referred  to.  She  was  buried  not  far  from  the 
present  village  of  Kilbourne.  An  old  gentleman  named  Lease,  mentioned  as 
an  early  school  teacher,  was  another  of  the  early  deaths.  The  first  birth  is 
believed  to  have  been  in  the  family  of  John  Pratt,  though  it  is  not  asserted  with 
any  degree  of  certainty. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  about  the  year  1859,  near  Mr.  Gum's 
residence,  and  was  called  Prairie.  Albert  J.  Field  was  the  Postmaster,  and 
the  mail  was  brought  by  the  stage-coach,  running  between  Springfield  and 
Havana.  The  first  effort  at  merchandising  was  by  William  Gore,  who  kept 
about  a  wheelbarrow  load  of  goods  in  a  little  cabin  some  three  and  a  half  miles 
from  the  present  village,  and  several  years  before  it  was  laid  out  as  such.  This 
•comprised  the  mercantile  trade  until  the  birth  of  Kilbourne.  Dr.  Willard 
Mastick  was  the  first  regular  physician  in  the  township.  In  early  times  the 
settlers  went  to  Jacksonville,  Salem,  and  Robinson's  to  mill.  Dr.  Field  says, 
when  they  wanted  wheat  ground  they  went  to  Jacksonville,  when  they  wanted 
it  only  mashed,  they  went  to  Robinson's  mill.  Absalom  Mounts  built  a  little 
mill  on  Crane  Creek,  in  the  southeast  part  of  this  township,  very  early.  It 
was  so  constructed  that  when  the  water  failed  in  the  creek  during  the  dry 
season,  it  could  be  run  by  horse-power.  This  mill  Mounts  finally  sold  to  Sid- 
well,  who  added  considerable  improvements,  in  fact  almost  wholly  reconstructed 
it.  Under  his  administration  it  is  thus  described  :  "  The  buhrs  were  but  a 
foot  in  diameter,  and  the  lower,  instead  of  the  upper,  turned  round.  When 
they  wanted  dressing,  Sidwell  would  take  them  up,  and  with  them  resting  on 
his  arm,  as  a  mother  would  carry  her  babe,  he  would  dress  them  off  in  going 
to  and  from  the  mill.  When  the  mill  was  running  at  full  speed,  he  would  put 
a  '  turn  '  in  the  hopper  in  the  morning,  go  home  and  work  on  his  farm  until 
afternoon,  and  then  go  over  to  the  mill  to  see  how  it  was  getting  along.  He 
knew  its  capacity,  and  just  how  long  it  would  take  it  to  grind  out  a  'turn.' ' 
But  some  years  later,  when  a  mill  was  built  at  Petersburg,  no  further  trouble 
on  this  score  was  experienced. 

As  stated  in  the  commencement  of  this  chapter,  the  township  of  Kilbourne 
was  formed  in  1873,  from  Bath  and  Crane  Creek  Townships.  Bath  comprised 
nearly  three  Congressional  towns,  while  Crane  Creek  embraced  about  one  and 
a  half ;  and  so  for  the  accommodation  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  extreme  parts  of 
the  towns,  this  new  town  was  created.  Dr.  Harvey  Oneal,  who  was  active  in  get- 
ting the  town  laid  off,  was  its  first  Supervisor.  It  is  at  present  represented  in 

tfie  honorable  Board  of   Supervisors  by  J.   M.    Hardin  ;    James   Conklin   is 

T 


622  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Town  Clerk,  and  J.  M.  Hardin,  School  Treasurer.  Kilbourne  is  very  nearly 
divided  on  the  political  issues  of  the  day.  First  one  party  carries  the  election, 
and  then  the  other,  with  but  a  few  votes  difference.  During  the  late  war,  it 
was  very  patriotic,  and  furnished  its  full  complement  of  soldiers  in  advance  of 
all  calls  for  troops.  Some  of  the  officers  credited  to  Bath  Township  rightfully 
belong  to  Kilbourne,  as  they  were  from  that  portion  of  Bath  now  embraced  in 
this  township.  Capt.  Houghton  and  Lieut.  Raymond  were  cases  in  point,  but 
as  they  are  already  mentioned  in  Bath,  we  will  not  make  any  change.  Kil- 
bourne Township  was  named  for  Kilbourne  Village,  and  Kilbourne  Village  for 
Kilbourne  Township,  and  each  for  the  other  and  both  for  Edward  Kilbourne, 
of  Keokuk,  Iowa,  one  of  the  principal  men  engaged  in  building  the  Springfield 
and  North- Western  Railroad.  This  road  was  completed,  and  trains  put  on 
over  this  part  of  it,  in  1872.  As  the  town  was  not  organized  until  the  road 
was  well  under  way,  or,  in  fact,  nearly  completed,  no  stock  could  be  taken  by 
it.  Individual  citizens  contributed  liberally,  taking  stock  ranging  in  sums 
from  $100  to  $4,000.  The  enterprise  of  building  this  road  was  opposed,  and 
with  good  grounds,  by  the  people  of  Bath  Township,  who  saw  in  its  completion 
a  loss  of  trade  to  themselves.  And  while  it  has  benefited  a  narrow  belt  of 
country,  it  has  also  been  of  more  or  less  injury  to  other  sections ;  a  proof  that 
what  is  the  gain  of  one,  is  the  loss  of  another. 

When  the  first  settlers  came  to  this  section,  it  abounded  in  deer,  prairie 
wolves,  wild  turkeys  and  all  other  kinds  of  game.  Dr.  Field  says  he  has  seen 
one  hundred  and  fifty  deer  on  the  prairie  at  one  time,  and  Mrs.  Blakely  says 
it  was  almost  as  uncommon  then  for  the  people  to  be  without  venison  in  their 
houses  as  to  be  without  bread  now.  Prairie  fires  were  of  frequent  occurrence, 
and  often  of  a  destructive  nature,  although  no  instance  of  loss  of  life  is  remem- 
bered to  have  occurred  from  them  in  this  immediate  vicinity,  but  n.arrow  escape* 
were  nearly  as  common  as  the  fires  themselves.  Dr.  Field  relates  a  circum- 
stance of  a  couple  of  men  who  were  out  hunting  deer  and  wild  honey.  They 
had  two  wagons  with  them  and  two  horses  to  each  wagon.  On  the  prairie  near  the 
Sangamon  bottom,  the  day  being  calm  and  but  little  breeze  stirring,  they  thought 
to  set  the  grass  on  fire,  and,  perhaps,  scare  up  a  deer.  They  had  already  a 
considerable  quantity  of  venison  and  some  five  hundred  pounds  of  honey  in 
their  wagons.  They  had  scarcely  fired  the  prairie  when  the  wind  sprang  up, 
veered  round,  and  they  were  forced  to  cut  their  horses  loose,  mount  and  flee  for 
life.  They  succeeded  in  escaping  with  their  horses,  but  their  wagons,  honey 
and  venison  were  burned.  The  winter  of  the  sudden  freeze  (1836-37),  is 
remembered  by  many  and  much  distress  was  the  result  of  it,  but  no  one  in  this 
neighborhood,  so  far  as  we  could  learn,  froze  to  death.  In  other  portions  of 
Illinois,  where  this  great  Manitoba  wave  swept  over,  people  were  less  fortunate, 
and,  in  our  capacity  as  historian,  we  have  more  than  once  recorded  death  from 
its  effect.  Dr.  Field  remembers  a  hailstorm  that  occurred  in  1845,  that  far 
exceeded  anything  of  like  character  that  has  ever  occurred  in  this  latitude. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  623 

When  it  was  over,  the  ground  was  covered  several  inches  in  depth  with  hail- 
stones, many  of  which  were  nearly  as  large  as  a  man's  fist.  It  made  a  terrible 
havoc  among  stock,  cattle  and  hogs  being  killed  by  scores.  Even  trees  bore 
the  appearance  of  having  been  run  through  a  huge  threshing  machine.  The 
more  timid  thought  the  last  day  had  arrived,  that  the  world  was  about  to  be 
blotted  out  amid  the  confusion  and  thunders  of  Sinai,  and,  therefore,  fell  to 
praying.  (It  may  be  that  this  saved  it.)  It  passed,  however,  without  any  loss 
of  human  life,  so  far  as  we  could  learn,  notwithstanding  much  stock  was  killed. 

Mrs.  Blakely  says,  in  those  days  of  early  privations,  there  was  no  money 
in  the  country — nothing  to  sell  to  bring  money,  and  nowhere  to  sell  it  if 
they  had  ever  so  much  superfluous  produce,  except,  now  and  then,  a  chance  to 
sell  something  to  movers.  They  went  to  Springfield  to  buy  their  clothing  and 
groceries,  when  they  had  anything  to  buy  with.  There  was  a  little  store  in 
Havana,  but  it  sold  goods  beyond  their  reach.  As  an  instance,  it  sold  coffee  at 
u  two  bits  "  a  pound,  and  in  Springfield  it  could  be  bought  for  "  a  bit."  And 
yet  people,  she  says,  were  just  as  happy  then,  apparently  more  so,  than  at  the 
present  day,  and  far  more  sociable.  "Neighbor"  had  something  of  the  broad 
meaning  given  to  it  by  the  Savior  of  the  world  eighteen  hundred  years  ago. 

Kilbourne  has  borne  the  reputation  of  having  been  the  most  quiet,  peace- 
able and  order-loving  community  in  this  whole  section  of  country.  Within  the 
last  decade  or  so,  however,  it  has  retrograded  somewhat  in  this  respect.  Quite 
a  severe  blow  to  its  good  name  occurred  in  the  assassination  of  a  man  named 
Hughes,  last  October  a  year  ago,  just  outside  the  limits  of  Kilbourne  village. 
Hughes  was  a  perfect  desperado,  his  death  a  public  benefit  to  the  country  and 
richly  merited  by  him,  yet  no  less  a  stain  to  those  who  administered  it.  He 
had  made  threats  to  the  effect  that  he  would  kill  three  men  of  the  neighbor- 

o 

hood  before  quitting  it.*  A  day  or  two  before  that  set  for  his  removal  from  the 
town,  he  was  found  with  twenty-two  shot  in  him,  and  any  one  of  seventeen  of 
them,  we  were  informed,  would  have  proved  fatal.  It  may  be  that  the  perpe- 
trators of  the  deed  are  known,  or  could  be  pretty  closely  guessed  at,  but,  from 
the  character  of  the  murdered  man,  no  one  felt  disposed  to  even  try  to  ferret 
out  the  assassin  or  assassins,  or  to  make  an  effort  to  bring  them  to  justice.  We 
were  told  that,  during  the  four  years  that  he  lived  in  the  neighborhood,  he 
had  fifty-four  rows,  and  it  is  altogether  probable  that  the  people  felt  a  relief 
when  they  knew  that  he  was  dead. 

VILLAGE    OF    KILBOURNE. 

Kilbourne  was  laid  out  in  1870  by  John  B.  Gum,  the  proprietor  of  the 
land,  on  portions  of  Sections  28  and  29.  It  is  on_  the  Springfield  &  North- 
Western  Railroad,  quite  an  energetic  little  place,  and  contains  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  inhabitants.  The  first  store  in  the  village  was  opened  by  William 
Oakford,  soon  after  it  was  laid  out.  A  saloon  had  been  kept  by  "old  Billy 

*  He  was  intending  to  move  away  on  the  Sunday  after  the  occurrence  above  related. 


624  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Martin "  before  Oakford  opened  the  store,  but  he  kept  nothing  but  "  bad 
whisky."  Calvin  Atterberry  bought  out  Oakford,  and,  about  the  same  time, 
Dr.  Field  opened  a  store.  A  post  office  was  established  in  1873,  with  Edward 
Bigelow  as  Postmaster.  C.  L.  Newell  is  the  present  Postmaster.  The  school- 
house  was  moved  into  the  village  after  it  was  laid  out — probably  about  1873-74. 
It  is  also  used  for  church  purposes,  there  being  no  church  edifice  in  the  village. 
The  Baptists  and  Methodists  have  societies  here.  Rev.  Mr.  Low  is  the  Meth- 
odist Pastor,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Curry  is  Pastor  of  the  Baptists.  A  Sunday  school 
is  also  held  in  the  schoolhouse,  of  which  S.  M.  Rollins  is  Superintendent. 
There  is  no  school  going  on  at  the  present  writing,  but  we  believe  the  teach- 
ers for  the  coming  session  are  engaged.  The  school  employs  two  teachers, 
there  being  over  one  hundred  children  in  the  district  who  are  entitled  to  school 
privileges.  The  business  of  the  place  sums  up  about  as  follows  :  Three  general 
stores,  one  drug  store,  one  family  grocery,  two  blacksmith-shops,  shoe-shops, 
two  practicing  physicians  (Drs.  Root  and  Eldridge),  etc.,  etc.  An  excellent 
grain  elevator  was  built  in  1873  by  Low  &  Foster  and  McFadden.  At  present, 
it  is  owned  by  Low  &  Foster,  of  Havana.  It  is  well  equipped,  having  patent 
grain-dumps,  and  is  operated  by  steam.  Low  &  Foster  and  McFadden  &  Co. 
handle  grain  extensively  at  this  point. 

Kilbourne  has  quite  a  handsome,  well-kept  little  cemetery.  The  first 
burial  within  its  ghostly  precincts  was  Jennie  Holmes,  a  girl  about  thirteen 
years  old.  Most  of  the  early  settlers,  however,  continued  to  bury  their  dead 
in  what  is  known  as  Pratt's  Graveyard,  some  distance  from  the  village.  It  is 
a  large  burying-ground,  and  was  laid  out  in  the  early  days  of  the  settlement  of 
the  country,  and  contains  the  remains  of  many  of  the  pioneers  who  have  gone 
to  their  last  rest. 

Long  Branch  is  a  summer  resort  on  the  banks  of  —  Ruggles'  ditch.  As 
a  popular  watering-place  it  was  not  much  of  a  success — except  in  a  very  wet 
season.  The  summer  cottages  have  been  moved  away,  and  it  now  presents  a 
rather  lonely  appearance  on  the  wide  prairie.  It  is  situated  on  the  Springfield 
&  North- Western  Railroad,  a  few  miles  from  the  village  of  Kilbourne,  and  was 
laid  out  in  1871,  by  Gatton  &  Ruggles.  At  present,  it  consists  of  merely  a 
side-track,  for  shipping  grain  and  stock.  A  post  office  was  established  in 
1872,  with  N.  S.  Phillips  as  Postmaster;  but  that,  in  a  few  years,  was  discon- 
tinued, and  nothing  now  remains  but  the  side-track  above  referred  to.  It  is, 
perhaps,  needless  to  say  that,  in  point  of  interest  or  popularity,  it  never  equaled 
its  Eastern  namesake.  It  never  did. 

Cuba  was  another  village  of  the  town  of  Kilbourne,  but  doubtless  there  are 
few  who  now  remember  it.  Its  existence  was  merely  on  paper,  and  short-lived 
at  that.  Indeed,  it  is  indebted  to  the  following  circumstance  for  having  any 
existence  at  all :  During  the  exciting  war  between  Havana  and  Bath  for  the 
county  seat,  and  while  the  latter  place  was  the  seat  of  justice,  the  Havana  peo- 
ple succeeded,  by  a  little  adroit  wire-pulling  at  Springfield,  in  securing  the 


t 
HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  625 

necessary  legislation  for  bringing  the  question  up,  and  having  it  decided  by  a 
vote  of  the  people  (which  they  did  in  1851),  well  knowing  that  when  it  came  to 
counting  noses,  they  could  out-count  Bath.  The  Bath  people  thought  to  offset 
this  sharp  manueuver  by  establishing  the  county  seat  upon  a  new  spot,  and  for 
this  purpose  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  of  Dr.  Mastick,  on  Section  9,  which 
they  figured  out  to  be  the  geographical  center  of  the  county,  though  what 
mathematical  rules  they  employed  to  do  so  we  are  unable  to  discover.  This 
eighty  acres  of  land  they  surveyed  and  laid  out  in  lots,  with  a  handsome  pub- 
lic square,  streets,  alleys,  etc.,  etc.  The  election  came  off,  the  people  voted 
the  county  seat  to  Havana,  and  thus  ended  the  hopes  and  anticipations  of 
Cuba.  The  proprietors  paid  Dr.  Mastick  $100  to  take  back  the  land,  and  the 
plat  was  never  admitted  to  record. 


SALT  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

BY   J.    C.    WARNOCK,    ESQ. 

The  original  survey  of  this  township  was  made  in  the  fall  of  1823,  and 
was  designated  Township  20  north,  Range  6  west  of  the  Third  Principal 
Meridian.  It  contains  thirty-six  sections,  each  a  mile  square,  except  the  tier 
of  six  on  the  north  side,  which  are  fractional,  as  is  usually  the  case.  Section 
No.  36,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township,  is  divided  by  Salt  Creek, which 
meanders  through  the  southeast  part,  cutting  off  about  one-third  of  the  section. 
The  northern  part  of  the  township  is  a  high  rolling  prairie,  once  marred  by 
numerous  basins  or  ponds,  but  now  almost  wholly  drained,  and  in  a  good  state 
of  cultivation.  The  south  and  west  parts  of  the  township  are  more  broken, 
and  the  south  part,  which  includes  Salt  Creek  Bluffs,  very  much  so.  Big 
Grove  extends  along  these  bluffs,  at  an  irregular  width  of  from  one-fourth  of  a 
mile  to  a  mile  and  a  half,  at  the  south  side  of  which  the  pioneer  settlers  made 
their  primitive  and  crude  homes.  Lease's  Grove,  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
township,  was  originally  small,  containing  an  area  of  about  200  acres,  which 
area  is  now  materially  contracted  by  clearing  off  the  timber  for  cultivation  of 
the  land ;  and  the  same  means  have  very(materially  contractedthe  area  of  Big 
Grove. 

The  soil  of  the  township  is  productive  of  all  cereals  and  fruits  indigenous 
to  the  climate,  but  the  principal  crop  is  corn,  as  in  all  the  eastern  part  of  the 
county.  In  the  earlier  days,  winter  wheat  yielded  a  sure  and  abundant  har- 
vest, as  it  was  usually  the  first  crop  after  the  sod  was  broken.  Corn,  in  those 
days,  required  but  little  cultivation,  and,  after  planting  the  corn,  the  pioneer 
usually  occupied  most  of  the  time  thereafter  until  harvest,  breaking  prairie, 
scattering  corn  along  every  third  furrow.  Corn  planted  in  this  way  produced 
a  large  amount  of  fodder,  and  the  earlier  planting  a  good  yield  of  corn,  but  the 
later  planting  was  generally  caught  by  the  autumn  frosts,  and  was  not  good 
feed.  This  was  marketed  for  distilling  purposes,  and  from  this  fact  originated 


626  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

the  term,  "sod-corn  whisky,"  which  used  to  be  applied  to  the  bad  and  chemi- 
cally adulterated  grades,  as  an  expression  of  contempt. 

The  first  entry  of  land  in  this  township  was  made  August  12,  1829,  by 
Leonard  Alkire,  of  Sugar  Grove,  and  was  a  tract  of  120  acres  in  the  south- 
west quarter  of  Section  34,  contained  in  what  is  now  known  as  the  Knox  farm, 
but  was  not  improved  by  the  first  purchaser,  nor  until  more  than  twenty  years  later- 
August  17,  1829,  William  Hagans  entered  120  acres,  west  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter,  Section  33,  and  southeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter,  Section  32, 
now  known  as  the  Charles  L.  Montgomery  place.  Here,  near  the  site  of  the 
present  brick  residence,  Hagans  built  a  rude  log  hut,  and,  with  his  family,  became 
the  pioneer  settler  of  this  township,  and  of  what  is  now  eastern  Mason 
County. 

June  12,  1834,  James  C.  Hagans  entered  the  forty-acre  tract  of  land  now 
owned  in  part  each,  by  James  P.  Montgomery  and  George  H.  Short,  and  built 
a  hut  where  the  latter's  house  now  stands. 

June  15,  1837,  John  Hagans  entered  the  forty-acre  tract  where  J.  P.  Mont- 
gomery now  lives,  and  built  a  hut  near  the  site  of  the  present  residence.  A 
few  years  later,  however,  they  all  sold  out  to  Ephraim  Wilcox,  and  moved  away 
to  further  Western  wilds,  and  were  lost  to  the  knowledge  of  those  who  lived  after 
them  here.  As  early  as  1830,  a  family  named  Slinker,  "  squatted  "  on  a  piece 
of  land  up  in  the  grove  northwest  of  the  places  just  referred  to,  but  tradition 
has  but  few  words  of  remembrance  of  them  or  their  habitation,  and  nothing  of 
their  place  of  migration. 

In  1830,  Leonard  Alkire  bought  a  large  lot  of  land  in  Sections  33  and  34, 
and  held  it,  as  was  termed  by  the  settlers,  as  "  speculator's  land,"  without 
making  any  improvements  upon  it. 

In  1830,  Robert  and  William  Hughes  entered  the  land  now  the  farm  of  M. 
Vanlanningham,  which  Daniel  Clark,  Sr.,  purchased  and  settled  upon  in  1835, 
and  where  the  old  gentleman  died  in  1853,  and  was  buried  near  the  house  in  which 
he  lived,  and  which  is  still  there,  though  the  first  house  he  lived  in  there  was  a 
log  hut.  His  three  sons  are  still  living ;  Alfred,  in  'Crane  Creek  Township ; 
Daniel,  in  Mason  City,  and  William,  in  Dubuque,  Iowa. 

In  1833,  a  man  named  Lease  settled  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  township, 
at  a  grove  which,  from  his  settlement  there,  took  the  name  of  Lease's  Grove, 
which  name  it  still  bears.  Soon  after  this,  Samuel  Blunt,  George  Wilson  and 
the  Moslanders  settled  there,  and  formed  a  little  isolated  band  or  neighborhood 
in  and  around  the  beautiful  grove,  from  which  improvement,  farther  and  farther 
out  into  the  prairie  on  all  sides  the  Third  School  District  in  the  township  was  grad- 
ually formed  and  extended.  In  connection  with  the  Wilson  family,  referred  to 
above,  it  is  proper  here  to  state  that  his  son,  Orey,  committed  suicide  by  hang- 
ing himself  to  the  limb  of  a  tree,  in  1852,  which  was  the  first  case  of  deliberate 
self-destruction  in  the  township,  and  the  last.  The  news  of  the  rash  act  was 
received  by  the  sparsely  settled  county  with  horror,  and,  for  years  after,  the 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  627 

scene  of  the  tragedy  was  a  place  of  dreadful  interest,  and  the  helated  and  soli- 
tary citizen  who  passed  along  the  road  by  it  after  night  did  so  with  light  and 
elastic  step,  and  numerous  "hair-raising"  stories  of  suspended  ghosts  became 
current  in  the  course  of  time. 

To  return  to  Big  Grove.  In  1835,  Isaac  Engle  entered  the  forty-acre  tract 
which  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  W.  F.  Auxier,  and  built  a  log  hut  on  an 
elevation  about  forty  rods  southwest  of  where  the  dwelling  now  stands,  as  a 
monument  to  the  site  of  which  primitive  landmark  a  stately  locust-tree  stood 
until  a  few  years  ago,  when  that,  too,  fell  a  victim  to  the  rapacious  ax  of  the 
modern  inhabitant.  This  place  was  purchased,  with  other  tracts  adjoining,  in 
1837,  by  Edward  Sikes,  Sr.,  who,  with  several  other  families,  came  out  from 
Ohio  and  settled  in  the  grove.  A  few  years  later,  Mr.  Sikes  built  the  sub- 
stantial frame  house  which  now  is  on  the  place,  and  planted  out  an  orchard  of 
the  first  grafted  fruit-trees  ever  planted  in  that  vicinity,  and  which  yields  its 
delicious  fruit  now  every  year,  although  the  hands  that  planted  them  have  been 
in  the  grave  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century.  In  the  old  log  house  on  this  place, 
the  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught,  in  1838,  by  one  of  the  daughters 
of  Mr.  Sikes,  now  Mrs.  S.  D.  Swing,  of  Mason  City,  who,  soon  after,  set- 
tled with  her  husband  as  pioneers  at  Swing's  Grove,  in  Mason  City  Town- 
ship. 

In  1835,  Michael  Engle  entered  an  eighty-acre  tract,  now  known  as  the 
Hume  place,  and  built  a  log  hut  about  fifty  yards  west  of  K.  M.  Auxier's 
house,  nothing  of  which  now  remains,  but  the  place  where  the-  well  has  been 
filled  in  can  yet  be  distinguished.  In  this  well  a  child  of  John  Carter,  who 
later  occupied  the  house,  fell  and  was  drowned,  the  summer  of  1849.  In 
1837,  Kinzey  Virgin  moved  out  from  Ohio,  bought  this  place  with  other 
adjoining  tracts,  built  a  hewed-log  house  where  the  barn  now  stands,  and  set- 
tled down  in  his  new  and  rather  wild  and  romantic  home.  He  was  a  man  of 
considerable  enterprise  as  a  stock-raiser  and  accumulated  this  world's  goods 
quite  rapidly,  but  was  peculiarly  unfortunate  with  his  family  of  children,  but 
one  of  whom  ever  lived  to  reach  the  years  of  majority,  and  that  the  youngest, 
and  but  a  babe  when  he  himself  died  in  1852,  six  children,  and  all  but  the  one, 
having  preceded  him  to  the  grave,  and  the  wife  following  two  years  later. 
Though  a  man  somewhat  reckless  in  his  habits  and  profane  in  conversation,  he 
held  it  a  sacred  duty  to  have  a  funeral  sermon  preached  for  every  one  of  his 
children  that  died,  and  what  was  something  remarkable,  John  L.  Turner, 
the  "little  Baptist  preacher,"  of  Crane  Creek,  officiated  at  every  one 
of  these  occasions,  and  also  at  that  of  the  father  and  mother.  .The  latter, 
"Aunt  Eliza,"  was  one  of  Nature's  noblewomen.  The  silent  grief  and  heart- 
pangs  which  many  circumstances  pierced  like  a  dagger  her  very  soul,  were 
buried  there  and  without  a  word  of  reproach  o'r  complaint,  forever.  She  was 
universally  beloved  and  honored  for  her  inherent  goodness  and  nobility  of 
nature.  The  same  year,  1837,  George  T.  Virgin  settled  a  quarter  of  a  mile 


628  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

further  west  on  the  place  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Kinzey  M.  Virgin,  son 
of  Abram  Virgin.  George  was  more  of  a  domestic  nature,  and  employed  his 
time  and  energies  in  making  home  pleasant,  not  caring  so  much  for  stock  nor 
for  acquiring  all  the  land  joining  him.  He  was  a  large,  corpulent  man,  of 
Herculean  strength,  and,  as  is  usually  the  case  with  such  persons,  sedentary  in 
his  habits,  enjoying  life  as  he  lived  and  letting  the  future  take  care  of  itself, 
though  not  by  any  means  shiftless  and  improvident.  His  wife,  however,  whom 
everybody  called  "  Aunt  Alcy,"  was  a  prodigy  of  ambition  and  neatness,  and  so 
far  as  her  dominion  extended,  she  "hewed  to  the  line."  No  sacrifice  of  personal  com- 
fort or  demand  of  labor  was  too  great  for  her  to  make  for  the  sick  and  distressed, 
and  of  her  it  may  truly  be  said,  she  "  went  about  doing  good."  To  accommo- 
date the  people  in  that  vicinity  who  had  to  depend  almost  entirely  upon  Havana, 
twenty  miles  away,  for  their  groceries,  Mr.  Virgin  fitted  up  a  room  of  his 
house,  about  8x10  feet,  and  kept  a  small  stock  of  coffee,  sugar  and  the  very 
few  other  kitchen  necessaries  of  that  day.  When  the  demands  of  the  commu- 
nity required  it,  he  moved  his  store  into  a  log  house  on  the  side  of  the  bluff, 
about  fifty  yards  east  of  the  house  as  it  now  stands,  where  he  added  a  general 
assortment,  that  is,  a  general  assortment  for  those  days,  which  was  far  within 
the  limit  of  the  present  day.  When  this  became  too  small,  he  built  a  store- 
house at  the  foot  of  the  bluff,  southeast  of  the  graveyard,  which,  after  a  few 
years,  was  moved  to  the  little  town  of  Hiawatha,  of  which  farther  on.  Mr. 
Virgin's  unfortunate  death  in  January,  1855,  occurred  as  follows:  The  family 
had  been  using  a  preparation  of  corrosive  sublimate  to  poison  vermin,  and  kept 
it  on  the  mantel  with  other  bottles  of  medicine  and  liquids,  such  as  they  had  fre- 
quent occasion  to  use.  In  the  night,  Mr.  Virgin,  having  some  pain  from  colic,  to 
which  in  a  light  form  he  was  frequently  subject,  got  up  and  went  to  the  mantel  to 
take  a  swallow  of  camphor,  which  was  always  kept  in  that  place.  He  thought 
he  knew  the  bottle  well  enough  to  select  it  without  a  light,  as  he  had  often 
done  before,  but  by  some  strange  fatality,  he  took  a  swallow  from  the  bottle  of 
poison  instead  of  the  camphor,  and,  although  the  mistake  was  discovered 
immediately  and  medical  aid  secured  as  soon  as  possible,  the  deadly  drug 
resisted  all  remedies  and  he  died  a  week  after.  The  widow  died  of  cholera  at 
the  old  homestead  in  1873.  They  had  no  children. 

The  same  year,  1837,  Rezin  Virgin,  another  of  the  brothers,  entered  and 
improved  the  place  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Edwin  E.  Auxier.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  years,  Rezin  entered  quite  a  considerable  tract  of  land  on  the 
north  side  of  the  grove,  and,  marrying  the  widow  of  Ephraim  Brooner,  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Mason  City  Township,  improved  his  lands  and  settled 
down  out  there,  in  a  log  house  on  the  south  side  of  a  large  pond.  From  here, 
he  moved  to  a  house  on  his  farm  about  a  mile  further  northeast,  where  he  died 
in  1872,  and  his  widow  a  few  years  later.  Rezin  was  a  man  of  great  energy, 
though  physically  weak  all  his  life,  and  one  of  the  most  peculiar  and  eccentric 
persons  in  the  whole  country,  on  account  of  which  he  was  known  far  and  near. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  629 

No  one  that  had  become  even  casually  acquainted  with   him  could  ever  forget 
"  Uncle  Reze." 

Abram  Virgin,  the  other  of  the  four  brothers,  the  same  year  (1837)  settled 
up  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  grove  in  a  log  hut,  as  was  the  prevailing  style  of 
architecture  in  those  days.  He  engaged  in  stock-raising  and  agriculture,  and 
went  through  the  hardships  and  deprivations  common  to  those  times.  In  1858, 
he  was  afflicted  with  a  mental  malady  that  made  it  necessary  to  confine  him  in 
the  Insane  Asylum,  at  Jacksonville,  for  awhile.  He  was  soon,  however,  restored 
and  "  clothed  in  his  right  mind,"  and  returned  home,  where  he  lived  and  directed 
the  affairs  of  his  farm  until  he  died  of  the  scourge  of  cholera,  which  swept 
through  this  section  in  1873.  His  wife  was  also  stricken  down  of  the  dread 
disease,  but  lived  a  helpless,  bedridden  invalid  until  1877,  when  she  died  also. 
She,  "Aunt  Betsey,"  as  she  was  familiarly  called,  was  the  friend  and  helper  of 
the  sick,  afflicted  and  distressed.  They  had  a  family  of  several  children,  five 
of  whom  are  living  in  the  vicinity  of  their  youthful  days. 

A  year  or  two  later,  Abner  Baxter,  John  Young,  Ira  Halstead  and  Ira 
Patterson  settled  down  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  township.  Mr.  Young 
died  in  1848,  and  his  widow  in  1862.  Of  their  children,  William  became  an 
extensive  land-owner  and  stock-dealer,  and  made  valuable  improvements  on  his 
farm,  on  the  north  side  of  the  grove  from  the  paternal  homestead,  where  he 
died  in  1865,  leaving  a  widow  (now  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Lemley)  and  several  chil- 
dren, the  oldest  of  whom,  of  the  boys,  Thorstein,  now  being  married,  occupie* 
the  home  place. 

Ira  Halstead  was  a  blacksmith  and  a  Methodist  minister,  and  about  twenty- 
five  years  ago,  moved  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  still  lived  when  last  heard  from. 
Ira  Patterson  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  a  school-teacher,  and  went  to  Oregon 
about  1850,  and  was  appointed  Territorial  Governor  there  a  few  years  after- 
ward. He  is  one  celebrity  of  the  pioneer  days  of  this  township  that  it  is  well 
to  rescue  from  the  ever-increasing  obscurity  of  tradition.  The  place  where  he- 
lived  was  a  hewed-log  house  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff  below  the  mouth  of  Salt 
Creek,  later  known  as  the  Will  Henry  Hoyt  place. 

On  the  place  next  adjoining  this  on  the  east,  the  Armstrong  family  settled 
in  1854,  too  late  a  date  for  a  pioneer  special  mention,  but  historical  from  the- 
fact  that  "  Uncle  Jackey  "  and  "  Aunt  Hannah,"  as  they  were  familiarly  called, 
furnished  a  home  to  Abraham  Lincoln  when  he  was  a  young  man,  and  it  was 
by  the  light  of  their  fire  Lincoln  stored  his  mind  with  much  of  its  fund  of  gen- 
eral information,  in  the  reading  of  such  books  as  he  could  obtain  ;  but  this 
occurred  in  Menard  County,  and  will  appear  in  its  proper  place  in  the  history 
of  that  county.  But  the  gratitude  of  Mr.  Lincoln  continued  with  this  family 
as  long  as  he  lived,  and  was  manifested  in  various  ways,  even  after  he  became 
President  of  the  United  States. 

In  1857,  William  (Duff),  who  now  occupies  the  old  homestead,  was  indicted 
by  the  grand  jury  of  this  county  as  one  of  the  parties  to  a  murder  committed 


630  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

at  a  camp-meeting  held  in  the  grove  near  George  Lampe's  place,  of  which 
hereafter,  and  Lincoln,  then  a  prominent  lawyer  in  Springfield,  voluntarily 
defended  and  cleared  him,  without  fee  and  as  a  token  of  gratitude  to  the  old 
mother,  who  had  then  become  a  widow  by  the  death  of  her  husband,  about  a 
year  before. 

In  1841,  John  Swaar  settled  on  a  forty-acre  lot,  the  northwest  quarter  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  Section  35,  in  Salt  Creek  bottom,  from  whom  "  Swaar  Ford," 
on  the  creek  south  of  that  place,  took  its  name.  A  few  years  later,  he  moved  to 
a  forty-acre  purchase  which  ^he  entered,  on  the  north  side  of  the  grove,  where 
he  built  a  log  hut  on  the  site  of  the  beautiful  and  spacious  farm  residence  he 
and  his  family  now  occupy.  By  industry  and  frugality  this  family  has 
acquired  an  extensive  body  of  land,  and  deal  largely  in  stock.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swaar  are  now  the  only  living  representatives  of  the  pioneers  of  this  early  day 
that  have  lived  in  the  township  continuously  from  that  day  to  this,  and  with 
the  exception  of  the  Clark  brothers,  and,  perhaps,  a  very  few  others,  none  of 
whom  are  now  residents  of  the  township,  they  are  the  only  representatives  of 
adult  age  of  that  time,  living.  John  Auxier,  and  his  brother  Eli.  who  came  out 
with  the  party  from  Ohio  in  1837,  married,  several  years  later,  and  settled  on 
the  north  side  of  the  grove ;  John,  on  the  place  now  composing  part  of  D.  W. 
Riner's  body  of  land,  and  Eli  on  a  forty-acre  tract  north  of  it  (which  is  now 
owned  by  George  Swaar),  where  he  died  in  1848.  His  widow  is  still  living, 
but  in  feeble  health,  with  her  son,  Rev.  E.  E.  Auxier,  down  near  Salt  Creek. 
John  Auxier,  to  accommodate  his  propensity  for  feeding  stock  and  enlarge  his 
landed  possessions,  bought  a  large  body  of  land  at  the  east  end  of  the  grove 
and  built  a  log  house  on  top  of  a  high  bluff,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south  of 
where  the  M.  E.  Church  now  stands,  where  he  died  in  1857.  His  widow  and 
children  now  have  all  removed  to  a  farther  western  country. 

As  a  pioneer  of  the  prairie,  John  Y.  Lane  settled  west  of  where  Mason 
City  now  stands,  in  1851,  building  a  hut  of  poles,  prairie  grass  and  canvas, 
where  he  and  his  family  spent  their  first  winter  and  summer  in  this  township. 
He  was  then  well  advanced  in  age,  but  was  a  Tennessean,  who  fought  under 
Old  Hickory  Jackson  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  inured  to  hardships  from  his 
youth.  He  was  somewhat  impetuous  and  visionary,  and  when  the  first  line  of 
the  Tonica  &  Petersburg  Railroad  was  surveyed  near  his  place,  in  1856,  he  and 
William  Young  prepared  to  lay  out  a  town,  and  Mr.  Lane  built  a  large  frame 
house  which  he  designed  for  a  hotel,  and  which  he  was  unable  to  finish.  That 
house  now  stands  northwest  of  the  West  Side  Schoolhouse  in  Mason  City,  and 
was  moved  there  in  1872,  by  Jeremiah  Skinner. 

About  1847,  John  L.  Chase,  who  lived  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town- 
ship, and  was  a  very  efficient  business  man,  was  appointed  Postmaster,  by  which 
the  post  office  was  removed  from  Walker's  Grove,  but  still  retained  the  name 
of  Walker's  Grove  Post  Office.  Here  all  the  eastern  part  of  the  county 
received  and  sent  out  mail,  which  was  carried  on  horseback,  once  a  week,  to 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  631 

and  from  Petersburg ;  that  is.  once  a  week  when  the  crossing  at  Salt  Creek 
bridge  would  permit,  which  was  only  about  half  the  time.  Sometimes  there 
were  three  and  four  weeks  that  we  would  be  totally  shut  out  from  all  mail  com- 
munication on  this  account,  even  down  as  late  as  1856.  Often,  some  anxious 
person  would  take  the  chances  of  swimming  the  sloughs  on  horseback,  and 
bring  the  mail  over  in  a  grain-sack,  locked  with  a  cotton  string.  Mr.  Chase 
died  in  1856,  and  William  Warnock,  Jr.,  who,  in  partnership  with  William 
Young,  kept  a  country  store  at  the  farm  of  the  latter,  was  appointed  Postmas- 
ter, soon  after  removed  it,  with  the  store,  to  Hiawatha,  where  the  office  was  sus- 
pended in  1858,  upon  the  location  of  one  in  Mason  City. 

In  1854,  George  Young  erected  a  steam  saw-mill  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south  of 
Big  Grove  Cemetery,  and,  the  following  year,  Edward  Sikes,  Jr.,  moved  the 
George  Virgin  store-building,  of  which  he  had  now  become  the  proprietor,  to  that 
place.  Several  dwelling-houses  were  soon  after  erected,  and  a  flouring-mill 
added  to  the  saw-mill,  when  the  place  was  given  the  romantic  name  of  Hia- 
watha. John  Pritchett,  who  afterward  became  a  prominent  hardware  and  grain 
merchant  in  Mason  City,  and  is  now  a  commission  merchant  in  St.  Louis, 
started  a  blacksmith-shop.  Dr.  William  Hall,  a  good  physician,  located  there 
for  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  when  the  first  line  of  the  Tonica  &  Petersburg 
Railroad  struck  that  place,  in  1856,  the  most  extravagant  hopes  of  the  people 
seemed  about  to  be  realized.  But  the  railroad  went  four  miles  farther  east ; 
Mason  City  sprung  up,  and — Hiawatha  went  down,  and  now  not  a  vestige  of 
the  village  remains  to  be  seen. 

The  old  "  Timber  Schoolhouse."  or  Virgin  Schoolhouse,  was  the  voting- 
place  for  the  two  townships,  now  Mason  City  and  Salt  Creek,  until  1857,  and 
was  known  as  "  Salt  Creek  Precinct."  The  election  of  1856  will  never  be  for- 
gotten by  any  one  who  was  an  eye-witness  to  the  scenes  of  that  day  at  this 
place.  With  politics  at  fever  heat,  and  barrels  of  whisky  as  fuel  to  the  political 
fire,  no  words  can  adequately  describe  the  hurrahing,  quarreling,  fighting  and 
confusion  of  that  day,  from  early  morn  until  dusky  eve. 

At  this  schoolhouse,  religious  meetings  were  frequently  held,  and  the  strong- 
hold of  Satan  was  stormed  upon  the  tactics  of  border  warfare,  that  is,  upon  the 
theory  that  there  is  more  terror  to  the  enemy  in  noisy  demonstration  than  in 
means  of  eifectual  destruction.  Sinners  were  held  "breeze-shaken"  over  the 
yawning  abyss  of  the  preacher's  most  vivid  imagination,  and  the  mighty  oaks 
bowed  their  majestic  heads  to  the  thunders  of  Sinai,  and  one  unused  to  such 
demonstrations  would  think  the  "heavens  were  rolling  together  as  a  scroll." 
In  1857,  a  camp-meeting  of  three  weeks'  duration  was  held  in  the  grove  about 
a  half-mile  southwest  of  George  Lampe's  place,  at  which  Elder  Peter  Cart- 
wright  made  his  last  visit  to  this  section.  About  three-quarters  of  a  mile  south- 
west of  this,  and,  on  the  ridge  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  where  Michael  Malo- 
ney's  house  now  stands,  was  the  inevitable  grog-shop  that  was  always  to  be 
found  as  near  the  sanctum  sanctorum  of  the  camp-meeting  as  the  Jaw  would 


632  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY'. 

permit.  Here  it  was  that  the  first  and  last  murder  in  the  township  was 
committed,  for  which  William  (Duff)  Armstrong  and  James  Henry  Norris  were 
indicted  at  the  following  term  of  Court,  and  for  which  the  latter  served  a  term 
of  eight  years  in  the  Penitentiary  at  Joliet,  and  the  former  was  acquitted — 
defended  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  as  we  have  before  stated.  The  name  of  the 
murdered  man  was  Metzker,  a  citizen  of  Menard  County.  It  was  done  about 
9  o'clock  at  night,  by  being  struck  on  the  head  with  the  neck-yoke  of  a 
wagon,  which  fractured  his  skull,  and  from  which  he  died  next  day.  Dr.  J.  P. 
Walker,  now  of  Mason  City,  conducted  the  post  mortem  examination. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Walker  settled  in  the  west  part  of  this  township,  at  the  place  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  George  McClintick.  in  1849,  and  pursued  the  practice  of 
medicine,  and  carried  on  his  farm  until  1858,  when  he  moved  to  Mason  City. 
Dr.  A.  R.  Cooper  settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  William  McCarty  about 
the  same  time,  but  removed  a  few  years  later.  About  the  same  year,  Dr.  John. 
Deskins  built  a  hut  and  located  a  half-mile  east  of  George  Lampe's  place.  He 
built  his  house  in  the  side  of  a  ridge,  so  that  the  earth  formed  three  sides  of 
his  domicile;  but,  embedded  in  the  earth  as  ii  was,  a  tornado,  in  1852,  swept  it 
away  and  scattered  his  goods  for  miles  around,  though,  as  by  a  miracle,  none 
of  the  family  were  seriously  injured. 

The  29th  of  May,  1850,  is  a  memorable  day  with  the  old  inhabitants  of 
this  township,  on  account  of  the  violent  hailstorm  which  devastated  growing 
crops,  killed  small  domestic  animals,  and  frightened  the  people  terribly.  This 
storm  came  from  the  northwest,  and  left  its  marks  of  violence  upon  the  trees  so 
that  they  were  not  outgrown  for  years  after.  Beautiful  fields  of  wheat  were 
left  as  desolate  as  a  barren  desert,  and  fruit-trees  were  stripped  of  foliage  and 
fruit.  Sheep,  pigs  and  chickens  were  slain  by  hundreds  with  the  cold  shot 
from  Heaven's  artillery. 

This  township  contains  two  church  edifices,  built  about  ten  years  ago,  one  at 
Big  Grove,  and  the  other  at  Lease's  Grove,  both  owned  by  the  Methodist 
denomination.  A  third  building,  by  the  Christian  denomination,  is  in  course 
of  construction  at  Big  Grove. 

The  principal  cemetery,  and  the  only  one  in  the  township  controlled  by  a 
regularly  organized  Board  of  Trustees,  is  at  Big  Grove,  and  has  been  used  as 
such  since  the  earliest  necessity  of  such  a  place.  It  is  a  beautiful  location,  well 
cared  for,  and,  with  its  monuments  and  headstones,  from  a  distance  looks  like  a 
miniature  marble  city  set  upon  a  hill.  There  are  several  other  burying-gronnds 
in  the  township,  but  most  of  them  have  been  abandoned,  as  to  future  use  as  such. 

The  Havana  extension  of  the  I.,  B.  &  W.  R.  R.,  now  the  Champaign, 
Havana  &  Western  Railway,  runs  diagonally  across  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
township ;  but  there  is  no  railroad  station,  or  town  or  village  of  any  kind 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  township. 

The  first  school  district  organized  in  the  township  was  down  in  the  southwest 
part,  and  is  now  District  No.  1.  The  house  was  built  of  hewed  logs,  and  was 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  633 

generally  known  as  the  "  Chase  Schoolhouse."  Several  years  ago,  a  iiew  frame 
schoolhouse  was  built  about  a  half-mile  northwest  of  the  site  of  the  first,  and  is 
now  known  as  the  "  McCarty  Schoolhouse."  The  second  district  was  organized 
in  the  east  part  of  the  grove,  and  is  District  No.  2.  The  first  house  here  was 
in  the  timber,  near  the  north  side  of  the  grove,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south- 
east of  the  "John  Auxier  Pond."  It  was  a  log  house,  of  course,  and  was 
known  as  the  "  Virgin  Schoolhouse."  The  original  building  burned  down  in 
1849,  and  was  succeeded  on  the  same  site  by  a  frame,  which  was  used  as  the 
district  schoolhouse  until  1863,  when  the  old  house  was  abandoned  and  a  new 
one  built  about  a  mile  further  east,  which  is  now  known  as  "  Mount  Pleasant 
Schoolhouse."  The  third  schoolhouse  was  built  at  Lease's  Grove  about  1850  ; 
was  also  a  log  house,  but,  several  years  ago,  was  abandoned,  and  a  new  house 
built  about  a  mile  east  of  the  old  site.  The  next,  in  District  No.  4,  was  built 
in  1854,  on  a  high  elevation,  three-quarters  of  a  mile  west  of  the  present  site, 
and  was  known,  as  the  present  is  known,  by  the  name  of  "  North  Prairie 
Schoolhouse."  The  next,  in  District  No.  5,  was  built  in  1855,  and  was  desig- 
nated as  the  ;'  Knox  Schoolhouse."  Other  districts  were  organized  and  school- 
houses  built  soon  after,  until  the  township  is  well  provided  with  public  school 
facilities.  The  present  Board  of  School  Trustees  is  composed  of  the  following 
gentlemen  :  Robert  A.  Melton,  Elias  Hull  and  L.  C.  Agnew.  H.  C.  Bumham, 
the  present  incumbent,  has  been  Township  Treasurer  for  the  last  ten  or  twelve 
years,  whose  last  statistical  report  is  as  follows  : 

Number  of  males  under  twenty-one  years  of  age 303 

Number  of  females  under  twenty-one  years  of  age '. 261 

Total...  564 

Number  of  males  between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one 192 

Number  of  females  between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one 173 

Total 365 

Number  of  school  districts  in  township 9 

Number  of  districts  having  school  five  months  or  more 9 

Whole  number  of  months  of  school 59J 

Average  number  of  months  of  school 6f 

Number  of  male  pupils  enrolled : 165 

Number  of  female  pupils  enrolled 164 

Total 329 

Number  of  male  teachers  employed 9 

Number  of  female  teachers  employed 3 

Total 12 

Number  of  months  taught  by  males 41 

Number  of  months  taught  by  females 18£ 

Grand  total  of  number  of  days'  attendance 23,524 

Number  of  schoolhouses  rh  township 9 

Number  of  volumes  bought  for  district  libraries  during  year..  43 

Principal  township  fund .$5,130  09 

Highest  monthly  wages  paid  any  male  teacher 47  50 

Lowest  monthly  wages  paid  any  male  teacher 22  60 

Highest  monthly  wages  paid  any  female  teacher 35  00 

Lowest  monthly  wages  paid  any  female  teacher 30  00 


634  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Average  monthly  wages  paid  male  teachers 40  91 

Average  monthly  wages  paid  female  teachers 33  05 

Amount  of  district  tax  levy,  1878 2,270  00 

Estimated  value  of  school  property 4,100  00 

Estimated  value  of  school  libraries 35  00 

Estimated  value  of  school  apparatus 260  00 

Amount  paid  male  teachers 1,328  60 

Amount  paid  female  teachers 408  87 

Amount  paid  for  repairs  and  improvements ,    80  55 

Amount  paid  for  school  furniture 233  52 

Amount  paid  for  fuel  and  incidental  expenses 105  81 

The  names  of  the  gentlemen  who  have  officiated  as  Supervisors  of  the  town 
since  the  adoption  of  township  organization,  in  1862,  are  as  follows :  Selah 
Wheadon,  now  residing  in  Kansas ;  Jacob  Benscoter,  now  residing  in  Mason 
City ;  A.  H.  Fisher,  now  residing  in  Logan  County,  two  terms ;  J.  A.  Phelps, 
who  died  a  couple  of  years  ago,  in  Nebraska,  two  terms ;  C.  L.  Montgomery, 
who  died  in  Green  view,  Menard  Co.,  in  March  of  this  year,  two  terms ;  A. 
Thompson,  three  terms ;  A.  A.  Blunt,  three  terms ;  H.  C.  Burnham,  present 
incumbent,  three  terms ;  L.  C.  Agnew,  one  term. 

The  present  township  officers  are :  H.  C.  Burnham,  Supervisor ;  D.  W. 
Hillyard,  Town  Clerk ;  Joseph  Silvey,  Assessor ;  J.  P.  Montgomery,  Col- 
lector ;  Robert  A.  Milton,  Michael  Maloney  and  C.  C.  Dare,  Commissioners  of 
Highways ;  H.  C.  Burnham  and  Joseph  Silvey,  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

QUIVER  TOWNSHIP. 

Fifty  years  ago — half  a  century  !  A  period  of  time  that  measures  off  the 
birth,  growth  and  decay  of  almost  two  successive  generations  of  mankind  ! 
Fifty  years  ago  !  Since  then,  what  mighty  changes  have  marked  the  onward 
march  of  time  in  this  great  and  growing  West !  Cities  have  been  builded,vast 
areas,  even  in  our  own  State,  populated,  and  large  portions  of  its  territory, 
reclaimed  from  native  wildness,  have  been  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  made  to  yield  abundant  harvests  of  plenty  to  the  toiling  husbandman. 
Within  these  years,  the  nation  has  been  convulsed  from  its  center  to  its  circum- 
ference with  the  thrpes  of  civil  war.  The  patriot  son  of  the  sturdy  old  pioneer 
has  gone  forth  to  battle  in  his  country's  cause,  but  his  return  comes  not  at 
setting  of  the  sun.  Thousands  of  homes  have  been  made  desolate  by  the 
cruel  ravages  of  war  in  our  own  fair  land,  but  the  nation's  honor  has  again  been 
sealed  by  the  blood  of  her  noble  and  daring  sons.  Fifty  years  ago,  not  a 
single  cabin  had  been  erected  in  the  territory  now  included  in  Quiver  Town- 
ships Indeed,  it  is  not  definitely  known  that  more  than  a  single  family  had 
settled  within  the  limits  comprising  the  present  county  of  Mason. 

This  township  is  located  in  the  extreme  northwest  corner  of  the  county, 
and  comprises  in  its  area  about  fifty  sections.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  and 
northwest  by  Tazewell  County  and  the  Illinois  River ;  east  by  Manito  and 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  635 

Forest  City  Townships  ;  south  by  Sherman  and  Havana  Townships,  and  west 
by  the  Illinois  River.  By  far  the  larger  portion  of  the  township  is  prairie, 
the  timber-land  being,  for  the  most  part,  confined  to  the  western  section  along 
the  river  bluff.  A  limited  amount  of  timber  is  found  in  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  the  township,  the  outskirts  of  what  is  known  as  Long  Point  timber. 
The  character  of  the  soil  is  similar  to  that  of  the  adjacent  townships.  The 
western  part  is  somewhat  broken,  often  rising  into  bold,  rounded  bluffs  and 
ridges  of  sand.  The  woodland  portion  is  not  very  productive ;  it  does  not 
afford  pasturage,  nor,  when  cleared  and  cultivated,  does  it  yield  as  abundant 
harvests  as  the  prairie  land.  The  central  and  southern  portions  are  very  fer- 
tile, and  annually  produce  large  crops  of  corn,  wheat,  rye  and  oats,  though  corn 
is  the  staple  product.  Clear  Lake  and  Mud  Lake  are  found  in  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  township.  Duck  Lake,  an  expansion  of  Vibarger  Slough, 
is  situated  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  township.  Quiver  Creek  is  the 
only  stream  of  any  consequence  flowing  through  the  township.  This  stream 
enters  the  township  at  its  eastern  boundary,  flowing  in  a  general  southwestern 
direction  through  Sections  28,  29  and  30.  Near  the  western  boundary  line  of 
Section  30,  its  course  changes  to  the  northwest,  and  from  this  point  the  stream 
forms  the  dividing  line  between  Havana  and  Quiver  Townships.  The  township 
received  its  name  from  the  water-course,  of  which  we  have  just  spoken.  The 
creek  is  said  to  have  been  named  by  early  huntsmen  from  Menard  and  Fulton 
Counties.  At  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  standing  a  short  distance  back  from 
the  banks  of  the  stream,  one  was  enabled,  by  gently  swaying  the  body  to  and 
fro,  to  impart  a  wave-like  or  quivering  motion  to  the  surface  for  some  distance 
around  him.  From  this  it  early  acquired  the  name  of  Quiver  land,  and  to  the 
stream,  naturally  enough,  the  name  Quiver  Creek  was  applied.  While  it  is  a  small 
and  unimportant  stream,  it  was  made  to  subserve  a  large  and  important  interest  in 
the  early  settlement  of  the  county.  On  the  south  bank  of  the  stream,  near  the 
northeast  corner  of  Havana  Township,  Pollard  Simmonds  erected  a  small 
grist-mill  as  early  as  1838  or  1839.  But  as  the  mill  is  now  included  in  the 
limits  of  Havana,  a  full  account  of  the  enterprise  will  be  given  in  the  history 
of  that  township. 


EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 


Though  a  settlement  had  been  made  west  of  the  creek  as  early  as  1835  or 
1836,  no  one  had  ventured  to  cross  the  stream  and  locate  in  what  is  now  Quiver 
Township  prior  to  1837.  John  Barnes,  from  Kentucky,  had  located  at  the 
Mounds  as  early  as  the  first  mentioned  date.  Of  his  wife  it  may  be  truthfully 
said  that  she  was  a  faithful  helpmeet.  She  was  a  woman  possessed  of  great 
muscular  strength,  and  could  wield  an  ax  as  skillfully  as  an  experienced  wood- 
man. With  an  ordinary  amount  of  exertion,  she  could  turn  off  her  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  rails  per  day.  At  his  home,  Joseph  Lybarger  and  family,  the 
first  settler  of  Quiver  Township,  stopped  some  weeks  prior  to  crossing  the 
creek  and  starting  his  improvement.  Lybarger  was  from  Pennsylvania,  and 


f)36  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  The  exact  date  of  his  settlement  cannot  be  fixed 
to  a  certainty,  but  it  is  more  than  probable  that  it  occurred  in  the  spring  of 
1837.  There  are  some  who  think  it  may  have  been  as  early  as  the  summer  of 
1836,  but  the  preponderating  weight  of  testimony  is  in  favor  of  the  first  men- 
tioned date.  Soon  after  coming,  he  opened  a  shop,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
did  the  work  of  general  blacksmithing  for  a  large  scope  of  country.  In  the 
summer  of  1837,  Henry  Seymour  came  and  settled  east  of  Lybarger's.  About 
one  month  later,  Peter  Ringhouse,  who  had  been  stopping  a  short  time  in  St. 
Louis,  came  and  settled  about  midway  between  the  ones  already  mentioned, 
though  a  short  distance  further  west.  Ringhouse  was  originally  from  Germany, 
but  had  lived  some  years  in  Baltimore  before  coming  West.  William  Atwater 
came  from  Connecticut,  and  located  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  in  1838. 
He  had  served  an  apprenticeship  and  for  a  number  of  years  had  followed  the 
silversmith's  trade.  He  erected  a  frame  building,  doubtless  the  first  in  the 
township,  and  began  improving  his  farm.  For  some  two  years  after  coming, 
he  led  the  life  of  a  bachelor,  and  farmed  with  about  the  usual  amount  of  success 
that  all  old  bachelors  are  permitted  to  enjoy.  The  climate  did  not  seem  to 
agree  with  his  constitution,  and  for  some  considerable  length  of  time  he  was 
annoyed  with  chills  and  fever.  So  thoroughly  dissatisfied  did  he  become  at 
one  time,  that  he  determined  to  exchange  the  best  eighty  acres  of  his  quarter 
section  for  a  horse  and  wagon,  and  the  tail-end  of  a  stock  of  goods  in  Havana. 
These  latter  articles  he  intended  to  peddle  through  the  country,  and  with  the 
proceeds  and  avails  he  hoped  to  be  able  to  flee  the  country  and  make  good  his 
return  to  his  native  State.  But  he  was  destined  to  become  one  of  the  early 
permanent  settlers  of  Quiver  Township,  however  slow  he  might  be  to  accept 
the  situation.  On  communicating  his  intentions  to  one  of  his  neighbors,  he 
remonstrated  with  him  at  the  folly  of  his  proposition,  and  suggested  the  pro- 
priety of  his  taking  a  helpmeet  and  beginning  life  in  earnest.  Mr.  Atwater 
acted  upon  the  suggestion,  and  what  we  know  is.  that  not  many  months  after- 
ward, Miss  Elizabeth  Ringhouse  became  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Atwater.  The  alliance 
thus  consummated  led  to  a  life  of  happiness  and  prosperity.  He  continued  to 
live  at  the  place  of  his  first  settlement  till  the  date  of  his  decease,  which 
occurred  some  eight  or  ten  years  ago.  His  widow  yet  survives  him,  and  occu- 
pies the  old  homestead.  John  Seeley,  William  Patterson,  and  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Edwards,  settled  further  north  along  the  edge  of  the  bluff  timber  as 
early  as  1840  or  1841.  Isaac  Parkhurst  settled  near  Quiver  Creek  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  township,  in  1840,  and  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
when  this  section  was  included  in  Tazewell  County.  He  remained  but 
a  few  years,  and  then  moved  to  Peoria.  Daring  the  year  1842,  a  num- 
ber of  settlements  were  made  in  the  township.  Benjamin  Ross,  Daniel 
Waldron,  William  E.  Magill,  and  George  D.  Coon  were  among  the  per- 
manent settlers  at  the  close  of  1842.  Ross  was  from  Tennessee,  and  had 
settled  in  Cass  County  some  years  prior  to  coming  to  Mason.  Waldron  was 


SNICARTE 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  639 

from  New  Jersey,  and  remained  a  citizen  of  the  township  till  the  date  of  his 
demise,  which  occurred  some  years  ago.  William  E.  Magill  came  from  the 
Quaker  State  to  Menard  County,  and  from  there  to  Mason,  as  before  stated, 
and  is  one  of  the  early  settlers,  who  is  still  surviving.  George  D.  Coon  came 
from  New  Jersey,  and  settled  in  Greene  County  in  1839.  At  the  same  time, 
Stephen  Brown,  his  father-in-law,  and  Robert  Cross  and  Aaron  Littell,  brothers- 
in-law,  came  and  settled  near  him.  In  1842,  Mr.  Coon  came  to  Mason  County, 
and  settled  in  this  township  near  the  creek,  and  the  following  year  moved  to 
his  present  place  of  residence.  Loring  Ames,  a  native  of  the  old  Bay  State,  came 
West  in  1818,  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois  Territory.  In  1823,  he 
moved  to  Adams  County,  and,  in  1836,  to  what  is  now  Mason  County.  In  1842, 
he  became  a  citizen  of  Quiver,  and  at  present  resides  on  his  farm  near  the  vil- 
lage of  Topeka.  He  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  first  as  a  private  in  Capt. 
G.  W.  Flood's  company,  and  later  as  a  Lieutenant  in  the  company  of  Capt. 
Pierce,  of  Col.  Fray's  noted  regiment.  Rev.  William  Colwell,  a  native  of 
England,  emigrated  to  America  in  1838,  and  first  settled  in  Cass  County, 
111.  In  February,  1841,  he  came  to  Mason  County,  and  resided  near 
Bath  until  the  fall  of  1842,  at  which  time  he  removed  to  Quiver  Township. 
He  died  in  April,  1861,  from  the  effects  of  a  kick  from  a  horse.  He  was  a 
substantial  citizen,  a  man  of  abilities  and  great  personal  worth.  He  served  in 
the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  a  period  of  about  forty  years, 
and  the  result  of  his  labors  will  only  be  known  in  that  day  when  the  secrets  of 
all  hearts  shall  be  revealed.  George  Sleath  settled  in  1843,  but  did  not  remain 
long.  He  sold  out  to  Robert  Cross  and  moved  away.  In  1843,  Cross  and 
Littell  came  and  settled  on  farms  adjoining  that  of  George  D.  Coon.  These 
they  improved  and  occupied  until  the  date  of  their  decease.  Fred  High,  Henry 
Rakestraw  and  Freeman  Marshall  made  settlements  during  the  year  1843. 
High  was  from  Tennessee,  Rakestraw  from  Kentucky  and  Marshall  was  a  native- 
born  Hoosier.  Some  of  the  Rakestraws  still  reside  in  the  township,  near 
McHarry's  Mill,  but  the  names  of  High  and  Marshall  have  long  been  absent 
from  her  citizenship.  Moses  Eckard,  whose  name  occurs  prominently  in  con- 
nection with  the  history  of  the  village  of  Topeka,  came  from  Maryland,  and 
located  in  Fulton  County  in  1839.  The  following  year,  he  came  into  what  is 
now  Mason  County.  In  1844,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  E.  Simmonds,  daughter 
of  Pollard  Simmonds,  who  settled  in  Havana  Township  in  1838,  and  built  the 
mill  elsewhere  referred  to.  In  the  fall  following  his  marriage,  he  moved  to  his 
present  place  of  residence,  and  has  continuously  lived  there  since.  At  the  date 
of  his  settlement  few,  if  any,  others  were  living  in  the  southeastern  section  of 
the  township,  all  the  settlements  so  far  having  been  made  along  the  bluff  tim- 
ber and  in  the  central  portion.  In  1847,  John  M.  McReynolds,  whose  father 
had  settled  in  Havana  Township  in  1838,  located  about  two  miles  northeast  of 
Moses  Eckard's.  His  residence  still  remains  on  the  farm  he  first  improved. 
Hon.  Robert  McReynolds,  the  father  of  John  M.,  came  from  Columbia  County, 


640  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Penn.,  in  1838,  and  settled  some  seven  miles  east  of  the  present  city  of  Havana, 
in  Havana  Township.  In  1849,  he  became  a  citizen  of  Quiver  Township,  and, 
as  he  was  at  an  early  day  officially  connected  with  the  interests  of  the  county, 
we  deem  it  proper  to  give  some  points  of  his  life  in  this  connection.  In  1845, 
we  find  him  a  member  of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners.  To  this  office 
he  was  re-elected  in  1846,  and  again  in  1848  and  1849.  In  1849,  he  was 
chosen  Associate  Justice  with  John  Pemberton,  Hon.  Smith  Turner  being 
County  Judge.  In  every  position,  public  or  private,  conscientious  integrity 
marked  his  course.  He  was  an  earnest  and  zealous  advocate  of  the  Gospel  as 
taught  by  the  Wesleys,  and,  having  united  with  the  M.  E.  Church  in  1831, 
was  not  only  a  pioneer  in  this  county  but  a  pioneer  in  Methodism  in  the  West. 
In  building  his  first  residence,  an  extra  large  room  was  provided,  which  was 
not  only  designed  for  the  use  of  his  family  but  also  for  religious  worship. 
Quarterly  meetings,  over  which  the  venerable  Peter  Cartwright  presided,  were 
held  here,  and,  on  one  occasion,  fifty  of  the  brethren  and  sisters  were  present  for 
breakfast.  The  first  Sunday  school  in  the  county  was  established  at  his  house 
in  1841,  and  consisted  of  twelve  teachers  and  twenty-one  scholars.  His  death 
occurred  in  1872.  His  son,  following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  has  been 
an  efficient  member  of  the  Church  since  early  boyhood,  and  for  many  years 
has  held  official  relation  to  the  congregation  at  Topeka.  Stephen  Brown,  who 
has  already  been  mentioned  as  having  settled  in  Greene  County  in  1839,  ten 
years  later  became  a  citizen  of  Quiver.  John  Appleman,  from  New  Jersey, 
Thomas  Yates  and  George  Ross,  from  the  Buckeye  State,  became  citizens  as 
early,  as  1848  or  1849.  These  all  settled  in  the  region  of  the  township  familiarly 
known  as  "Tight  Row."  Appleman  died  some  years  ago,  and  Yates  in  1876. 
Ross,  after  a  residence  of  two  years,  returned  to  Qhio  on  a  visit,  and  while  there 
sickened  and  died.  From  1850,  the  settlements  increased  so  rapidly  that  any 
attempt  to  enumerate  them  in  the  order  in  which  they  occurred,  would  be  a 
fruitless  task.  Of  one  who  came  into  the  township  in  1845,  we  must  speak 
somewhat  at  length,  as,  perhaps,  no  one  of  her  citizens  is  more  widely  or 
more  favorably  known.  Hugh  McIIarry,  a  native  of  Ireland,  emigrated  to 
America  in  1825.  He  was  but  a  "broth  of  a  boy"  of  some  eighteen  or  nine- 
teen summers,  who  had  come  to  try  his  hand  at  making  a  fortune  in  "Swate 
America."  He  started  in  life  in  the  land  of  his  adoption  penniless.  Soon 
after  coming,  he  engaged  in  labor  on  the  Erie  Canal,  but  the  natural  bent  of 
his  mind  was  toward  milling.  He  soon  obtained  a  situation  in  the  mills  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  where  he  remained  till  1842.  During  his  residence  in 
Louisville,  he  became  an  ardent  admirer  of  George  D.  Prentice,  the  veteran 
editor,  of  the  Journal,  and  through  its  influence,  was  molded  into  a  stanch 
Henry- Clay  Whig.  With  this  party  he  acted  during  its  existence,  and,  on  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was  among  the  first  to  espouse  its  prin- 
ciples. In  1842,  he  came  to  Beardstown,  Cass  County,  and  again  engaged  in 
milling.  .  In  1843,  he  purchased  the  mill  site  on  Quiver  Creek,  and,  in  1845, 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  641 

constructed  a  grist-mill.  Julius  Jones,  Charles  Howell  and  William  Pollard 
had  built  a  dam  and  erected  a  saw-mill  at  this  point  some  years  previous.  For 
the  improvements  made  and  the  site,  McHarry  paid  the  sum  of  $1,500  cash. 
The  saw-mill  stood  on  the  east  bank  of  the  creek,  but  when  the  grist-mill  was 
constructed  it  was  placed  on  the  west  bank,  and,  consequently,  stands  in 
Havana  Township.  A  complete  history  of  the  enterprise  will  be  given  in  con- 
nection with  the  sketch  of  that  township.  Mr.  McHarry 's  residence  stands  on 
the  bank  of  the  creek  in  Quiver  Township,  and  amid  its  pleasant  shades  and 
quiet  retreat  he  is  quietly  passing  his  declining  years,  enjoying  the  society  of 
his  children  and  friends  and  the  large  competency  he  has  acquired  by  a  life  of 
honest  toil  and  well-directed  energy.  He  is  by  far  the  wealthiest  man  in  the 
township,  and  owns  a  large  amount  of  the  best  land  in  the  county.  Few  citi- 
zens of  the  county  are  more  widely  known  or  more  highly  esteemed  for  their 
good  qualities  of  head  and  heart,  than  Hugh  McHarry,  the  miller. 

Though  Quiver  Township  has  never  had  a  mill  erected  within  her  borders, 
she  has  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  the  early  construction  of  both  the  Simmonds 
and  McHarry  mills,  as  they  stood  upon  the  very  threshold  of  her  borders. 
The  first  school  building  in  the  township  was  situated  on  land  belonging  to 
William  Atwater,  and  stood  near  the  present  site  of  the  Christian  Chapel.  It 
was  built  as  early  as  1 345,  and  a  German  pedagogue  by  the  name  of  Volerath. 
presided  over  the  destiny  of  the  first  term  of  school.  In  addition  to  the  regu- 
lar course  of  study,  he  introduced  the  science  of  vocal  music,  and  accompanied 
the  exercises  with  the  violin.  This  feature  of  the  school  was  decidedly  objec- 
tionable to  the  more  pious  of  his  patrons,  who  could  see  in  a  "fiddle,"  as  they 
termed  it,  naught  but  a  device  of  the  emissary  of  the  evil  one  to  capture  and 
lead  their  young  children  down  the  broad  road  to  ruin,  and  so  his  services  were 
not  needed  for  a  second  term.  Volerath  was  from  New  Orleans,  and  his  high 
ideas  of  Southern  life  did  not  accord  well  with  the  notions  and  views  of  the 
Western  pioneer,  and  so  he  was  not  exceedingly  popular  with  any  class. 
Among  others  who,  at  an  esrly  day,  wielded  the  rod  of  correction,  and  led  the 
aspiring  youth  along  the  highway  of  knowledge,  we  may  mention  the  names  of 
Didier  Waldo  and  George  Caven. 

In  an  educational  point  of  view,  the  township  has  kept  equal  pace  with  her 
neighbors,  and  to-day  her  every  district  is  supplied  with  comfortable  frame 
school  buildings,  and  the  annual  amount  expended  in  schools  is  not  far  from 
$2,000. 

EARLY    PREACHING,  MARRIAGES,  ETC. 

The  earliest  preaching,  as  was  customary,  was  done  at  private  houses  and 
in  barns.  In  1844,  Elder  Josiah  Crawford,  a  minister  of  the  Disciples'  Church, 
held  a  protracted  meeting  in  Joseph  Lybarger's  barn.  The  nucleus  of  a  church 
was  thus  early  formed,  which,  for  a  number  of  years,  met  for  worship  at  the 
residence  of  William  Atwater.  Elders  Brockman  and  Powell  were  among  the 
early  ministers  of  the  congregation. 


642  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

There  are  two  churches  in  the  township  outside  of  the  village  of  Topeka. 
The  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church  was  built  in  1853,  at  a  cost  of  $1,000. 
It  is  situated  on.  Section  14,  and  for  a  number  of  years  the  congregation  was 
in  a  flourishing  condition.  For  the  past  few  years,  the  building  has  remained 
unoccupied,  save  on  funeral  occasions.  The  early  Pastors  of  the  Church  were 
Revs.  William  Perkins,  C.  W.  Andrews  and  Rev.  Bennett.  Among  the  early 
communicants  we  find  the  names  of  John  Appleman  and  wife,  Robert  Cross 
and  wife,  Mrs.  Sophia  Vanarsdale,  Mrs.  Chapman,  Mrs.  Esther  Brown,  Dan- 
iel Waldron  and  wife,  David  Beal  and  wife.  The  first  Elders  of  the  congrega- 
tion were  Robert  Cross  and  Daniel  Waldron. 

The  principal  burying-ground  of  the  township  is  connected  with  this  build- 
ing. Expensive  and  tasteful  monuments  mark  the  final  resting-place  of  many 
of  her  early  settlers  in  this  cemetery.  The  first  interment  was  that  of  Robert 
Cross,  which  occurred  in  1852.  Since  that  date,  many  of  his  associates  have 
put  aside  the  burden  of  life,  and  are  sleeping,  sweetly  sleeping,  in  the  same  beau- 
tiful inclosure.  Indeed,  the  names  of  most  of  the  early  settlers  are  found  here 
among  the  sleepers. 

The  Christian  Chapel,  located  in  the  same  section,  was  erected  in  1866,  at 
a  cost  of  $900.  Joseph  Lybarger  and  wife,  William  E.  Magill  and  wife,  John 
Hines,  William  Atwater  and  wife,  were  the  earliest  members  of  the  Church. 
Elder  Andrew  Page  was  the  first  Pastor.  Elders  Judy  and  Haughey  have 
labored  for  the  congregation,  the  latter  of  whom  occupies  the  pulpit  at  present. 
The  religious  zeal  of  the  early  settlers  often  led  them  to  travel  a  distance  of 
ten  miles  or  more  to  attend  "  meetin',''  and  that,  too,  riding  after  an  ox  team. 
Now,  a  man  or  a  woman  who  will  do  that  will,  unquestionably,  be  saved.  They 
might  have  walked,  no  doubt,  but  for  the  sake  of  religion  they  were  willing  to 
sacrifice  ease  and  comfort,  and  ride. 

William  Atwater  and  Elizabeth  Ringhouse  were  married  in  December, 
1840,  Isaac  Parkhurst,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  officiating.  This  was,  doubtless, 
the  first  marriage  celebrated  in  what  is  now  Quiver  Township.  As  this  section 
was  at  that  date  a  part  of  Tazewell  County,  Mr.  Atwater  obtained  his  license 
at  Tremont,  the  county  seat. 

The  earliest  practitioner  of  whom  we  have  any  record  given  was  a  Dr. 
Buckner,  from  Cass  County.  The  exact  date  of  his  coming  cannot  be  ascer- 
tained. He  also  combined  school-teaching  with  his  practice.  Drs.  Allen  and 
E.  B.  Harpham  were  early  practitioners  among  the  denizens  of  Quiver,  the  lat- 
ter of  whom  is  at  present  a  resident  physician  of  Havana.  The  first  birth  in 
the  township  was  that  of  Fidelia  Lybarger,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Lybarger, 
the  first  settler.  She  was  born  in  1837.  A  widowed  sister  of  Henry  Sey- 
mour's, Mrs.  Maria  Elan,  who  died  in  1838,  was,  perhaps,  the  first  death  to 
occur  in  this  part  of  the  county.  The  year  following,  1839,'  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Henry  Seymour  occurred. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  648 

The  political  status  of  the  township  has  been  largely  Republican  since  the 
formation  of  that  party.  During  the  days  of  Whiggism  and  Democracy,  the 
old  Whig  party  was  in  the  ascendency.  Throughout  the  late  civil  war,  she 
furnished  her  complement  of  brave  boys  to  the  rank  and  file  of  the  army,  and 
many  of  her  noble  sons  attested  their  fealty  to  the  dear  old  flag  by  yielding  up 
their  lives  in  defense  of  its  honor  in*  the  hour  of  its  greatest  peril.  As  an 
agricultural  district,  Quiver  compares  favorably  with  other  portions  of  the 
county  adjacent.  Her  resources  are  mainly  derived  from  her  vast  annual 
products  of  corn,  wheat,  rye,  and  the  other  cereals  cultivated  here. 

TOPEKA    VILLAGE. 

The  village  of  Topeka  is  situated  about  seven  miles  northeast  of  the  city  of 
Havana,  on  the  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.,  and  is  the  only  village  embraced  within  the 
limits  of  Quiver  Township.  It  was  surveyed  by  J..  W.  Boggs,  for  Moses  Eck- 
ard  and  Richard  Thomas,  in  1858.  In  order  to  secure  the  town  site,  Eckard 
and  Thomas  purchased  180  acres  of  David  Beal,  and  80  acres  were  made  into  a 
town  plat.  Forty  acres  were  donated  to  the  railroad  company  in  order  to 
secure  the  station.  The  first  residence  in  the  village  was  erected  by  J.  L. 
Yates,  in  1860.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  had  been  plying  his  trade 
at  McHarry's  Mill,  prior  to  locating  in  the  village.  He  was  followed,  a  short 
time  afterward,  by  E.  Y.  Nichols,  M.  D.,  who  built  the  second  residence,  and, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  was  the  first  resident  physician  of  the  place.  Harrison 
Venard  was  the  third  resident  of  the  place.  Venard  was  from  Ohio,  and,  in 
company  with  a  Mr.  Rosebrough,  who  was  also  from  the  Buckeye  State, 
opened  the  first  store  in  the  village,  near  the  close  of  1860.  The  firm  of 
Venard  &  Rosebrough,  after  a  few  months,  became  that  of  Venard  &  Mussel- 
man.  A  second  store  was  opened  in  1863  or  1864.  by  Musselman  and  Aaron 
Littell.  The  latter  came  from  New  Jersey,  but  had  settled  in  the  county  and 
in  the  township  in  1843.  Others  came,  in  from  time  to  time,  and  other  stores 
and  shops  were  opened,  till,  at  one  time,  Topeka  seemed  to  be  on  the  highway 
to  prosperity.  But,  like  many  of  our  Western  towns,  it  attained  its  growth 
almost  in  the  dawn  of  its  existence,  and,  for  some  years  past,  it  has  remained 
stationary.  A  grain  warehouse  was  built  by  Moses  Eckard,  in  1860.  R.  W. 
Stires,  of  St.  Louis,  was  the  first  to  operate  in  grain  at  this  point.  R.  R. 
Simmonds,  of  Havana,  and  Porter  £  Walker  have  operated  in  grain  at  differ- 
ent times.  The  grain  was  handled  in  sacks  and  shipped  on  flats.  In  1875, 
Flowers.  Allen  &  Sherman  built  a  very  small  and  cheaply  constructed  elevator; 
this  has  been  but  little  used  since  its  completion.  Low  &  Foster,  through  W. 
H.  Eckard,  handle  the  grain  at  present.  About  seventy  thousand  bushels  is 
the  average  amount  handled  annually.  A  neat  and  substantial  passenger 
depot  was  erected  by  the  railroad  company  in  1872,  which  adds  to  the  appear- 
ance of  the  village.  Harrison  Venard  was  the  first  agent  at  this  point.  W. 
H.  Eckard  is  the  present  gentlemanly  agent,  and  has  held  the  position  since 


644  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

1867.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  only  house  of  public  worship  in 
the  village,  was  erected  in  1865,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $4,300.  Among  the  early 
communicants,  we  find  the  names  of  Lewis  H.  Ringhouse  and  wife,  Mrs. 
Susan  Colwell,  David  Kepford  and  wife,  Caleb  Slade  and  wife,  Phillip  Brown, 
John  M.  McReynolds  and  family.  Rev.  T.  J.  M.  Simmons  was  the  first  Pas- 
tor of  the  Church.  It  has  since  enjoyed  the  labors  of  Revs.  J.  G.  Mitchell, 
A.  M.  Pilcher,  G.  M.  Grays,  and  others.  Rev.  L.  A.  Powell  is  the  present 
officiating  minister.  •  The  congregation  is  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  work- 
ing harmoniously  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  cause.  A  Sunday  school  of  fine 
interest  is  connected  with  the  Church.  The  post  office  at  Topeka  was  estab- 
lished in  the  latter  part  of  1860,  or  early  in  1861.  Harrison  Venard  was  the 
first  Postmaster.  The  salary  at  no  time  has  been  princely,  and  those  who 
have  kept  it  have  endured  it  as  a  necessary  evil  rather  than  from  choice.  J. 
~F.  Ruhl  is  the  present  incumbent.  A  neat  frame  school  building  was  erected 
in  1867.  It  is  not  grand  and  imposing  in  its  appearance,  but  is  amply  suffi- 
cient to  accommodate  the  village  urchins. 

VILLAGE    INCORPORATED. 

An  act  to  incorporate  the  village  of  Topeka  was  approved  by  the  Legisla- 
ture April  10,  1869.  Under  this  act,  Samuel  R.  Yates,  Phillip  Brown  and 
Robert  G.  Rider  were  named  as  Trustees  of  the  village,  their  term  of  office  to 
continue  until  the  first  Monday  in  April,  1870.  The  Board  organized  by 
electing  S.  R.  Yates,  President;  L.  S.  Allen,  Village  Clerk ;  Phillip  Brown, 
Police  Magistrate,  and  John  Norman,  Town  Constable.  The  revenue  of  the 
village  from  license  of  any  kind  has  been  very  limited,  and  whatever  public 
improvements  have  been  made  have  been  paid  for  by  direct  taxation  imposed 
upon  the  citizens,  or  by  voluntary  contribution.  The  members  composing  the 
present  Board  are  the  following  :  Phillip  Brown,  D.  W.  Flowers,  W.  H.  Eck- 
ard.  The  village  officers  are :  Phillip  Brown,  President ;  Theodore  Bell, 
Town  Clerk,  and  Dr.  J.  W.  Downey,  Police  Justice.  The  business  of  the 
place  is  comprised  in  one  general  store,  one  drug,  grocery  and  hardware  store, 
one  confectionery  and  two  blacksmith-shops.  Dr.  J.  W.  Downey  is  the  resi- 
dent physician,  and  is  a  well-read  and  successful  practitioner.  The  population 
of  Topeka  does  not  exceed  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Although  the  village  site  is 
the  most  eligible  of  any  point  along  the  route  from  Pekin  to  Havana,  yet  its 
proximity  to  the  latter  renders  it  altogether  improbable  that  Topeka  will  ever 
be  more  than  the  pleasant  little  village  of  to-day,  drawing  its  patronage  and 
support  from  the  immediate  vicinity  in  which  it  is  located. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  645 


FOREST  CITY  TOWNSHIP. 

• 

This  township  is  known  as  Town  22  north,  Ranges  6  and  7  west  of  the  Third 
Principal  Meridian.  It  is  bounded  north  and  east  by  Manito  Township,  south 
by  Pennsylvania  and  Sherman  Townships,  and  west  by  Quiver  Township.  It 
is  the  smallest  of  the  thirteen  civil  townships  into  which  the  county  has  been 
divided,  and  comprises  a  little  more  than  thirty-one  sections  in  its  area.  In 
surface  configuration,  it  is  very  similar  to  the  adjacent  townships  of  Manito  and 
Quiver.  Timber-land  is  found  only  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township. 
Fully  five-sixths  of  its  entire  surface  is  prairie  land,  most  of  which  is  very  pro- 
ductive The  soil  is  similar  in  character  to  that  found  in  general  throughout 
the  whole  extent  of  the  county — a  rich,  brown  mold,  freely  intermixed  with 
sand.  The  proportions  of  clay,  etc.,  intermingled,  vary  somewhat  in  different 
localities — some  being  far  more  argillaceous  than  others.  In  the  woodland 
portions,  the  surface  often  arises  into  bold,  round  bluffs,  with  mound-appearing 
escarpments  so  common  to  the  landscape  further  south  along  the  Illinois  River. 
Quiver  Creek,  a  small  stream  flowing  in  a  general  southwestern  direction 
through  the  township,  take?  its  rise  near  the  village  of  Forest  City  and  leaves 
the  township  near  the  northwest  corner  of  Section  27.  This,  with  artificial 
ditches  constructed  leading  into  it,  efficiently  drains  a  large  amount  of  the 
prairie  portion  of  the  township.  In  1862,  when  township  organization  was 
effected,  this  division  received  the  name  of  Mason  Plains.  Prior  to  this,  it  had 
been  designated  as  Mason  Plains  Precinct — a  name  given  by  the  early  Meth- 
odist ministers  to  their  appointments  in  this  section.  This  name  it  continued 
to  bear  until  1873,  when,  by  an  act  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  it  was  changed 
to  that  of  Forest  City  Township.  The  reason  for  the  change  existed  in  the 
fact  that  difficulties  and  perplexities  often  arose  in  the  shipment  of  matter, 
intended  for  Mason  Plains,  to  Mason  City,  in  the  southeastern  portion  of  the 
county. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

So  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn,  there  were  no  settlements  made  in  the 
limits  of  the  township  prior  to  1840.  Robert  Cross  and  family  came  from 
New  Jersey  and  settled  in  Greene  County,  111.,  as  early  as  1839.  In  1842, 
Alexander,  a  son  of  Robert,  came  to  Mason  County  and  settled  in  Quiver 
Township,  about  a  mile  east  of  McHarry's  Mill.  During  the  summer,  he  fre- 
quently passed  over  this  section  of  the  county,  and  from  his  statements  we 
learn  that,  at  that  time,  there  were  but  five  houses  standing  in  what  is  now 
Forest  City  Township.  These  were  all  in  the  edge  of  the  timber,  in  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  township.  Four  of  them  were  occupied,  and  the  following 
named  persons  are  given  as  their  occupants :  A.  Wintrow,  Peter  Himmel,  A. 
File  and  Stephen  Hedge.  Wintrow  came  in  1840,  and  was,  doubtless,  the  first 


646  HISTORY   OF   MASON    COUNTY. 

man  to  make  an  improvement  in  the  township.  Mr.  Cross  thinks  that  Himmel, 
File  and  Hedge  all  came  in  1842,  while  Jerry  Miller,  who  settled,  in  an  early 
day,  across  the  line  in  Manito  Township,  gives  it  as  his  opinion  that  Hedge  did 
not  come  prior  to  1844.  Wintrow,  File  and  Himmel  came  from  "  der  Fader- 
land,"  and  Hedge  from  Fulton  County.  The  latter  is  supposed  to  have  come 
originally  from  some  one  of  the  Eastern  States,  as  he  was  a  pronounced  Aboli- 
tionist long  before  that  sentiment  found  a  secure  lodgment  in  this  section.  The 
unoccupied  building  stood  upon  Congress  land,  and  had,  probably,  been  erected 
and  occupied  by  a  "bird  of  passage,"  who,  after  a  short  sojourn,  plumed  his 
wings  and  took  his  flight  to  regions  farther  west.  Hedge,  after  a  residence  of 
some  years,  returned  to  Fulton  County,  of  which  he  continued  a  resident  up  to 
the  date  of  his  death.  Peter  Himmel  is  the  only  one  of  the  four  now  living. 
In  the  same  neighborhood,  at  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing,  there  were 
living  old  man  Ray,  Riley  Morris,  Abel  Maloney,  and  a  few  others  just  across 
the  line  in  Manito  Township,  whose  places  of  settlement  and  date  of  coming 
have  been  given  in  the  history  of  that  township.  Settlements  in  the  township  did 
not  occur  rapidly  for  a  number  of  years,  owing  to  the  fact,  no  doubt,  that  its  availa- 
ble lands  were  prairie.  About  1846  or  1847,  Alexander  Pemberton  and  a  man  of  " 
the  name  of  Babbitt  settled  on  the  prairie  across  Quiver  Creek,  a  short  distance 
south  of  the  present  village  of  Forest  City.  They  were  the  first  to  venture 
away  from  the  woods.  Alexander  Cross  came  up  from  Quiver  Township  and 
made  a  settlement  in  1848.  The  same  year  brought  in  William  G.  Greene  and 
his  brother,  Nult  Greene,  from  Menard  County,  and  William  Coolage,  from 
Tennessee.  The  Greenes  settled  south  of  Quiver  Creek,  where  William  G.,  in 
a  few  years,  possessed  himself  of  a  large  tract  of  land.  In  1852,  he  sold  out 
his  entire  landed  estate  and  returned  to  Menard  County.  He  is  now  a  resident 
of  Tallula,  and  is  engaged  in  agriculture  and  in  the  banking  business.  His  . 
brother,  Nult  Greene,  removed  to  McDonough  County,  of  which  he  is  at  pres- 
ent a  resident. 

In  1850,  the  population  was  increased  by  the  coming  of  August  Webber, 
Greensfelter  and  Harfst.  These  all  settled  in  the  woods  in  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  township.  They  were  from  Germany,  and  formed  the  nucleus  of  the 
large  German  population  which  now  occupies  a  large  portion  of  the  township. 
The  spring  of  1852  brought  in  William  Ellsworth,  Thomas  H.  Ellsworth, 
William  Ellsworth,  Jr.,  Joseph  C.  Ellsworth  and  their  families.  These  all 
came  from  Fulton  County,  the  three  last  mentioned  being  sons  of  the  first,  but 
all  men  of  family.  T.  G.  Onstot,  from  Menard  County,  came  in  the  same 
year,  and  Fred  Lux,  from  Pennsylvania.  Most  of  them  are  still  residents  of 
the  township.  About  the  same  date,  George  Nikirk  came  from  Seneca 
County,  Ohio,  and  purchased  the  landed  estate  of  W.  G.  Greene,  consisting  of 
over  two  thousand  acres.  Mr.  Nikirk  did  not  live  long  to  enjoy  the  comforts 
of  his  new  home.  He  died  in  1855,  leaving  to  his  family  his  large  estate. 
Twenty  years  later,  his  wife  followed  him  to  the  land  of  shadows,  leaving  her 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  647 

children  pleasant  and  comfortable  homes,  nearly  all  in  sight  of  the  old  home- 
stead. The  Nikirk  brothers  are  among  the  most  substantial  farmers  and  busi- 
ness men  of  the  township.  John  Bowser,  also  a  resident  of  the  township,  was 
a  Buckeye,  from  Seneca  County,  who  came  at  or  near  the  date  of  the  coming 
of  the  Nikirks.  From  this  date  forward,  settlements  were  rapidly  made  in 
the  various  portions  of  the  township.  The  vast  superiority  of  the  prairie  land 
for  agricultural  purposes  began  to  be  realized,  arid  the  settler  no  longer  sought 
the  shelter  of  the  timber,  with  its  too  sandy  soil,  but  pushed  boldly  out  into  the 
open  prairie  and  began  his  improvements.  Coming  on  down  for  a  year  or  two, 
we  find  the  names  of  William  F.  Bruning,  Garrett  Bruning,  Carl  Grumble, 
Silas  Cheek,  Fred  Foster,  N.  Drake,  John  Martin,  and  others  of  whom  time 
and  space  forbid  that  we  should  particularize,  other  than  to  say  that  they  were 
all  good,  industrious  citizens,  and,  by  the  improvement  of  their  farms,  added 
muych  to  the  wealth  and  prosperity  of  the  township. 

Samuel  H.  Ingersoll,  who  became  a  citizen  of  Mason  County  in  1855, 
deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice.  He  was  born  in  Medina  County,  in 
1828.  In  1849,  he  went  to  California,  where  he  remained  till  1855,  at  which 
date  he  became  a  citizen  of  Mason  County.  In  1859,  he  led  to  the  nuptial 
altar  Miss  Lois  A.  Van  Orman,  of  Ohio,  and  soon  after  located  on  one  of  those 
beautiful  undulations  or  prairie-swells  a  short  distance  south  of  Forest  City. 
His  business  was  that  of  farming  and  milling,  and  his  rare  judgment  and  busi- 
ness tact  rendered  both  a  financial  success.  His  popularity  with,  and  ability 
to  serve,  his  friends  and  neighbors  may  be  best  attested  by  the  fact  that  he  was 
called  at  thirteen  different  times  to  a  seat  in  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors 
by  the  citizens  of  his  township.  It  was  in  this  position  that  his  judgment  and 
influence  were  largely  useful,  not  only  to  his  own  immediate  constituency,  but 
also  to  the  people  of  Mason  County.  His  death  occurred  in  1877.  Recently, 
as  a  tribute  of  respect,  Mrs.  Ingersoll  has  erected  to  his  memory  one  of  the 
finest  monuments  in  the  county.  The  site  selected  for  his  burial  is  one  of  the 
finest  in  this  section  of  the  county.  It  is  known  upon  the  public  records  as 
the  Nikirk  Cemetery,  and  is  so  situated  that  it  commands  a  view  from  all 
parts  of  the  surrounding  country,  also  from  the  passing  trains  on  the  P.,  P.  &  J. 
Railroad,  on  which  road  Mr.  Ingersoll  was  an  important  shipper,  and  of  which 
he  was  an  interested  friend. 

SOME    OF   THE    EARLY   INCONVENIENCES. 

Much  the  same  surroundings  and  inconveniences  greeted  the  early  settlers 
of  this  township  as  did  those  of  Manito  and  other  adjacent  portions  of  the 
county.  Their  marketing  had  to  be  done  a  long  way  from  home,  and  the  time 
required  for  getting  their  crops  to  market  was  almost  equal  in  length  to  that 
required  to  raise  them.  Their  principal  trading-points  were  Havana,  Mackinaw 
and  Pekin.  Their  milling  was  done  at  Mackinaw  or  across  the  river  in  Fulton 
County.  The  journey  to  Mackinaw  consumed  four  or  five  days,  governed 


648  HISTORY    OF  MASON   COUNTY. 

somewhat  by  the  length  of  time  they  had  to  wait  for  a  "grist  "  to  be  ground. 
SSmmonds  built  a  mill  on  Quiver  Creek,  in  quite  an  early  day,  and  a  few  years 
later,  McHarry's  Mill,  on  the  same  stream,  was  erected,  so  that  those  coming 
in  a  few  years  subsequent  to  the  date  of  the  earliest  settlements  made  in  the 
township,  were  denied  the  exquisite  pleasure  of  going  to  mill  at  Mackinaw,  and 
on  Spoon  River,  in  Fulton  County.  While  there  were  many  inconveniences 
and  hardships  to  be  endured  by  the  early  settlers,  they  had  many  things  of 
which  we  cannot  boast  to-day.  They  had  game  of  almost  all  kinds,  which  could 
be  had  for  the  simple  act  of  killing.  It  did  not  require  hunting,  for  there  was 
a  superabundance  on  every  hand.  Alexander  Cross  states  that  on  one  occasion, 
he  counted  forty  deer  in  a  single  herd,  as  they  rose  up  one  at  a  time,  and  then 
they  began  getting  up  so  fast  that  he  could  not  keep  the  run  of  them  any  longer. 
Thomas  H.  Ellsworth  takes  the  "  trick  "  and  goes  fifty-six  bettsr.  Wild  game 
of  all  kinds  was  so  abundant  that  the  farmer  did  not  dare  to  cut  up  his  corn  in 
the  fall  and  place  it  in  shocks ;  if  he  did  he  was  sure  to  come  out  in  the  spring 
minus  one-third  to  one-half  of  his  crop.  The  marshes  and  sand  hills  around 
the  head  of  Quiver  Creek  were  famous  hunting-grounds  in  an  early  day.  But 
the  march  of  civilization,  the  dense  settling-up  of  the  country  and  its  improve- 
ment into  fine  and  productive  farms,  have  driven  out  all  the  larger  kinds  of  game, 
and  we  have  nothing  left  save  that  which  is  commonly  found  in  the  older  settled 
portions  of  our  country.  Vast  and  mighty  changes  have  come  upon  us  during 
the  forty  years  last  past.  Forest  City  Township  has  never  had  a  grist-mill 
erected  within  her  borders.  McHarry's,  in  Quiver,  and  Shanholtzer's.  in  Man- 
ito,  supply  the  deficiency.  The  Peoria,  Pekin  &  Jacksonville  Railroad,  put  in 
operation  in  1859,  is  the  only  railroad  line  in  the  township.  It  passes  diagon- 
ally through  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township,  in  a  southwestern  direction, 
giving  to  it  about  four  miles  of  track. 

EARLY    PREACHING,    SCHOOLS,    ETC. 

The 'first  preaching,  as  was  customary,  was  at  the  houses  of  the  pioneers, 
and  among  those  who  ministered  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  people  in  an 
early  day,  we  find  the  names  of  Revs.  Gardner,  Rutledge,  Randall,  and  the 
venerable  Peter  Cartwright.  These  were  missionaries  in  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Rev.  William  Perkins,  a  Presbyterian  divine,  occasionally  preached  in  the 
township,  but  was  regularly  engaged  in  the  work  at  Topeka.  Transient  min- 
isters of  other  denominations  discoursed  at  times  to  the  people,  but  none 
remained  to  effect  church  organization  save  the  Methodists.  After  the  build- 
ing of  schoolhouses,  preaching  was  transferred  to  them,  and  they  were  made  to 
serve  the  triple  purpose  of  meeting-house,  schoolhouse  and  voting-place  for  the 
precinct.  The  first  school  building  erected  in  the  township  was  the  one  now 
known  as  Union  No.  1,  and  is  situated  about  one  and  one-half  miles  south  oi 
the  village  of  Forest  City.  It  was  built  in  1854,  and  John  Covington  was  the 
first  teacher.  Others  were  built  as  the  increase  of  population  demanded,  and 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  649 

at  present  each  district  is  supplied  with  good  frame  buildings.  The  "  old  log 
schoolhouse  "  of  the  days  of  auld  lang  syne  has  faded  away,  and  comes  to  us 
only  in  visions  of  the  past. 

The  first  Sunday  school  organized  in  the  township  was  at  the  house  of 
Thomas  H.  Ellsworth,  in  the  spring  of  1853.  William  Ellsworth  was  the  first 
Superintendent.  It  continued  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Ellsworth  till  the  build- 
ing of  the  schoolhouse  in  1854,  when  it  was  transferred  to  that  point.  It 
finally  became  the  nucleus  of  the  first  Sunday  school  established  in  the  village. 
A  number  of  those  who  took  part  in  the  first  organization  are  at  present  resi- 
dents of  the  village,  and  take  a  lively  interest  in  the  Sunday-school  cause. 
There  are  two  church  edifices  in  the  township  outside  of  the  village — the  Ger- 
man Methodist,  or  Albright,  and  the  German  Lutheran,  or  Lutheran  Evangel- 
ical. The  Albright  Church  was  erected  in  1856,  and,  as  the  congregation  grew 
in  numbers,  the  building  in  a  few  years  became  too  small  to  accommodate  it. 
In  1865,  they  rebuilt  and  greatly  increased  the  size  of  their  house.  The 
Church  owns  forty  acres  of  valuable  land,  and  upon  this  stands  the  church 
building  and  parsonage.  A  neatly  laid-out  and  kept  cemetery  also  occupies  a 
portion  of  the  tract.  Their  Church  property  has  an  estimated  value  of  not  less 
than  $7,000.  It  is,  perhaps,  the  wealthiest  congregation  in  Mason  County. 
Most  of  its  members  are  well-to-do  farmers,  living  in  this  and  adjacent  town- 
ships. The  building  is  located  on  a  gentle  rise  of  ground,  from  which  a  com- 
manding view  of  the  country  may  be  had  on  all  sides ;  its  tall,  white  spire,  point- 
ing heavenward,  presents  a  pleasing  appearance  to  the  traveler  passing  over  the 
line  of  the  P.,  P.  £  J.  Railroad.  The  Lutheran  Church  was  built  a  year  or 
two  later,  is  in  the  same  portion  of  the  township,  about  one  and  one-half  miles 
south  of  Bishop's  Station.  It  is  also  a  frame  church,  and  cost  about  $1,200. 
Regular  services  are  held,  and  a  flourishing  Sunday  school  is  connected  with 
it.  Forest  City  Township  has  a  large  per  cent  of  German  population,  and,  as 
is  usually  the  case,  they  are  thriving,  enterprising  citizens,  possessed  of  finely  - 
itnproved  farms,  well  stocked.  Taken  throughout  its  whole  extent,  this  town 
ship  compares  favorably  with  other  portions  of  the  county  in.  its  adaptation  to 
the  growth  of  corn  and  the  other  cereals  common  to  this  latitude. 

VILLAGE    OF   FOREST    CITY. 

The  village  of  Forest  City  was  surveyed,  in  1859,  by  J.  F.  Coppel  and 
Alexander  Cross,  for  Walker,  Kemp,  Wright  and  Waggenseller.  The  original 
plat  contained  forty-seven  acres.  An  addition  of  forty  acres  lying  east  of  the 
original  town  was  made  in  1865  by  D.  S.  Broderic.  The  lines  of  original  sur- 
vey were  run  north  and  south,  but  were  never  recorded.  The  plat,  as  recorded, 
lie;  parallel  with  the  railroad  line.  The  village  is  located  seventeen  miles  dis- 
tant from  Pekin  and  thirteen  from  Havana.  It  was,  at  one  time,quite  an  exten- 
sive grain  mart,  but  the  growth  of  Mason  City  on  the  east,  and  points  on  the 
I.,  B.  &  W.  R.  R.,  south,  have  deducted  largely  from  the  amount  of  its  annual 


660  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

shipments.  Alexander  Cross  built  the  first  residence  on  the  town  site,  and 
occupied  it  in  the  latter  part  of  1859.  The  house  is  still  standing,  and  has 
been  converted  into  an  office  by  Dr.  James  S.  Walker.  Thomas  H.  Ellsworth 
built  a  residence  and  became  a  denizen  of  the  place  in  1860.  Josiah  Jackson, 
S.  T.  Walker,  T.  A.  Gibson,  E.  T.  Nikirk  and  others  were  among  the  earliest 
citizens  of  the  place..  Cross  &  Walker  built  the  first  storeroom  and  began 
merchandising  in  1861.  In  1864,  or  1865,  Rodgers  &  Bros.,  built  the  second 
store-building  in  the  village  and  opened  up  a  stock  of  general  merchandise. 
The  business  interests  of  the  village  continued  to  grow  till,  at  one  time,  it  had 
four  good  stores  in  full  blast.  In  1861,  Messrs.  Cross  &  Walker  built  a  grain 
warehouse  and  began  purchasing  grain.  The  grain  trade  increased  so  rapidly 
that  in  1864  they  built  an  elevator  at  a  cost  of  $6,000.  It  has  a  capacity  for 
storage  of  40,000  bushels.  The  grain  interests  of  the  village,  at  present,  are 
looked  after  by  S.  T.  Walker,  agent  for  Smith,  Hippen  &  Co.,  of  Pekin,  and 
Z.  Miller.  The  annual  amount  handled  approximates  250,000  bushels.  Quite  an 
amount  of  hogs  and  cattle  are  shipped  from  this  point.  The  trade  and  traffic  of 
the  village  reaches,  perhaps,  $40,000  per  annum.  The  post  office  was  estab- 
lished in  1861,  and  Alexander 'Cross  was  appointed  Postmaster.  He  received 
his  commission  from  Montgomery  Blair  as  Postmaster  General.  Mr.  Cross  has 
acted  continuously  from  his  first  appointment  down  to  the  present  time,  and  has 
been  efficient  and  accommodating,  as  might  readily  be  inferred  from  his  long 
continuation  in  office. 

A  neat  frame  school  building,  two  stories  high,  was  erected  in  1877,  at  a 
cost  of  $1,500.  This  is  the  pride  and  ornament  of  the  village,  and  is  a  fitting 
monument  to  the  liberality  of  the  citizens  of  the  district,  who  submitted  to  a 
heavy  taxation  in  order  to  secure  the  building.  The  M.  E.  Church,  the  only 
house  of  worship  in  the  village,  was  erected  in  1863  or  1864.  Rev.  S.  B. 
Hirsey  was  the  first  Pastor.  It  is  a  neat  frame  building,  pleasantly  situated  in 
a  small  grove  in  the  western  portion  of  the  village.  It  has  a  membership  of 
about  fifty  souls,  who  meet  regularly  for  worship.  A  fine  and  flourishing  Sun- 
day school  is  held  in  connection  with  its  services.  Dr.  George  Mastiller  was 
the  first  physician  to  locate  in  the  town,  as  well  as  the  first  in  the  township. 
E.  N.  Nichols,  M.  D.,  was  also  in  the  township  quite  early.  The  former  is  at 
present  a  resident  of  Kansas,  and  the  latter,  some  years  ago,  took  up  his  abode 
in  Missouri.  Drs.  James  S.  Walker  and  G.  W.  Dunn  are  at  present  resident 
physicians,  each  well  skilled  in  his  profession,  and  enjoying  a  good  practice.  A 
Lodge  of  Good  Templars  was  organized  in  1865.  The  charter  members  were 
Thomas  H.  Ellsworth  and  wife,  T.  G.  Onstot,  Josiah  Jackson  and  wife,  T.  A. 
Gibson  and  wife,  Miss  Sarah  Ellsworth,  and  others  whose  names  could  not  be 
obtained.  In  February,  1867,  the  hall  in  which  the  lodge  meetings  were  held 
was  consumed  by  fire,  and  the  Lodge  soon  after  became  extinct.  Forest  City 
Lodge,  No.  246,  I.  0.  G.  T.,  was  organized  Jan.  27,  1879,  by  J.  Q.  Detwiler, 
State  Deputy.  A  charter  was  granted  to  Thomas  A.  Gibson  and  wife,  Josiah 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  651 

Jackson,  George  W.  Pemberton,  Mrs.  Nancy  Cross,  Susie  Cross,  G.  W.  Nikirk, 
Harry  Dunn,  Lydia  Ellsworth,  Mary  Ellsworth,  Solomon  Nikirk,  Lillie  Ni- 
kirk, Lizzie  Nikirk,  W.  D.  Thomas,  E.  E.  Bird,  Ira  W.  Bruning,  Isaac  Beard  and 
William  F.  Bruning  as  charter  members.  The  Lodge  is  in  fine  working  order, 
and,  at  present,  has  a  membership  of  about  sixty-five.  Regular  meetings  occur 
on  Saturday  evening  of  each  week. 

A  substantial  iron  bridge,  erected  at  a  cost  of  from  $1,800  to  $2,000,  spans 
Quiver  Creek,  just  south  of  the  village.  In  the  winter  of  1876,  the  citizens 
constructed  a  gravel  road  from  the  village  to,  and  for  some  distance  beyond,  the 
bridge.  The  gravel  was  obtained  at  Mackinaw,  the  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.  furnish- 
ing transportation  free,  and  for  once,  at  least,  disproving  the  oft-repeated 
assertion  that  railroad  corporations  have  no  souls.  The  neat  and  substan- 
tial passenger  depot  at  this  point,  under  the  management  of  Mr.  E.  T. 
Nikirk  &  Son,  is  an  ornament  to  the  town  and  a  credit  to  the  officials 
of  the  road.  Forest  City  Township  has  been  largely  Republican  in  her 
political  complexion  since  the  earliest  formation  of  the  party.  In  the  days 
when  the  old  Whig  and  Democratic  parties  vied  with  each  other  for  supremacy, 
this  "  district "  could  always  be  relied  upon  for  a  handsome  Whig  majority. 
During  these  latter  years,  the  Republican  party  has  held  the  field  whenever 
party  lines  were  strictly  drawn.  At  the  outbreaking  of  the  late  civil  strife,  her 
loyal  sons  were  not  slow  in  attesting  their  fealty  and  devotion  to  the  Stars  and 
Stripes.  At  each  and  every  call,  she  furnished  her  full  quota,  and  no  draft 
was  made  upon  her  patriotic  citizens  to  fill  up  the  oft-depleted  ranks  of  the 
patriot  army.  Many  of  her  noble  boys  are  taking  their  long,  deep  sleep  in 
Southern  soil,  beneath  a  Southern  sun,  far  from  the  spot  of  their  early  child-  , 
hood.  They  fell  in  the  discharge  of  duty  and  in  the  defense  of  their  country's 
honor.  Fond  fathers  and  loving  mothers  cherish  with  fondest  delight  the 
memory  of  the  brave  boys  whose  lives  were  offered  a  willing  sacrifice  upon 
their  nation's  altar.  Of  such  we  may  say,  in  the  poet's  fitting  strain : 

"Soldier,  rest!  thy  warfare's  o'er, 

Sleep  the  sleep  that  knows  no  breaking  ; 
Dream  of  battle-fields  no  inore, 

Days  of  danger,  nights  of  waking." 

Forty  years  ago,  Forest  City  Township  was  without  an  inhabitant.  Now 
her  surface  is  thickly  studded  with  comfortable  homes,  and  thrift  and  enterprise 
greet  us  on  every  hand.  Her  citizens  are  alive  to  every  movement  that  tends 
to  advance  the  interests  of  their  section,  and  her  annual  productions  rank  sec- 
ond to  but  few  townships  in  the  county.  Bishop  Station,  a  small  village  on  the 
P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.,  three  miles  southwest  of  Forest  City,  was  laid  out  for  Henry 
Bishop  in  the  spring  of  1875.  The  post  office  was  established  in  1871,  four 
years  prior  to  the  date  of  laying  out  the  town.  A  grain  elevator,  two  general 
stores  and  a  blacksmith-shop  comprise  the  business  buildings  of  the  village. 
These,  with  some  half-dozen  residences,  include  all  that  there  is  in  the  town. 


652  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY, 

t 

We  have  been  able  to  obtain  but  very  little  of  its  history,  though  diligent 
inquiry  has  been  made.  Its  citizens  have  been  backward  in  giving  us  anything 
like  a  connected  history  of  the  place,  laboring,  perhaps,  under  the  misappre- 
hension that  we  were  desirous  of  buying  the  town  at  the  present  low  ruling 
price,  and  not  recognizing  the  fact  that  we  were  simply  desirous  of  obtaining 
data  from  which  to  compile  a  historical  sketch  of  the  place.  However,  the 
prospects  for  its  rapid  development  into  a  village  of  any  considerable  importance 
is  not,  at  present,  very  flattering.  Its  location — about  midway  between  Forest 
City  and  Topeka — precludes  the  possibility  of  its  ever  being  more  than  a  point 
of  local  interest. 


LYNCHBURG   TOWNSHIP. 

A  latter-day  statesman,  making  a  speech  in  Congress,  a  year  or  two  ago, 
\\ishing  to  indulge  in  a  little  sarcasm  at  something  or  somebody,  in  the  course 
of  his  remarks  said  that  "  When  God  Almighty  made  the  world,  he  had  an 
apronful  of  sand  left  over,  which  he  poured  out  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and 
called  the  spot  New  Jersey."  If  this  be  true,  one  might  be  led  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  He  also  had  enough  left  to  make,  not  only  Lynchburg  Township,  but 
the  greater  part  of  Mason  County.  Anyway,  the  sand  is  here  in  considerable 
quantities,  whether  it  was  spilled  from  somebody's  apron,  or  was  washed  down 
from  Lake  Michigan  during  the  drift  period.  How  it  came  here  is  a  conun- 
drum, to  solve  which  is  no  part  of  our  work  in  these  pages. 

Lynchburg  Township  lies  in  the  southwest  part  of  Mason  County,  in  the 
forks  of  the  Illinois  and  Sangamon  Rivers,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north,  west 
and  south  by  these  streams,  and  on  the  east  by  the  township  of  Bath.  It  is 
pretty  well  divided  between  prairie  and  timber  land,  the  latter  lying  contigu- 
ous to  the  water-courses.  It  is  well  watered  by  the  rivers  flowing  along  its 
borders  and  the  number  of  its  little  lakes  within  its  limits  ;  and  to  the  irriga- 
tion thus  produced  is  doubtless  owing  the  prolific  nature  of  this  sandy  soil,  and 
the  fine  crops  it  so  abundantly  brings  forth.  In  addition  to  the  lakes  and  riv- 
ers, is  Snicarte*  Slough,  which  runs  through  the  north  part  of  the  town,  and 
is  almost  equal  to  a  little  river. 

Lynchburg  has  no  villages  or  railroads.  The  hamlet  of  Snicarte  approx- 
imates the  nearest  a  town  it  has  ever  known.  The  shipping  facilities  consist  of 
water  transportation,  and  the  hauling  of  freights  over  to  Bath  and  Saidora 
Station,  where  they  are  shipped  via  the  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.  Upon  the  whole, 
the  township  is  a  flourishing  one.  and  boasts  of  many  wealthy  and  energetic 
farmers.  With  this  preliminary  introduction  and  description,  we  will  now 
devote  a  few  pages  to  its 

*Snicarte  is  a  French  word,  and  is  pronounced  with  the  accent  on  the  last  syllable.  It  is  said  to  denote  !os* 
channel,  and  to  have  been  given  to  this  slough  by  the  early  French  settlers  along  this  river,  owing  to  the  sudden  and 
abrupt  termination  of  the  slough  in  this  section. 


HISTORY    OF   MASON    COUNTY.  653 

EARLY    SETTLERS. 

The  first  settler  in  Lynchburg  Township  was  Nelson  Abbey,  in  1833.  He 
came  from  the  Green  Mountains  of  Vermont,  and  built  the  first  cabin  in  the  terri- 
tory now  embraced  in  this  township,  on  Section  4.  He  sold  out  at  an  early 
day  and  removed  to  Missouri  (near  St.  Jo),  where,  at  the  last  account  of  him, 
he  was  still  living.  As  in  other  portions  of  Mason  and  Menard  Counties, 
many  of  the  early  settlers  in  this  section  were  from  Kentucky.  From  that 
State  we  have  William  and  John  Rogers,  the  Phelpses,  Isaac  Bright,  Jerry 
Northern,  William  P.  Finch,  Amos  S.  West,  William  Davis  and  perhaps  others. 
Davis  came  to  the  town  and  made  a  small  improvement  in  1838.  He  settled 
some  distance  south  of  where  the  old  village  of  Moscow  stood.  At  the  first 
breaking-out  of  the  California  gold  fever,  he  went  to  that  land  of  enchantment. 
Further,  we  know  nothing  of  him.  Amos  S.  West  came  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled first  in  Morgan  County,  and  came  to  Mason  County  in  1844.  He  located 
in  this  township,  but  finally  moved  to  Kansas. 

The  Phelpses  came  to  the  neighborhood  in  1838  or  1839.  George  W.  first 
settled  in  Cass  County,  and  afterward  removed  to  Bath  Township,  whence 
he  came  to  this  place,  as  mentioned  above.  He  finally  sold  out,  returned  to 
Kentucky,  and  from  there  removed  to  Missouri,  where,  as  the  novel-writers 
say,  we  at  present  leave  him.  R.  J.  Phelps  was  a  son-in-law  of  John  Camp, 
and  settled  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  east  of  Snicarte.  He  lived  here 
some  time,  and  then  removed  about  a  mile  further  east.  His  first  wife  died 
between  1844  and  1846,  and  he  married  a  second  time,  a  sister  to  Mark  A. 
Smith,  an  old  settler  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  Lynchburg  Township.  Mr. 
Phelps  was  one  of  the  early  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  this  section.  He  accu- 
mulated considerable  property,  and,  after  the  death  of  his  second  wife,  he  married 
again,  and  then  removed  to  the  southwest  part  of  Nebraska,  where  he  now  lives. 

Bright  settled  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town  in  1840  or  1841,  but  died 
about  1844.  He  was  also  an  early  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  this  quarter  of  the 
county.  His  widow  married  one  of  the  Phelpses,  and  finally  removed  to 
Texas.  Jerry  Northern  came  to  the  settlement  about  1839  or  1840.  He  set- 
tled in  Cass  County  upon  his  arrival  in  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  a  time, 
and  then  came  here,  as  above  stated.  He  had  a  large  family,  and  was  also  a 
man  of  some  means  and  owned  quite  a  farm.  He  at  length  sold  out  and  moved 
away.  His  sons  were  Edmund  A.,  John,  Wellington  and  Frank,  of  whom 
none,  we  believe,  now  live  in  the  town. 

The  Rogerses  came  in  1838  or  1839.  William  settled  one  mile  west  of 
Snicarte,  and  John  three  miles  southwest  of  the  same  spot.  They  were 
brothers,  and  the  first  mentioned  was  a  doctor,  while  John  was  a  blacksmith. 
Each  was  the  first  of  his  profession  in  this  section  of  the  country.  William 
Rogers  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Nelson  Abbey.  John  Rogers  died  about  1868 
or  186!». 


654  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

William  P.  Finch  came  in  1842  or  1843,  and  was  one  of  the  early  peda- 
gogues, also  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  A  daughter  of  his  married  J.  A.  Phelps. 
His  two  youngest  sons  are  still  living  in  the  township. 

Amos  Smith  came  from  Vermont,  and  settled  in  this  township  in  the  win- 
ter of  1839,  about  a  mile  from  Snicarte.  Amos  Smith,  Jr.,  and  Benjamin  F. 
Smith,  his  sons,  came  with  teams  to  Whitehall,  N.  Y.,  and  by  canal  and  Lake 
Erie  from  Buffalo  to  Cleveland,  and  by  way  of  the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illi- 
nois Rivers  to  Beardstown,  where  they  arrived  in  1837.  Amos  Smith,  Jr., was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  the  organization  of  the  county,  an  office  he  held 
until  his  death,  in  1850.  He  was  also  one  of  the  first  County  Commissioners. 
Amos  Smith,  Sr.,  the  father,  died  in  1841.  Benjamin  F.  Smith  was  a  car- 
penter. He  accumulated  considerable  property,  and  died  in  1867.  Mark  A. 
Smith,  another  son  of  Amos  Smith,  Sr.,  came  to  the  town  in  1839,  and  is  still 
living,  one  of  the  enterprising  men  of  the  county.  He  arrived  with  his  family 
at  Moscow,  in  Mason  County,  on  the  15th  of  October,  with  a  fortune  consist- 
ing of  37  cents  in  ready  money.  He  tells  the  following  story  of  his  early 
experience  here :  When  he  landed,  the  family  and  goods  were  left  on  the  bank 
of  the  river,  while  he  went  to  explore  the  town  and  to  procure  a  team.  The 
town  consisted  of  two  log  cabins,  deserted  at  the  time.  He  traveled  six  miles 
to  Abbey's,  procured  a  team  and  returned  about  3  o'clock  for  his  family. 
He  took  them  to  Abbey's,  where  three  families  were  domiciled  in  one  cabin 
until  others  could  be  built.  In  1853,  he  built  a  warehouse,  and  engaged  in  the 
grain  trade,  and,  in  connection  with  merchandising,  still  follows  the  business  to 
some  extent. 

Simon  Ward  came  from  North  Carolina  in  1838.  He^used  to  follow  selling 
wood  to  steamboats,  at  that  time  quite  an  extensive  business.  He  removed  to 
Texas,  but,  after  some  years,  came  back,  and  finally  died  here.  He  set  out  the 
first  orchard  in  the  present  township  of  Lyftchburg,  in  1835,  on  Section  35,  of 
the  Congressional  Town  20,  Range  10  west.  James  Ward,  a.  son,  still  lives 
on  the  Burr  Oak  Ridge. 

George  W.  Carpenter  was  from  Tennessee,  and  came  to  the  settlement 
early.  He  raised  a  large  family,  and  lived  there  many  years,  but  at  last  moved 
to  Kansas.  James  D.  Reeves  came  about  1838-39,  but  his  native  State  is  not 
remembered.  He  settled  one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Moscow,  where  he 
liad  a  cabin  and  a  small  improvement  when  the  Smiths  came  to  the  settlement. 
He  moved  away  several  years  ago. 

Rev.  John  Camp  was  from  Pennsylvania,  and  came  about  1838.  He  was 
a  local  preacher  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  hesitated  not,  it  seems,  to  mingle  in 
the  politics  of  the  day,  as  we  learn  he  was  the  first  Probate  Judge  of  Mason 
County,  being  learned  in  the  profane  as  well  as  the  divine  law,  and  is  men- 
tioned as  a  man  of  "  moderate  learning  and  moderate  ability."  He  built  a 
horse-mill  at  an  early  day,  where  the  pioneers  used  to  get  their  hominy.  He 
died  in  the  township. 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  657 

John  Stewart,  mentioned  as  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Bath  Township,  is 
also  an  early  settler  in  this,  and  is  still  living.  He  settled  originally  on  Sni- 
carte  Island,  on  that  portion  now  included  in  Bath,  and  which  he  sold  to  Amos 
Richardson,  and  by  him  was  sold  to  John  Knight.  He  then  settled  in  what  is 
now  Lynchburg.  Caleb  Brown  and  family  came  from  New  York,  and  first 
settled  in  Adarns  County,  whence  they  came  to  Lynchburg  in  1843-44. 
His  family  consisted  of  two  sons  and  several  daughters.  John  Healey  was  also 
an  early  settler,  but  of  him  little  information  was  obtained.  Jonathan  Sack- 
man  came  in  1840-41  ;  remained  in  the  settlement  but  a  year  or  two.  He  was 
elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and,  after  receiving  this  high  honor,  moved 
away.  He  came  from  Schuyler  County  to  this  township,  but  his  native  place 
is  not  known.  John  J.  Fletcher,  an  Englishman,  came  to  T;he  town  in  1848, 
and  is  still  living,  an  enterprising  citizen,  and  we  acknowledge  our  indebted- 
ness for  many  points  in  the  history  of  this  township. 

The  Marshalls  came  from  Overton  County,  Tenn.,  about  1839-40.  There 
were  four  brothers  of  them,  viz.:  George,  John,  David  and  Elisha.  John  died 
here,  years  ago.  George  and  Elisha  removed  to  Adams  County,  and  David  to 
Missouri,  many  years  ago. 

Thomas  Bowles  came  here  in  1838-39,  but  was  one  of  those  characters 
often  found  in  a  new  country,  that  do  not  add  much  credit  to  its  population.  It 
is  said  that  he  strove  hard  to  make  money  otherwise  than  by  the  sweat  of  his 
brow.  In  other  words,  he  was  somewhat  addicted  to  "  shoving  the  queer" 
whenever  an  opportunity  offered.  Two  men,  named  Ashley  Hickey  and  Aaron 
Ray,  became  interested  with  him.  Hickey  furnished  means  to  purchase  mate- 
rial and  tools  for  their  new  enterprise,  and  Bowles  went  to  St.  Louis  to  make 
the  investment,  but,  instead  of  doing  so,  spent  the  shekels  in  "  riotous  living," 
perhaps,  and  returned  home  with  the  story  that  he  had  bought  the  tools  and 
ordered  them  shipped  to  the  place ;  but,  as  they  came  not,  he  was  accused,  first, 
of  falsehood,  and  then  of  swindling,  and,  finally,  kicked  out  of  the  neighbor- 
hood- 

James  M.  Ingram  came  from  the  Hoosier  State  in  1840,  and  settled  in  this 
section.  He  was  drowned,  some  two  years  later,  in  Snicarte  Slough.  Zeph 
Keith  was  from  Tennessee,  originally,  but  settled  in  Cass  County,  whence 
he  removed  to  this  place  about  1842-43.  He  is  mentioned  as  a  genial,  jolly 
good  fellow,  and,  after  remaining  here  some  years,  removed  to  Kansas.  The 
Lanes  came  from  Pennsylvania  about  1842.  Jacob  Lane,  the  father,  died 
here  in  1873,  but  his  sons  are  still  living  in  the  town.  The  Mays,  Pleasant 
May  andjhis  son  William,  were  from  Kentucky  or  Virginia,  and  came  in  1837. 
William  died  here  in  1850,  and  the  old  gentleman  moved  to  Missouri.  George 
May  was  a  brother  to  Pleasant  May,  and  laid  out  the  village  of  Lynchburg,  as 
noticed  in  another  page.  William  Bailey  came  from  Kentucky  in  1839,  and 
moved  to  Kansas  several  years  ago.  Thomas,  Richard  and  William  Ainsworth 
are  natives  of  England,  and  came  to  America  in  1842,  and  located  in  this 

AA 


658  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

township.  Thomas,  the  eldest,  had  $800 ;  the  other  two  had  $50  apiece.  They 
borrowed  some  money  from  Thomas  to  enter  land,  and  all  agreed  to  work 
together  until  they  had  forty  acres  of  land  in  cultivation.  They  are  now  com- 
paratively wealthy  men.  Thomas  and  William  live  in  Lynchburg  Township, 
and  Richard  in  Mason  City.  The  Laymans  are  from  Ohio,  and  came  here 
about  1845-46.  The  father,  David  Layman,  was  a  native  Virginian.  He  died 
here  in  1854.  Several  sons  are  still  living  in  the  township.  William  Howarth 
came  to  Lynchburg  with  the  Ainsworths  in  1842,  and  is  still  living  in  the  town. 
This  includes  a  list  of  the  early  settlers,  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  obtain 
them.  Owing  to  the  very  sandy  nature  of  this  portion  of  the  county,  it  is  not 
so  thickly  settled  as  other  and  more  favored  localities.  Neither  has  the  town 
much  history  of  particular  interest,  beyond  its  actual  settlement. 

RELIGIOUS   AND    EDUCATIONAL. 

The  first  religious  society  was  organized  by  the  Methodists,  in  1838.  The 
early  preachers  of  this  faith  were  Revs.  Robert  Anderson  and  Williams — the 
latter  familiarly  known  as  "  Daddy  Williams."  The  original  members  were 
John  Camp  and  wife,  George  Marshall  and  wife,  James  D.  Reeves  and  wife. 
The  present  membership  is  about  sixty  communicants.  A  frame  church  was 
built  in  1849-50,  at  a  cost  of  $1,400,  and  was  dedicated  by  Peter  Cartwright. 
The  church  is  known  as  Fairview  M.  E.  Church,  and  is  located  on  the  line 
between  Sections  10  and  15.  George  A.  Bonney  took  an  active  part  in  build- 
ing up  the  society.  The  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  1848,  with  Thomas 
Ainsworth  as  the  first  Superintendent.  They  have  a  library  of  about  two  hun- 
dred volumes,  and  over  a  hundred  children  attend  the  school  regularly.  William 
Ainsworth,  the  present  Superintendent,  has  served  in  that  capacity  for  the  past 
twenty-two  years. 

Hopewell  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  January,  1840,  by  Revs.  Daniels 
and  Thomas  Taylor,  with  the  following  original  members  :  George  W.  Camp- 
bell and  wife,  William  Davis  and  wife,  Benjamin  F.  Smith  and  wife  and  Mrs. 
Lydia  Phelps.  It  was  organized  at  the  residence  of  William  Davis,  about  two 
miles  east  of  Snicarte.  Services  were  held  at  private  houses  until  the  building 
of  a  schoolhouse  in  the  neighborhood,  in  1852.  This  was  then  used  for  church 
purposes  until  1865-66,  when  a  frame  church  building  was  put  at  Snicarte, 
30x40  feet,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,200.  Many  members  of  the  Church  have 
moved  away,  and  it  is  now  on  a  decline,  numbering  only  about  thirty -five  mem- 
bers. They  were  without  a  shepherd  the  past  year.  In  1864,  a  Sunday  school 
was  organized,  with  Josiah  English  as  Superintendent.  The  present  Superin- 
tendent is  John  H.  Reemtsen,  and  the  usual  attendance  is  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  children. 

Who  taught  the  first  school,  and  in  what  year,  we  were  unable  to  learn. 
William  P.  Finch  was,  however,  an  early  teacher  ;  but  whether  or  not  he  was 
the  first,  is  an  unsettled  question.  There  was  a  school  taught  by  Mrs.  Carnp, 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  659 

a  sister  of  Mark  A.  Smith,  before  there  was  a  schoolhouse  in  the  township. 
H.  G.  Rice  taught  the  first  school,  perhaps,  after  the  building  of  a  house  for 
school  purposes.  At  present,  there  are  five  schoolhouses  in  the  town,  one  log  and 
four  frame  buildings.  In  these,  good  schools  are  maintained  for  the  usual  term 
each  year.  The  first  marriage  in  Lynchburg  was  that  of  William  Cole  and 
Miss  Nancy  May.  The  first  birth — Henry  Ward,  a  son  of  Simon  Ward,  born 
in  1834,  and  in  the  same  year,  occurred  the  first  death,  that  of  Mary  Jane 
Smith,  daughter  of  M.  A.  Smith.  The  first  mill  was  built  by  John  Camp  in 
1835,  on  Section  3,  of  Town  19,  and  was  a  small  horse-mill.  It  was  of  con- 
siderable benefit  to  the  neighborhood  at  that  early  day.  The  only  mill  in  the 
township,  at  present,  is  a  steam  saw  and  grist  mill  at  Snicarte,  owned  by 
Hiram  Goodrich.  It  grinds  corn,  but  makes  no  attempt- at  grinding  wheat. 
The  latter  grain  is  taken  mostly  to  the  Bath  and  Chandlerville  mills.  The  first 
two-story  house  was  built  by  John  J.  Fletcher  on  Section  1.  Amos  Smith  was 
the. first  Justice  of  the  Peace.  The  officers  of  the  township,  at  present,  are  as 
follows :  J.  H.  Layman,  Supervisor ;  John  J.  Fletcher,  Justice  of  the  Peace 
(the  other  Justice,  which  the  town  is  entitled  to,  moved  away  recently) ;  Sam 
Johnson,  Town  Clerk,  and  Mark  A.  Smith,  'School  Treasurer.  In  an  early 
day,  the  people  of  this  section  got  their  mail  at  Havana.  Later,  when  a  post 
office  was  established  at  Bath,  it  served  them  until  Snicarte  became  honored 
with  an  office.  The  township  has  no  railroads,  large  towns  or  manufactories, 
but  is  devoted  entirely  to  agricultural  interests.  It  is,  like  other  towns  in 
Mason  County,  Democratic  in  politics.  The  part  taken  in  the  late  war  will  be 
found  in  our  war  record  in  another  chapter. 

Snicarte  is  the  nearest  approach  to  a  village  in  Lynchburg  Township,  and 
it.  we  believe,  has  never  been  laid  out  or  surveyed.  A  small  grocery  store  was 
opened  here  by  Mark  Smith  in  1858.  This  was  changed  to  a  general  store  the 
next  year,  enlarged  and  quite  an  extensive  stock  of  goods  opened  out.  Mr. 
Smith  continued  in  the  mercantile  business  until  1873,  when  he  sold  to  Henry 
C.  Hoseman,  who  still  keeps  a  small  stock  of  goods.  A  post  office  was  estab- 
lished here  about  1859-60,  with  Horace  Rice  as  Postmaster.  Mr.  Rice  was 
Postmaster  from  the  establishment  of  the  office  until  his  death,  when  M.  A. 
Smith  became  Postmaster.  He  held  the  office  until  he  sold  his  store  to  Hose- 
man, when  the  latter  gentleman  succeeded  to  the  office,1  and  is  still  Postmaster. 
John  A.  Reemtsen  also  has  a  store  at  this  place,  keeps  a  large  stock  of  goods, 
and  does  quite  an  extensive  business.  M.  A.  Smith  commenced  the  grain  busi- 
ness here  at  an  early  day.  He  built  a  grain  warehouse  in  1853,  and,  some  years 
later,  built  a  larger  one.  In  these,  he  has  handled  grain,  more  or  less,  every 
year  since  their  erection.  He  still  deals  in  grain.  These  branches  of  business, 
together  with  the  mill  already  noticed,  a  church,  blacksmith-shop  and  a  few 
dwelling  houses,  constitute  the  hamlet  of  Snicarte. 

There  was  a  village  laid  out  in  this  township  in  a  very  early  day,  by  George 
May,  and  was  called  Lynchburg.  But,  as  a  town,  it  was  never  much  of  a 


660  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

success.  May  had  his  town  laid  out,  then  bought  a  barrel  of  whisky,  and  had  a 
sale  of  lots,  but  some  how  it  would  not  go.  It  is  said  to  have  been  a  pretty 
site  for  a  town,  but,  with  the  proximity  of  Bath,  Moscow  and  Matanzas,  then 
in  the  zenith  of  their  glory,  Lynchburg  was  a  total  failure,  and  soon  abandoned 
altogether.  Fairview  consists  of  a  Methodist  Church  and  a  schoolhouse,  and 
is  so  designated  from  the  fact  of  its  being  situated  on  an  elevated  piece  of 
ground,  and  whence  a  "  fair  view  "  of  the  surrounding  country  may  be  had. 


CRANE  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

Casting  our  mental  vision  backward  along  the  stream  of  time  half  a 
century,  we  behold  the  region  of  country  now  embraced  in  Mason  County  one 
unbroken  wilderness.  Here  and  there,  near  some  point  of  timber,  or  hard  by 
the  bank  of  some  creek  or  bubbling  brooklet,  might  be  found  the  log  cabin  of 
the  sturdy  pioneer,  with  a  few  acres  rudely  cultivated.  These  were  the  only 
indications  of  an  approaching  civilization.  Emigrants,  regarding  these  plains 
and  sand  ridges  as  fit  only  to  unite  other  and  better  portions  of  the  country, 
avoided  them  as  unworthy  of  their  notice.  Now  and  then  one  from  a  passing 
train  dropped  out,  more  from  necessity  than  choice,  and  started  an  improve- 
ment In  this  manner  the  earliest  settlements  in  the  county  were  made.  The 
settler  very  soon  discovered,  however,  that  the  forbidding  appearance  of  the 
surface  was  a  false  indication,  that  an  exuberance  of  productive  power  lay  here 
concealed  under  an  exterior  show  of  poverty.  This  fact  being  discovered  led 
to  a  steady,  uniform  and  onward  progress  in  the  settlement 'and  development  of 
the  territory.  Despised  and  neglected  as  she  was  in  the  beginning,  Mason 
County  to-day  may  safely  challenge  the  State  to  produce  better  crops  with  an 
equal  amount  of  cultivation.  Crane  Creek  Township,  one  of  the  civil  divisions 
of  the  county,  is  situated  south  of  the  center,  and,  in  extent,  contains  a  little 
more  than  one  Congressional  township.  Originally,  it  embraced  the  eastern 
half  of  what  is  now  Kilbourne  Township.  It  is  bounded,  north  and  east,  by 
Sherman  and  Salt  Creek  Townships  respectively ;  south  by  the  Sangamon 
River,  and  west  by  Kilbourne  Township.  The  surface  is  about,  equally  divided 
between  prairie  and  woodland.  The  extreme  southern  portion  of  this  section 
is  subject  to  overflow,  and  is  valuable  for  pasturage  only.  The  southwestern 
part  of  the  timber  district  has  a  fine  growth  of  young  and  valuable  timber, 
which  has  sprung  up  within  the  memory  of  some  of  the  earlier  settlers  yet 
living.  A  county  ditch  crosses  the  northwest  corner  and,  with  its  tributaries, 
drains  a  large  extent  of  its  productive  land.  Much  of  the  timber-land  is  high 
and  broken,  and  the  soil  of  an  unproductive  nature.  Yardley,  Revis  and  Long 
Lakes  are  small  bodies  of  water  found  in  the  south  part  of  the  township,  tribu- 
tary to  the  Sangamon  River.  Taken  throughout  its  entire  extent,  it  is  not  the 
best,  nor  yet  the  least  productive  of  the  various  divisions  of  the  county.  In 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  661 

point  of  settlement,  it  reaches  back  through  a  period  of  fifty  years,  and  to  this 
feature  of  its  history  we  will  now  direct  our  attention. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 
v 

The  earliest  settlement  made  in  the  township  was  in  that  portion  of  the 
woodland  section  first  known  as  Price's,  afterward  Walker's  Grove.  To  Henry 
Sears,  who,  although  he  has  passed  his  threescore  years  and  ten,  is  still  in  a 
fine  state  of  physical  and  mental  preservation,  we  are  largely  indebted  for  much 
that  is  interesting  in  the  early  history  and  settlement  of  this  section.  In  1829, 
the  year  in  which  0.  M.  Ross  is  said  to  have  settled  permanently  in  Havana, 
George  Garman  and  brother,  from  North  Carolina  or  Kentucky,  made  a  squat- 
ter's claim  on  the  east  side  of  the  grove.  They  built  a  cabin  and  broke  forty 
acres  of  the  adjoining  prairie.  Like  many  other  first  settlers,  they  did  not 
remain  long  before  selling  out  their  claim  and  returning  to  their  native  land. 
The  year  1830  brought  in  a  man  by  the  name  of  Rose,  also  James  Price,  Enoch 
Estep  and  Spencer  Clary.  These  all  settled  in  the  grove,  excepting  Estep,  who 
located  farther  south.  Of  Rose  no  record  has  been  given,  either  as  to  his  for- 
mer place  of  residence  or  whither  he  went.  He  led  a  kind  of  nomadic  life,  and 
was  probably  more  or  less  intimately  connected  with  Price,  with  whom  he 
came.  James  Price  is  well  remembered  from  his  intimate  relation  to  the  noble 
red  men  of  the  forest.  His  wife  was  an  Indian  squaw,  a  woman  of  fine  mus- 
cular development  and  great  physical  endurance.  On  leaving  Walker's  Grove, 
Price  next  made  a  claim  farther  east,  at  what  is  known  as  Lease's  Grove,  in  Salt 
Creek  Township,  and,  after  a  few  years,  went  west  of  the  Mississippi  to  the  reser- 
vation allotted  to  his  red  kinsmen  by  the  General  Government.  Here  he  soon 
afterward  lost  his  life  while  engaged  in  boating.  Clary  remained  a  citizen  until 
the  date  of  his  decease,  and  his  remains  lie  buried  on  land  now  owned  by  Uncle 
Henry  Sears.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  is  referred  to  by  those  that 
knew  him  as  a  clever,  hard-working  man,  but  one  who  did  not  have  the  faculty 
of  acquiring  property'.  He  began  life  with  nothing  and  held  his  own  remark- 
ably well  to  the  date  of  his  demise.  His  family  and  immediate  descendants 
have  long  been  absent  from  the  citizenship  of  the  township.  Estep  was  from 
North  Carolina,  and  built  his  cabin  at  Revis'  Springs,  in  the  south  part  of 
this  section.  After  a  residence  of  some  years,  he  moved  to  Jasper  County, 
where  he  died.  James  A.  Revis,  from  Warren  County,  Ky.,  came  in  1831. 
From  him  Revis  Lake  and  Springs  derived  their  names.  His  father,  Charles 
Revis,  had  been  in  the  Territory  .in  an  early  day,  and  is  said  to  have  erected 
the  first  hotel  in  Vandalia  in  1816.  James  A.  died  in  1838,  and,  with  his 
companion  and  some  of  his  children,  was  buried  on  a  knoll  overlooking  the 
Sangamen.  The  plowshare  of  the  more  recent  settler  has  long  since  made 
deep  furrows  over  their  last  resting-place,  and  but  few  remain  to-day  who 
can  point  with  any  degree  of  certainty  to  the  spot  of  their  interment.  Long 
since,  their  moldering  bodies  have  passed  away,  and  the  earth  above  them 


662  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

has  settled  in  to  supply  their  places.  This  suggests  to  us  the  sad  but  certain 
fate  that  awaits  all  private  places  of  interment.  The  little  mounds  recently 
formed  in  the  old  family  burying-ground,  where  the  violets  and  primroses, 
planted  by  surviving  love,  have  blossomed  but  a  few  short  years,  will,  when 
the  old  homestead  shall  have  passed  into  the  hands  of  those  who  knew  not 
the  loved  sleepers,  be  trodden  beneath  unhallowed  feet,  and  children's  children 
shall  look  in  vain  for  the  graves  of  their  grandsires. 

In  1832,  a  number  of  additions  were  made  to  the  settlement  in  this  section. 
John  Yardley  and  his  sons  James  and  John,  originally  from  North  Carolina, 
but  here  direct  from  Kentucky,  came  and  stopped  a  short  time  in  Menard 
County.  Soon  afterward,  they  located  on  Crane  Creek.  The  old  gentleman, 
his  son  John  and  his  son-in-law,  Sol.  Norris,  after  a  few  years'  residence,  sold 
out  and  moved  to  Texas.  All  are  now  numbered  with  the  dead.  James, 
and  a  number  of  his  descendants,  are  still  citizens  of  the  township,  all  of  whom 
have  led  upright  and  honorable  lives.  The  same  year,  Josiah  Cook,  from  Green 
County,  Ky.,  put  in  an  appearance.  He  made  a  small  beginning  in  the  way 
of  an  improvement,  but  did  not  move  to  it.  He  died,  a  number  of  years  ago, 
in  Menard  County.  He  is  represented  as  one  of  those  shiftless  fellows 
often  met  with,  whose  greatest  gift  was  that  of  talking,  and  who  moved  from 
place  to  place  as  circumstances  might  permit  or  occasion  demand.  By  his  death, 
many  promises  to  pay  were  canceled.  About  the  same  date,  James  Sutton, 
from  Maryland  or  Virginia,  came  to  Walker's  Grove.  He  bought  out  the 
claim  of  Rose,  who  has  previously  been  mentioned.  The  year  following,  he 
sold  to  James  Estep,  brother  to  Enoch,  and  moved  to  Havana  Township.  The 
Esrep  family,  originally  from  North  Carolina,  on  leaving  that  State,  first  set- 
tled in  Tennessee.  From  there,  in  an  early  day,  they  carne  to  St.  Clair 
County,  111.  In  the  spring  of  1820,  James  Estep  and  his  family  came  to  San- 
gamon  (now  Menard)  County.  He  laid  a  claim  on  land  now  included  in  the 
city  limits  of  Petersburg.  The  first  claim  he  gave  up  to  his  father,  Elijah 
Estep,  who  came  in  the  following  fall  or  early  spring  of  1821.  Elijah  Estep 
built  the  gear  horse-mill,  full  account  of  which  may  be  found  in  the  history  of 
Menard  County  and  Petersburg  Precinct.  James,  after  giving  up  his  claim  to 
his  father,  moved  across  the  river  and  located  on  what  is  known  as  Baker's 
Prairie.  Being  of  a  somewhat  rambling  disposition,  he  occupied  various  local- 
ities in  the  few  succeeding  years,  but  finally  came  and  improved  the  north  half 
of  his  first  claim,  and  when  the  market  opened  entered  it.  In  1832,  he  moved 
to  Arkansas,  but  returned  in  the  fall  of  1833,  when  he  made  his  purchase  at 
Walker's  Grove,  as  above  stated.  He  afterward  sold  out,  moved  to  Menard 
County,  thence  to  Southwestern  Missouri,  but  again  returned  to  Mason  County. 
He  died  in  1857,  on  the  farm  where  his  son  J.  M.  Estep  now  resides.  His 
remains,  with  those  of  his  faithful  companion,  who  had  preceded  him  to  the 
spirit-land  some  two  years,  lie  interred  in  New  Hope  Cemetery,  in  this  town- 
ship. Mr.  Estep,  unlike  most  of  his  sons,  was  not  successful  in  acquiring 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  663 

property.  He  came  poor  and  at  no  time  in  life  was  he  possessed  of  great 
means.  He  was  somewhat  eccentric  in  his  habits,  he  never  rented  but  always 
bought  and  sold,  sometimes  more  and  sometimes  less,  always  being  governed  by 
his  financial  ability  to  meet  his  promises.  A  number  of  his  sons,  who  are 
among  the  substantial,  well-to-do  farmers  of  this  section,  are  still  residents  of 
the  township.  Harvey  Haskiris  was  in  and  about  the  grove  as  early  as  1833. 
No  very  substantial  marks  of  improvement  were  ever  known  to  have  been  the 
result  of  his  indefatigable  industry.  He  was  one  of  those  to  whom  the  term 
"lived  round,"  would  aptly  apply.  It  is  said  of  him  that  he  was  able  to 
change  his  location  at  almost  any  time  with  little  or  no  inconvenience,  as  by 
walking  and  carrying  the  baby,  attended  by  his  wife  who  carried  the  household 
effects  in  a  "poke,"  the  feat  of  moving  was  readily  and  easily  accomplished. 

The  year  1834,  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Henry  Sears.  He  was  born  near 
Raleigh,  N.  C.,  and  with  his  parents  came  to  Kentucky  in  an  early 
day.  In  1822,  he  came  to  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  lived  in  various 
localities,  most  of  the  time,  however,  in  Menard  and  Sangamon.  In 
1834,  as  stated,  he  came  to  Walker's  Grove  and  purchased  the  improve- 
ment of  James  Estep.  This  he  sold  to  James  Walker  in  1837,  and  the 
following  spring  moved  to  his  present  place  of  residence,  on  Section  17,  in 
Crane  Creek  Township.  He  is  one  of  the  few  ancient  landmarks  yet  remain- 
ing. In  the  forty-one  years  of  his  residence  in  this  one  place,  he  has,  by  legis- 
lative enactment,  been  made  a  citizen  of  Sangamon,  then  Menard,  and  finally, 
Mason  County,  without  once  changing  his  location.  While  the  eccentric  man- 
ners of  the  man  have  contributed,  somewhat,  to  his  notoriety  among  the  early 
settlers  (and  the  later  ones,  too,  for  that  matter),  no  one  can  be  found  who 
would  gainsay  the  veracity  of  any  statement  he  might  make  in  good  faith. 
Seeing  the  folly  of  dram-drinking  exemplified  in  the  life  of  his  father,  he  has 
led  a  life  of  strict  sobriety,  and  largely  to  this  is,  doubtless,  due  the  fine  state 
of  mental  and  physical  preservation  in  which  we  find  him  to-day.  He  was  a 
member  of  petit  jury  for  the  first  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  ever  held  in 
Mason  County.  Not  far  from  his  residence  was  the  site  of  the  once  famous 
Mount's  mill,  an  institution  in  its  day,  and  the  "pocket  distillery,"  both  of 
which  are  fully  described  in  the  general  county  history.  Abner  Baxter,  from 
Kentucky,  settled  at  the  grove  soon  after  the  coming  of  Sears.  He  remained 
but  a  year  or  two  before  selling  out  and  moving  to  another  portion  of  the 
county.  He  was  an  important  factor  at  a  "hoe-down,"  as  he  could  handle  a 
'•  fiddle  "  and  evoke  such  sweet  strains  of  music  as  are  wont  to  charm  and  edify  the 
backwoodsman.  He  was  honored  as  early  as  1844,  with  a  seat  on  the  Board 
of  County  Commissioners.  The  year  1836  added  Jesse  Baker,  a  brother-in- 
law  of  Sears,  to  the  settlement.  Mr.  Baker,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
.  one,  is  still  living,  just  across  the  line  in  Kilbourne  Township.  He  was  from 
Tennessee,  and  was  a  perfect  Nimrod  in  his  day.  He  has,  perhaps, 
brought  down  more  deer  than  any  other  citizen  of  the  county,  as  he  is 


664  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

said  to  have  been  an  unerring  marksman,  and  to  have  slain  great  num- 
bers of  them  each  fall.  Alfred  Summers  came  from  Kentucky  and  settled 
on  the  farm  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Henry  Sears,  a  short  time 
after  Baker  made  his  claim.  He  died  in  October,  1837,  and  his  death  was  one 
among  the  earliest  to  occur  in  the  adult  population  of  the  township.  Passing 
backward  in  our  note  of  time,  we  find  the  year  1835  records  the  coming  of 
Josiah  Dobson,  John  Close  and  his  sons,  George,  John  Jr.  (or  Jack,  as  he  was 
familiarly  known),  and  Turner.  These  were  all  from  Kentucky,  and  settled  in 
the  region  of  Crane  Creek.  The  old  gentleman  and  his  son  Turner  remained 
citizens  of  the  vicinity  in  which  they  settled  till  the  date  of  their  decease.  John 
Close,  Sr.,  died  a  number  of  years  ago,  and  in  buried  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  the  Widow  Carter.  Turner  died  in  1863,  having  amassed,  during  life,  con- 
siderable means,  much  of  which  has  found  its  way  into  the  pockets  of  attor- 
neys as  fees  for  their  services  in  the  litigation  of  various  matters.  George,  after  a 
short  term  of  residence,  moved  across  the  Sangamon,  and  thence  to  Iowa.  Jack 
moved  to  Morgan  County,  and,  after  the  loss  of  his  companion,  returned  and 
located  in  Havana.  Some  years  later,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Shreveport, 
and  has  since  died. 

In  1837,  James  Walker,  from  Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  came  and  purchased 
a  large  tract  of  land  in  what,  at  that  date,  was  called  Price's  Grove,  but  to 
which  we  have  often  referred  as  Walker's  Grove,  a  name  it  has  borne  since  the 
date  of  his  coming.  Here  he  lived  and  reared  a  family,  which  has  been  largely 
identified  with  the  earlier  and  later  interests  of  the  county.  He  built  the  first 
frame  house  in  this  entire  region  of  the  county.  The  closing  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  as  a  citizen  of  Havana,  in  which  city  he  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
Robert  Gavin,  from  South  Carolina,  is  thought  to  have  settled  in  the  township 
in  1837.  Of  him  but  little  record  can  be  made,  as  he  did  not  remain  long,  and 
his  place  of  removal  cannot  be  determined.  Charles  and  John  Haynes,  from 
North  Carolina,  became  citizens  of  Crane  Creek  in  1838.  They  are  still 
largely  represented  in  the  township.  As  early  as  the  close  of  1839,  Isaac 
Teeters,  George  and  Hiram  Walker,  Huff  Hines,  Henry  Norris  and  Lemuel 
Pelham  were  settlers  here.  Teeters  came  from  St.  Clair  County,  and,  leaving 
his  residence  here,  moved  with  his  family  to  Texas.  Hiram  Walker,  after  a  few 
years'  sojourn,  moved  to  Greene  County,  111.,  where  he  died  some  years  ago. 
Henry  Norris  was  from  Barren  County,  Ky.,  and  was  the  brother  of  Solomon 
Norris,  who  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  township.  Hines  was  a  man 
who  made  for  himself  little  or  no  reputation,  an  easy-going  fellow,  who,  at  this 
date,  but  few  remember.  Lemuel  Pelham,  however,  was  of  a  different  charac- 
ter. He  was  a  Buckeye  by  birth,  if  full  credence  might  be  given  to  his  state- 
ment in  regard  to  his  birthplace.  He  was  one  of  those  rare  exotics  upon 
which,  after  the  lapse  of  long  intervals,  the  early  settlers  were  permitted  to 
gaze.  He  was  one  of  those  who,  to  use  Uncle  Henry's  expressive  phrase, 
"shackled  round"  from  place  to  place,  and,  from  the  various  localities  in 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  665 

which  he  had  lived,  and  the  length  of  time  spent  in  each  locality,  Mr.  Sears 
thinks,  must  have  been  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  settlement  here.  Thoroughly  wedded  to  his  migratory  habics,  he 
did  not  remain  long,  and  no  trace  of  him  has  been  kept  by  those  who  once 
knew  him  since  his  removal  from  their  midst.  He  is  thought,  however,  to  have 
gone  to  St.  Glair  County,  where,  a  number  of  years  ago,  he  made  his  final  exit 
from  terra  firma.  Asher  Scott,  from  New  Jersey,  settled  about  the  last-men- 
tioned date,  possibly  a  year  earlier,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township 
and  is  still  living.  His  brother  Martin  accompanied  him,  but  settled  across  the 
line  in  what  is  now  Sherman  Township.  During  the  year  1840,  Charles  Veach, 
Elijah  Riggin,  Ensley  Hall  and  John  Fumphelan  were  added  to  the  population 
of  this  portion  of  the  county.  Veach  was  from  Delaware,  and  settled  where  Eli 
C.  Cleaveland  now  lives.  He  lost  his  life,  in  1851,  by  the  accidental  caving-in 
of  a  well,  which  he  was  engaged  in  sinking.  Riggin  was  a  "  Sucker  "  by  birth 
and  settled  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township,  where  a  number  of  the 
family,  in  comfortable  circumstances,  still  reside.  Ensley  Hall  came  from  Ten- 
nessee to  Menard  County,  thence  to  Mason,  and,  after  one  year,  again  located 
in  Menard.  Fumphelan,  as  his  name  implies,  was  from  "  der  Faderland."  He 
located  southeast  of  where  Henry  Sears  now  lives,  on  land  owned  by  J.  H.  and 
E.  C.  Cleaveland.  He  was  a  quiet,  inoffensive,  well-meaning  Dutchman,  who, 
after  a  few  years'  residence,  moved  away,  and  all  further  trace  of  him  has  been 
lost. 

Rev.  John  L.  Turner,  from  Kentucky,  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  denomina- 
tion, made  a  settlement  near  the  present  residence  of  James  L.  Hawks,  in  1840. 
He  was  a  minister  of  fine  ability,  and  served  the  county  in  important  offices,  as 
the  records  testify.  His  death  occurred  twenty -odd  years  ago.  The  same  year, 
Samuel  C.  Conwell  came  to  the  grove ;  he  is  a  native  of  Delaware,  but  was 
reared  from  early  boyhood  in  Indiana,  He  was  a  young  man  of  prepossessing 
appearance,  and,  as  the  cut  of  his  garments  and  style  of  manners  differed  mate- 
rially from  those  of  the  pioneers  by  whom  he  was  surrounded,  and  with  whom 
he  was  in  almost  daily  contact,  he  soon  discovered  that  he  was  growing  into  general 
disfavor.  Coonskin  caps,  buckskin  breeches  and  moccasins  was  the  ordi- 
nary apparel,  at  that  day,  among  the  early  settlers.  Con's  dress  indicated  a 
more  advanced  stage  of  civilization  and  refinement,  and  he  soon  acquired  to 

himself  the  distinction  of  "that  d d  Yankee,"  throughout  the  settlement. 

He  was  here  as  the  agent  of  some  fine  stock,  the  property  of  his  brothers-in- 
law,  and  a  sharp  trade  or  two  served  to  bring  him  prominently  before  the  brist- 
ling bar  of  justice.  In  no  instance,  however,  was  he  convicted  on  the  charges 
preferred,  the  failure  of  which  led  Jesse  Baker  to  exclaim,  "  It  is  not  worth  our 
while  to  bother  longer  with  this  Jerusalem  over-taker,  since  we  cannot  convict  him 
of  anything."  "  Con  "  says  a  residence  of  forty  years  among  this  people  has 
not  served  to  make  him  Governor,  simply  on  account  of  the  bad  impression  he 
made  in  an  early  day.  His  connection  and  prominence  as  the  first  man  in  the 


666  HISTORY   OF  MASON   COUNTY. 

county  to  introduce  improved  agricultural  implements,  has  been  fully  noticed  in 
the  general  county  history. 

The  years  1841—42  brought  in  Henry  Seymour,  James  H.  and  Joseph 
Norris,  George  Hall,  Christian,  Trueman  and  Harvey  Stone.  The  Norrises 
were  from  Kentucky,  and  settled  near  the  north  line  of  the  township.  Joseph 
moved  to  Texas  a  number  of  years  ago,  where  he  soon  after  died.  George  Hall 
purchased  the  James  Walker  farm  at  the  grove,  where  he  still  resides.  The 
Stones  were  from  the  Buckeye  State.  Christian  and  Trueman  were  brothers, 
while  Harvey  was  their  uncle.  The  latter,  after  a  few  years,  went  back  to 
Ohio  ;  Christian  moved  4o  Iowa,  and  from  there  to  Missouri ;  Trueman  is  still 
a  resident  of  the  township.  Henry  Seymour  was  from  Germany,  and  died  in 
the  vicinity  in  which  he  settled,  a  number  of  years  ago.  Samuel  Neely,  with 
his  sons,  William,  John,  George  and  James,  came  from  Tennessee  and  settled 
in  this  section  in  1844-45.  Two  or  three  of  the  families  are  still  living  here. 
Harvey  B.  Hawthorne  was  here  in  1846 ;  he  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  is  of 
Scotch  descent.  The  name  originated  during  the  war  between  the  Scots  and  Danes, 
which  was  continued  through  a  period  of  more  than  one  hundred  years.  The 
Scots,  when  vanquished  on  the  plains  and  in  the  valleys,  fought  their  invaders 
from  the  hawthorn  brush  and  groves,  within  the  mountain  fastnesses,  and  from 
these  circumstances,  the  name  of  the  shrub  passed  to  that  of  a  family.  Mr. 
Hawthorne  is  still  a  citizen,  and  has  been  very  successful  in  his  various  enter- 
prises. The  same  year,  a  number  of  the  Tomlins  settled  in  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  the  township,  many  of  whom  still  reside  there.  As  early  as  1850, 
Allen  Robinson  and  James  L.  Hawks  became  denizens  of  Crane  Creek.  Rob- 
inson was  from  New  Jersey,  and  came  to  Menard  in  1846.  In  1849,  he  settled 
in  Walker's  Grove,  on  the  farm  once  owned  by  Solomon  Norris ;  here  he  at 
present  resides  in  affluent  circumstances.  Hawks  was  from  Kentucky,  and  has 
been  a  continuous  resident  since  his  first  settlement.  Upon  the  formation  of 
the  township,  he  was  chosen  to  the  office  of  Supervisor,  a  position  in  which  he 
has  served  his  fellow-citizens  twelve  or  thirteen  years.  Elisha  T.  Davenport 
came  from  Kentucky  to  what  is  now  Mason  County,  in  1831,  but  did  not 
become  a  citizen  of  Crane  Creek  Township  prior  to  1849  ;  he  resides  on  Section 
9,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial,  well-to-do  farmers  of  this  section.  Others 
there  are,  doubtless,  who  were  settlers  in  this  division  of  the  county  as  early  as 
1850,  and  whose  names,  in  justice  to  all,  should  be  mentioned;  but  that 
omissions  will  of  necessity  occur,  we  confidently  believe,  will  be  readily  granted 
by  any  one  who  will  undertake  to  trace  the  early  history  of  a  township  in  which 
the  settlements  began  as  early  as  those  in  Crane  Creek.  Having  taken  this 
somewhat  hasty  glance  at  its  early  settlement,  we  next  pass  to  notice  some  other 
matters  of  interest  connected  with  its  history. 


'HISTORY  OF  MASON  COUNTY.  667 

WALKER'S  GROVE. 

This  grove,  to  which  such  frequent  reference  has  already  been  made,  was 
the  nucleus  around  and  in  which  all  the  earliest  settlements  were  made.  It 
was  known  as  Price's  Grove  prior  to  the  purchase  of  James  Walker,  in  1837, 
since  which  date  it  has  been  called  by  its  present  name.  The  grove  proper 
embraces  an  area  of  not  more  than  four  hundred  acres,  and,  in  an  early  day,  was 
as  fine  a  body  of  timber  as  could  be  found  in  the  county.  A  fine  growth  of 
the  oak  family,  black  walnut,  soft  and  sugar  maple,  hickory,  both  shell-bark 
and  smooth-bark,  white  walnut  or  butternut,  mulberry  ;  and  of  shrubbery,  the 
red-bud,  papaw,  dogwood,  and  many  other  varieties  were  found  here.  But 
little  that  is  valuable,  except  for  purposes  of  fencing  and  firewood,  remains 
to-day.  Most  of  those  who  erected  their  log  cabins  near  this  spot,  in  the  days 
of  its  early  settlement,  have  long  since  crossed  over  the  still  waters,  and  have 
been  succeeded  by  a  class  of  unpretending 'citizens,  that  for  industry,  intelli- 
gence and  moral  worth  will  compare  favorably  with  any  portion  of  the  county 
or  State.  While  the  present  inhabitants  are  eager  for  the  daily  papers,  lest 
their  interests  may  be  affected  by  the  "  spring  "  or  "  decline  "  in  the  "  hog 
market,"  the  pioneers  were  content  with  mails  once  a  week,  or  less  frequently 
during  bad  weather  or  high  w,ater.  Amid  the  difficulties  and  discouragements  by 
which  they  were  often  surrounded,  they  had  their  social  enjoyments,  as  those 
who  have  listened  to  their  animated  discussions  of  the  respective  merits  of 
"gourd-seed"  and  "flint"  corn,  or  the  prominent  points  of  a  favorite  "  coon 
dog,"  can  abundantly  testify.  In  and  around  this  point  were  the  beginnings 
of  those  enterprises  which  in  their  nature  tend  to  the  permanent  establishment 
and  development  of  society,  and  which  are  handmaidens  in  the  onward  march 
of  civilization.  We  refer  to  churches  and  schools.  "  The  groves  were  God's 
first  temples,"  and  here  in  nature's  sanctuary,  where  the  breezes  came  laden 
with  the  perfumes  of  a  thousand  flowers,  early  meetings  were  held.  Rev. 
Thomas  Plasters  was  the  first  to  lift  up  the  Gospel  banner  in  this  section.  He 
was  here  as  early  as  1834,  and  belonged  to  that  order  of  worshipers  known  in 
the  West  as  "  Hardshell  Baptists,"  or,  as  they  are  otherwise  called,  the 
"Forty-gallon  Baptist^."  His  preaching  was  somewhat  after  the  style  of 
the  famous  "  Come,  Buck-ah  "  sermon,  recorded  in  the  "  Hoosier  Schoolmaster." 
He  had  "  the  see-sawing  gestures,  the  nasal  resonance,  the  sniffle  and  melancholy 
minor  key,"  which  seems  to  be  for  an  everlasting  inheritance  to  his  reverend 
brethren.  And  in  addition  to  all  these,  as  he  warmed  with  his  discourse,  he  had 
a  habit  of  tugging  vigorously  first  at  one  ear  and  then  at  the  other,  by  way  of 
lending  emphasis  and  solemnity  to  his  remarks.  Still  it  was  enjoyed  by  those 
enrly  settlers  who  had  been  for  some  time  without  the  privileges  of  the  church. 
He  discoursed  many  times  at  the  residence  of  James  A.  Revis,  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  township.  Rev.  John  L.  Turner,  who  came  in  1840,  and  of  whom 
mention  has  already  been  made,  was  an  early  minister  in  the  Baptist  Churches 


668  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

of  this  section.  Rev.  Abraham  Bale,  who  should  have  been  classed  among 
the  settlers  of  1842-43,  was  a  minister  in  the  same  connection.  He  settled 
on  the  farm  where  George  Thomas  now  lives,  and  was  the  second  resi- 
dent minister  in  the  township.  He  built  what  is  known  as  Bale's  Mill,  in 
Menard  County,  and  which  passed  from  his  hands  to  those  of  his  brother, 
Jacob,  but  is  at  present  owned  by  a  son  of  Abraham  Bale.  Rev.  Ross,  a 
radical  Methodist  minister,  preached  at  the  residence  of  Solomon  Norris,  in 
quite  an  early  day.  Of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Revs.  William  Coder, 
Wallace  and  Moreland  were  among  the  earliest.  A  church  was  built  a  number 
of  years  ago,  near  the  site  of  New  Hope  burying-ground,  in  Walker's  Grove, 
but  was  destroyed  by  fire  just  about  the  time  of  its  completion,  and  before  ser- 
vices had  ever  been  held  in  it.  The  house  was  never  rebuilt.  Another  was 
erected  in  the  Sandridge  timber,  about  the  year  1859,  but  its  use  has  been 
discontinued  for  some  years,  and  the  building  is  fast  going  to  rack.  Both  of 
these  houses  were  the  property  of  the  Baptist  brethren,  and  the  latter  is  the 
only  public  house  of  worship  in  the  township. 

EARLY    POST   OFFICE,    STORES,    SCHOOLS,    ETC. 

A  post  office  called  Walker's  Grove  Post  Office  was  established  at  the  house 
of  James  Walker,  in  1839.  It  was  on  the  mail  route  from  Springfield  to 
Havana.  James  Walker  was  the  first  Postmaster.  After  a  period  of  about 
eighteen  months,  it  was  moved  across  the  river  into  Menard  County.  An  office 
was  established  at  the  grove,  at  a  later  date,  and  was  there  in  1854,  at  which 
time  William  Warnock,  Jr.,  now  of  Mason  City,  was  Postmaster.  Jack  Close, 
who  afterward  occupied  rather  a  prominent  place  among  the  early  merchants  of 
Havana,  had  a  small  country  store  in  the  township  as  early  as  1841.  This 
was  doubtless  the  first  attempt  made  at  merchandising  in  this  section.  Not  long 
after  Close  began  playing  merchant,  William  Walker  opened  a  small  stock  of 
dry  goods  and  groceries  at  the  grove.  For  several  years,  a  small  establishment 
was  kept  here  by  different  parties,  that  of  William  Warnock,  Jr.,  and  his  uncle 
being  about  the  last.  There  is  no  store  in  the  township  at  present ;  those  at 
Kilbourne,  Easton  and  Mason  City,  are,  however,  easily  accessible  to  the  citi- 
zens of  Crane  Creek.  The  first  schoolhouse  built  in  the  township,  was  on  land 
belonging  to  Henry  Sears,  and  was  built  in  1836.  It  was  rather  a  rude  affair, 
put  up  by  those  in  the  neighborhood  for  the  benefit  of  their  children.  It  drew 
patronage  from  a  large  extent  of  country.  William  Lease  kept  the  first  school 
and  was  paid  for  his  services  by  individual  subscription.  James  Buckner,  M. 
D.,  was  from  Kentucky  and  came  to  this  part  of  the  county  in  1839.  He  was 
the  first  physician  to  locate,  and  stopped  for  a  time  at  the  residence  of  John 
Yardley.  He  is" said  to  have  been  a  well-read  and  successful  practitioner.  The 
prevailing  diseases  were  bilious  and  lung  fever  with  an  occasional  case  of  chills. 
Dr.  Buckner  lived  a  number  of  years  on  rented  land  in  Walker's  Grove,  and 
then  moved  to  Petersburg.  His  last  place  of  residence  was  near  Bloomington, 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  669 

in  McLean  County,  where  he  died  some  years  ago.  Of  him  Uncle  Henry 
Sears  says:  "  He  was  a  poor  man,  but  every  inch  a  gentleman."  Dr.  John 
Morgan  was  here  early,  but  did  not  remain  long.  He  had  the  gift  of  gab  well 
developed,  but  his  knowledge  of  medicine  was  looked  upon  as  being  somewhat 
superficial.  He  returned  to  New  Orleans  whence  he  came,  and  has  for  a  num. 
ber  of  years  past  been  a  resident  of  Texas.  The  milling  for  the  earliest  settlers  was 
done  on  the  Mackinaw,  and  at  Broadwell's,  on  the  Sangamon.  Later,  it  was 
obtained  at  Simmonds'  and  McHarry's  on  the  Quiver,  and,  after  the  building  of 
the  Bales'  mill,  they,  for  the  most  part,  went  to  it. 

FIRST    DEATH,    BIRTH    AND    MARRIAGE. 

Two  children  of  the  family  of  Alexander  Revis,  died  in  1833,  and  are  sup- 
posed to  be  the  first  deaths  that  occurred  among  the  early  settlers.  The  father 
and  mother  followed  them  some  years  later,  and  were  laid  to  rest  beside  their 
sleeping  little  ones  near  what  is  known  as  Revis  Springs.  But  few,  if  any,  are 
now  living  who  can  point  out  the  exact  spot  where  the  mortal  remains  of  most  of 
this  pioneer  family  lie  buried.  The  first  wedding  to  occur  in  the  township,  so 
far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  was  that  of  John  Mounts  and  Jane  Summers. 
This  happy  event,  by  which  two  hearts  were  made  to  beat  as  one,  transpired  in 
1830.  No  doubt  John  could  exclaim  with  the  poet  (slightly  varied), 

"I  would,  were  she  always  thus  nigh, 

Have  nothing  to  wish  or  to  fear, 
No  mortal  so  happy  as  I, 

My  Summers  would  last  all  the  year." 

To  the  squaw  wife  of  James  Price  is  accorded  the  honor  of  becoming  the 
mother  of  the  first  child  born  in  what  is  now  Crane  Creek  Township.  If  liv- 
ing, he  has  been  reared  among  the  kinsmen  of  his  mother  in  the  Far  West,  and 
may,  for  aught  we  know,  even  now  be  quietly  surveying  the  situation,  from  the 
camp  of  Sitting  Bull,  preparatory  to  spreading  consternation  throughout  our 
Western  frontier  settlements. 

Among  the  early  Justices  of  the  Peace,  the  names  of  Ira  Patterson,  Henry 
Norris  and  Robert  -  Turner  occur.  Patterson  and  Norris  were  officers  when 
this  was  yet  included  in  the  limits  of  Menard  County.  Turner  was  perhaps 
the  first  after  the  organization  of  Mason  County.  Patterson,  after  filling  this 
and  offices  of  minor  importance  for  some  years,  went  West  to  grow  up  with 
the  country.  And  that  he  did  grow  well  is  attested  by  the  fact  that,  a  num- 
ber of  years  ago,  he  was  chosen  to  the  important  position  of  Governor  of 
Oregon.  The  first  deed  to  a  piece  of  land  that  Henry  Sears  ever  had  made, 
was  drafted  by  the  late  martyred  President,  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  the  good 
old  days  of  Whigs  and  Democrats,  this  section  was  Democratic,  and,  since  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  the  township  has  continued  to  march 
under  the  same  banner.  The  scarcity  of  money  in  the  days  of  the  early  set- 
tlers was  a  great  source  of  annoyance,  and  yet,  any  one  with  a  liberal  amount 


670  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

of  industry  could  easily  supply  himself  with  an  article,  which,  for  purposes  of 
barter  and  exchange,  was  in  as  high  favor  as  the  "  dollar  of  our  daddies  "  of 
to-day.  Coons  were  plentiful,  and  a  good  coon-skin  was  taken  by  the  mer- 
chant in  exchange  for  goods  as  readily  as  the  value  of  it  in  cash  would  have 
been  taken.  J.  M.  Estep  says  that  the  first  pair  of  boots  he  ever  had  he 
purchased  of  0.  M.  Ross,  in  Havana,  in  1836,  and  paid  the  entire  cost  in 
coon-skins.  That  the  early  settler  would  sometimes  tax  his  ingenuity  and 
exercise  his  physical  frame  in  an  unusual  manner  in  order  to  obtain  a  little  of 
the  "  0-be-joyful,"  is  evinced  by  the  following  incident:  William  Summers, 
who  was  fond  of  his  "toddy,"  but  who  was  often  without  the  "wherewithal" 
necessary  to  obtain  it,  laid  a  wager  on  a  certain  occasion,  that  he  could  gallop, 
horse-fashion,  on  his  hands  and  feet  one-quarter  of  a  mile  within  a  given 
length  of  time.  The  feat  was  accomplished,  and  Summers,  having  obtained  his 
quart  of  "old  rye,"  remarked  to  his  friend  Jesse  Baker,  "We  can  contrive 
many  ways  in  order  to  obtain  our  whisky,  rather  than  to  pay  cash."  The 
second  apple  orchard  planted  in  the  county  was  in  this  township,  near  Crane. 
Creek.  The  trees  were  obtained  from  the  Gardner  Nursery  in  Fulton  County, 
which  was  established  in  1824.  The  trees  reared  here  from  the  seed  seemed 
admirably  adapted  to  the  climate  and  soil,  and  at  an  early  age  bore  well.  The 
fruit,  generally  speaking,  was  remarkable  for  keeping  well  for  long  periods. 
It  was  not  generally  of  the  largest  size,  but  good  in  quality  and  variety.  The 
township  most  probably  took  its  name  from  the  great  numbers  of  sand-hill 
cranes  that  were  found  here  in  an  early  day.  The  evidence,  however,  on  this 
point,  is  by  no  means  conclusive.  And  thus  having  traced  its  history  as  best 
we  have  been  able,  guided  by  an  earnest  desire  to  place  it  properly  on  record, 
we  part  company  with  the  settler  of  1829  and  those  that  have  succeeded 
him,  but  not  without  regret. 


SHERMAN  TOWNSHIP. 

When,  in  1862,  in  accordance  with  a  vote  of  the  citizens  adopting  town- 
ship organization,  the  county  of  Mason  was  divided  into  eleven  townships. 
Sherman  had  no  part  or  lot  in  the  matter.  The  voting-places  of  its  citizens 
were  Havana,  Forest  City,  and  in  the  eastern  portion  of  Pennsylvania  Town- 
ship. The  distance  to  be  traveled  and  the  difficulty  experienced  in  reaching 
them,  often  deterred  them  from  exercising  this  most  inestimable  right  of  the 
American  citizen.  In  September,  1866,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  Board 
of  Supervisors,  praying  that  a  new  township  by  the  name  of  Jackson  might  be 
created  out  of  portions  of  Havana,  Pennsylvania  and  Mason  Plains  (now 
Forest  City)  Townships.  After  mature  deliberation,  the  prayer  of  the  peti- 
tioners was  granted.  Though  the  name  by  which  it  had  been  christened  was 
one  which  the  American  people  had  twice  honored  with  the  highest  gift  in  their 
power  to  bestow,  and  was  calculated  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  hero  of 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  671 

New  Orleans,  yet  a  greater  in  military  exploits  than  he  had  arisen.  Sherman, 
who,  at  the  head  of  his  noble  and  victorious  army,  had  "  marched  down  to  the 
sea,"  and  by  his  successful  warfare,  waged  in  behalf  of  his  country,  had 
endeared  himself  to  every  true  patriot  heart,  was  a  name  well-pleasing  to  many 
of  its  citizens.  At  the  January  meeting  of  the  Board,  in  1867,  upon  motion, 
the  name  Jackson  was  stricken  out,  and  that  of  Sherman  substituted.  It  is 
designated  as  Town  21  north,  Range  7  west  of  the  Third  Principal  Meridian, 
and  comprises  thirty-six  sections — a  Congressional  Township.  The  woodland 
districts  are  of  a  very  limited  extent.  Excepting  a  small  grove  in  the  northeast 
corner,  known  as  Crane  Marsh  timber,  and  the  outskirts  of  Bull's  Eye  Prairie 
timber,  along  the  western  edge,  the  entire  township  is  prairie.  A  county  ditch, 
finding  an  outlet  through  Crane  Creek,  crosses  the  southeastern  corner,  and, 
with  its  tributaries,  affords  drainage  to  an  extended  scope  of  its  territory.  The 
C.,  H.  &  W.  R.  R.  (formerly  known  as  the  Havana  extension  of  the  Indianap- 
olis, Bloomington  &  Western)  crosses  its  southern  portion,  the  length  of  line 
through  the  township  being  about  seven  miles. 

The  geographical  position  of  Sherman  is  south  of  Quiver  and  Forest  City 
Townships,  west  of  Pennsylvania,  north  of  Crane  Creek,  and  east  of  Havana. 
As  an  agricultural  district,  at  present  it  ranks  lower  than  any  other  township  in 
the  county.  This  is  owing  to  the  large  amount  of  wet,  swampy  land  included 
within  its  limits.  Fully  three-fourths  of  its  entire  area  was  comprised  in  that 
portion  of  the  county  known,  a  few  years  ago,  as  "swamp-lands."  Many  of 
its  broad  acres  were  at  one  time  held  by  the  Government  at  the  small  sum  of 
25  cents  per  acre,  and  even  this  mere  pittance  it  failed  to  realize.  These  low- 
lands, when  effectually  drained,  have  proved  to  be  very  productive,  and  the 
township,  by  a  thorough  system  of  artificial  drainage,  may  be  made  to  com- 
pare favorably  with  other  portions  of  the  county  in  its  annual  products.  With 
this  glance  at  its  topographic  features,  we  come  at  once  to  a  notice  of  its 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  improvement  made  in  what  is  now  Sherman  Township  was  that  of 
Thomas  K.  Falkner.  The  family,  originally  from  the  Empire  State,  had  set- 
tled in  Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  in  1815.  In  1830,  Thomas,  then  a  married 
man,  moved  to  Madison  County,  and  settled  on  the  bank  of  White  River. 
Eight  years  later,  he  removed  to  Illinois,  and  entered  lands  in  Section  7,  Town 
21  north,  Range  7  west  of  the  Third  Principal  Meridian,  then  Tazewell,  now 
Mason  County.  He  built  a  log  cabin,  and,  on  the  opening  of  spring,  began  to 
break  prairie.  After  a  residence  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  he  sold  out  to  Henry 
Cease  and  moved  into  Salt  Creek,  where,  in  1865,  he  died.  In  the  summer  of 
1839,  Mahlon  Hibbs  and  his  sons,  William  and  Eli,  together  with  his  son-in- 
law,  John  Hampton,  came  from  Columbia  County,  Penn.,  and  settled  on  the 
same  section.  Mahlon  Ilibbs  settled  on  the  southeast  quarter,  made  an  improve- 
ment, and  died  the  fall  after  coming.  William  Hibbs  entered  land  on  the 


672  HISTORY   OF   MASON    COUNTY. 

northwest  quarter,  improved  it,  and,  after  a  residence  of  some  six  or  eight  years, 
traded  it  for  mill  property  in  Island  Grove,  Sangamon  County.  From  there 
he  removed  to  Missouri,  and,  a  few  years  since,  to  Kansas,  in  which  State  he 
at  present  resides.  John  Opp  is  the  owner,  at  present,  of  the  land  he  entered. 
Eli  .Hibbs  made  his  farm  on  the  northeast  quarter,  lived  there  some  years,  and 
then  moved  to  the  farm  entered  by  his  father,  where  he  still  lives.  John 
Hampton  located  west  of  his  father-in-law,  and  lived  on  the  farm  he  entered 
and  improved  till  October,  1878,  when  he  moved  to  Shelby  County,  Mo., 
where,  at  last  accounts,  he  was  still  living.  About  two  weeks  subsequent  to 
the  arrival  of  the  Hibbses  and  Hampton,  Mrs.  Catharine  Dentler  and  family 
came  from  Northumberland  County,  Penn.,  and  settled  on  Section  18,  south  of 
the  settlements  already  mentioned.  She  moved  to  Nebraska  seven  or  eight 
years  ago,  and  died  there  in  the  winter  of  1878.  Solomon  Dentler,  a  young 
man,  nephew  of  Mrs.  Dentler,  came  with  the  family.  He  entered  eighty  acres 
on  Section  20,  but  did  not  improve  it.  In  the  fall  of  1839,  he  returned  East, 
and,  having  traded  his  land  to  Henry  Cease,  did  not  again  come  West.  The 
settlers  already  mentioned  comprised  the  entire  citizenship  of  this  section  prior 
to  1844.  West  of  their  location,  toward  the  town  of  Havana,  there  were  seven 
or  eight  families  along  the  border  of  the  woods,  to  wit,  Coder,  McReynolds, 
Robert  Falkner,  Eli  Fisk,  Brown,  Fessler,  and  a  few  others.  These  constituted 
the  inhabitants  in  the  first  thirty  miles  or  more  east  of  Havana.  Nearly  the 
whole  country  was  a  vast,  unbroken  prairie,  over  which  roamed  at  pleasure 
vast  herds  of  deer  and  wolves.  Mr.  John  R.  Falkner  relates  that,  in  the 
spring  of  1840,  he,  with  two  others,  counted  on  Bull's  Eye  Prairie  fifty- 
nine  deer  in  one  herd,  and  forty-two  in  another,  all  in  sight  at  the  same 
time.  James  H.  Chase  was  the  next  in  order  in  the  township.  He  came 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Hamilton  County,  111.,  in  1839,  and  from  there  to 
Mason  in  1844.  His  improvement  was  made  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  Sec- 
tion 8,  where  he  remained  till  the  date  of  his  decease,  an  event  which  occurred 
some  years  ago.  Joseph  Lehr  settled  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township 
in  1845.  He  purchased  two  acres  of  William  Hibbs  for  a  building-site,  on 
which  he  erected  a  cabin.  He  laid  a  claim  on  Section  6,  which  he  improved 
and  owned  to  the  date  of  his  death.  Lehr  came  from  the  Buckeye  State,  but 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  moved  to  Wabash  County  and  lived  one 
year,  thence  to  Wisconsin  and  remained  one  year,  finally  returning  to  Havana, 
where,  a  few  years  ago,  he  died.  Among  the  list  of  settlers  as  early  as  1848—49, 
we  find  the  names  of  Henry  Cease,  John  Blakely,  William  and  John  Alexander 
and  Charles  Trotter.  Cease  was  from  the  Keystone  State,  and  was  the  fore- 
runner of  a  large  number  from  the  same  section  that  settled,  at  an^early  date, 
in  what  is  now  Pennsylvania  Township.  He  purchased  the  improvement  of 
Thomas  K.  Falkner,  and,  a  few  years  later,  moved  farther  east  into  the  township, 
on  land  now  owned  and  occupied  by  J.  H.  Kellerman.  He  moved  to  Missouri 
a  few  years  ago,  and  at  present  resides  there.  Blakely  and  the  Alexanders 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  675 

were  from  Ohio,  and  settled  east  of  those  already  mentioned.  Blakely  contin- 
ued a  citizen  till  the  date  of  his  decease.  The  Alexanders  first  settled  in 
Havana  Township,  but  came,  as  above  stated,  to  Sherman.  William  located 
near  the  edge  of  Crane  Creek  timber,  and,  several  years  ago,  went  to  Missouri. 
John  sold  out  some  three  or  four  years  after  coming,,  and  returned  to  Ohio. 
Charles  Trotter  was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  and  came  to  this  section  from  the 
Bay  State.  Peter  Morgenstern  now  owns  and  occupies  the  farm  he  improved. 
He  remained  in  the  township  but  a  few  years,  then  moved  to  Beardstown,  Cass 
County,  where,  some  years  later,  he  died.  About  the  time  of  the  last  mentioned 
date,  Mrs.  M.  B.  Devenport  and  family,  consisting  of  her  sons  Henry,  Lewis, 
William,  Joseph  and  Marshall,  settled  in  the  southern  part  of  the  township, 
about  one  mile  southeast  of  the  present  village  of  Easton.  Her  husband,  Mar- 
shall B.  Devenport,  commonly  known  as  Booker,  came  from  Kentucky  to  Illi- 
nois in  1832,  and  died  in  what  is  now  Salt  Creek  Township  in  1840.  Joseph 
died  here  a  number  of  years  ago.  Henry  is  still  a  resident  of  this  part,  while 
Eli  T.  resides  across  the  line,  in  Crane  Creek.  Marshall  Devenport  took  up 
his  residence  in  the  Golden  State  some  years  since,  and,  when  last  heard  from, 
was  living.  Passing  down  through  the  years  1849  and  1850,  we  find  the  names 
of  Samuel  Adkins,  Granville  Cheny,  Vincent  Singleton  and  Alexander  Holler. 
These  all  settled  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township,  on  what  is  known  as 
Bull's  Eye  Prairie.  Adkins  and  Holler  were  from  Tennessee,  Cheny  from 
Tennessee  or  Kentucky,  and  Singleton  probably  from  the  State  last  mentioned. 
Adkins  settled  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Bull's  Eye,  and,  after  three  or  four 
unsuccessful  attempts  at  farming,  sold  out  to  Henry  Cease,  lived  in  different 
parts  of  the  township  until  five  or  six  years  ago,  when  he  went  west  to  Kansas. 
Cheny  located  on  the  north  edge  of  the  prairie,  but  finally  moved  to  De  Witt 
County,  where,  quite  recently,  he  lost  his  life  by  accident.  Singleton  remained 
a  few  years,  moved  to  Salt  Creek,  thence  to  Mason  City,  of  which  he  is  at 
present  a  citizen.  Alexander  Holler  lived  in  the  township  but  a  short  time, 
moved  into  Havana  Township,  and  died  a  number  of  years  ago.  William  G. 
Stone,  now  a  resident  of  Havana,  was  a  citizen  of  Sherman  as  early  as  1850. 
Stone  was  originally  from  New  Jersey,  but  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Mason 
County.  John  Spellman  and  Amos  Heater  came  in  1851,  and  were  both  Penn- 
sylvanians.  Heater  settled  on  Section  9,  and  resides  on  the  farm  originally 
entered  and  improved.  Spellman  lived  only  two  weeks  after  completing  his 
house  and  moving  into  it.  His  widow,  since  married,  is  still  a  citizen  of  the 
township.  His  sons,  Henry  and  George,  went  west  to  Nebraska  some  years 
since.  William  entered  the  army  in  the  early  part  of  the  war.  He  was, 
doubtless,  an  ardent  admirer  of  the  sentiment  expressed  in  the  couplet, 

"  He  that  fights,  and  runs  away, 
May  live  to  fight  another  day," 

for,  after  the  first  engagement,  he  ingloriously  deserted,  and  was  seen  among  his 

comrades  no  more.     He  is  supposed  to  have  died  some  years  since,  though  this 

BB 


673  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

fact  is  not  definitely  known.  H.  Elderbush  settled  in  the  edge  of  Crane  Marsh 
timber  about  1852  or  1853  ;  the  exact  date  of  his  coming  cannot  now  be  ascer- 
tained. James  M.  Samuels,  one  of  Sherman's  most  prosperous  citizens,  located 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  Section  36,  where  he  still  resides.  The  family, 
originally  from  the  Old  Dominion,  had  emigrated  to  Kentucky  in  1815,  and 
settled  near  Hopkinsville  when  that  thriving  city  was  a  small  village  of  not 
more  than  one  hundred  inhabitants.  In  the  spring  of  1835,  his  father,  Andrew 
Samuels,  came  to  Illinois,  and  first  settled  in  Morgan  County.  Ten  years 
afterward,  he  settled  in  what  is  now  Bath  Township,  Mason  County,  on  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  his  youngest  son.  The  remains  of  himself  and  wife  lie 
entombed  in  the  cemetery  at  Bath.  ^When  James  M.  settled  here  twenty-four 
years  ago,  there  were  none  living  east  of  him  in  the  township,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  Mrs.  Devenport  and  family,  none  south  before  reaching  the  set- 
tlers in  Crane  Creek.  To  one  visiting  his  pleasant  home,  occupying  as  it  does, 
one  of  the  most  eligible  sites  in  the  entire  township,  the  matter  of  wonder  is, 
that  a  location  so  desirable  should  have  been  left  unoccupied  to  so  late  a  date, 
while  others,  far  less  so,  had  been  occupied  and  improved  fifteen  or  twenty 
years  earlier.  His  connection  with  the  village  of  Easton  will  be  given  in  the 
history  of  that  village.  Jacob  Kissler  and  family,  consisting  of  Mark  A.,  Will- 
iam, James,  Thomas,  Charles,  John  and  three  daughters,  came  from  Washing- 
ton County,  Penn.,  and  first  stopped  in  Havana.  In  1859,  they  came  to  the 
township,  and,  with  the  exception  of  Thomas,  are  enterprising  citizens  to-day. 
Thomas  returned  to  Pennsylvania  not  long  after  coming.  There  are  others, 
doubtless,  whose  names  are  worthy  of  mention  as  being  among  the  early  settlers 
of  this  section,  but  whose  time  of  coming  and  date  of  settlement  cannot  be 
accurately  given. 

TRADING-POINTS,    MILLING,    ETC. 

What  Chicago  is  to  Illinois  and  the  West,  Havana  was  to  the  early  settlers 
of  Mason  County — the  point  to  which  all  their  produce  must  be  brought  to  find 
sale  and  shipment,  and  in  which  they  obtained  their  dry  goods  and  groceries.  Hogs 
were  sometimes  driven  to  Beardstown  and  slaughtered,  as,  at  one  time,  it 
enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  the  "  Porkopolis  "  of  the  entire  region.  Meal 
was  obtainable  in  limited  quantities  at  Mount's  mill,  on  Crane  Creek,  but, 
when  flour  was  to  be  procured,  they  were  obliged  to  make  the  journey  to  Wood- 
row  s  or  Kinman's  mill,  on  Mackinaw,  or  to  Wentworth's,  on  Otter  Creek,  in 
Fulton  County.  The  former,  though  more  distant,  were  generally  preferred  on 
account  of  the  scarcity  of  the  ';  needful  "  to  pay  the  toll  at  Ross'  Ferry  (now 
Havana)  which  was  87  J  cents  the  round  trip.  It  was  by  no  means  an  unusual 
occurrence  to  consume  four  or  five  days  in  making  the  journey  back  and  forth 
to  mill,  the  length  of  time  being  governed  somewhat  by  the  period  one  might 
be  required  to  wait  for  his  grist  to  be  ground.  The  mills  of  Simmonds  and 
McIIarrv,  on  Quiver,  built  at  a  later  date,  brought  almost  to  their  doors  con- 
veniences which  the  early  settlers  scarcely  dared  dream  of,  much  less  expect  in 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  677 

their  own  day  and  generation.  All  mail  matter  was  received  at  Havana. 
There  was  never  a  mill  built  or  a  post  office  established  within  her  borders  until 
since  the  advent  of  railroads  through  this  part  of  the  county.  They  enjoyed 
the  distinction  of  having  a  blacksmith-shop  convenient  to  them  at  quite  an  early 
day.  Martin  Scott  opened  a  shop  just  across  the  line,  in  Havana  Township,  as 
early  as  1848  or  1844.  Eli  Hibbs  built  a  shop  in  1848,  the  first  in  the  town- 
ship, and  has  worked  at  his  trade  more  or  less  every  year  since. 

Before  the  building  of  schoolhouses,  the  "  school  marm  "  was  abroad  in  the 
land.  Miss  Eliza  Dentler  was  the  first  to  instruct  the  youthful  Suckers  in  this 
part  of  the  county.  The  school  was  kept  at  the  residence  of  her  mother.  She 
was  regarded  as  a  first-class  teacher  at  the  time,  though  it  is  probable  that  her 
literary  attainments  would  fail  to  secure  for  her  an  appointment  in  most  of  our 
city  schools  of  to-day.  The  first  schoolhouse  built  in  the  township  was  designed 
to  be  located  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Section  8,  on  land  belonging  to  James 
H.  Chase.  Upon  a  more  accurate  survey,  it  was  found,  however,  to  be  on  Sec- 
tion 9,  on  the  land  of  Amos  Heater.  The  building  was  erected  in  1846-47, 
and  Abe  Millerson  presided  over  the  destinies  of  the  first  school.  At  present, 
the  township  has  seven  good  school  buildings  and  makes  ample  provision  for  the 
education  of  all  her  youth.  The  circuit-rider,  who  came  to  proclaim  messages 
of  divine  love,  followed  early  in  the  wake  of  the  first  settlers.  Rev.  Michael 
Shunk  was,  perhaps,  the  first  through  this  section.  Revs.  Moreland  and  Hardin 
Wallace  were  here  in  an  early  day.  Moreland  was  a  man  remembered  for  his 
more  than  ordinary  ability  in  the  pulpit,  while  Wallace  was  a  young  man  noted 
for  his  fine  singing.  Of  the  latter,  it  is  said  he  could  open  services,  deliver  his 
sermon,  and  close  the  exercises  all  inside  of  twenty  minutes,  especially  when  a 
few  handsome  young  ladies  were  in  his  audience.  Moreland  was  sent  from  his 
charge  here  to  Purgatory  Swamp,  a  name  suggestive  of  the  fact  that  all  his 
eloquence  and  persuasive  powers  would  be  needed  to  reclaim  its  inhabitants. 
A  small  frame  church,  the  only  one  in  the  township  outside  of  the  village  of 
Easton,  was  erected  by  the  German  Evangelical  Society  in  1855  or  1856. 
Amos  Heater  and  wife,  John  Shinglemeyer  and  family,  Jacob  Shinglemeyer 
and  family,  Henry  Mehlhop,  P.  Morgenstern  and  others  were  among  the  early 
communicants.  The  first  practitioner  of  the  healing  art  was  William  Coder, 
who  had  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of  Havana  Township  in  1838.  He  was  a 
minister  of  some  reputation  as  well  as  a  physician,  and  sought  by  his  labors  to 
heal  spiritual  as  well  as  physical  infirmities.  Dr.  Allen,  from  Indiana,  was  a 
man  of  fine  abilities,  and  was  also  here  at  quite  an  early  date. 

FIKST  BIRTHS,  DEATH  AND  MARRIAGE. 

Elizabeth  Hampton,  daughter  of  John  Hampton,  born  January  24,  1840, 
and  Mahlon  Hibbs,  son  of  Eli  Hibbs,  born  May  8,  1840,  were  the  first  births 
to  occur  in  the  township.  Hampton's  daughter  attained  to  womanhood's  estate, 
and  was  living  a  short  time  ago.  Hibbs'  son  died  at  the  age  of  nine  months. 


678  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

\ 

The  first  death  to  occur  was  that  of  Mrs.  Thomas  K.  Falkner,  whose  death 
took  place  in  May,  1839.  She  was  buried  at  the  then  recently  established 
burying-ground  on  the  farm  of  Robert  McReynolds.  The  first  interment  in 
the  cemetery  was  that  of  Grandma  Fessler  in  1838.  The  honor  of  the  first 
wedding  in  this  section  belongs  either  to  John  McReynolds  and  Catharine 
Dentler,  or  to  Alfred  Howell  and  Eliza  Falkner,  but  which  was  first,  no  one 
living  here,  at  present,  is  able  to  assert  with  positive  assurance.  Their  example, 
in  that  respect  at  least,  has  been  followed  by  many  others  of  later  years.  The 
war  record  of  Sherman  is  alike  creditable  to  herself  and  the  county  of  which 
she  is  a  part.  The  patriotism  of  her  citizens  was  equal  to  the  demands  of  her 
country  upon  her  at  all  times.  All  calls  were  promptly  filled,  and  she  furnished 
men  even  in  excess  of  her  quota.  At  one  time,  the  Republican  party  was  in 
the  ascendancy,  but  gradually  the  scales  turned,  and,  for  the  past  few  years, 
the  Democratic  party  has  carried  the  day.  M.  H.  Lewis  was  the  first  Super- 
visor of  the  township.  Alfred  Athey  guards  her  interests  at  present,  and  has 
held  the  office  by  successive  re-elections  for  several  terms. 

THE    VILLAGE    OF    EASTON. 

This  village  is  situated  on  the  C.,  H.  &  W.  R.  R.  about  midway  between 
Havana  and  Mason  City.  It  is  very  near  the  geographical  center  of  the  county, 
and  from  this  fact  it  is  thought  by  many  that  should  the  question  of  the  removal 
of  the  seat  of  justice  again  come  before  the  people  of  the  county,  a  large  vote 
would  be  polled  in  favor  of  Easton.  The  town  site  was  surveyed  and  platted  by 
John  R.  Falkner  for  James  M.  Samuels,  in  1872.  The  original  plat  contained 
about  twenty  acres,  to  which  an  addition  has  since  been  made  on  the  north  and 
east.  Edward  D.  Terrell  began  the  construction  of  the  first  building  in  the 
village,  in  the  latter  part  of  November,  1872,  but  did  not  get  it  completed  and 
ready  for  occupancy  until  the  1st  of  March,  1873.  He  then  opened  out  a 
stock  of  general  merchandise  and  has  since  continued  one  of  the  leading  mer- 
chants of  the  village.  Diebold  Furrer,  in  the  meantime,  erected  a  small  building 
and  feeling  that  the  enterprise  needed  spirit  to  make  it  a  complete  success,  rolled 
in  a  few  barrels  and  opened  out  a  saloon.  He  is  at  present  a  citizen -of  the 
village,  engaged  in  the  sale  of  dry  goods  and  groceries.  Henry  Cooper  built 
the  first  private  residence  in  the  village  during  the  summer  of  1873.  It  was 
quite  ample,  designed  for  a  boarding-house,  and  is  now  owned  and  operated  by 
Charles  C.  Dorrell  as  the  Easton  House.  A  drug  store,  in  name,  was  started 
in  the  summer  of  1874,  by  David  Carter,  but  was  in  fact  little  less  than  a 
second-class  doggery,  the  life  of  which  was  somewhat  ephemeral.  James  M. 
Samuels  built  a  blacksmith-shop  during  the  summer  of  1873,  and  was  the  first 
to  set  his  bellows  roaring  in  the  village.  A  fine  steam  elevator,  costing  $7,000, 
was  built  by  Low,  McFadden  &  Simmons,  in  1874.  A  large  amount  of  grain 
is  shipped  annually  from  this  point,  the  territory  from  which  it  "draws" 
extending  north  two-thirds  of  the  way  to  Forest  City  and  south  to  the  mouth 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  679 

of  Crane  Creek  on  the  Sangamon  bottom.  Low  &  Foster,  of  Havana,  are  at 
present  engaged  in  handling  grain  at  this  point.  A  neat  frame  school  building, 
costing  $3,000,  was  put  up  in  1877,  and  is  an  ornament  to  the  village.  A  sub- 
stantial frame  church,  free  to  all  denominations,  is  now  in  process  of  construc- 
tion, which,  when  completed,  will  cost  about  $2,000.  The  post  office  was  estab- 
lished in  1873,  and  E.  D.  Terrell  was  the  first  Postmaster.  The  first  physician 
to  locate  was  Dr.  C..  W.  Hough  ton,  formerly  of  Newmanville,  Cass  County. 
Dr.  L.  T.  Magill,  a  promising  young  physician,  formed  a  copartnership  with 
him  in  1876,  and  these  two  are  the  representatives  of  the  medical  fraternity  in 
the  village  to-day.  Easton  was  laid  out  and  recorded  by  the  name  of  Sherman- 
ville,  but  when  a  petition  was  sent  to  the  Post  Office  Department  asking  for  the 
establishment  of  an  office  by  the  name  of  Sherman,  owing  to  the  fact  that  an 
office  of  the  same  name  already  existed  in  Sangamon  County,  the  petition  could 
not  be  granted.  After  various  names  had  been  proposed,  Mr.  Samuels,  as  proprie- 
tor of  the  village,  requested  0.  C.  Easton,  Postmaster  at  Havana,  to  aid  in  procur- 
ing the  establishment  of  an  office  and  granted  him  the  privilege  of  naming  it. 
Easton  elected  to  name  it  for  himself.  Soon  after  the  post  office  was  established, 
the  name  of  the  village  was  changed  to  correspond,  though  it  stands  recorded 
to-day  as  Shermanville.  .No  public  sale  of  lots  was  ever  held,  the  proprietor 
preferring  to  superintend  largely  the  interests  of  the  village  himself,  and  to 
introduce  that  class  of  citizens  which  gave  promise  of  thrift  and  enterprise.  It 
is  doubtless  owing  to  this,  that  so  few  of  that  objectionable  class  found  in  most 
small  villages  are  to  be  met  with  here.  It  has  two  general  stores,  two  drug 
stores,  one  hardware  and  two  smith  shops,  a  boot  and  shoe  shop,  one  saloon, 
one  hotel  and  a  citizenship  of  about  one  hundred.  Situated  as  it  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  finest  agricultural  district  of  the  county,  it  may  yet,  at  no  very 
distant  day,  grow  to  rival  the  more  important  towns  of  the  county. 

Briggs'  Station,  three  miles  west  of  Easton  on  the  same  line  of  railroad, 
was  laid  out  in  April,  1875,  but  with  the  exception  of  a  residence,  a  small  store- 
room, in  which  is  kept  a  general  store,  and  a  small  building  for  the  handling  of 
grain,  all  owned  and  operated  by  Paul  G.  Briggs,  the  proprietor,  no  other 
improvement  marks  the  site.  A  post  office  was  established  here  in  1877, 
which  is  a  matter  of  some  convenience  to  the  immediate  neighborhood.  Poplar 
City,  laid  out  by  Martin  Scott  in  1873,  on  the  extreme  west  line  of  the  town- 
ship, has  failed  to  rise  into  a  village  of  any  importance.  In  its  palmiest  days, 
its  population  did  not  exceed  twenty-five  souls,  and  recently  it  seems  to  have 
entered  upon  a  decline.  Some  grain  is  shipped  from  this  point.  A  post  office 
at  one  time  exeisted  here,  but  latterly  has  been  discontinued. 


680  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


PENNSYLVANIA  TOWNSHIP. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  1682,  there  arrived  upon  the  coast  of  Delaware 
Bay,  a  man  whose  life  and  character  have  been  handed  down  from  generation 
to  generation  as  worthy  of  emulation  and  imitation.  He  was  noted  not  only 
for  the  purity  and  rectitude  of  his  life,  but  also  for  his  integrity  of  purpose 
toward  his  own  countrymen,  as  well  as  toward  the  uncouth  and  barbarous  sav- 
age, whose  happy  hunting-grounds  he  came  to  reclaim  from  their  native  wild- 
ness,  and  transform  into  a  great  and  growing  province.  He  came  as  the  pro- 
prietor cf  a  vast  landed  estate,  and  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  gathering 
around  him  a  large  colony  that  was  peaceful,  prosperous  and  happy,  almost 
beyond  example.  He  was  at  once  governor,  magistrate,  preacher,  teacher  and 
laborer.  The  early  prosperity  and  rapid  development  of  the  Quaker  State 
was  largely  owing  to  the  pacific  principles  adopted  in  the  beginning,  and  firmly 
adhered  to  by  its  founder  and  father,  William  Penn.  To  the  descendants  of 
its  early  settlers,  the  section  of  Mason  County  of  which  we  are  about  to  write 
is  indebted  for  its  earliest  citizens. 

Pennsylvania  Township  is  designated  as  Town  21  north,  Range  6  west  of 
the  Third  Principal  Meridian,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Forest  City  and 
Manito  Townships;  east,  south  and  west,  respectively,  by  Allen's  Grove,  Salt 
Creek  and  Sherman  Townships.  It  contains  thirty-six  full  sections,  and  is 
one  of  the  two  townships  of  Mason  County  that  exactly  coincide  with  the 
Congressional  survey.  Throughout  its  entire  extent  it  is  prairie  land.  The 
southern  half  of  the  township  is  rather  elevated,  while  the  northern  half  is  low 
and  level.  A  county  ditch  crosses  the  northern  portion,  through  which  much 
of  the  surface-water  of  the  adjacent  bnd  finds  an  outlet.  The  C.,  H.  &  W. 
R.  R.  crosses  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  township,  its  extent  from  point  of 
entrance  to  exit  being  about  four  miles.  Teheran,  a  station  on  the  road,  is 
located  on  Section  32,  and  is  the  only  village  in  the  township. 

FIRST    SETTLEMENT. 

While  permanent  settlements  did  not  begin  to  be  made,  prior  to  the  year 
1849,  in  this  township,  still,  as  early  as  the  fall  of  1844,  one  adventurous  spirit 
was  found  within  its  limits.  Ambrose  Edwards,  from  Kentucky,  made  a  squat- 
ter's improvement  in  what  was  Red  Oak  Grove,  at  the  date  above  mentioned. 
He  was  the  first  to  erect  his  log  cabin  and  begin  the  cultivation  of  the  soil. 
The  grove  in  which  he  located  was  near  the  center  of  the  township,  but  has 
long  since  faded  from  view.  It  was  of  small  extent,  perhaps  one  mile  in  length 
by  one-half  in  width,  and  was  consumed  by  the  earliest  settlers  while  most  of  it 
was  held  by  pre-emption  right  by  non-resident  parties.  Francis  Dorrell,  who 
had  been  a  resident  of  the  State  since  1835,  came  from  Sangamon  County  and 
settled  on  Section  31,  in  1849.  His  was  doubtless  the  second  improvement  in 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  681 

the  township.  His  widow  is  still  a  resident.  When  he  settled,  not  a  human 
habitation  was  visible  on  the  north,  east  or  west.  Stretching  away  in  the  dis- 
tance, visions  were  sometimes  caught,  at  sunset,  of  the  village  of  Delavan, 
twenty-five  miles  away.  Near  the  same  date,  William  Briggs  settled  a  short 
distance  from  where  the  village  of  Teheran  now  stands,  but  whence  he  came  or 
whither  he  went,  no  one  at  present  living  there  is  able  to  say. 

Peter  Speice,  from  Ohio,  came  early  in  1850,  and  located  on  Section  20, 
and  was  shortly  afterward  followed  by  George  Sweigert,  his  father-in-law,  who 
settled  in  the  same  locality.  They  both  made  improvements,  and,  after  a  few 
years'  residence,  sold  out  and  moved  to  Mackinaw  in  Tazewell  County.  A  year 
or  two  later,  quite  an  influx  of  population  was  added  to  the  citizenship  of  this 
section  from  the  Keystone  State.  The  settlement  became  so  large  in  a  few 
years,  and  the  additions  made  were  so  uniformly  from  the  same  section  of  coun- 
try, to  the  exclusion  of  almost  all  others,  that  it  early  acquired  the  distinction 
of  Pennsylvania  Settlement,  a  name  yet  in  use  to  designate  a  certain  portion 
of  the  township.  In  the  fall  of  1848,  Henry  Cease,  from  Luzerne  County, 
Penn.,  came  and  stopped  a  short  time  in  Havana.  He  soon  purchased  a  farm 
and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1851, 
Joseph  and  Abraham  Cease,  Jimison  H.  Wandel,  John  W.  Pugh  and  Benedict 
Hadsall  all  came  in  from  the  same  section  of  country.  The  Ceases  were  men 
of  family,  while  Wandel,  Pugh  and  Hadsall  were  single  men.  All  were  in 
what  is  now  Havana  Township  a  short  time.  In  December,  1851,  Henry 
Cease,  J.  H.  Wandel  and  Abraham  Cease  went  east  across  Crane  Marsh  to 
explore  the  country,  and,  on  reaching  Section  22,  in  what  is  now  Pennsylvania 
Township,  determined  to  locate  and  begin  the  making  of  their  farms.  They 
each  entered  a  quarter- section  and  pre-empted  the  same  amount.  During  the 
summer  of  1852,  Abraham  and  Joseph  Cease  each  built  a  frame  house  and 
began  opening  up  their  farms.  In  April  of  the  same  year,  Pugh,  with  whom 
the  climate  did  not  seem  to  agree,  and  who  had  disabled  himself  by  hard  work, 
prevailed  upon  Wandel  to  accompany  him  back  to  his  former  home.  Wandel, 
whose  favorable  impressions  of  the  great  and  growing  West  had  led  him  to 
write  back  such  glowing  accounts  of  the  country  to  his  kinsmen,  found,  to  his 
utter  astonishment,  upon  the  day  of  his  arrival,  a  sale  in  progress  at  his  fath- 
er's and  uncle's,  both  of  whom,  with  their  families,  were  on  the  eve  of  starting 
for  Mason  County.  After  a  short  sojourn  among  his  native  hills,  in  company 
with  James  Wandel,  his  father,  Isaac  Huneywell,  a  brother-in-law,  George 
Wandel,  an  uncle,  and  their  families,  he  again  turned  his  face  westward.  The 
entire  journey  was  made  by  water,  and  the  time  consumed  in  coming  from 
Pittsburgh  to  Havana  was  seven  weeks.  With  bright  hopes  and  eager  expecta- 
tions of  what  their  future  Western  homes  would  soon  be,  these  families  had 
severed  the  ties  that  bound  them  to  their  native  land,  to  battle  with  the  thou- 
sand difficulties  incident  to  pioneer  life.  But  alas  for  human  expectations,  the 
shadow  of  a  great  grief  accompanied  them  on  their  journey.  The  decease  of 


682  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

Mrs.  Honeywell,  who  had  sickened  on  the  way,  occurred  on  the  very  night  of 
their  landing  at  Havana.  Heart-broken  and  discouraged,  with  the  care  of  five 
small  children  upon  his  hands,  Isaac  Huneywell,  with  J.  H.  Wandel  as  a  com- 
panion, retraced  the  course  so  lately  passed  over.  For  a  time,  at  least,  it 
seemed  that  Wandel  was  destined  to  belong  only  to  the  floating  population  of 
the  county.  During  his  stay  in  Pennsylvania,  he  prepared  himself  more  fully 
for  citizenship  in  Illinois  by  taking  as  a  helpmeet  Sarah  E.  Depue,  and,  in  the 
fall  of  1852,  with  his  father-in-law,  Aaron  Depue,  and  family,  he  again  came 
to  Mason  County.  In  the  summer  of  1853,  he  erected  his  house  and  improved 
forty  acres  of  his  farm.  He  remained  a  citizen  of  the  township  until  a  few 
years  ago,  when  he  became  a  citizen  of  Mason  City,  in  which  he  at  present 
resides.  The  others  mentioned  all  settled  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county, 
though  not  all  in  Pennsylvania  Township.  Phillip  Cease  came  to  the  county 
in  1852,  and  settled  south  of  Wandel  on  Section  22.  George  Wandel  pur- 
chased an  improved  farm  on  which  he  settled  near  where  the  village  of  Teheran 
now  stands.  This,  doubtless,  was  the  farm  owned  and  occupied  by  William 
Briggs,  whose  early  settlement  has  already  been  noted.  James  Wandel 
entered  and  improved  a  farm  on  Section  27.  James  Depue  and  his  family,  con- 
sisting of  George,  Henry,  James,  Jr.,  Moses,  Isaac  and  one  daughter,  Mary, 
settled  just  across  the  line,  in  what  is  now  Salt  Creek  Township.  During  the 
spring  and  summer  of  1853,  we  find  the  following  settlers  added  to  the  list 
already  given:  George  W.  and  Alexander  Benscoter,  William  Legg,  Asa 
Gregory,  D.  V.  Benscoter  and  Joseph  Statler.  The  Benscoters  and  Gregory 
were  from  Pennsylvania,  Statler  from  the  Buckeye  State  and  Legg  from 
Cass  County,  Hoosierdom.  Legg  entered  the  land  pre-empted  by  J.  H. 
Wandel,  and  made  an  improvement  in  the  summer  of  1853.  The  sum- 
mer following,  he  sold  out  to  George  W.  and  Alexander  Benscoter.  Asa  Greg- 
ory settled  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township,  remained  a  few  years, 
then  sold  out  and  returned  East.  Joseph  Statler  settled  in  the  south  part,  a 
short  distance  north  of  the  present  village  of  Teheran,  on  land  now  owned 
by  J.  McClung  and  J.  H.  Matthews.  The  records  of  the  county  show 
that  he  (Statler)  was  chosen  Assessor  in  1858  and  1859.  He  was  also  ex-offi- 
cio  County  Treasurer,  as  these  two  offices  were  combined  in  one  prior  to  the 
adoption  of  township  organization,  in  1862.  A  man  of  strict  integrity  and 
fine  business  abilities,  it  is  needless  to  say  that  in  these  positions  of  public 
trust  his  duties  were  promptly,  faithfully  and  ably  performed.  Some  years 
since,  he  became  a  resident  of  Mason  City,  and  the  citizens  of  that  thriving 
and  prosperous  city,  recognizing  his  worth,  have  honored  him  with'  the  office 
of  City  Judge. 

D.  V.  Benscoter  located  on  Section  26,  east  of  Statler's,  and,  with  many 
others  of  the  family,  is  still  a  citizen  of  the  township.  Jack  Conroy,  from 
Ohio,  made  an  improvement  in  the  summer  of  1854  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  school  section,  where  James  Hurley  at  present  resides.  About  the  same 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY.  683 

date,  Daniel  and  James  Riner  and  David  E.  Cruse  became  citizens  of  the  town- 
ship. In  1856,  J.  Phink,  from  the  Keystone  State,  made  a  farm  in  the  south 
part  of  the  township,  and  was  soon  followed  by  Jacob  Benscoter,  his  father-in- 
law,  who  located  in  the  same  vicinity.  While  very  many  of  the  early  settlers 
have  passed  over  the  river,  to  the  land  of  shadows,  many  of  their  descendants 
remain  citizens,  and  not  a  few  occupy  the  farms  entered  and  improved  by  their 
fathers. 

Of  others  who  became  citizens  of  the  county  prior  to  1860,  and  located  in 
this  township,  we  find  the  names  of  Andreas  Furrer,  A.  J.  Gates,  Alexander 
Blunt,  Charles  Hadsall,  J.  L.  Ingersoll,  T.  L.  Kindle,  Joel  Severns,  W.  K. 
Terrell  and  John  Van  Hoon.  Furrer  was  from  Germany,  and  settled  near  the 
western  limits  of  the  township.  Gates  was  from  Tennessee,  and  Blunt  from 
Kentucky.  They  both  settled  on  Section  32,  where  they  at  present  reside. 
Hadsall,  Severns  and  Van  Hoon  were  from  Pennsylvania ;  Ingersoll,  from 
Ohio ;  Kindle  and  Terrell,  from  New  Jersey.  Ingersoll  settled  in  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  township,  and  the  remainder  in  the  central  and  eastern  por- 
tions, except  Terrell,  who  located  in  the  southwest  corner,  on  Section  30. 
From  the  year  1860  forward,  changes  occurred  so  frequently,  by  removals  and 
new  arrivals,  that  any  attempt  to  point  out  the  order  in  which  citizens  came  in 
and  took  up  their  residence  would  necessarily  be  a  vain  and  useless  task.  John 
W.  Pugh,  a  citizen  of  later  date,  has  been  so  prominently  identified  with  her 
interests  as  to  be  worthy  of  more  than  a  passing  notice.  He  is  mentioned  as 
having  come  to  the  county  in  1850.  He  did  not  locate  in  Pennsylvania  Town- 
ship until  1864,  since  which  time  he  has  served  his  fellow -citizens  eleven  years, 
in  the  capacity  of  Supervisor.  He  is  the  present  incumbent,  and  his  influence 
and  sound  judgment  have  much  to  do  in  the  legislation  of  the  affairs  of  the 
county.  In  1874,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  here 
his  influence  was  felt,  and  his  votes  stand  recorded  creditably  to  himself  and 
his  constituents.  His  entire  official  career  has  been  a!ike  creditable  to  his  head 
and  heart. 

The  earliest  settlers  of  Pennsylvania  Township  were  not  wholly  exempt 
from  the  inconveniences  and  difficulties  which  are  ever  attendant  companions  to 
those  who  pioneer  the  way  in  the  settlement  and  improvement  of  a  new  coun- 
try. The  snorting  of  the  iron  horse  had  not  at  that  date  been  heard  within 
the  limits  of  the  county.  Mason  City  and  the  villages  in  the  eastern  and 
southern  part  of  the  county  had  not  yet  been  born.  Havana  was  the  only  point 
for  the  shipment  and  sale  of  their  extra  produce.  A  large  and,  for  the  most 
part  of  the  year,  impassable  swamp  lay  between  them  and  it.  In  order  to 
"  fetch  "  their  grain  to  market,  the  unloading  and  reloading  of  it  five  or  six 
times  was  by  no  means  an  unusual  occurrence.  So  accustomed  to  miring  did 
teams  become  that  the  moment  a  halt  was  made,  even  though  it  might  be  on 
solid  ground,  they  would  lie  down,  through  fear  of  finding  the  bottom  some 
distance  below  the  surface  if  they  remained  standing.  Much  of  the  early 


684  HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 

settler's  time  was  consumed  in  marketing  his  produce,  and  the  feat  of  crossing 
the  swamp  successfully  with  a  good  full  load  could  only  be  accomplished  during 
the  severity  of  winter. 

Those  coming  in  since  the  era  of  railroads  in  different  portions  of  the 
county  know  but  little,  by  experience,  of  the  difficulties  and  trials  that  the  set- 
tlers of  1849  and  the  early  fifties  endured.-  Their  early  milling  was  done  on 
the  Mackinaw,  and,  of  later  years,  at  Simmonds'  and  McHarry's,  on  Quiver. 
Their  nearest  post  office  was  Havana,  distant  some  fifteen  or  eighteen  miles. 
The  township  has  never  had  a  post  office  established  within  its  limits,  save  the 
one  at  present  existing  at  Teheran.  No  grist-mill,  so  far  as  we  have  been 
advised,  has  ever  been  erected  in  any  portion  of  it. 

SCHOOLS,    CHURCHES,    ETC. 

The  first  settlers  by  no  means  neglected  the  intellectual  culture  of  their 
children,  and  so  we  find  that  as  soon  as  a  half  a  dozen  families  were  located  in 
the  same  neighborhood,  a  temple  of  learning  was  erected.  The  first  school- 
house  in  this  part  was  built  on  Pennsylvania  Lane  in  1853  or  1854.  Miss 
Martha  Randall  is  credited  with  being  the  first  teacher.  At  present  there  are 
seven  school  districts  in  this  township,  each  supplied  with  a  good  frame  building, 
and  the  annual  amount  expended  for  educational  purposes  compares  favorably  with 
that  of  surrounding  sections.  The  earliest  ministers  in  this  part  of  the  moral 
vineyard  were  Revs.  Mowrey,  Randall  and  Sloan.  They  were  ministers  in 
the  M.  E.  Church.  The  early  meetings  were  held  in  the  schoolhouse.  After  a 
few  years,  through  the  death  and  removal  of  members,  the  society  became  so 
reduced  in  numbers  that  the  field  was  abandoned,  and  remained  unoccupied  till 
1873,  when  the  Presbyterians  organized  a  society  and  erected  a  church  build- 
ing. What  is  known  as  the  Pennsylvania  Presbyterian  Church  was  built  in 
the  fall  of  the  last  mentioned  year.  It  is  a  neat  frame  building  with  arched 
ceiling,  30x40  feet,  and  cost,  at  the  time  of  its  construction,  $2,150.  Rev.  S. 
J.  Bogle  was  the  first  Pastor,  and  gave  his  first  year's  labor  to  the  church  free 
of  charge.  While  his  regular  labor  is  with  the  Church  in  Mason  City,  he  still 
continues  to  preach  for  this  congregation  on  stated  occasions.  The  early  com- 
municants of  the  Church  were  John  Vanhorn,  wife  and  daughter,  Mrs.  M.  J. 
Cavern,  John  W.  Pugh  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Pottorf.  The  present  mem- 
bership numbers  about  thirty.  A  few  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  are  resi- 
dents of  the  neighborhood,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hobbs,  of  Mason  City,  discourses  to 
them  on  the  second  Sunday  of  each  month  in  this  building.  This  is  the  only 
church  building  in  the  toAvnship  outside  of  the  village  of  Teheran.  Dr.  J.  P. 
Walker,  now  a  prominent  physician  of  Mason  City,  was  among  the  first  to 
practice  the  healing  art  in  the  township.  The  first  death  among  the  settlers  of 
this  section  was  doubtless  that  of  Mrs.  James  Wandel,  whose  decease  occurred 
at  the  residence  of  her  son,  Jimison  H.  Wandel,  in  the  spring  of  1854.  The 
wife  of  Joseph  Cease  died  a  few  months  later.  We  have  not  placed  these  facts, 


HISTORY   OF    MASON   COUNTY.  .    685 

viz.,  the  appearance  of  the  physician  in,  and  the  coming  of  death  to  the  settle- 
ment, in  juxtaposition  in  our  history,  in  order  that  the  inference  may  be  readily 
drawn  that  the  debut  of  the  medicine-man  in  a  community  necessarily  augurs  the 
speedy  demise  of  some  of  its  members,  and  lest  some  noble  and  devoted  disciple 
of  Esculapius  might  feel  aggrieved  at  the  order  of  facts  given,  we  here  enter  our 
disclaimer  to  any  such  intention.  And"  yet  the  sight  of  a  doctor  always  sug- 
gests to  our  mind  the  idea  of  disease,  sickness  and  death.  The  first  to  enter 
the  connubial  relation  was  Jimison  H.  Wandel,  whose  marriage  to  Sarah  E. 
Depue  was  celebrated  in  the  fall  of  1852.  Many  others  have  since  been  mar- 
ried and  given  in  marriage,  as  is  common  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of 
this  goodly  land.  Whose  was  the  first  birth  in  the  township  cannot  now  be 
definitely  ascertained.  That  there  have  been  first-born  males  and  first-born 
females  in  many  families  of  this  section,  is  fully  evidenced  by  the  fact  that 
bright-eyed  lads  and  lasses  render  joyous  and  gladsome  the  hearts  of  parents  in 
many  a  household.  Among  the  early  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  this  quarter,  the 
invincible  Jimison  H.  Wandel  leads  the  list.  He  was  called  upon  to  discharge 
the  functions  of  this  important,  though  often  belittled  office,  as  early  as  1858. 
He  was  also  commissioned  the  first  Justice  for  the  township  after  its  organiza- 
tion. As  originally  set  off,  it  contained  a  large  portion  of  what  is  now  included 
in  Sherman  Township,  two  sections  of  Forest  City  and  four  of  Manito.  Alto- 
gether, it  embraced  fifty-eight  full  sections.  In  1867,  it  was  reduced  to  its 
present  limits.  The  political  complexion  of  the  township  has  always  been 
Democratic.  Whenever  a  strict  party  vote  has  been  cast,  she  has  never 
given  forth  any  uncertain  sound,  but  has  always  raised  her  voice  lustily  for  the 
Democratic  party.  During  the  "late  on  pleasantness  "  she  furnished  her  full 
quota  of  war-boys  to  the  rank  and  file  of  the  army,  and  was .  at  no  time  sub- 
jected to  a  draft.  Taken  throughout  its  whole  extent,  it  compares  favorably 
with  the  adjacent  townships  as  an  agricultural  district.  The  low  or  marshy 
lands,  when  a  little  more  effectually  drained,  will  constitute  the  most  productive 
portions  within  its  limits. 

VILLAGE    OF    TEHERAN. 

This  village  is  situated  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township,  and  is  a 
station  on  the  C.,  H.  &  W.  R.  R,,  about  seven  miles  west  of  Mason  City.  It 
was  laid  out  in  1873,  on  land  belonging  to  Alexander  Blunt.  Soon  after  the 
village  was  located,  A.  J.  Gates  put  up  a  building  and  opened  a  grocery  store. 
D.  L.  Whitney  at  one  time  had  a  good  general  store,  but  has  not  been  num- 
bered among  her  merchants  for  some  years  past.  David  Everett  at  present 
operates  the  only  general  store  in  the  place.  The  post  office  was  established  in 
1874,  with  W.  T.  Rich  as  first  Postmaster.  The  present  incumbent  is  David 
Everett.  A  warehouse,  built  some  years  previous,  was,  in  1876,  converted 
into  an  elevator  by  Low,  McFadden  &  Simmons.  The  amount  of  grain 
handled  here,  annually,  ranges  from  75,000  to  125,000  bushels.  A  neat  frame 


686 


HISTORY   OF   MASON   COUNTY. 


church  was  erected  by  the  United  Brethren  society  in  1878.  The  society  is 
small,  but  in  a  growing  and  prosperous  condition.  A  blacksmith  and  general 
repair  shop  completes  the  list  of  its  business  enterprises.  Its  population  does 
not  exceed  thirty  souls,  and  yet,  unimportant  as  it  is  when  compared  with  vil- 
lages of  a  larger  growth,  it  is,  nevertheless,  a  convenience  to  the  neighborhood 
as  a  point  for  the  shipment  of  their  produce,  and  at  which  daily  mails  are 
received.  It  is  hardly  to  be  expected  that  it  will  ever  exceed  its  present  limits, 
as  its  proximity  to  Mason  City  on  the  one  hand  and  Easton  on  the  other,  will 
continually  act  as  checks  to  its  further  development. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF    PATRONS 


use  ^  :R,  ID   a  o  U"  nsr  T 


PETERSBURG    PRECINCT. 

DR.  F.  P.  ANTLE,  physician,  Petersburg.  Among  the  physicians  of  Menard 
Co.  none  stand  higher  than  Dr.  Francis  P.  Antle,  of  Petersburg.  He  is  of  Scotch 
and  German  descent,  and  comes  from  patriotic  stock ;  his  maternal  descent  is  traced 
from  the  Buchanans,  who  early  emigrated  from  Scotland  to  America,  and  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  same  branch  of  the  family  with  President  Buchanan,  to  whom  he  was  second 
cousin.  The  ancestors  of  Dr.  Antle's  father  came  from  Germany,  and  settled  in  North 
Carolina.  Dr.  Antle  is  the  son  of  Michael  and  Mary  Ann  (Buchanan)  Antle  ;  they 
were  married  in  Kentucky,  and  lived  for  a  time  near  Lexington,  Ky.  ;  they  emigrated 
to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1819,  locating  for  a  time  near  St.  Louis.  In  March,  1820,  they 
settled  on  ^a  tract  of  land  eight  miles  southeast  of  where  Jacksonville  now  is ;  here 
Francis  P.  Antle  was  born,  May  1,  1824 ;  his  early  life  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  his  early  education  was  obtained  during  the  winter  months ;  so  well  were  his 
advantages  improved  that,  at  the  age  of  18,  he  began  teaching  in  the  same  school  where 
he  had  been  a  pupil ;  this  he  followed  for  a  time,  then  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with  J.  D.  Freeman,  of  Springfield ;  two  years  were  spent  in  Springfield,  and,  in  1856, 
he  went  to  Cincinnati  and  attended  medical  lectures  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute  ;  at 
the  conclusion  of  these  courses  of  lectures,  he  removed  to  Williamsville,  Sangamon  Co., 
and  established  a  drug  store  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine.  In  1859,  he 
again  visited  Cincinnati,  and  took  an  additional  course  of  lectures,  after  which  he  made 
Petersburg  his  home,  and  has  since  been  actively  employed  with  the  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession. Dr.  Antle  married  Miss  Dorcas  Ann  Mosteller,  of  Menard  Co.,  Jan.  28,  1858. 
Her  parents  were  early  settlers  of  Sangamon  Co. ;  they  have  but  two  children  living — 
T.  Powell  and  Jonah  O.  The  former  is  a  graduate  of  the  Illinois  College  of  Jacksonville. 

H.  B.  ALBERS,  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes,  Petersburg;  is  a  native  of  Prussia, 
where  he  was  born  Oct.  14,  1849.  During  his  early  life,  he  obtained  a  good  business 
education  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker.  He  ^migrated  to  this  country  in 
1869,  landing  in  New  York  City  June  26  ;  he  at  once  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
Petersburg,  and  for  a  time  followed  his  trade;  in  1874,  he  established  his  present  busi- 
ness. He  is  a  young  man  of  good  business  ability  and  by  fair  dealing  has  built  up  a 
flourishing  trade,  and  won  the  reputation  of  a  much  respected  citizen.  He  keeps  a  fine 
assortment  and  none  but  the  best  of  goods,  making  a  specialty  of  custom  work.  His 
is  the  only  exclusively  boot  and  shoe  house  of  Menard  Co.,  his  entire  attention  being 
turned  toward  this  branch  of  business.  His  wife  was  Miss  Mary  Ahrends,  of  his 
native  country  ;  they  were  married  Nov.  5,  1873  ;  they  have  a  family  of  three  children. 

A.  F.  BEARD,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  he  was  born  in  Sullivan  Co.,  N .  H.,  Aug. 
25,  1827,  where  he  was  raised  and  received  such  school  advantages  as  the  place  afforded ; 
during  his  early  life,  he  lived  a  farmer.  He  married  Nyrah,  daughter  of  Hiram  Hurd, 
a  prominent  farmer  of  this  county,  Nov.  6,  1852,  and  settled  upon  a  farm,  continuing 
there  until  1862,  when  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  They  have  two  sons.  He  owns  160  acres  of  fine  laud. 


688  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES : 

J.  H.  BOWEN,  express  agent  and  grocer,  Petersburg ;  is  a  native  of  Brown  Co., 
111.;  born  Sept.  23,  1850;  his  school  advantages  were  quite  limited;  he  began  as  a 
laborer  at  the  early  age  of  13,  engaging  upon  a  farm,  and  devoting  such  time  as  could  be 
spared  to  study ;  he  gradually  obtained  a  fair  business  education  ;  in  1869,  he  went  on 
the  road  as  a  traveling  salesman,  continuing  this  until  the  fall  of  1875,  when  he 
entered  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Michigan  University  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  took  one 
course,  but  not  wishing  to  become  a  practitioner,  as  his  inclinations  were  more  in  the 
direction  of  merchandising,  he  came  to  Petersburg  in  1876,  and,  for  a  time,  traveled  as 
a  salesman  ;  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  business  in  1877,  and  was  also  appointed  agent 
for  the  United  States  Express  Company  at  Petersburg ;  he  has  built  up  a  fine  trade,  and 
keeps  a  good  assortment  of  family  groceries,  provisions,  queensware,  etc. 

ROBERT  BISHOP,  proprietor  of  a  gun-shop,  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Ports- 
mouth, England,  Dec.  29,  1815,  and  was  brought  to  this  country  by  his  parents  while 
quite  young ;  they  settled  in  Boston,  where  Robert  was  raised  and  schooled  ;  his  father 
was  the  first  to  invent  and  put  into  use  the  cylinder  for  revolvers  and  guns,  and  died 
before  they  were  put  into  general  use ;  Robert,  who  then  was  but  a  youth,  had  already 
shown  an  inventive  mind,  and  soon  became  a  thorough  mechanic ;  some  ten  years  of 
his  early  life  were  spent  upon  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  as  a  whaler  along  the  coast  of  Chili, 
Peru  and  Panama ;  after  abandoning  sea  life,  he  removed  to  St.  Louis  and  took  up  his 
<rade;  he  located  where  he  now  resides  in  1841,  at  which  time  the  present  city  of 
Petersburg  was  but  a  hamlet ;  he  has  witnessed  its  entire  growth,  and  participated  in 
such  public  matters  as  pertained  to  the  good  of  the  community  ;  he  was  a  soldier  of 
the  Mexican  war ;  now,  at  a  ripe  old  age,  he  lives  to  see  the  prosperity  and  usefulness 
of  his  children. 

S.  H.  BLANE,  attorney,  Petersburg;  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Alkire)  Blane, 
who  were  early  settlers  of  Menard  County ;  he  was  born  in  this  county  Jan.  17,  1840, 
and  raised  upon  a  farm,  attending  district  school,  after  which  he  attended  the  North 
Sangamon  Academy,  where  he  prepared  to  study  law ;  his  father  was  a  prominent 
farmer  of  this  county,  from  its  organization  to  his  death,  which  occurred  Jan  18,  1864; 
his  mother  survived  ten  years  longer,  passing  away  April  18,  1874;  they  were  highly 
respected  by  all  who  knew  them.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  enlisted  in  the  late  war 
of  the  rebellion,  with  the  106th  I.  V.  I.  ;  during  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  Lieutenant,  and  then  to  Captain ;  was  mustered  out  after  the  service  of  three 
years ;  after  the  war,  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  under  Hon.  S.  S.  Knoles,  at  the 
same  time  superintending  his  farm ;  he  also  studied  with  Hon.  T.  W.  McNeely,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1874 ;  he  has  since  given  his  time  and  attention  to  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  in  which  he  is  fast  becoming  popular.  He  married  Miss  Mary  J. 
Spear  Jan.  4,  1866 — a  native  of  this  county ;  they  have  a  family  of  four  children. 

W.  J.  BREWER,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  was  born  in  this  county  Sept.  15, 
1833;  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Martin)  Brewer;  his  people  came  from  Green  Co.  Ky.T 
in  1826,  and  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of  Menard  Co.,  where  they  lived  during  the 
remainder  of  their  lives ;  W.  J.  was  raised  a  farmer,  and  by  industry  and  energy  has 
accumulated  a  good  property,  now  owning  120  acres.  He  married  Miss  Nancy  A. 
Blair  Sept.  13,  1858 ;  she  died  April  7,  1871,  leaving  two  children  ;  Feb.  23,  1874,  he 
married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Orr;  she  died  Nov.  28,  1877. 

T.  C.  BENNETT,  Circuit  Clerk,  Petersburg;  son  of  Dr.  Richard  E.  and  Maria 
(Carter)  Bennett;  was  born  in  Petersburg,  111.,  April  18,  1838;  he  obtained  an  edu- 
cation at  the  Asbury  University  of  Greencastle,  Ind.  ;  in  1855,  he  removed  to 
La  Grange,  Fayette  Co.,  Texas,  where  he  served  as  Deputy  District  Clerk  for  a  number 
of  years;  he  returned  to  Petersburg  in  1865,  and  was  soon  appointed  Deputy  Circuit 
Clerk,  serving  until  1872,  when  he  was  elected  Clerk,  and  re-elected  in  1876.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Martha  J.  Jenkins,  of  Mifflin  Co.,  Penn.,  Nov.  17,  1868;  they  are  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living. 

HON.  N.  W.  BRANSON,  attorney,  Petersburg ;  one  of  the  most  prominent 
of  the  Menard  Co.  bar;  was  born  at  Jacksonville  May  20,  1837  ;  his  parents  were 
natives  of*  Kentucky ;  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  distinguished  by  the  same  energy 


PETERSBURG   PRECINCT.  689 

and  attention  to  study  that  have  marked  his  subsequent  life  and  contributed  so  much  to- 
Iiis  success  ;  after  a  preparatory  course  of  study,  he  entered  Illinois  College,  where  he 
graduated  in  1857,  receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts ;  his  taste  led  him  to- 
chouse  the  legal  profession,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  his  college  course  he  began  the 
r-tudy  of  law  in  the  office  of  David  A.  Smith,  of  Jacksonville ;  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  January,  1860,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Petersburg  the  same 
year ;  here  his  knowledge  of  the  law,  his  ready  adaptation  to  business  and  his  habits  of 
close  application  rapidly  gained  for  him  a  high  professional  standing  at  the  bar  and 
wide  influence  in  the  community  ;  in  1867,  he  was  appointed  by  Chief  Justice  Chase 
Register  in  Bankruptcy  for  the  Ninth  Congressional  District  of  Illinois,  which  position 
he  held  for  a  number  of  years.  In  his  political  convictions,  Mr.  Branson  has  always 
been  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  ever  since  its  organization  he  has  been 
an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  its  principles;  in  1872,  he  received  the  Republican  nomi- 
nation for  Representative  in  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  to  that  office;  upon  taking 
his  seat,  he  became  an  active  member  of  the  body,  and  served  two  sessions  as  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  State  Institutions,  contributing  much  by  his  energy  to  the  fur- 
therance of  action  on  subjects  which  came  under  the  attention  of  his  committee,  as  well 
as  to  tha  general  course  of  legislative  proceedings  ;  his  course  in  the  Legislature  gave 
him  increased  popularity,  and  he  was  again  elected  in  1874;  in  1876,  he  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  National  Republican  Convention  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Mr.  Branson  waa 
married  Feb.  21,  1861,  to  Fanny  D.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Francis  and  Ann  S.  (Goldsmith) 
Regnier,  of  Petersburg.  As  a  lawyer  of  ability  and  integrity,  a  citizen  of  u-efulness 
and  honor,  all  classes  of  the  community  unite  in  giving  him  their  confidence. 

JACOB  F.  BERGEN,  farmer;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  son  of  George  and  Emily  A. 
( Wyatt)  Bergen,  who  came  from  Woodford  Co.,  Ky.,  with  their  parents,  who  emi- 
grated from  Morris  Co.,  N.  J.,  to  Woodford  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1818;  thence  to  Illinois  in 
1824,  locating  in  Morgan  Co.,  where  they  spent  their  last  days;  his  father,  George  S. 
Bergen,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  July  6,  1809 ;  he  went,  with  his  parents,  to  Morgan 
Co.,  111.,  where  he  married  Miss  Emily  A.  Wyatt,  Feb.  11,  1829  ;  she  died  at  Peters- 
burg Feb.  4,  1870,  leaving  a  family  of  seven  sons  and  one  daughter.  George  S.  Ber- 
gen now  resides  with  his  son,  Jacob  F.,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  70  ;  during  his  life,  he 
has  accumulated  a  good  property,  which  he  has  distributed  among  his  children.  Jacob 
F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  April  23,  1845,  and,  in 
1850,  was  brought  to  this  county,  where  he  has  since  lived,  a  well-to-do  and  highly 
respected  citizen ;  during  his  early  life,  he  obtained  a  good  business  education,  attending 
the  Commercial  College  at  Springfield;  he  began  doing  business  for  himself  in  1866; 
he  now  owns  144  acres  of  the  old  homestead  farm.  He  married  Hannah  E.  Sireet,  of 
Baltimore,  Md.,  Oct.  1,  1873 ;  they  have  one  child,  a  promising  son — Guy  F. 

J.  A.  BRAHM,  banker  and  merchant,  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Gallatin  Co., 
111.,  Feb.  9,  1828,  and  was  brought  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  in  1830,  his  people  settling 
north  of  Petersburg,  where  they  lived  prominent  citizens ;  his  father  died  in  1852,  and 
his  mother  in  18tl2 ;  his  father  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  his  mother  of  Virginia ; 
his  early  life  was  spent  on  the  homestead,  receiving  such  educational  advantages  as  the 
new  country  afforded;  in  1848-49,  he  attended  McKendree  College,  at  Lebanon,  111. ; 
here  he  acquired  a  good  business  education,  which,  with  energy  and  perseverance,  has 
assisted  him  to  his  present  position,  that  of  a  highly  respected  citizen ;  his  principal 
business  has  been  merchandising,  and  his  success  as  a  merchant  is  well  known 
throughout  this  part  of  Illinois,  and  to-day  he  is  one  of  the  solid  men  of  Menard 
County.  Mr.  Brahm  has  been  closely  identified  with  business  enterprises  in  the  county, 
and  his  energy  and  capital  have  done  much  toward  building  up  Petersburg ;  in  evidence 
of  this,  we  would  mention  the  commodious  dry-goods  house  of  Brahm,  Lanning  & 
Wright,  which  is,  beyond  a  doubt,  the  largest  and  best  stocked  retail  dry-goods  house 
of  the  State  outside  of  Chicago ;  he  is  giving  his  personal  attention  to  the  business  of 
banking,  under  the  firm  name  of  Brahm  &  Greene;  in  connection  with  W.  G.  Greene, 
he  established  this,  the  first  banking-house  in  Menard  Co.,  in  1866,  and  it  has  the  rep- 
utation of  being  one  of  the  most  substantial  banks  of  Central  Illinois.  His  wife  \va.s 


690  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

Eliza  B.,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Anna  Rainey,  of  Boydton,  Va. ;  they  were  married 
March  10,  1857  ;  they  have  a  family  of  three  daughters  and  two  sons;  their  residence 
is  a  beautiful  one,  and  located  upon  a  rise  of  ground,  presenting  a  most  picturesque 
appearance. 

HON.  JOHN  BENNETT,  retired,  Petersburg ;  son  of  Richard  E.  and  Ann 
(Carter)  Bennett;  they  were  of  Scotch-Irish  origin  ;  he  was  born  in  Halifax  Co.,  Va., 
Dec.  21,  1805.  He  passed  his  boyhood  and  early  manhood  at  the  old  homestead  in 
Virginia,  receiving  such  an  education  as  the  common  schools  of  that  period  afforded. 
At  the  age  of  14,  he  entered  his  father's  store  as  clerk,  in  which  capacity  he  continued 
till  the  death  of  his  father  in  1828.  After  settling  up  the  estate,  he  continued  in 
business  on  his  own  account  until  1835,  when  he  removed  to  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  set- 
tling near  Rochester.  He  remained  there  until  1836,  when  he  came  to  Petersburg 
and  opened  a  dry -goods  store  in  the  then  small  village.  Here  Mr.  Bennett  continued 
very  successfully  in  merchandise  till  1858,  when,  having  amassed  a  handsome  property, 
he  resigned  the  cares  of  active  life  to  enjoy  in  his  beautiful  home  (which  is  one  of  the 
most  finely  located  residences  in  Petersburg)  that  peace  and  quiet  which  his  early  life 
of  activity  had  well  earned.  During  the  winter  of  1840-41,  he  represented  Menard 
Co.  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  one  of  the  original  Directors  of  the  Tonica  & 
Petersburg  R.  R.,  a  part  of  what  is  now  the  Jacksonville  Division  of  the  C.  &  A.  R. 
R. ;  this  position  he  held  for  four  years.  In  Freemasonry,  Mr.  Bennett  is  prominently 
known  in  the  State,  and  he  has  been  conspicuous  for  his  devotion  to  the  Order  and  his 
zealous  practice  of  its  tenets.  For  upward  of  forty  years  he  has  been  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  interests  of  Menard  Co.,  in  both  private  and  public  life,  and  now.  at 
the  ripe  age  of  74,  he  enjoys  the  result  of  a  well-spent  life.  He  has  twice  married ; 
first  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Boyd,  Dec.  1,  1829;  she  died  May  12,  1849,  leaving  four 
children.  Mr.  Bennett  married  his  present  wife  Sept.  10,  1850  ;  she  was  Miss  Mary 
J.  Cabaniss.  They  are  well  known  and  highly  respected. 

F.  V.  BALE,  miller,  Petersburg;  son  of  Abraham  and  Mary  (Lewis)  Bale;  was 
born  in  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  Jan.  1,  1833.  His  parents  came  from  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  in 
1839,  locating  in  Salem,  and  in  1840  his  father  bought  a  farm,  which  they  operated 
iintil  1852,  when  they  bought  the  old  mill  site  at  Salem  and  began  to  repair  the  mill ; 
but  in  1853,  his  father  died,  after  which  he,  with  two  brothers,  finished  repairing  it  and 
putting  it  into  operation.  In  1873,  F.  V.  became  sole  proprietor  and  has  since  operated 
it.  The  historical  facts  connected  with  this  mill  will  be  further  alluded  to  in  the  his- 
tory of  Menard  Co.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  J. 
Leving,  of  Logan  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  9,  1859 ;  she  was  born  in  Virginia.  They  have  had 
children,  but  two  of  whom  are  now  living. 

D.  M.  BONE,  furniture  dealer,  Petersburg  ;  son  of  Robert  S.  and  Nancy  (McCoy) 
Bone,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Menard  Co.;  and  of  Scotch-Irish  origin. 
He  was  born  in  this  county  April  18,  1846,  and  raised  upon  a  farm,  and  his  early 
education  was  obtained  at  district  schools,  after  which  he  attended  the  Cherry  Grove 
Seminary,  of  Knox  Co.,  111.,  two  years;  he  then  entered  the  Hopkins  Grammar  School, 
of  New  Haven,  Conn.  In  1866,  he  entered  Yale  College,  graduating  in  1870,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Menard  Co.  and  for  a  time  superintended  his  father's  farm.  The 
following  year,  he  was  appointed  Principal  of  the  Petersburg  Seminary,  continuing  in 
this  capacity  one  year ;  then  for  a  time  followed  stock  dealing.  In  1 874,  he  embarked 
in  the  drug  business  in  scompany  with  T.  Fisher.  In  1875,  he  established  his  present 
business  and  to-day  is  doing  the  leading  business  in  his  line.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
fine  business  as  well  as  mental  powers  and  fast  becoming  a  prominent  business  man  of 
Menard  Co.  He  married  Mary  P.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Aleck  Rainey,  April  16,  1874; 
they  have  two  children. 

HARDEN  BALE,  woolen  manufacturer,  Petersburg ;  son  of  Rev.  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  Bale,  who  were  among  the  first  white  settlers  of  Menard  Co.  They  located 
near  where  the  town  of  Petersburg  now  stands,  in  1830,  and  did  much  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  country.  "In  1833,  he  bought  a  small  grist-mill,  which  he  operated;  here 
the  son  learned  the  business,  and  built  a  large  mill,  also  a  carding-mill,  and  when  tl 


PETERSBURG   PRECINCT.  691 

country  settled  and  the  demand  for  flour  and  the  working  of  wool  was  such  as  to  justify 
it,  he  built  a  large  woolen  and  flouring  mill,  of  two  sets  of  buhrs  and  twelve  looms  ; 
here  he  did  an  extensive  and  flourishing  business  until  1865,  when  it  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  He  rebuilt  it,  and  is  now  operating  a  woolen-mill  of  the  capacity  of  a  two-set 
mill.  He  is  public-spirited  and  benevolent,  and  enjoys  the  reputation  of  a  highly- 
resoected  citizen.  He  was  born  in  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  2,  1816  ;  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  county  in  1830,  and  well  remembers  when  this  was  a  wild  and  desolate 
country,  inhabited  by  roving  bands  of  Indians,  with  now  and  then  an  adventurous  pio- 
neer. The  school  advantages  were  limited,  but,  by  home  study  and  business  experi- 
ence, he  has  obtained  a  good  business  education.  He  has  twice  married — first  to  Miss 
Esther  Summers,  Sept.  18,  1839;  she  died  Feb.  7,  1872,  leaving  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren ;  Feb.  20,  1879,  he  married  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Shuman,  of  Louisville,  Ky. 

CAIN  &  PARKS,  editors  of  the  Observer,  Petersburg.  The  Petersburg  Observer 
was  established  at  Tallula,  Menard  Co.,  111.,  by  George  W.  Cain,  one  of  its  present 
proprietors,  in  August,  1876,  and  was  there  edited  and  published  until  May,  of  1878, 
when  it  was  removed  to  Petersburg,  and  W.  R.  Parks  became  a  partner ;  the  new  firm 
then  bought  the  Menard  County  Times,  a  Republican  paper,  and  abandoned  its  publi- 
cation, re-establishing  the  Observer;  and,  on  May  18,  1878,  the  first  number  of  the 
Observer  was  issued  at  Petersburg.  The  Observer  is  a  four-page,  eight-column  paper, 
embracing  the  current  news  of  the  day,  and  largely  devoted  to  the  county  and  local 
affairs ;  politically  it  is,  and  always  has  been,  uncompromisingly  Greenback,  advocating 
in  a  fair,  honest  and  vigorous  manner  the  principles  of  the  Greenback  party,  and  is  the 
acknowledged  organ  of  that  party  in  Menard  and  surrounding  counties.  Cain  &  Parks 
are  stirring  business  men,  with  firm  political  and  business  views. 

J.  W.  COOK,  physician,  Petersburg;  son  of  Romulus  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Backus) 
Cook ;  was  born  in  the  city  of  Hamilton,  Canada,  Oct.  3,  1843,  where  he  was  raised 
and  educated ;  he  attended  the  Normal  University,  where  he  prepared  for  a  medical 
course,  which  he  took  at  the  Victoria  Medical  University  of  Toronto,  graduating  in 
1866.  He  located  in  Chicago  in  1867,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  ; 
he  continued  there  until  after  the  fire  of  1871 ;  then  removed  to  Braidwood,  111.,  where 
he  practiced  medicine  until  he  came  to  Petersburg,  in  1878,  where  he  is  fast  becoming 
a  skilled  and  popular  physician. 

PROF.  M.  C.  CONNELLY,  Principal  of  the  Petersburg  Public  Schools,  Peters- 
burg; was  born  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans  May  9,  1846,  where  he  lived  until  1854, 
at  which  time  his  parents  died  wich  the  yellow  fever,  and  he  was  taken  by  relatives  to 
Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  where  he  was  raised  and  schooled,  attending  Auburn  High  School, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1865.  During  the  late  war,  he  enlisted  with  the  114th  I. 
V.  I.,  and  participated  in  many  of  the  most  severe  battles  of  the  Western  army,  serving 
three  years,  and  escaped  without  injury.  After  the  war,  he  studied  law  under  Hon.  J. 
W.  Patton,  of  Springfield,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1870,  and  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Springfield,  continuing  one  year;  in  1871,  he  removed  to  Peters- 
burg, and  shortly  after  was  appointed  Principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Petersburg, 
serving  in  that  capacity  five  consecutive  years;  he  then  resigned,  and,  in  1878,  was 
again  appointed,  and  re-appointed  in  1879.  He  is  largely  a  self-made  man,  well  adapted 
to  managing  the  affairs  of  a  public  school.  He  married  Miss  Emma  Stoker,  of  Spring- 
field, 111.,  July  29,  1874;  she  was  born  in  Springfield  July  4,  1855  ;  they  have  one 
<:hild — Louis  S. 

A.  N.  CURRY,  Postmaster,  Petersburg ;  son  of  Henry  P.  and  Nancy  B.  (Minor) 
Curry;  was  born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  July  14,  1845,  where  he  was  raised  and  received 
a  good  common-school  education.  During  the  late  war,  he  enlisted  with  the  71st  I.  V. 
I.  (three  months  service),  and  served  to  the  expiration  of  the  enlisted  term  ;  in 
1865,  he  re-enlisted  with  the  106th  I.  V.  I.,  and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
entered  Chicago  University  in  1870,  attending  some  two  years,  when  his  health  became 
so  impaired  that  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  studies ;  he  then  returned  to  Peters- 
burg, and  was  appointed  Postmaster  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  directly  appointed  in  1873, 
and  re-appointed  in  1877.  He  is  a  gool  business  man  and  much  respected,  and 

cc 


692  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

considered  the  right  man  in  the  right  place.  He  has  twice  been  married ;  first  to  Miss 
Rosette  Sampson  March  21, 1867,  who  died  June  6, 1868,  leaving  one  child  (deceased)  -t 
June  5,  1873,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Sampson ;  they  have  one  child — Alice. 

REV.  H.  P.  CURRY,  minister  and  farmer,  and  one  of  the  religious  workers  and 
well-to-do  citizens  of  Menard  Co. ;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  he  was  born  in  Green  Co.,  Ky., 
Sept.  18,  1824,  and  is  the  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Wilcox)  Curry;  his  parents  emi- 
grated from  Kentucky  in  1827,  settling  near  where  he  now  lives;  his  father  had  made 
farming  his  principal  business  through  life;  he  died  Sept.  5,  1876;  he  had  acquired  a 
good  property,  and  raised  a  family  of  eleven  children ;  his  mother  still  survives  at  the 
age  of  78  years.  Henry  P.  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  for 
thirty-nine  years  ;  he  began  at  the  early  age  of  17  ;  now  preaches  for  four  churches  ;  also 
superintends  his  farm  of  200  acres.  He  married  Miss  Nancy  B.,  daughter  of  John  and 
Martha  Minor,  of  Boone  Co.,  Mo. ;  they  were  joined  in  marriage  Sept.  17,  1844,  and  have 
a  family  of  seven  children.  Rev.  Mr.  Curry  is  one  of  the  oldest  Baptist  ministers  of 
Central  Illinois,  well  known  and  respected. 

W.  S.  CON  ANT,  furniture  dealer,  Petersburg ;  born  in  Suitsburg,  Mass.,  Feb. 
27,1825;  son  of  Sullivan  and  Lydia  Hemingway  Conant,  the  Hemingway  family 
being  one  of  the  most  prominent  families  in  that  portion  of  the  State  ;  he  came  to  this 
State  in  the  winter  of  1831,  his  father,  who  was  a  cabinet-maker,  locating  in 
Springfield,  and  in  this  branch  of  manufacture  the  son  was  trained ;  in  the  spring  of 
1849,  he  came  to  this  town  and  set  up  business,  at  which  he  has  continued  to  this  date. 
Was  married  in  Springfield,  in  May,  1847,  to  Mary  E.  Sikes,  born  in  Massachusetts; 
she  died  Feb.  14,  1864,  leaving  two  children — James  and  Kittie ;  since  married  E.  A. 
Kincaid ;  had  two  children,  both  deceased.  Mr.  Conant  is  the  proprietor  and  owner  of 
the  noted  Rose  Hill  Cemetery,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  burial  places  in  Central  Illi- 
nois, which  he  has  spent  a  deal  of  money  and  time  in  the  arrangement  and  decoration 
of,  and  has  made  it  the  pride  and  glory  of  his  life ;  the  cemetery  is  situated  on  the  east 
side  of  the  classic  Sangamon,  one  mile  from  the  public  square,  directly  opposite  the  city 
of  Petersburg.  Its  location  is  such  as  to  render  it  impossible  ever  to  be  encroached 
upon  by  the  growth  of  the  town ;  situated  as  it  is,  on  a  commanding  eminence,  the 
grounds  gently  undulating,  and  from  its  retired  yet  accessible  location,  possesses  that 
rural  retirement  where,  covered  with  green  sward,  shaded  with  evergreens  and  groves 
of  beautiful  trees,  checkered  with  avenues,  aisles  and  walks,  all  showing  signs  of  untir- 
ing and  marked  attention,  where  the  flowers  bloom  and  the  wild  birds  sing,  mingling 
their  sweet  melody  with  the  music  of  the  fountain,  while,  scattered  throughout  the 
entire  grounds  are  slabs  and  shafts  monumental,  beneath  which  rest  the  forms  that  have 
made  so  many  homes  desolate  by  their  sudden  departure  to  this  silent  city;  the  ground 
originally  contained  but  ten  acres,  and  was  incorporated  June  20,  1858 ;  the  first 
interment  was  a  child  of  Mr.  Eubanks ;  the  grounds  now  contain  thirty-two  and  one- 
half  acres,  and  Mr.  Conant  expects  soon  to  enlarge  it  to  contain  fifty  acres ;  the' 
fountain  recently  erected  in  the  middle  of  the  cemetery,  has  in  connection  with  it  2,500 
feet  of  gas  pipe  to  convey  water  to  all  parts  of  the  grounds,  and,  notwithstanding  the 
present  beauty  of  the  grounds,  and  the  amount  of  money  expended  on  the  same,  he  has 
not  yet  brought  it  to  the  point  of  excellence  and  beauty  that  he  intends  ;  in  short,  Rose 
Hill  Cemetery  is  something  of  which  the  people  of  Petersburg  are  proud,  and  that  reflects 
great  credit  upon  Mr,  Conant  for  the  zeal  and  enterprise  he  has  manifested  in  the  care 
and  the  improvement  of  the  same. 

JONATHAN  COLBY, farmer;  P.O.Petersburg;  borninHopkinton,N.  H.,  March 
10,  1808  ;  son  of  Timothy  and  Lydia  (Herrick)  Colby,  and  lived  together  as  husband  and 
wife  for  sixty  years,  their  combined  ages  reaching  172  years  ;  they  were  of  English  descent ; 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Illinois  in  1834,  and  located  where  he  now  resides; 
during  his  early  life,  he  obtained  a  fair  education,  and,  for  a  number  of  years,  worked  as 
a  clerk  ;  since  residing  in  Illinois,  he  has  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  and  is  one  of  the 
practical  and  prosperous  farmers  of  Menard  Co.  April  13,  1837,  he  married  Miss 
Lydia  Ingalls,  of  this  county;  she  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Conn.,  June  20,  1809,  and  died 
in  September,  1858,  leaving  a  family  of  six.  He  owns  460  acres. 


PETERSBURG    PRECINCT.  693 

HENRY  CLARK,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Petersburg  ;  among  those  who  came  to  Menard 
Co.  in  an  early  day,  none  is  more  prominently  known  thsn  the  above  gentleman, 
who  experienced  the  trials  and  hardships  of  a  pioneer  life;  he  was  born  in  Barren -Co., 
Ky.,  in  December,  1805,  where  he  was  raised  and  began  doing  for  himself.  He  married 
Miss  Mary  Slinker  April  21,  1823,  and,  in  1826,  came  to  Illinois,  locating  where  he  now 
resides,  and  which  has  been  his  home  for  over  fifty-three  years;  he  has  always  mani- 
fested an  interest  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  good  of  the  community,  particularly 
in  church  and  school  affairs ;  he  has  accumulated  a  good  property  and  raised  a  family  of 
seven  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  lived  happily  together  as  man  and  wife  for 
upward  of  fifty-six  years,  and  now  live  to  see  the  usefulness  and  prosperity  of  their  children. 

P.  L.  CONRAD,  mining,  Petersburg;  was  born  near  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  14, 
1828  ;  during  his  early  life,  he  formed  a  liking  for  railroading,  which  he  followed  many 
years,  and,  by  his  untiring  energy,  had  become  quite  prominent  with  many  railroad 
companies;  while  quite  young,  he  went  South,  visiting  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  and 
spending  a  number  of  years  in  different  parts  of  the  country  ;  his  many  prominent  busi- 
ness connections  with  railroads  indicate  that  he  is  a  practical  railroader ;  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  I860,  locating  in  Petersburg,  and,  for  a  time,  superintended  mining  at  the  coal 
shaft  of  C.  B.  Lanning  &  Co.,  after  which,  he  built  the  railroad  from  Jacksonville  to 
Virden ;  in  1874,  he  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  the  South  Valley  Coal  Shaft, 
acting  in  that  capacity  until  1878,  when  he  leased  said  shaft,  and  still  operates  in 
mining;  the  vein  is  62  feet;  the  advantages  for  mining  are  superior  to  any  in  this 
country,  and,  having  had  considerable  experience,  he  is  enabled  to  manage  the  business 
profitably  and  satisfactorily ;  he  is  also  interested  in  the  manufacturing  of  tiles  of  all 
kinds — in  fact,  he  is  a  thorough  business  man.  He  married  Miss  Ann  M.  Doxtaber, 
of  New  York,  July  20,  1852 ;  they  have  one  child — Edgar. 

S.  DEERWESTER,  manufacturer  of  wagons  and  carriages,  Petersburg,  of  the 
firm  of  Bryant  &  Deerwester ;  was  born  in  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  March  1,  1830,  where 
he  was  raised  and  educated ;  he  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Elenor  (Parker)  Deerwester ; 
in  early  life,  he  chose  the  trade  of  wagon-making,  and,  being  of  a  mechanical  turn  of 
mind,  soon  became  an  able  workman  ;  he  came  to  Petersburg  in  1853,  where  he  has 
since  lived  ;  and  the  result  of  his  industry  and  energy  is  a  good  property  and  a  large 
trade,  built  up  by  integrity  and  fair  dealing ;  he  entered  into  his  present  partnership  in 
1865  ;  they  began  on  a  small  scale,  and  are  now  the  largest  carriage  and  wagon  manu- 
facturers in  the  county.  Mr.  Deerwester  married  Miss  Catherine  McHenry,  of  this 
place,  Feb.  13,  1855  ;  they  .have  a  family  of  two — Anna  and  Ella. 

C.  E.  ELLIOTT,  physician,  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  April 
24,  1835;  his  preliminary  education  was  attained  at  district  school,  after  which,  he 
attended  the  Eclectic  College  of  Hiram,  Ohio,  about  four  years,  when  he  began  teach- 
ing school  and  improving  all  leisure  time  by  reading  medicine;  in  1864,  he  took  one 
course  at  the  Charity  Hospital  Medical  College  of  Cleveland,  after  which,  he  began 
practice;  in  1868,  he  returned  and  finished  his  course,  graduating  in  1869  ;  he  settled 
in  Petersburg  the  same  year;  in  1871,  he  graduated  in  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
University  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  since  which  time  he  has  devoted  his  time  and  energy  to 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  built  up  a  large  practice.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  A.  Earl,  of  his  native  county,  April  2,  1857 ;  they  have  one  child — C.  Everest. 

EUGENE  W.  EADS,  Deputy  County  Sheriff,  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Menard 
Co.,  111.,  May  10,  1850  ;  son  of  Wesley  T.  and  Mary  A.  (Brassfield)  Eads,  who  were 
early  settlers  of  this  county.  They  settled  at  what  is  known  as  Indian  Point.  His  father 
died  while  he  was  quite  young,  and  at  the  age  of  9  his  mother  began  traveling  for  her 
health,  and  Eugene  accompanied  her  through  the  Southern  States.  He  returned  to 
Menard  Co.  in  1865.  He  attended  Illinois  College,  at  Jacksonville,  and  there  acquired 
a  good  business  education.  In  1872,  he  embarked  in  the  livery  business  at  Petersburg. 
In  1874,  he  visited  his  mother  in  California,  spending  quite  a  time  in  the  Western 
country,  returning  in  1875,  and  then  visiting  the  Eastern  States.  He  returned  to 
Petersburg  and,  in  1876,  was  appointed  upon  the  police  force  and  elected  City  Marshal 
in  1877.  In  the  spring  of  1879  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff. 


694  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

MRS.  RACHEL  H.  FRACKELTON,  retired,  Petersburg ;  widow  of  Robert 
D.  Frackelton,  who  was  born  in  Drainore,  County  Down,  Ireland,  Feb.  22,  1822  ; 
there  he  was  raised  and  schooled.  In  1843,  he  came,  with  his  brother,  D.  S.,  to  this 
country,  locating  in  Springfield,  111.,  and  for  some  time  taught  school,  after  which  he 
removed  to  Petersburg  and  embarked  in  mercantile  life,  together  with  banking,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother,  which  business  he  continued  in  while  he  lived.  He  was  an 
active  business  man  and  a  useful  Christian.  He  died  Aug.  15,  1874,  beloved  by  friends 
and  relatives,  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife  was  Miss  Rachel  H. 
Beers,  of  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  they  were  married  Dec.  19,  1871  ;  she  was  born  in 
Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  4,  1834.  Through  industry  and  energy,  her  husband  had 
accumulated  a  fine  property,  and  she  is  now  spending  her  later  days  enjoying  the  society 
of  many  warm  friends  and  devoted  relatives.  Her  residence  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
Petersburg  and  beautifully  located. 

D.  S.  FRACKELTON,  banker,  Petersburg ;  was  bora  in  County  Down,  Ireland, 
Feb.  14,  1827,  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Waddell)  Frackelton.  His  father  being 
a  merchant,  he  early  followed  mercantile  life,  and  by  energy,  industry  and  uprightness 
has  placed  himself  in  his  present  prominent  and  highly  respected  position.  His  father 
died  while  he  was  quite  young.  The  rest  of  the  family  came  to  this  country,  though 
at  different  times.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  with  his  brother,  came  and  located  in 
Springfield  in  1843 ;  there  they  taught  school  for  a  time,  and  finally  located  in  Peters- 
burg in  1844,  and  embarked  in  mercantile  business  and  were  quite  successful  in  this 
and  banking.  His  brother  died  in  1874,  while  he  still  continues  in  mercantile  and 
banking  business.  His  brother  James,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1848,  is  a  pros- 
perous merchant,  with  whom  he  is  connected  in  the  mercantile  department.  D.  S.  has 
long  been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  is  prominently  connected  with  its 
growth  and  prosperity,  serving  as  an  elder  for  many  years,  and  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  by  all  who  know  him  is  the  result  of  an  honorable  and  upright  life. 
He  married  Louise,  daughter  of  Dr.  Chandler  (the  founder  and  prominent  citizen  of 
Chandlersville,  111.))  March  13,  1856.  They  have  five  children  living. 

REV.  A.  H.  GOODPASTURE,  minister,  Petersburg;  son  of  John  and  Margery 
(Bryan)  Goodpasture ;  was  born  in  Overton  Co.,  Tenn.,  June  21,  1812;  his  ancestors 
were  prominent  pioneers  of  Virginia ;  his  grandfather  built  the  first  Court  House  at 
Richmond ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  sixth  child  of  a  family  of  fourteen  chil- 
dren;  about  the  age  of  21,  he  began  doing  for  himself,  and  removed  to  Central  Ala- 
bama ;  it  was  on  this  journey  that  he  stopped  for  a  time  and  attended  camp-meeting, 
and  experienced  religion,  resolving  ever  after  to  be  a  worker  for  the  cause  of  Christ ;  he 
soon  began  to  study  for  the  ministry,  and,  in  April,  1835,  was  licensed  by  the  Talladega 
Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  to  preach ;  he  began  the  work  of 
the  ministry  at  Mardisville,  Ala.,  and,  after  an  absence  of  twenty-five  months,  returned 
to  his  people  a  preacher;  in  1836,  he  came  to  Illinois  on  a  visit,  and  was  persuaded  to 
remain  and  engage  here  in  the  ministry,  which  he  did ;  at  that  time,  his  circuit 
embraced  several  counties ;  the  privations  and  hardships  incident  to  a  new  country  were 
common  to  him  ;  after  eighteen  months'  labor  in  the  wilds  of  Illinois,  he  returned  to 
his  people  in  Alabama,  and  there  preached  until  1842,  when  he  again  came  to  this 
State,  locating  in  Menard  Co.,  where  he  has  since  diligently  labored  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry =  Mr.  Goodpasture  is  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  Illinois,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent Pastor  of  the  Concord  Church,  near  where  he  now  resides.  He  married  Miss 
Dulcina  B.  Williams,  of  this  county,  Jan.  10,  1843;  she  was  born  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky., 
March  19,  1819;  they  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  now 
living.  He  owns  a  farm  of  200  acres,  which  he  superintends.  They  are  well  known 
and  highly  respected  citizens. 

MRS.  JEMIMA  GUM,  farmer,  P.  0.  Petersburg;  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Ellen  (Davis)  Carter,  who  emigrated  from  Kentucky  in  an  early  day ;  they  settled 
where  Mrs.  Gum  now  resides  as  early  as  1830,  and  here  Mr.  Robert  Carter  died  March 
26,  1866 ;  he  had  raised  a  family  of  six  boys  and  two  girls ;  Mrs.  Carter  still  survives, 
and  enjoys  good  health  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  83.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  married 


PETERSBURG   PRECINCT.  695 

Mr.  Thomas  D.  Guru  J_an.  17,  1839,  and  during  his  life  was  known  as  one  of  the  most 
industrious  and  energetic  farmers  of  Menard  Co.;  he  died  Nov.  18,  1859,  leaving  a 
family  of  seven,  only  four  of  whom  are  now  living.  -During  life,  Mr.  Gum  had  accu- 
mulated a  good  property,  and,  through  good  management,  Mrs.  Gum  has  added  to  the 
property  and  supported  the  family ;  she  now  owns  420  acres  of  fine  land',  and  still 
superintends  the  farm. 

CHARLES  GUM,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  son  of  Jesse  and  Mary  (Dills) 
Gum,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Menard  Co. ;  he  was  a  native  of  Kentucky 
and  she  of  South  Carolina ;  when  this  now  well  settled  and  finely  developed  county  was 
but  a  wild  and  desolate  country,  they  settled  at  what  is  known  as  Clarries'  Grove, 
Menard  Co.  Jesse  Gum  ranked  with  the  influential  and  reliable  men  of  the  county, 
and  had  accumulated  a  good  property.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  likewise  a  well-to- 
do  farmer.  He  married  Martha,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Nancy  (Armstrong)  Jones, 
who  were  early  settlers  of  Menard  Co. ;  they  were  married  in  February,  1850 ;  they 
have  seven  children,  and  own  255  acres  of  fine  land  that  he  settled  on  when  this  was 
but  a  wild  and  desolate  country,  with  settleis  far  apart. 

WILLIAM  M.  GOLDS  BY,  farmer  and  minister,  Petersburg  ;  was  born  in  Green 
Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  16,  1818,  and  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Bingley)  Goldsby ;  his 
father  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812;  they  came  to  this  county  in  1830,  and  his 
father  was  the  first  Sheriff  of  Menard  Co.,  and  served  six  years,  and  did  his  duty  well. 
William  M.  has  worked  faithfully  as  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  upward  of 
twenty-five  years,  and  still  labors  with  vigor  for  the  good  cause,  having  two  churches  at 
which  he  now  preaches.  His  wife  was  Miss  Eliza  Pierce;  they  were  married  Aug.  15, 
1839  ;  they  have  six  children,  all  members  of  church,  and  who  are  well-to^lo. 

W.  T.  HUTCHERSON,  farmer,  P.  0.  Petersburg;  son  of  Thomas  and  Catharine 
(Philips)  Hutcherson ;  was  born  in  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  April  6,  1828.  He  was  left  to 
battle  with  the  hardships  of  the  world,  without  parental  care  and  advice,  at  an  early  aj:e. 
Previous  to  their  death,  they  had  removed  to  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  where  he  spent  a 
great  part  of  his  early  life.  When  the  Mexican  war  broke  out,  Mr.  Hutcherson 
enlisted  with  the  4th  Regiment,  I.  V.  I.,  under  Maj.  L.  Harris,  and  served  to  the 
close.  Mr.  H.  is  one  deserving  great  credit ;  he  began  a  poor  boy,  with  limited 
advantages,  and  to  day  enjoys  a  good  reputation,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  pleasant  family, 
and  owns  a  beautiful  farm,  known  as  Fairview  Farm,  consisting  of  220  acres. 

JACOB  HOPING,  proprietor  of  the  Menard  House,  Petersburg.  The  number 
of  commercial  travelers  who  register  at  the  Menard  is  witness  to  its  accommoda- 
tions and  good  table.  Mr.  Hofing  has  managed  this  house  for  many  years.  He  was 
born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  Aug.  21,  t838  ;  he  came  to  this  country  in  1857,  locating 
in  Menard  Co.,  and  for  a  number  of  years  followed  farming,  together  with  stock- 
dealing.  In  1866,  he  sold  out  and  bought  the  Menard  House,  and  at  once  refitted  and 
renovated  it,  so  that  it  is  pleasant  and  homelike.  He  has  twice  married — first  to  Misa 
Elizabeth  Davis  in  February,  1863  ;  she  died  in  November,  1868,  leaving  one  child — 
Alice.  He  married  his  second  wife  Aug.  24,  1875 ;  she  was  Mrs.  Clarissa  J.  Cram- 
mer, of  Petersburg  ;  they  have  one  child — Cora  B. 

HOBART  HAMILTON,  civil  engineer,  Petersburg;  son  of  Jamin  and  Elizabeth 
(Little)  Hamilton;  was  born  in  Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  June  26,  1831.  Here  he  spent 
the  early  part  of  his  life,  and  received  his  academical  education.  He  graduated  from 
the  Vermont  University  at  Burlington,  in  1853 ;  his  course  in  civil  engineering  was 
thorough,  and  he  took  up  that  profession,  and  soon  became  an  able  engineer.  He  came 
West  in  1857,  locating  in  Petersburg,  and  began  in  the  employ  of  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka 
Railroad,  now  a  branch  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  Railroad,  as  civil  engineer,  and  continued 
it  some  three  years ;  then  engaged  with  the  Tonica  &  Petersburg,  now  a  branch  of  the 
C.  &  A.  Railroad  ;  here  he  served  as  civil  engineer  until  the  fall  of  1858,  when  he 
bought  and  began  to  publish  a  paper  known  as  the  Menard  Index.  He  continued  as 
proprietor  and  editor  of  this  paper  till  1863,  when  he  received  the  appointment  of 
Quartermaster  of  the  102d  I.  V.  I. ;  this  position  he  held  till  the  close  of  the  war.  In 
the  fall  of  1865,  he  was  elected  County  Clerk  of  Menard  Co.,  and  appointed  Master  in 


696  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

Chancery,  serving  as  County  Clerk  one  term  and  Master  in  Chancery  eight  years.  He 
was  appointed  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Springfield  &  North- Western  Railroad  in  1870, 
tilling  this  position  until  1873.  The  many  prominent  and  responsible  positions  that 
have  been  confided  to  him  have  been  filled  with  credit.  He  married  Clara,  daughter'  of 
John  McDougall,  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  24,  1860.  She  is  a  lady  of  culture  and 
fine  social  qualities ;  they  have  a  beautiful  residence,  finely  located,  and  a  promising 
family  of  six  children. 

C.  L.  H  ATFIELD,  lumber,  Petersburg ;  son  of  Aaron  and  Martha  (Stout)  Hat- 
field;  was  born  in  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  17,  1845.  His  parents  gave  him  the  advan- 
tage of  a  thorough  education.  After  attending  district  school  for  a  time,  he  began  at 
North  Sangamon  Academy,  and,  in  1865-66,  attended  the  Illinois  College  at  Jackson- 
ville ;  thence  to  Lincoln  University,  of  Lincoln,  111.,  where  he  took  a  thorough  course, 
graduating  in  1868.  Shortly  after,  he  removed  to  Caldwell  Co.,  Ky.,  where  he  was 
appointed  Principal  of  the  Bethlehem  Academy,  and  after  a  year  returned  to  Peters- 
burg aod  embarked  in  the  dry-goods  business,  which  .he  continued  until  January,  1875, 
when  he  engaged  in  teaching  near  Lincoln,  111.,  and  was  appointed  Principal  of  the 
Broadwell  High  School  the  following  fall.  In  the  fall  of  1876,  he  was  appointed 
Principal  of  the  Graded  School  of  Petersburg.  In  the  fall  of  1877,  he  embarked  in 
the  lumber  business  with  his  father,  the  firm  being  A.  &  C.  L.  Hatfield,  and  has  since 
continued  in  this  business,  but  on  his  own  account  since  April,  1879.  He  is  a  man  of 
fine  mental  powers  and  good  business  ability.  He  has  been  married  twice — first  to 
Miss  Mattie  E.  Edgar,  of  Lincoln,  111.,  Aug.  30,  1868 ;  she  died  Dec.  15,  1 874,  leav- 
ing two  children.  May  14,  1878,  he  married  Miss  Ella  A.  Fisher,  of  Petersburg,  111.; 
they  have  one  child.  They  are  active  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  he  has  served  as  Elder  since  1874. 

JOHN  A.  KURD,  farmer;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Newport,  N.  H., 
Nov.  28,  1806,  where  he  was  raised  and  schooled.  He  is  the  son  of  Peter  and 
Meribah  (Atwood)  Hurd,  who  were  also  natives  of  New  Hampshire.  During  early 
life,  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  clothier,  which  he  soon  abandoned,  as  his  inclinations  were 
toward  agricultural  pursuits.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Jewett,  of  his  native  place, 
Jan.  30,  1828.  He  then  took  charge  of  the  home  farm,  which  he  managed  until  1838, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Cass  Co.,  where  he  remained  until  1844,  when 
they  removed  to  Petersburg.  He  took  charge  of  the  clothier's  department  of  the 
woolen  mill,  continuing  there  some  two  years ;  then  removed  to  where  he  now  resides. 
Mrs.  Hurd  died  May  13,  1872.  They  had  three  children — Martha,  John  J.,  who 
died  in  the  army,  and  Celania  C.,  now  Mrs.  James  E.  Dickerson,  who  is  the  only  sur- 
viving child.  John  A.  Hurd  is  an  enterprising,  benevolent  and  highly  respected 
citizen.  His  home  farm1  consists  of  160  acres  of  fine  land. 

GEORGE  HUDSPETH,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Menard  Co.;  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  Ala.,  July  28,  1815.  His  father  died  when  he 
was  but  11  months  old,  and  then  his  mother  and  family,  consisting  of  five  children, 
removed  to  Overton  Co.,  Tenn.,  remaining  there  until  1822,  when  they  removed  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Jefferson  Co.,  and  in  1823,  in  Menard  Co.,  and  began  to  prepare  a 
home.  George  remained  with  his  mother  and  family  until  1833,  when  he  began  doing 
business  for  himself.  He  was  married  May  10,  1836,  to  Peggy  Ann  Jarvis,  also  of 
Menard  Co. ;  they  are  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living. 
During  his  early  life,  school  advantages  were  limited.  He  owns  235  acres  of  fine  land. 
He  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  good  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  has  lived.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hudspeth  are  now  living  to  see  the  use- 
fulness and  prosperity  of  their  children.  They  are  and  have  been  active  workers  in 
the  Church  for  upward  of  forty  years. 

ALMON  HURD,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg :  son  of  Hiram  and  Esther  (Patten) 
Hurd,  who  are  natives  of  New  Hampshire.  The  former  was  born  June  3,  1800,  and 
the  latter  Dec.  22,  1804.  They  were  married  Jan.  26,  1826.  They  have  now  lived 
together  for  over  fifty-three  years.  They  came  West  with  their  family  in  1855.  Almon  is 
the  only  son  and  was  born  in  Sullivan  Co.,  N.  H.,  March  13,  1838,  and  has  always 


PETERSBURG    PRECINCT.  697 

resided  with  his  parents,  and,  since  their  coming  West,  has  superintended  the  affairs  of 
his  parents.  He  married  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  James  Miles,  a  prominent  pioneer  of 
Menard  Co.  They  were  married  Oct.  31,  1867.  They  have  a  son  and  a  daughter. 
Mr.  Hurd  owns  160  acres.  » 

JUDGE  BREESE  JOHNSON,  attorney,  Petersburg;  son  of  Philip  and  Mary 
Johnson  ;  is  a  native  of  Frederick  Co.,  Va.,  where  he  was  raised  and  educated.  After 
obtaining  a  good  education,  he  began  teaching  school  and  reading  medicine.  A  year 
and  a  half  later,  he  was  persuaded  by  his  brother  to  abandon  medicine,  and  take  up  the 
study  of  law  with  him,  and,  after  studying  under  his  brother,  W.  R.,  he  began  under 
Gen.  Brisco  G.  Baldwin,  of  Stanton,  Va.  His  desire  to  become  an  able  attorney  caused 
him  to  apply  himself  diligently,  an  i  he  became  a  well-read  lawyer,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1835.  He  took  up  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  county,  and  soon  won  a 
good  reputation.  Mr.  Johnson  came  to  Menard  Co.  in  1861,  and  bought  land,  upon 
which  he  resided  fora  time.  He  came  and  located  in  Petersburg  in  1870,  since  which 
time  he  has  given  his  attention  to  the  practice  of  law. 

THOMAS  S.  KNOLES,  attorney  and  counselor  at  law ;  is  a  native  of  Menard  Co  , 
111.,  and  was  born  about  six  miles  east  of  Petersburg  Sept.  8,  1850.  His  father,  Asa 
Knoles,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Indiana  Nov.  19,  1818,  and  was  married  to 
Dorcas  Stone  in  1837.  in  Indiana.  She  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1823 ;  they  emi- 
grated to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  in  1848,  where  Asa  Knoles  became  a  leading  citizen,  stock- 
dealer  and  farmer.  Although  not  a  graduate,  he  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence,  and  kept  pace  with  the  events  of  the  day.  Dorcas  Knoles,  as  wife,  mother, 
neighbor  and  Christian,  was  a  model,  and  truly  consistent;  she  was  beloved  and 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  her,  and  died  Aug.  27,  1857.  She  was  the  mother  of  eleven 
children,  seven  boys,  all  living,  and  four  girls,  of  whom  but  one  is  living.  Asa  Knoles 
died  Nov.  12,  1863.  Their  remains  repose  in  Bee  Grove  burying-ground,  in  the 
northeast  part  of  Menard  Co.  Of  the  seven  boys,  five  were  soldiers  in  the  late  war, 
among  whom  we  mention  the  Hon.  S.  S.  Knoles.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
thrown  on  his  own  resources  at  the  age  of  13 ;  was  married  to  Miss  Laura  E.  Hart  in 
1872;  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1873;  he  is  the  author  of  a  political  speech  on  "The 
Functions  of  Money,"  and  of"  Moses  was  not  mistaken,"  both  productions  of  consid- 
erable merit ;  he  was  a  candidate  for  Clerk  of  the  Superior  Court  in  1878,  receiving 
upward  of  17,000  votes.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  T.  S.  and  L.  E.  Knoles — 
Isabelle  Grace,  the  oldest,  deceased ;  Tully  C.;  Nellie  Hart,  deceased  ;  C.  Rollin,  now 
three  months  old. 

S.  S.  KNOLES,  editor,  Petersburg ;  was  born  in  Gibson  Co.,  Ind.,  March  20, 
1840,  and  during  his  early  life,  obtained  a  fair  education.  He  came  to  Illinois,  with  his 
father,  in  1846  ;  he  read  law  with  N.  M.  Broadwell.  of  Springfield,  for  a  time,  then 
with  Hon.  T.  W.  McNeely,  of  Petersburg,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1869.  Dur- 
ing the  late  war,  he  enlisted  with  the  114th  I.  V.  I.,  and  served  three  years  as  Sergeant. 
During  his  service,  he  participated  in  many  of  the  most  severe  battles  of  the  war,  and 
was  severely  wounded.  He  lay  a  prisoner  for  several  months  at  Audersonville,  and  at 
Mobile.  In  1865,  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Menard  Co.,  and  re-elected  in  1867, 
serving  four  years.  In  1870,  he  was  elected  to  represent  Cass  and  Menard  Cos.  in  the 
Twenty-seventh  General  Assembly.  In  July,  1878,  he  became  one  of  the  proprietors 
and  editors  of  the  Petersburg  Democrat,  which  was  established  by  C.  Clay,  in  1859,  as  the 
Menard  Axis.  In  1868,  it  was  purchased  by  a  joint-stock  company,  and  edited  by  one 
M.  B.  Friend,  and  then  took  the  name  of  the  Petersburg  Democrit.  In  1871,  E.  F. 
McElwain  became  editor  and  proprietor.  In  1877,  A.  E.  Mick  became  the  proprietor 
and  editor,  continuing  such  until  Mr.  Knoles  became  a  partner,  since  which  time  it 
has  been  under  the  exclusive  control  and  editorial  management  of  Mick  &  Knoles.  It 
has  a  large  and  nourishing  circulation.  In  politics.  Democratic. 

REV.  ROBERT  MILLER,  minister  and  County  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
Petersburg;  was  born  Feb.  3,  1838,  in  Pettis  Co.,  Mo.,  near  the  present  site  of  the 
city  of  Sec  alia  ;  his  father,  William  A.  Miller,  was  bora  in  Kentucky  in  1804,  and 
emigrated  to  Missouri  in  1820  ;  he  was  a  politician  and  legislator  of  some  notoriety;  he 


698  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

died  in  1847 ;  his  wife  (the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch),  whose  maiden  name- 
was  Mitchell,  was  born  May  13,  1805,  on  the  French  Broad  River  in  Tennessee;  her 
father,  Capt.  Thomas  Mitchell,  removed  to  Missouri  in  1814,  and  together  with  a  few 
others,  lived  thfee  years  in  old  Ft.  Cole,  in  what  is  now  Cooper  Co. ;  Daniel  Boone  was 
for  some  time  an  inmate  of  Cole's  Fort,  and  died  in  that  section  of  the  country ;  Mrs. 
Miller  (now  a  widow)  is  living  with  a  son  in  Oregon.  The  subject  of  these'  notes 
received  his  early  education  at  the  district  schools,  which  he  attended  until  he  was  16 
years  old,  when  he  entered  Chapel  Hill  College,  Mo.,  and  began  a  regular  classical 
course,  but  lacked  one  year  of  completing  it ;  he  then  commenced  the  study  of  medi- 
cine, to  which  he  closely  applied  himself  for  eighteen  months  and  then  abandoned  it ; 
he  moved  to  Petersburg  in  1874,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Miller  joined  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  in  September,  1858;  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1860,  and 
ordained  in  1864 ;  he  has  spent  fourteen  years  in  teaching,  and  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools  for  Menard  Co.  in  January,  1877,  and  elected  to  the  office  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year,  by  a  majority  of  913,  the  largest  majority  ever  given  in  the 
county,  the  next  largest  being  640 ;  he  is  Pastor  of  the  C.  P.  Church,  of  Petersburg, 
one  of  the  largest  and  most  prosperous  in  the  city.  Mr.  Miller  was  married  Dec.  24r 
1856,  to  Miss  C.  A.  Riche,  in  Buchanan  Co.,  Mo. ;  they  have  six  children  living,  five 
girls  and  one  boy,  and  one  boy,  George  Mitchell,  was  killed  by  the  cars  March  25,  1879, 
aged  10  years  and  2  months;  the  names  of  those  living  are  as  follows :  Sarah  M.r 
Mollie  A.,  Emma  E.,  Leyria  A.,  Rosa  P.  and  Robert  D.  F. 

A.  E.  MICK,  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Tippecanoe  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  22,  1837, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  arriving  at  the  age  of  11  years,  when  his  mother 
died,  leaving  a  family  of  se'ven  children,  of  whom  he  was  the  eldest;  in  the  year  1850,, 
he  was  taken  by  his  father  to  Fountain  Co.,  where  he  was  reared  into  manhood  ;  he 
attended  school  at  Shawnee  Academy,  Wabash  College,  and  Indiana  Asbury  University, 
receiving  a  liberal  education;  at  the  age  of  21,  he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  which 
he  followed  about  four  years,  in  the  States  of  Indiana  and  Illinois ;  he  located  in  Peters- 
burg in  May,  1862,  and,  in  1864,  was  elected  County  Surveyor,  filling  that  office  until 
1869,  when  he  was  elected  County  Clerk  of  Menard  County,  which  he  held  for  a  term, 
of  four  years.  He  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  Milo  Wood,  June  15,  1865,  at 
Petersburg,  111.  In  1870,  he  obtained  license  to  practice  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Menard  County  bar  that  year,  following  the  profession  until  the  spring  of  1874,  when 
he  located  in  Southeastern  Kansas,  and  soon  built  up  an  extensive  practice  in  Wilson 
and  Neosho  Cos. ;  he  purchased  the  Petersburg  Democrat,  the  oldest  and  largest  paper 
in  Menard  Co.,  July  1,  1877,  and  moved  his  family  back  to  Petersburg  the  following; 
fall,  where  he  has  since  been  prominently  connected  with  that  paper. 

D.  T.  MORRIS,  harness  dealer,  Petersburg;  son  of  William  J.  and  Jemima 
(Ratliff)  Morris;  was  born  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  18,  1845;  in  1855,  he  w as- 
brought  to  Menard  Co.  by  his  parents,  where  they  have  since  resided ;  during  his  early 
life,  he  obtained  a  good  business  education  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  harness-maker ; 
he  engaged  in  the  harness  and  saddlery  business  on  his  own  account  in  1875,  and,  being 
a  finished  and  careful  workman,  has  built  up  a  flourishing  trade,  and  keeps  a  large  stock 
of  saddles  and  harness  of  his  own  manufacture.  He  married  Miss  Ruth  Davis,  of 
Menard  Co.,  111.,  June  7,  1866 ;  they  have  a  family  of  two  promising  children. 

CAPT.  C.  E.  McDOUGALL,  grocer,  Petersburg ;  firm  of  McDougall  &  Stith ; 
was  born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  11,  1838;  during  his  early  life,  he  obtained  a 
good  business  education  in  the  city  of  Boston;  he  came  to  Petersburg,  111.,  in  1858. 
He  entered  the  army  in  December,  1861,  as  a  private,  and  participated  in  many  of  the 
most  severe  battles  of  the  war ;  was  wounded  during  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro ;  he 
rose  to  the  office  of  Captain,  and  was  mustered  out  in  September,  1865 ;  after  the  war, 
he  engaged  in  various  business  enterprises  until  1872,  when  he  embarkod  in  the  gro- 
cery business  with  one  J.  F.  Parvin,  now  deceased ;  his  present  partnership  was  formed 
in  May,  1878;  as  a  firm,  they  are  well  known  and,  through  their  fine  assortment  of 
groceries  and  queensware,  and  their  uprightness  in  dealing,  have  built  up  a  flourishing 
trade.  Capt.  McDougall  now  officiates  as  Captain  of  the  Petersburg  Company  of 


PETERSBURG   PRECINCT. 

State  Militia  ;  he  is  a  social,  genial  and  much  respected  citizen.  He  married  Miss 
Almira  E.  West,  of  Greenview,  in  this  county,  Jan.  31,  1864;  they  have  a  family  of 
four  children. 

EDWARD  M.  MORRIS,  wagon-maker,  Petersburg;  son  of  William  J.  and 
Jemima  M.  (Ratliff)  Morris;  was  born  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  6,  1852;  he  caine 
with  his  parents  to  Menard  Co.  in  1855  ;  during  his  early  life  school  advantages  were 
limited ;  he  learned  his  trade  under  A.  W.  Stoker,  and  began  business  on  his  own 
account  in  1875 ;  he  began  by  letting  nothing  but  first-class  work  leave  his  shop,  and, 
through  his  mechanical  ability,  industry  and  energy,  has  placed  himself  in  his  present 
flourishing  condition. 

H.  W.  MONTGOMERY,  stock-dealer,  Petersburg.  Son  of  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Bailey)  Montgomery  ;  was  born  in  Adair  Co.,  Ky.,  June  30,  1820,  and  brought  to 
Illinois  by  his  parents  in  1829,  settling  in  Cass  Co.,  where  he  was  raised  a  farmer, 
receiving  a  good  common-school  education.  After  he  became  of  age,  he  took  charge  of 
the  home  farm,  remaining  with  his  father  until  about  25  years  of  age.  He  married 
Miss  Emily  E.  Wilson,  formerly  of  Ohio,  Jan.  16,  1850.  They  settled  in  Menard  Co.r 
near  Petersburg  in  1850,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  in  stock-dealing. 
He  is  a  man  of  large  means,  public-spirited,  benevolent,  and  much  respected.  They 
have  a  family  of  four  children. 

JAMES  MILES,  farmer  and  stock-dealer  ;  P.  0.  Petersburg.  Son  of  George  IL 
and  Jane  (McCoy)  Miles,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Menard  Co. ;  George  U. 
was  born  in  St.  Mary's  Co.,  Md.,  March  20,  1796,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  the 
Territory  of  Illinois  in  1816;  they  first  settled  in  what  is  now  St.  Clair  Co.,  where 
they  remained  for  a  time ;  thence  to  White  Co.,  and  there  George  U.  married  Miss 
Jane  McCoy  in  1821,  and  Nov.  25,  1822,  James  was  born.  In  1825,  they  removed 
into  what  is  now  Logan  Co.,  where  they  remained  until  1836,  when  they  removed  into 
Sangamon  Co. ;  thence,  in  1840,  to  Petersburg,  where  James  and  his  father  have  since 
lived.  James'  mother  having  died  Dec.  15,  1850  (she  left  three  children),  Oct.  21, 
1851,  his  father  married  Mrs.  Catharine  Early,  of  Sangamon  Co. ;  he  still  survives,  and 
now,  at  the  ripe  age  of  74,  resides  with  James,  who  is  a  prominent  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer.  His  farm  consists  of  166  acres  of  fine  land,  adjoining  the  town  of  Petersburg. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Anna  Smith,  of  this  county  ;  they  were  married  Jan.  5,  1845,  and 
have  a  family  now  living  of  five  children.  Mr.  Miles  is  one  of  the  well-to-do  and  enter- 
prising farmers  of  Menard  Co.,  always  assisting  in  such  matters  as  pertain  to  the  welfare 
of  the  community. 

JACOB  MERRELL,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg.  Son  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth 
(Stout)  Merrell ;  was  born  in  Mason  Co.,  Ky.,  March  9, 1806,  where  he  was  also  raised. 
He  came  to  this  State  with  his  parents  in  1832  ;  they  settled  where  Jacob  now  lives  -r 
and,  in  examining  the  location  of  the  farm,  his  father  admired  the  place  and  told  Jacob- 
he  wanted  to  be  buried  on  the  place,  pointing  out  the  location.  At  his  death,  which  was 
in  1835,  Jacob  did  as  his  father  requested;  and,  in  1859,  his  mother  was  laid  away  by 
his  side.  Jacob  Merrell  has  lived  a  long,  eventful  life,  and  the  high  esteem  in  which  he 
is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens  is  a  satisfaction  to  him  in  his  old  age ;  he  has  now  arrived 
to  the  ripe  old  age  of  74  years,  while  his  physical  condition  is  remarkably  good.  His 
wife  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Rumford,  of  his  native  county ;  they  were  married  in  October, 
1833  ;  they  have  raised  a  family  of  three  children.  They  own  240  acres  of  fine  land — 
a  part  of  the  old  homestead  farm. 

H.  W.  MASTERS,  State's  Attorney,  Petersburg ;  is  a  native  of  Morgan  Co.,  111., 
born  Sept.  11,  1845;  son  of  Squire  D.  and  Lucinda  (Young)  Masters,  who  were 
pioneers  of  this  county.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm,  and  received  his  early  education, 
at  a  district  school.  In  1861  and  1862,  he  attended  the  North  Sangamon  Academy  ; 
after  which,  he  attended  Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville ;  thence  to  Michigan  University, 
where  he  completed  a  fine  academical  education  ;  then  taught  school  for  several  years. 
In  1867,  he  began  to  read  law  under  the  direction  of  W.  McNeely ;  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1868,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in  Garnett,  Kan.,  and,  after 
one  year,  he  returned  to  Menard  Co.  and  took  up  farming,  but  through  his  ability  and 


700  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

popularity  was,  in  1872,  elected  to  the  office  of  State's  Attorney  for  Menard  Co.,  and 
re-elected  in  1876.  He  married  Emma  J.,  daughter  of  Rev.  D.  Dexter,  of  Brattleboro, 
Vt.,  Sept.  10,  1867  ;  they  have  a  family  of  three  children  living. 

B.  F.  MONTGOMERY,  stock-dealer,  Petersburg;  born  in  Adair  Co.,  Ky., 
-June  14,  1822 ;  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Bailey)  Montgomery;  they  came  from  Ken- 
tucky to  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  in  1829,  settling  upon  a  farm,  where  they  spent  the  remainder 
of  tneir  days.  Mr.  Samuel  Montgomery  was  industrious  and  successful,  and  left  a  good 
property.  B.  F.  and  his  brother  H.  W.  began  farming  and  stock-dealing  together,  and, 
like  many  others,  met  with  reverses ;  B.  F.  lost  all  he  had,  and  then  began  anew,  and, 
by  untiring  energy,  slowly  regained  what  he  lost,  and  has  gradually  increased  his 
property ;  he  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  most  reliable  stock -dealers  of  Central  Illinois, 
having  <jealt  in  stock  for  thirty  years.  He  married  Martha  A.,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Dowell,  a  prominent  pioneer  of  Menard  Co.,  Oct.  24,  1854;  they  have  a  family  of 
three  children. 

J.  McRUTLEDGrE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  was  born  in 
Henderson  Co.,  Ky.,  Sept.  29,  1815;  his  parents  emigrated  from  South  Carolina 
to  what  is  now  Menard  Co.  in  1826.  Mr. 'McR.  well  remembers  when  this  country  was 
inhabited  by  roving  bands  of  Indians,  with  now  and  then  an  adventurous  pioneer ;  he 
has  been  an  active  helper  in  all  enterprises  pertaining  to  the  good  of  the  community ; 
farming  and  stock-raising  has  been  his  principal  business,  and  he  has  accumulated  a 
good  property ;  he  now  owns  a  fine  farm,  consisting  of  200  acres,  which  is  the  result  of 
his  own  industry.  He  married  Miss  Margaret  C.  Harris,  of  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  19, 
1841 ;  she  was  born  in  Overton  Co.,  Tenn.,  Nov.  18,  1820  ;  they  have  a  family  of  eight 
children — three  sons  and  five  daughters. 

THOMPSON  WARE  McNEELY  was  born  at  Jacksonville,  111.,  Oct.  5,  A.  D. 
1835  ;  his  father,  Robert  T.  McNeely,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  of  Irish  and  Scotch 
•descent,  and  his  mother,  Ann  Maria  Ware,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  of  English 
descent;  in  1839,  Mr.  McNeely's  mother  died,  and  soon  after,  he  removed  with  his 
faiher  to  Menard  Co. ;  after  one  year  spent  at  Jubilee  College  near  Peoria,  and  four 
years  at  Lombard  University  at  Galesburg,  111.,  Mr.  McNeely  graduated  with  the 
degree  of  A.  B.  at  the  last-named  college  in  1856,  and  the  same  college,  in  1859,  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  degree  of  A.  M. ;  he  began  the  study  of  law,  July,  1856,  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  August,  1857,  at  Petersburg,  111.,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since  ;  he  attended' the  Law  Department  of  Kentucky  University  at  Louisville  during 
the  winter  of  1858-59,  where  he  graduated  in  March,  1859.  In  November,  1861,  he 
was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  Illinois  from  Meuard  and 
Cass  Cos.,  in  which  body  he  served  as  a  member;  in  1868,  he  was  elected  as  a  Demo- 
crat as  a  member  of  Congress  from  the  Ninth  District,  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Menard,  Cass,  Mason,  Fulton,  McDonoughr  Schuyler,  Brown  and  Pike,  and  was  re- 
elected  from  the  same  District  in  1870,  serving  from  March  4,  1869,  to  March  4.  1873. 
In  November,  1872,  he  was  married  to  Miss  M.  H.  Derickson,  daughter  of  Hon.  L.  L. 
Derickson,  of  Berlin,  Md.  After  leaving  Congress,  Mr.  McNeely  resumed  the  practice 
of  law.  He  is  now  the  Chairman  of  the  Democratic  State  Central  Committee. 

MARTIN  NEFF,  farmer;  P.O.  Petersburg;  born  in  Rockingham  Co.,  Va., 
Dec.  18;  1813,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Barbara  (Burkholder)  Neff;  he  is  of 
Oerman  origin.  His  wife  was  Miss  Helena  Bowers,  of  his  native  county ;  they  were 
married  June  20,  1844.  They  came  to  Illinois  in  1854,  locating  where  he  now  resides. 
Mrs.  Neff  died  Feb.  5,  1868  ;  they  had  raised  a  family  of  six.  Mr.  Neff  is  considered 
one  of  the  enterprising  and  well-to-do  citizens  of  Menard  Co.  He  owns  220  acres  of 
fine  land,  situated  three  miles  from  Petersburg. 

J.  W.  NEWCOMER>  physician,  Petersburg ;  son  of  Joseph  and  Maria  (Royer) 
Newcomer;  was  born  in  Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  Sept.  17,  1838,  where  he  was  raised  and 
received  his  academical  education  ;  after  which  he  entered  Jefferson  Medical  College,  of 
Pniladelphia,  graduating  in  1864.  He  then  entered  the  regular  service  as  a  medical 
officer  of  the  Navy  Department.  After  a  service  of  eighteen  months,  he  resigned  and 
.spent  some  time  in  looking  for  a  location.  Being  favorably  impressed  with  Petersburg 


PETERSBURG   PRECINCT.  701 

and  its  people,  he  located  here  in  1866.  His  uprightness  of  character  gave  the  people 
confidence,  and  his  gradual  increase  of  practice  is  evidence  of  his  skill.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Medical  Association,  and  President  of  the  Tri-State  Society  (District 
of  Brainard).  He  married  Miss  E.  Jennie,  daughter  of  Isaac  White,  a  pioneer  of  this 
county,  Dec.  5,  1867  ;  they  have  a  family  of  six. 

JUDGE  J.  H.  PILLSBURY,  retired,  Petersburg;  son  of  Alpha  and  Margaret 
(Caverno)  Pillsbury ;  was  born  in  Stafford  Co.,  N.  H.,  Aug.  3,  1830.  His  father  died 
in  1831,  leaving  a  wife  and  two  sons.  In  1836,  they  emigrated  to  Menard  Co.,  111., 
bought  land  and  began  to  prepare  a  home.  At  this  time,  it  was  a  wild  and  desolate 
country,  and  none  but  those  possessed  with  a  firm  will  and  determination,  coupled  with 
industry,  could  live  the  life  he  has  lived.  Few  can  look  back  over  their  past  life  with 
more  satisfaction  than  he,  as  to-day  he  enjoys  the  honor  and  respect  of  all  who  know 
him.  During  his  early  life,  he  received  a  good  education  at  Jacksonville  College.  He 
settled  in  the  town  of  Petersburg  in  1854,  and  read  law  under  the  instruction  of  Hon. 
T.  L.  Harris;  after  which  he  taught  school  for  a  time,  and  in  the  fall  of  1855  was 
elected  School  Commissioner,  serving  six  years.  In  1856,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
and,  in  1857,  elected  Police  Magistrate,  and  appointed  Master  in  Chancery,  serving  in 
the  latter  office  eight  years.  In  the  fall  of  1861,  he  was  elected  County  Judge  of 
Menard  Co.  and  re-elected  in  1873.  His  brother  died  in  January  of  1852  ;  his 
mother  survived  until  April  3,  1868.  The  Judge  married  Miss  Susan  M.  Gardner  Jan. 
3,  1861 ;  she  is  a  daughter  of  Hiram  K.  Gardner,  a  prominent  pioneer  of  Sangamon 
Oo.  They  have  two  children  living — Joseph  B.  and  Susan  H. 

MRS.  ELIZABETH  POTTER,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tallula;  widow  of  the  late 
Elijah  Potter;  was  born  in  Jackson  Co.,  Tenn.,  Oct.  30,  1818,  the  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Elizabeth  Graham  (Greene),  who  emigrated  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  in  1821, 
locating  upon  the  farm  where  she  now  resides.  Sept.  15,  1833,  she  was  married  to 
Mr.  Elijah  Potter,  who  was  born  in  White  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  24,  1813,  and  located  with 
hjs  parents  in  what  is  now  Menard  Co.  in  1819.  He  began  doing  for  himself,  a  poor 
man,  with  nothing  but  a  determined  mind  and  willing  hands,  but,  in  a  few  years,  it 
could  be  seen  that  Mr.  Potter  was  destined  to  be  a  prominent  and  a  wealthy  man ;  suc- 
cess gradually  followed  his  efforts,  until  he  had  amassed  a  fine  fortune  ;  he  assisted  in 
any  matter  pertaining  to  the  good  of  the  community ;  he  had  bought  and  improved 
nearly  1,000  acres;  March  23,  1876,  he  died,  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  acquaint- 
ances, friends  and  relatives  ;  he  had  two  daughters,  one  of  whom  now  resides  with  her 
mother ;  Mrs.  Potter  now  superintends  the  farm  ;  she  is  a  lady  of  fine  mental  powers 
and  a  great-grandmother,  but  as  sprightly  as -many  younger  women. 

W.  B.  PEAKE,  retired,  Petersburg;  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  M.  (Adams) 
Peake,  who  were  of  English  descent ;  was  born  in  Loudoun  Co.,  Va.,  Sept.  6,  1803  ; 
during  his  early  life,  school  advantages  were  very  limited,  but,  by  home-study  and  observa- 
tion, he  became  a  practical  business  man ;  he  entered  mercantile  life  as  clerk  when  quite 
young,  and,  after  five  years'  experience,  became  a  partner  and  accumulated  a  good  pro- 
perty ;  in  1837,  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Menard  Co.,  and  opened  a  general  store 
at  Salisbury ;  he  located  in  Petersburg  in  1844,  and  for  several  years  was  a  merchant. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Jane  E.  Powell,  of  Fairfax  Co.,  Va. ;  they  were  married  Nov.  3, 
1836;  she  was  born  Oct.  2,  1815.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pcake  enjoy  fine  health  and  are 
sprightly,  social  and  genial ;  their  combined  ages  equal  140  years. 

ELI  REEP,  farmer;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  is  a  native  of  Harrison  Co.,  Ind.  ;  born 
Jan.  21,  1840  ;  during  his  early  life,  his  school  advantages  were  limited  ;  he  came  to 
Illinois  in  1857,  and  engaged  as  a  farm  laborer,  which  he  followed  in  summer  and 
attended  school  during  winters ;  in  this  way,  he  acquired  a  good  business  education. 
He  enlisted  in  the  army  in  1862  with  the  106th  I.  V.  I.  ;  he  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  upward  of  three  years,  and  escaped  without  injury.  After  the  war,  he  returned 
to  where  he  now  lives  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock-dealing,  in  which 
business  he  was  for  a  time  very  successful.  His  wife,  Anna  B.,  is  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  F.  and  Anna  (Beck)  Dowell;  Mr.  Dowell  came  from  Virginia  in  1827,  and 
has  been  an  eye-witness  to  the  great  changes  in  this  region  from  wild  forests  and  prairies  to 


702  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

a  thickly  settled  county ;  the  trials  and  privations  of  a  pioneer  life,  are  yet  fresh  in  his 
memory  ;  his  wife  died  May  23,  1863,  a  faithful  wife  and  devoted  mother  ;  she  had 
raised  a  family  of  ten.  Mr.  Dowell  still  resides  upon  the  old  homestead,  where  he  set- 
tled in  a  very  early  day,  and  has  an  ancient-looking  orchard  which  furnished  the  first 
fruit  in  Menard  Co. ;  many  of  the  trees  are  over  three  feet  in  diameter ;  he  and  his 
trees  have  grown  old  together,  and  their  career  has  alike  been  a  long  and  fruitful  one  * 
Mr.  Dowell  has  now  reached  the  ripe  age  of  79  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch, 
in  1873,  was  elected  to  the  responsible  position  of  Assessor  and  Treasurer  of  Menard 
County. 

J.  F.  KICHTER,  marble  dealer,  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Germany  Oct.  15r 
1834,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1849,  locating  in  Richmond,  Ind. ;  there  he  began 
the  trade  of  a  stone  and  marble  cutter,  remaining  some  three  years,  then  went  to  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  where  he  finished  his  trade  under  the  old,  established  firm  of  La  Dow  & 
Hamilton,  which  gives  him  the  reputation  he  justly  deserves  of  being  a  fine  marble- 
worker;  he  followed  his  trade  in  Springfield,  111.,  for  a  number  of  years;  he  established 
himself  in  the  marble  business  at  Petersburg  in  1878,  and  is  now  prepared  to  do  as  fine 
work  at  as  reasonable  rates  as  any  one  in  Central  Illinois.  He  has  married  twice,  first 
to  Miss  Mary  Abbott,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  Feb.  3,  1858;  she  died  at  Lincoln,  111.,  in 
1866,  leaving  two  children  ;  his  second  wife  was  a  sister  of  his  first  wife  ;  they  were 
married  in  August,  1871,  by  whom  he  has  one  child. 

NORMAN  K.  RAN  KIN,  lumber  dealer,  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Hancock  Co.T 
111.,  Dec.  21,  1847,  and  was  taken  to  McLean  Co.  by  his  parents  while  quite  young, 
and  there  raised  and  educated  at  the  Wesleyan  University.  At  the  age  of  16,  he 
entered  the  army  of  the  late  war,  enlisting  with  the  150th  I.  V.  I.,  in  February,  18(i5 ; 
was  discharged  at  Camp  Butler  after  a  service  of  one  year.  His  parents  having  died 
while  he  was  quite  young,  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  and  by  his  own 
efforts  obtained  an  education.  He  began  doing  business  on  his  own  account  in  1871  r 
locating  at  Saybrook,  McLean  Co.,  embarking  in  the  lumber  business,  and  there  contin- 
uing for  a  time,  then  engaging  in  the  stock  business ;  in  this  he  met  with  good  success. 
Nov.  14,  1877,  he  married  Anna,  daughter  of  Squire  D.  and  Lucinda  Masters,  who 
are  prominent  pioneers  of  Menard  Co. ;  she  is  a  graduate  of  the  Illinois  Female  College 
of  Jacksonville,  and  has  given  considerable  attention  to  elocution,  having  given  several 
readings  with  marked  success,  and  is  a  lady  of  refinement  and  talent ;  they  have  one 
child — Ralph  V.  They  located  in  Petersburg  in  1878,  and  Mr.  Rankin  engaged  in 
the  lumber  trade,  firm  of  Masters  &  Rankin. 

PHILIP  RAINEY,  miller,  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Boydton,  Va.,  Oct.  7r 
1829,  where  he  was  raised  and  schooled.  His  first  business  experience  was  in  connection 
with  the  post  office  at  that  place,  where  he  continued  several  years.  In  1849,  he 
removed  to  California,  and  remained  some  four  years  engaged  in  mining  and  mercantile 
business  ;  during  this  time,  his  father  died.  In  1854,  he  returned  home,  and  lived  with 
his  mother  until  the  close  of  the  late  war.  He  came  to  Petersburg  in  1867,  and  shortly 
afterward  purchased  an  interest  in  the  mill  of  which  he  is  now  sole  proprietor.  He 
bought  out  his  partner  in  1869,  and  has  since  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  grain- 
dealing  and  milling.  He  has,  by  his  fair  dealing  and  business  qualification,  won  for 
himself  a  good  reputation.  He  married  Miss  Marcia  H.  Rourke,  of  this  county,  May 
24,  1869  ;  she  is  the  daughter  of  Col.  C.  Rourke,  of  this  place.  They  have  a  family 
of  four  children. 

JOHN  H.  and  HENRY  SCHIRDING,  farmers  and  stock -dealers ;  P.  0.  Peters- 
burg; sons  of  Henry  and  Helen  M.  (Zurbord)  Schirding.  John  was  born  in  the 
Province  of  Hanover,  Germany,  July  24,  1828,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1847. 
Henry  was  also  born  in  Hanover  Oct.  12,  1833,  and,  with  his  parents,  came  to  this 
country  in  1848,  and  joined  John  H.  in  opening  their  present  home  farm,  which  now 
consists  of  781  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  may  be  found  in  Menard  Co.  Their  parents  still 
live  with  them,  and  have  arrived  at  a  ripe  old  age,  their  combined  ages  being  160 
years,  and  enjoy  fiue  health  for  old  people.  Henry  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Behma,  of 
his  native  country,  June  26, 1864.  They  have  a  family  of  three.  They  are  enterprising, 


PETERSBURG   PRECINCT.  703 

benevolent  and  practical  farmers,  enjoying  the  reputation  of  being  much  respected 
•citizens. 

ISAAC  C.  STITH,  of  the  firm  of  McDougall  &  Stith,  Petersburg ;  is  the  son  of 
Thomas  M.  and  Susanna  (Colson)  Stith;  he  was  born  in  this  county  March  11,  1848, 
and  raised  upon  a  farm,  obtaining  such  education  as  could  then  be  obtained.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  E.  Hohimer,  of  this  county,  Jan.  25,  1871  ;  she  was  born  in  this  county 
April  8,  1849.  They  have  a  family  of  two  children.  For  a  time,  Mr.  Stith  followed 
teaming  in  and  about  Petersburg,  and  in  May,  1878,  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
with  his  present  partner.  They  are  live  business  men,  and  keep  none  but  the  best 
grade  of  goods. 

J.  M.  SAWYER,  station  agent  for  the  C.  &  A.  R.  R.  Co.,  Petersburg ;  son  of 
Josiah  and  Harriet  R.  (Bates)  Sawyer;  was  born  in  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  April  28,  1846, 
where  he  spent  his  early  life,  growing  up  on  a  farm,  and  receiving  a  good  business 
education.  During  the  late  war,  he  enlisted  with  the  4fh  Mass.  Cav.,  and  served  some 
twenty-two  months,  and  was  honorably  discharged ;  he  then  returned  to  Tazewell  Co., 
111.,  and  learned  telegraphing.  He  came  to  Petersburg  in  1867,  and  engaged  with  the 
Jackson  branch  of  the  C.  &  A.  R.  R.  as  station  agent  and  operator ;  this  position  he 
has  since  held  with  satisfaction  to  all  concerned.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Walker, 
of  this  place,  May  1,  1870.  They  have  two  children — Harriet  C.  and  Angeline  M. 

G.  W.  SHEPHARD,  liveryman,  of  the  firm  of  Shephard  &  Rutledge,  livery  and 
sale  stables,  Petersburg  ;  son  of  James  and  Margaret  (Parke)  Shephard,  of  Scotch-Irish 
origin  ;  was  born  in  Menard  Co.  Feb.  1,  1847  ;  he  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  educated 
at  district  schools  ;  obtained  a  good  business  education,  and  for  a  number  of  years  taught 
school.  He  settled  in  Petersburg  in  1872,  and  taught  a  nine-months'  school,  then 
bought  a  half-interest  in  this  stable,  which  is  now  well  stocked,  and  has  acquired  a  good 
<jlass  o/  custom. 

A.  W.  STOKER,  foundry,  Petersburg;  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Maxwell) 
Stoker,  who  located  near  Springfield,  111.,  in  1847;  A.  W.  was  born  in  Fairfield  Co., 
Ohio,  May  22,  1826 ;  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  machinist  under  the  instruction  of  his 
father,  and  has  since  continued  it;  he  located  in  Springfield  in  1816,  where  he  followed 
his  trade;  in  1849,  he  came  to  Petersburg  and  established  a  shop,  which  he  managed 
some  two  years,  then  returned  to  Springfield  and  engaged  with  the  Western  Railroad 
Company  some  eight  years ;  he  then  settled  in  Petersburg,  where  he  has  since  lived  an 
industrious  and  well-to-do  citizen  ;  he  conducts  the  manufacturing  of  the  wheat  drill 
known  as  the  Blunt  Press  Drill;  also  of  plows,  in  connection  with  a  foundry  and  gen- 
eral machine-shop.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  married  Miss  Susan 
Dickerson,  of  Indiana,  May  6,  1849  ;  they  have  one  child — Emma,  who  is  now  Mrs. 
Prof.  M.  C.  Connelly. 

R.  N.  STEVENS,  attorney,  Petersburg;  son  of  Stephen  and  Elizabeth  J. 
(Grindle)  Stevens;  was  born  in  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  10,  1852;  he  came  with 
parents  to  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  in  1856,  where  they  lived  until  1865,  when  they  came  to 
Menard  Co. ;  he  was  educated  at  Pekin,  obtaining  a  good  business  education,  and 
deciding  upon  the  profession  of  law  for  a  calling ;  he  began  study  in  1873  under 
McNeely  (a  prominent  attorney  of  Petersburg),  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1875  ; 
he  continued  with  McNeely  until  1877,  when  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  ; 
he  was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery  in  1876.  Mr.  Stevens  is  well  read,  practical,  and 
fast  becoming  prominent  in  the  profession.  He  married  Emma,  daughter  of  Col. 
Rourke  (of  (his  place)  April  17,  1876. 

HARMAN  TEMANN,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  was  born  in  the  Province  of 
Hanover,  Germany,  Feb.  6,  1824,  where  he  served  seven  years  in  the  regular  army;  he 
came  to  this  country  in  1853,  and  located  at  Petersburg ;  he  began  as  a  laborer,  and  thus 
continued  until  he  had  accumulated  some  means  with  which  to  purchase  a  small  farm  ;  he 
bought  and  sold  several  times,  finally  locating  where  he  now  resides  in  1864,  and  has  a 
fine  farm  of  265  acres.  He  married  Miss  Tutter  Luken,  of  his  native  country,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1861  ;  they  have  three  children  living.  Mr.  Teeman  came  to  this  country  with 
comparatively  little  means,  but  by  industry  and  energy  has  accumulated  a  fine  property. 


704  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

AARON  THOMPSON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  son  of  Anson  and  Elizabeth. 
(Eldredge)  Thompson ;  was  born  in  Cape  May  Co.,  N.  J.,  Jan.  28,  1810,  where  he  was 
raised  and  educated ;  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1837,  locating  in  Sangamon  Co.,  and,  for  a 
time,  taught  school,  and  afterward  entered  a  general  store  as  clerk  ;  Mr.  Thompson 
located  where  he  now  resides  in  1848,  and  Sept.  21,  1848,  married  Miss  Sarah  J.  Car- 
son, of  Sangamon  Co.,  111. ;  she  died  Oct.  19,  1854,  leaving  three  children,  two  of  whom 
are  now  living.  Mr.  Thompson's  present  wife  is  Amanda,  daughter  of  Zadoc  W.  and 
Elizabeth  (Hill)  Flinn ;  she  was  born  in  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  Sept.  3,  1827,  where  she  was 
raised  and  received  her  education  ;  Feb.  10,  1848,  she  married  Mr.  George  M.  Obanion, 
a  highly  respected  and  prominent  man  of  Morgan  Co. ;  he  died  Sept.  15,  1852,  leav- 
ing one  child ;  April  18,  1856,  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Aaron  Thompson,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  ;  by  her  he  has  six  children ;  they  are  considered  among  the  wealthy  citi- 
zens of  Menard  Co.,  and  make  their  wealth  a  means  of  comfort  and  happiness  to  them- 
selves and  to  others  ;  they  are  slirrounded  by  a  pleasant  and  promising  family. 

MRS.  MARY  J.  THOMPSON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  daughter  of  Joseph 
B.  and  Catharine  (Hall)  Ayres,  who  were  early  settlers  of  Menard  Co.  She  was  born 
near  Athens,  March  16,  1819,  and  was  there  raised  and  schooled.  She  was  married  to 
Mr.  James  H.  Thompson  Dec.  20,  1864  ;  they  located  upon  the  farm  where  she  now 
resides.  Mr.  Thompson  was  a  prominent  pioneer  of  this  county  ;  he  passed  away  April 
14,  1878.  Mr.  Thompson  had  a  family  of  eight  by  first  wife  and  one  by  his  last  wife. 
He  left  a  fine  property ;  the  farm  consists  of  350  acres  of  finely  improved  land,  with  a 
good  residence. 

ANSON  THOMPSON,  County  Clerk,  Petersburg ;  son  of  James  H.  and  Sarah 
(Brown)  Thompson,  who  are  of  English  origin,  and  came  to  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  in 
1835,  and  after  a  time  removed  to  Cass  Co  ,  where  Anson  was  born,  November '6, 1844. 
They  removed  to  Menard  Co.  in  1846,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their  days. 
She  died  Nov.  20,  1862,  leaving  a  family  of  seven  children,  and  he  died  April  4,  1878. 
They  were  beloved  by  friends  and  relatives,  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  them.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  raised  upon  a  farm,  and  his  early  education  obtained  at  dis- 
trict school,  after  which  he  attended  Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville.  In  1863,  he 
entered  Michigan  University,  where  he  completed  a  fine  business  education,  and 
returned  to  Petersburg  and  entered  the  store  of  Brahm  &  Lanning  as  clerk  ;  he  con- 
tinued there  till  1873,  when  he  was  elected  County  Clerk,  and  re-elected  in  1877. 

JOHN  TICE,  County  Judge,  Petersburg  ;  son  of  Nicholas  and  Elizabeth  (Thomas) 
Tice.  and  grandson  of  Jacob  and  Susannah  M.  (Querie)  Tice.  His  grandfather  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Maryland  in  1756.  There 
his  father  was  born  March  8,  1786,  and  raised  in  Shenandoah  Co.,  Va.  In  1806,  his 
father  removed  to  Floyd  Co.,  Va.,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  was  a  soldier  of 
the  war  of  1812;  he  emigrated  with  his  family  to  Illinois  in  1831,  settling  in  what  is 
now  Menard  Co.,  and  at  what  is  now  the  village  of  Athens.  In  the  spring  of  1832,  he 
purchased  a  farm  at  what  is  now  Tice  Station,  on  the  Springfield  &  Northwestern 
Railroad,  where  he  resided,  a  prominent  farmer,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Oct. 
11,  1856,  his  wife  having  died  at  the  same  place  March  14,  1845.  They  were  the 
parents  of  -eight  children.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest  of  the  family,  and 
was  born  in  Floyd  Co.,  Va.,  Feb.  22,  1823.  He  passed  his  early  life  in  the  homestead 
at  Tice  Station.  During  his  early  life,  school  advantages  were  limited,  but,  by  home 
study,  he  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  good  business  education.  After  the  death  of  his 
parents,  the  responsibility  of  educating  and  looking  after  the  wants  of  his  brothers  and 
sisters  devolved  upon  him,  and  nobly  did  he  meet  it,  his  devotion  to  them  never  ceasing 
till  all  were  amply  able  to  meet  the  pressing  duties  of  life.  For  a  number  of  years,  Mr. 
Tice  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and,  in  1849,  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Associate 
Judge  of  Menard  Co.,  continuing  until  1853.  In  1S55,  he  was  appointed  Duputy 
County  Surveyor,  and  for  thirteen  consecutive  years  performed  the  duties  of  Surveyor, 
almost  the  entire  responsibility  of  the  office  resting  upon  him.  In  1857,  he  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  Assessor  and  Treasurer  of  Menard  Co.,  the  official  duties  of  which  he 
performed  for  eight  consecutive  y«-ars.  In  1866,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Sheriff1 


PETERSBURG   PRECINCT.  705 

and  Collector  of  Menard  Co.,  serving  one  term,  since  which  time  he  has  served  as 
Deputy,  until  November,  1877,'  when  he  was  elected  County  Judge.  Mr.  Tice  has  served 
the  people  of  Menard  Co.,  in  some  public  capacity,  for  about  thirty  years,  which,  alone, 
testifies  to  his  worth  and  popularity.  His  long  and  faithful  career  as  an  officer  he  may 
well  be  proud  of,  as  the  duties  were  performed  with  credit  and  honor  to  himself  and 
those  he  represented ;  by  economy  and  good  financiering,  he  has  amassed  a  large  prop- 
erty, and  is  benevolent  and  public-spirited.  He  married  Lydia,  daughter  of  John  and 
Hannah  Bowers,  of  Rockingham  Co.,  Va.,  March  26,  1857. 

ROBERT  WORTHINGTON,  farmer  and  stock-dealer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg.  Son 
of  Robert  and  Ann  E.  (Whiting)  \$orthington ;  born  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  8, 1815, 
where  he  was  raised  and  schooled.  He  began  business  for  himself  at  21,  engaging  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  has  twice  married — first,  to  Eleanor  Haynes,  of  Ross  Co., 
Ohio,  Nov.  10,  1836,  who  died  Feb.  1,  1839,  leaving  two  children;  second,  to  Mis* 
Margaret  Clark,  of  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  10,  1842.  They  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall 
of  1851,  and,  in  the  springf,  bought  and  settled  where  he  now  resides.  He  owns  480 
acres  of  fine  land  ;  has  a  fine  and  beautifully  located  residence.  His  family  consists  of 
nine  children  by  his  last  wife. 

S.  WINTERS,  farmer  and  lumber  manufacturer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg  ;  was  born  in 
St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  4.  1817  ;  son  of  Nathan  and  Grace  (Kelsey)  Winters, 
of  English  origin  ;  his  father  died  in  1827,  and  his  mother  in  1852.  During  the  early 
life  of  Mr.  Winters,  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  wagon-maker.  He  came  to  Menard  Co., 
111.,  in  1854,  locating  at  Athens,  where  he  followed  his  trade;  and,  in  1856,  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  resigned  and  removed  to  where  he  now  lives,  in  1857,  and 
bought  The  saw-mill  which  he  still  operates  ;  this  mill  was  one  of  the  first  in  this  county, 
and  is  still  in  good  working  order.  Here  Mr.  W.  began  to  do  business  with  a  deter- 
mination, and  he  gradually  succeeded  in  business,  and,  at  different  times,  bought  small 
tracts  of  land  adjoining  .the  mill,  until  now  he  has  a  fine  farm  of  170  acres.  His  wife 
was  Miss  Louisa  A.  Minkler ;  they  were  married  Feb.  24,  1841  ;  they  have  raised  a 
family  of  six.  , 

'  W.  C.  WARING,  merchant,  Petersburg;  son  of  George  G.  and  Elizabeth  (Clark) 
Waring  ;  was  born  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio.  April  2,  1841 ;  and,  at  the  age  of  11,  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  this  county,  arid  raised  upon  a  farm.  During  his  early  life,  the  advan- 
tages for  an  education  were  limited.  In  1863,  Mr.  Waring  emigrated  to  Petaluma, 
Cal.,  remaining  but  one  year  ;  then  returned  to  Menard  Co.,  and  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  began  in  mercantile  life  at  Newmanville,  Cass  Co.,  111. ;  there  he  was  a 
successful  merchant  for  three  years  ;  then  he  came  to  Petersburg  and  established  his 
present  business.  Is  one  of  the  flourishing  merchants  of  Petersburg,  and  has  a  fine 
property,  and  a  good  trade.  He  married  Jenette,  daughter  of  James  and  Margaret 
Shephard,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Menard  Co. 

SILAS  W  ATKINS,  farmer  and  stock-dealer;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  was  bora  in 
Menard  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  23,  1836 ;  son  of  William  G.  and  Jane  (Denton)  Watkins.  His 
mother  died  while  he  was  quite  young ;  his  father  was  a  prominent  pioneer  arid  stock- 
dealer  of  Menard  Co.,  111.,  and  died  in  1876,  leaving  a  good  property.  Silas  began 
doing  for  himselt  while  yet  a  boy,  with  but  a  limited  schooling,  and  by  home  study  and 
,  practice  acquired  a  fair  business  education.  He  has  accumulated  a  fine  property, 
owning  400  acres.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Elmore  in  1856;  she  died  in  1873, 
leaving  two  children.  March  15,  1874,  he  married  Miss  Louisa  Smith,  by  whom  he 
has  one  child.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watkins  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

FRED  WILKINSON,  Sheriff,  Petersburg;  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Goble) 
Wilkinson,  who  were  of  English  extraction,  and  among  the  early  settlers  of  Menurd 
Co. ;  was  born  in  this  county  Aug.  17,  1840,  upon  the  homestead  farm  at  Sugar  Grove, 
where  his  parents  settled  in  an  early  day ;  his  early  education  was  such  as  could  be 
obtained  from  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  in  which  he  resided,  and  he  soon  became 
proficient  in  the  branches  commonly  taught ;  his  father  was  also  his  teacher  for  a  con- 
siderable period  of  time,  and  under  his  care  he  made  rapid  advancement ;  as  was  com- 
mon in  those  days,  some  months  of  the  year  were  spent  at  work  on  the  farm,  and  the 


706  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

winter  months  mainly  devoted  to  schooling ;  his  youth  and  early  manhood  passed  with- 
out noteworthy  events.  At  the  age  of  27,  he  married,  Nov.  19,  1869,  Miss  Mary  E. 
Wade,  of  this  county ;  her  parents,  F.  A.  and  Louisa  M.  Wade,  were  formerly  residents 
of  Bath  Co.,  Ky. ;  he  soon  began  farming,  which  he  followed  for  several  years ;  in 
1870,  he  was  elected  Sheriif  of  the  county,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  the  term,  was 
re-elected.  His  wife  died  'June  23,  1874,  leaving  two  children,  but  one  of  whom  is 
now  living.  His  official  position  has  been  filled  with  credit  and  honor. 

THOMAS  WATKINS,  farmer;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  among  the  pioneers  of 
Menard  Co.,  none  is  better  known  than  the  name  of  Watkins ;  his  father,  Thomas 
Watkins,  was  a  settler  in  the  Territory  of  Illinois  previous  to  the  war  of  1812,  and 
during  that  war  served  as  a  ranger  and  obtained  money  to  enter  land.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born  near  where  he  now  resides  Nov.  16,  1824;  he  has  seen  the  entire 
growth  of  the  county ;  he  served  one  year  in  the  Mexican  war ;  he  has  accumulated  a 
good  property  and  now  owns  310  acres  adjoining  the  town  of  Petersburg.  He  married 
Miss  Mary  Goldsby  Jan.  25,  1848 ;  they  have  raised  a  family  of  nine  children. 

McCLANE  WATKINS,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Greene)  Watkins,  among  the  first  white  settlers  of  the  Territory  of  Illinois ;  they 
came  from  Kentucky  to  this  Territory  before  the  war  of  1812,  and  during  the  war  of 
1812  he  served  as  a  ranger  for  three  years,  and  settled  at  Clary's  Grove  in  1819  ;  he 
had  done  much  in  his  time  for  the  development  of  the  country,  and  had  accumulated  a 
good  property,  which  he  left  to  his  children.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  near 
where  he  now  resides  Dec.  28,  1826,  and  this  has  always  been  his  home ;  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  early  settlement  of  Menard  Co.  is  thorough  and  reliable,  and  the  name  of 
Watkins  as  pioneers  is  well  known  throughout  Central  Illinois ;  *he  owns  392  acres  of 
fine  land.  He  has  twice  married,  first  to  Miss  Hannah  E.  Jones,  of  this  county,  Sept. 
6,  1858;  she  died  Oct.  13,  1866,  leaving  two  children;  in  1870,  he  married  his  pres- 
ent wife. 

WILLIAM  M.  WHITE,  contractor  and  builder,  Petersburg;  is  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Menard  Co.  He  came  with  his  parents,  Aaron  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Murray) 
White,  to  this  county  at  a  very  early  day,  and  well  remembers  when  this  was  a  wild 
region,  with  but  now  and  then  a  settler.  He  has  witnessed  the  entire  growth  of  the 
county.  His  parents  settled  at  Clary's  Grove,  and  there  his  father  operated  a  saw- 
mill for  a  number  of  years  ;  then  settled  in  Petersburg,  following  contracting  and  build- 
ing. William  chose  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  which  he  learned  under  his 
father.  After  a  time,  his  parents  removed  to  Ohio,  but  he  remained  here  and  followed 
contracting  and  building,  and  many  of  the  principal  public  and  private  buildings  have 
been  erected  by  him.  He  was  born  near  Lexington,  Ky.,  Jan.  30,  1824.  His  life 
has  been  one  of  industry  and  energy.  His  wife  was  Miss  Rebecca  Perkins ;  they 
were  married  April  21,  1846.  They  raised  a  large  family,  seven  of  whom  are  now 
living. 

H.  A.  WOOD,  nursery,  Petersburg ;  H.  A.  Wood  is  a  specimen  of  the  Yankees 
of  the  Empire  State  ;  born  in  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  30,  1842  ;  son  of  Solomon 
and  Anna  Shuman  Wood ;  the  Shumans  are  of  German  and  the  Woods  of  English 
descent;  Horace's  father  was  a  farmer,  and  reared  H.  A.  to  this  business ,  after  he  had 
attained  his  manhood,  was  engaged  several  years  as  traveling  salesman,  and  was  success- 
ful in  this  direction,  and,  attracting  the  attention  of  Mr.  Spaulding,  of  Springfield,  he 
engaged  his  services  and  continued  with  him  two  years,  with  credit  to  himself  and  to 
the  satisfaction  of  his  employers.  Dec.  29,  1869,  married  Lizzie  Miles;  born  in 
Petersburg  March  14,  1850;  daughter  of  Maj.  Miles;  one  child — Florence,  born 
April  13,  1874.  Since  his  marriage,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  nursery  business  on 
his  own  account ;  keeps  a  general  assortment  of  fruit  and  shade  trees,  shrubbery  and 
hardy  plants ;  Mr.  Wood's  long  experience  in  the  business  enables  him  to  give  satisfac- 
tion to  his  customers,  and  from  his  upright  and  manly  deportment,  has  secured  the  good 
will  and  liberal  patronage  of  the  people.  Is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

ARTHUR  YOUNG,  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  insurance  agent.  Petersburg ; 
son  of  Samuel  and  Sophia  V.  (Craven)  Young;  was  born  in  .Montgomery  Co.,  Md., 


TALLULA    PRECINCT.  707 

Au<r.  1,  1847,  where  he  was  raised  and  received  his  early  schooling.  In  1865,  he 
came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Jacksonville,  and  there  attended  Illinois  College,  returning 
home  in  1867.  In  1869,  he  came  to  Illinois  again  and  settled  in  Petersburg,  and 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  which  he  abandoned  after  a  time  on  account  of  his 
health.  In  1876,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  elected 
regularly  in  1877.  which  position  he  now  holds.  He  is  a  good  business  man,  of  fine 
social  qualities,  and  has  won  the  esteem  and  respect  of  all  who  know  him.  He  married 
Miss  Belle  Cissel,  of  his  native  State,  April  19,  1870  ;  they  have  three  children. 


TALLULA    PRECINCT. 

REV.  S.  B.  AYERS,  minister  and  farmer ;  P.  0.  Tallula ;  was  born  in  North- 
ampton Co.,  Penn.,  Aug.  13,  1811.  Early  in  life,  he  began  preparing  for  the  ministry. 
In  1831,  he  entered  Princeton  College,  graduating  in  1834,  and  graduating  from  the 
Theological  Seminary  in  1837.  He  began  the  work  of  the  ministry  with  the  Presby- 
terian denomination.  In  the  spring  of  1838,  he  was  ordained,  and  took  charge  of  the 
church  at  Montague,  N.  J.,  where  he  remained  three  years,  thence  to  Ellenville  (Ulster 
Co.),  where  he  remained  upward  of  fourteen  years.  He,  with  family,  came  to  Menard 
Co.,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  1854  ;  here  he  has  since  worked  diligently  in  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  also  superintends  his  home  farm,  which  consists  of  100  acres.  He  is  now 
the  regular  minister  for  the  Pleasant  Plains  Church  (which  church  he  was  instrumental 
in  building).  He  is  also  a  regular  minister  for  the  Ashland  Church.  Mr.  Ayers  has 
had  a  long  and  fruitful  career  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  has  won  the  esteem  and 
respect  of  all  who  know  him.  He  was  twice  married;  first,  to  Miss  Sarah  H.  Roy,  of 
New  Jersey,  Sept.  13,  1838;  she  died  Sept.  3,  1851,  leaving  five  children.  He  married 
his  present  wife  May  17,  1853;  her  maiden  name  was  Miss  Frances  B.  Parshall,  of 
Orange  Co.,  N,  Y.  They  have  five  children. 

JOHN  E.  ACKERMANN,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tallula ;  was  born  in  Prussia  Dec.  21, 
1827,  where  he  was  raised  and  schooled;  he  came  to  this  country  in  1854,  locating  in 
Menard  Co.,  111.,  and  found  employment  as  a  farm  laborer;  in  1867,  he  had  saved  up 
quite  a  little  money  and  bought  a  piece  of  land ;  he  now  owns  480  acres  of  fine  land, 
wholly  the  result  of  his  own  energy  and  industry.  His  wife  was  Mrs.  Norcis  Atter- 
bury,  daughter  of  George  Davis,  an  early  settler  of  the  county ;  they  were  married  in 
March,  1857 ;  they  had  a  family  of  five  children,  viz.,  Mary,  Jemima,  George 
(deceased),  Etta  and  Jane. 

D.  S.  BELL,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tallula;  son  of  A.  B.  and  Mary  (White)  Bell,  who 
were  among  the  first  settlers  of  this  county,  and  came  from  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1820, 
locating  near  where  D.  S.  now  lives,  and  where  the  father  died  Aug.  7,  1872  ;  she 
still  survives;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  upon  the  old  homestead  Oct.  16, 
1834;  he  was  raised  a  farmer,  which  business  he  has  followed  thus  far  through  life. 
He  has  twice  married ;  first  to  Margaret  B.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Bennett,  of  Petersburg, 
Feb.  1,  1854;  she  died  Oct.  10,  1859,  leaving  one  child — Chester  W.,  and  May  9, 
1864,  he  married  Miss  Hannah  E.  Smedly  of  this  county.  During  the  late  war,  he 
enlisted  with  the  14th  I.  V.  I. ;  served  upward  of  three  years,  and  participated  in 
many  of  the  most  severe  battles  of  the  war,  having  many  hairbreadth  escapes,  but 
escaping  without  a  scratch.  He  removed  to  Logan  Co.  in  1866,  and,  on  May  23,  1872, 
his  wife  died,  leaving  one  child — Sarah  A.  Mr.  Bell  now  owns  fifty-two  acres  of  the 
old  home  farm  and  takes  care  of  his  aged  mother.  He  is  prominently  connected  with 
the  Sunday-school  work  of  this  county.  He  is  an  upright,  benevolent  and  highly 
respected  citizen. 

G.  W.  S.  BELL,  merchant,  Tallula;  son  of  Abraham  B.  and  Mary  (White)  Bell, 
who  were  early  settlers  of  Menard  Co. ;  was  born  in  Menard  Co.  Oct.  15,  1830,  and 
is  the  third  son  of  a  family  of  seven  boys.  During  his  early  life,  he  began  to  study  for 
the  ministry;  in  1849,  he  entered  Shurtleif  College,  of  Alton,  111.,  and  the  same  year 

DD 


708  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

was  licensed  to  preach  in  the  Baptist  Church.  March  10,  1854,  he  married  Miss 
Matilda  N.  Clayton,  after  which  they  removed  into  Scott  Co.,  where  he  was  ordained  a 
minister  and  there  preached  for  about  three  years ;  he  then  resigned  and  removed  to 
Richmond,  Iowa,  where  he  had  charge  of  a  church  until  1860,  thence  to  Coffey  Co., 
Kan.,  and  took  up  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  12th  Kan.  V.  I.,  and 
was  mustered  in  as  First  Lieutenant  and  afterward  promoted  to  Captain.  He  served  in 
the  army  some  three  years  and  escaped  without  a  scratch.  After  the  war  he  returned 
to  Kansas,  where  he  remained  until  1868,  then  came  to  Scott  Co.,  111.,  and  took  charge 
of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Winchester,  where  he  preached  until  his  health  began  to  fail. 
He  came  to  Tallula  in  1870,  where  he  has  since  lived  an  enterprising  merchant  and 
farmer.  He  has  a  family  of  five  children. 

HENRY  C.  BELL,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tallula;  son  of  Abraham  B.  and  Mary 
(White)  Bell,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Menard  Co.  He  was  born  in  this 
county  March  12,  1829  ;  during  his  early  life,  he  acquired  a  good  common  schooling  ; 
he  was  raised  a  farmer  and  has  made  agricultural  pursuits  his  business  thus  far  through 
life.  He  married  Miss  Nancy  A.,  daughter  of  Rev.  G.  Curry  (a  prominent  minister) 
of  this  county,  March  14,  1850  ;  they  have  lived  an  industrious  and  upright  life,  accu- 
mulating a  fine  property.  They  own  a  fine  farm  of  200  acres.  They  have  raised  a 
family  of  five  children,  viz.,  Thomas  T.,  born  Dec.  31,  1850,  and  died  Nov.  1,  1873  ; 
Robert  C.,  born  Aug.  lU,  1853  ;  Frederick  S.,  born  June  10,  1857  ;  Charles  H.,  born 
Nov.  1,  1859,  and  John  G.,  born  March  23, 1864.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell  are  prominently 
connected  with  the  Baptist  Church,  and  highly  respected  citizens. 

REUBEN  CORSON,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Tallula ;  was  born  in  Cape  May  Co.,  N.  J., 
June  16,  1831,  where  he  was  raised  and  schooled.  He  is  the  son  of  Nathan  and 
Abigail  (Hand)  Corson,  of  English  origin.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in 
1849,  locating  in  Menard  Co.  ;  here  Reuben  has  lived  a  well-to  do  and  much  respected 
citizen,  and  has  made  agricultural  pursuits  his  principal  business  thus  far  through  life. 
He  is  industrious  and  energetic,  and  has  accumulated  a  good  property,  consisting  of 
200  acres  of  fine  land.  He  married  Miss  Rachel  Nottingham  Feb.  23,  1859,  the 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Hannah  (Smith)  Nottingham ;  she  was  born  in  Sangamon 
Co.,  111.,  Jan.  17,  1839.  They  have  raised  a  family  of  five  children — Hannah  "N., 
Charles  P.,  Edward  E.,  Bertha  and  Nathan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Corson  have  been  workers 
in  the  M.  E.  Church  for  many  years. 

E.  R.  COUCHMAN,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Tallula ;  son  of  Benjamin  and  Millicent 
(Riggs)  Couchman.  He  was  born  in  Bourbon  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  13,  1819,  and  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  in  1825,  locating  near  where  Jacksonville 
now  stands.  His  father  bought  land  of  Hon.  W.  May,  and  there  E.  R.  Couchman 
was  raised  and  educated.  Sept.  30,  1841,  he  was  married  to  Sophia,  daughter  of  Squire 
D.  Henderson,  of  Morgan  Co.  In  1850,  he  bought  land  in  Menard  Co.,  of  Jonathan 
Masterson,  upon  which  he  located  in  1825 ;  he  sold  this  and  bought  where  he  now 
lives,  in  1866.  He  has  a  fine  farm,  consisting  of  287  acres.  Feb.  17,  1871,  his  wife 
died,  leaving  four  children — Margaret  J.,  David  R.,  William  J.  and  James  C.  He 
married  his  present  wife,  Miss  Julia  A.  Mackintire,  of  Missouri,  April  1,  1875. 

CHARLES  CRESSE,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tallula;  was  born  in  Cape  May  Co.,  N.  J., 
Oct.  7, 1812,  where  he  was  raised  and  schooled.  He  spent  some  fifteen  years  of  his  early 
life  ao  sea,  coasting  in  transient  trade  a  number  of  years.  In  1837,  his  father  bought  a 
vessel  (Fame),  and  he  was  made  captain;  this  he  sailed  some  two  years.  In  1839, 
his  father  built  the  vessel  Glide,  which  he  sailed  some  five  years.  The  latter  boat 
was  a  175-ton  vessel.  He  sailed  the  M.  Marcy  for  a  time.  He  abandoned  the  life  of  a 
sailor,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1849,  with  his  family,  settling  where  he  now  resides.  He 
has  a  fine  farm  of  240  acres.  His  wife  was  Jecoliah  Cresse,  of  his  native  county.  They 
were  married  in  November,  1840.  She  died  in  July,  1875,  leaving  a  family  of  five — 
Philip.  Judith,  Margaret,  Anthony  and  Charles  M. 

SAMUEL  W.  CALDWELL,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Tallula ;  was  born  in  Green  Co., 
Ky.,  Jan.  13,  1817;  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Conover)  Caldwell ;  in  1822,  his 
father  died,  and  his  mother  and  her  five  children  moved  into  Adair  Co.,  where  they 


TALLULA.    PRECINCT.  709 


resided  until  1829,  when  they  came  to  what  is  now  Menard  Co.,  111.,  locating  at  Clary's 
Grove,  where  his  mother  died  in  1855 ;  only  three  of  the  family  are  now  living — Sam- 
uel W.  (the  subject  of  this  sketch),  Mrs.  Eveline  Wyatt,  of  Tallula,  and  Mrs.  Lydia 
A.  Wright,  of  Cass  Co.  Mr.  Caldwell  married  Miss  Martha  A.  Bright,  April  4,  1839 ; 
she  was  born  in  Christian  Co.,  Ky  ,  March  14,  1817;  they  settled  where  they  now 
reside  shortly  after  marrying,  at  which  time  this  was  but  a  wild  and  desolate  country ; 
the  trials  and  hardships  of  a  pioneer  life  are  yet  fresh  in  their  memory ;  they  began  in 
life  together,  with  willing  hands  and  determined  minds,  but  no  means ;  their  honeymoon 
was  spent  quite  differen'ly  from  the  custom  of  the  present  day ;  they  set  out  on  a  wed- 
ding trip  from  Clary's  Grove  to  where  they  now  live,  and  together  built  their  first 
house,  which  was  a  log  cabin,  12x14 ;  it  was  completed  the  same  week,  and  they  settled 
in  their  new  cabin  home -with  a  happiness  not  surpassed  in  any  home ;  with  industry 
and  perseverance,  they  have  gradually  built  themselves  up  to  their  present  high  stand- 
ing;  after  assisting  their  children  to  property,  they  yet  have  106  acres  of  land,  and 
one  of  the  finest  farm  residences  in  Menard  Co. ;  they  are  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, three  only  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz. — Mary  M.  (now  Mrs.  G.  E.  Boston,  of 
Morgan  Co.),  Winfield  S.  and  James  E. ;  the  two  latter  remain  upon  the  old  home- 
stead ;  as  a  family,  they  are  highly  respected. 

GEORGE  W.  CODINGTON,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Tallula  ;  son  of  Joseph  and  Jane 
E.  (Leeper)  Codington ;  was  born  where  he  now  lives  Oct.  11,  1831,  upon  the  old 
homestead  where  his  parents  settled  in  1831.  They  came  from  Barren  Co.,  Ky. ;  they 
raised  a  family  of  eight  children,  and  improved  a  large  tract  of  land  ;  they  were  indus- 
trious, well-to-do  and  much-respected  citizens.  They  died  and  are  buried  upon  the 
homestead  farm.  His  father  died  April  13,  1863,  at  the  age  of  70,  and  his  mother, 
June  12,  1866.  They  left  a  good  property  to  their  ^children.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
owns  312  acres  of  the  old  farm.  He  married  Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  George  G. 
and  Elizabeth  (Clark)  Waring,  Nov.  26,  1868.  She  was  born  July  3,  1846;  they 
have  two  children — George  H.  and  Amanda  F. 

JOHN  A.  DINKEL;  P.  O.  Tallula;  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  Sept.  19, 
1838;  son  of  Philip  and  Catharine  (Spingler)  Dinkel ;  was  brought  to  this  country  by 
his  parents  in  1847,  coming  directly  to  Springfield,  111.,  and  locating  upon  a  farm  where 
he  was  raised  and  schooled,  and  where  his  father  raised  a  famjly  of  five  children.  His 
father  died  there  in  August,  1857,  and  there  his  mother  still  survives.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  entered  the  army  with  the  10th  I.  V.  Cav.,  and  served  three  years  and  three 
months.  He  participated  in  a  number  of  engagements  and  skirmishes,  escaping  without 
injury.  After  the  war,  he  returned  and  engaged  in  the  cabinet  business,  which  he  has 
since  followed.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Stahl,  of  Springfield,  May  13,  1865 ;  she 
was  born  March  26,  1847.  They  removed  to  Tallula  in  September,  1869,  and  became 
manufacturer  and  dealer  in  furniture  and  undertaking,  which  he  has  since  continued. 
They  are  the  parents  of  six  children — Elizabeth,  born  Sept.  13,  1867  ;  Sophia,  May 
13,  1870,  died  Dec.  31,  1874;  John,  born  Aug.  31,  1872;  Frederick,  June  4,  1875; 
George  S.  and  William  W.,  born  Oct.  3,  1878 ;  William  W.  died  July  29,  1879.  Mr, 
and  Mrs.  Dinkel  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

ISRAEL  FROGLEY,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tallula;  was  born  near  Oxfordshire, 
England,  July  25,  1819;  son  of  Israel  and  Elizabeth  (Phillips)  Frogley.  He  is  the 
.second  of  a  family  of  six,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1840,  and  remained  in  the.  East- 
ern States  until  1856,  when  he  and  family  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Menard  Co. ;  in 
1861, lie  bought  his  present  home  farm,  locating  upon  it  in  1862.  He  now  owns  358  acres 
of  land,  with  fine  farm  improvements,  the  result  of  his  own  energy.  His  first  wife  was 
Miss  Susan  Blinko,  of  England.  They  were  married  March  27,  1850;  she  died  in 
1851,  leaving  one  child — John  B.  His  present  wife  was  Miss  Susan  McArd,  of  the 
city  of  Brooklyn.  They  were  married  Dec.  26,  1854,  and  have  raised  a  family  of  six 
children — Israel,  George,  William  (deceased),  Elizabeth,  Amelia,  Mary  E. 

WILLIAM  G.  GREENE,  farmer  and  banker,  Tallula;  son  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Graham  j  Greene,  who  were  of  English  descent.  His  grandfather,  Jarvis 
Greene,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Kentucky,  emigrating  there  from  North  Carolina 


710  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

while  the  country  was  yet  a  wilderness ;  he  was  killed  by  the  Indians  during  the  battle 
of  Blue  Lick,  in  August,  1781.  It  was  in  a  fort  at  Bryant  Station,  erected  by  Daniel 
Boone  as  a  protection  against  Indians,  that  William  Greene,  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born ;  his  early  life  was  spent  in  the  Kentucky  wilds,  and  at  the  age 
of  21,  he  married,  remaining  in  Kentucky  some  ten  years;  then  removed  to  Overton, 
Tenn.,  and  engaged  in  farming,  locating  on  the  Cumberland,  near  the  mouth  of  Obeys 
River.  It  was  at  this  place  that  William  G.  Greene  was  born,  Jan.  27,  1812.  His 
father  remained  about  fifteen  years  in  Tennessee.  At  that  time,  the  tide  of  emigration 
was  turned  toward  the  fertile  and  beautiful  lands  of  Illinois,  and  Mr.  Greene  resolved 
to  try  his  fortune  in  the  new  country ;  the  farm  was  accordingly  disposed  of.  a  few 
household  goods  and  other  articles  were  packed  together  in  a  wagon  and  the  family, 
the  younger  members  in  the  rude  conveyance  and  the  older  boys  trudging  along  on  foot, 
started  on  their  northward  journey.  The  region  to  which  they  were  directing  their  steps 
was  not  yet  known  by  the  name  of  Illinois.  The  French  settlers  of  St.  Louis  had 
bestowed  upon  it  the  name  of  St.  Gamil,  and  Sangama,  Sangaman  and  Sangamon  were 
variations  of  this.  The  family  reached  a  point  in  what  is  now  Menard  Co.,  near  where 
Tallula  now  stands,  and  there  settled  and  purchased  from  one  Royal  Potter  a  farm 
This  spot  was  afterward  the  residence  of  the  elder  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Greene  until  their  deaths. 
William  waS  a  boy  of  9  when  the  family  made  Illinois  their  home ;  thenceforth  his 
history  was  closely  identified  with  that  of  the  Prairie  State.  His  early  education  was 
such  as  the  rude  advantages  of  a  community  destitute  of  any  system  of  public  instruc- 
tion could  furnish.  The  first  school  he  attended  was  kept  in  a  log  schoolhouse,  built 
by  the  combined  efforts  of  the  neighborhood  ;  it  stood  on  Rock  Creek,  and  the  school 
was  taught  by  a  man  named  Compton.  He  afterward  was  a  pupil  of  T.  M.  Fletcher, 
one  of  the  pioneer  teachers  in  that  section  of  the  State,  who  taught  under  the  old  shed 
of  a  band-mill.  But  though  the  facilities  for  obtaining  an  education  were  necessarily 
very  restricted,  to  the  active  mind  of  young  Greene  they  were  enough  to  form  the 
basis  of  a  sound  and  substantial  education,  studying  as  he  did  in  the  summer,  under 
the  shade  of  the  wildwood,  and  in  winter,  by  the  flickering  light  of  the  back-log  fire. 
The  house  of  Greene's  father  was  within  a  few  miles  of  Salem,  and  when  Abraham 
Lincoln  made  that  his  home  in  1831,  Greene  became  one  of  his  acquaintances  and  & 
friendship  was  formed  that  lasted  till  the.  death  of  the  latter.  Lincoln  was  then  21  and 
Greene  three  years  younger,  but,  as  far  as  education  was  concerned,  the  latter  had  the 
advantage,  and  from  him  Lincoln  learned  his  first  lesson  in  English  grammar.  In 
1832,  Greene  laid  aside  his  studies  and  enlisted  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  Lincoln  was  i 
chosen  Captain  of  the  company  raised  at  Salem.  They  served  their  country  for  twenty 
days,  but  they  were  days  characterized  by  hardship  rather  thin  glory.  It  was  in  1832,  a 
when  Mr.  Greene  was  20,  that  he  entered  into  his  first  speculation,  which  deserves  f 
mention,  not  only  on  account  of  its  success  as  a  first  business  venture,  but  by  reason  ot 
its  historical  association  with  Lincoln,  the  incident  being  mentioned  in  detail  by  Hol- 
land in  his  life  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  by  other  biographers  of  the  distinguished 
President.  A  man  named  Reuben  Radford  kept  a  small  store  in  New  Salem ;  the  "  Clary's 
Grove  Boys,"  an  organized  band  of  desperadoes  and  a  terror  to  the  community,  often 
visited  the  village  and  kept  Radford  in  constant  alarm.  He  had  kept  the  place  two 
or  three  weeks,  when  one  night  he  went  over  to  his  brother-in-law's,  a  few  miles  away, 
and  left  a  younger  brother.  Jackson  Radford,  in  charge,  instructing  him  if  the  "Clary's 
Grove  Boys  "  came,  not  to  let  them  have  but  two  glasses  of  whisky  apiece.  That  very 
night  they  came ;  they  were  refused  the  whisky  and  thereupon  turned  young  Radford 
out  and  helped  themselves.  Before  they  dispersed,  the  store  was  pretty  well  torn  out 
and  the  contents  lay  in  a  confused  mass  on  the  floor.  It  happened  the  next  morning 
Greene  had  started  before  daylight,  with  a  bag  of  corn  before  him  on  a  horse,  to  the  old 
mill,  just  below  Salem,  in  order  to  be  first  with  his  turn.  Just  before  reaching  Salem, 
he  was  passed  by  a  man  riding  rapidly  on  horseback ;  it  was  Radford,  who  had  heard  of 
the  fate  of  his  grocery  and  was  galloping  to  the  scene.  Greene  arrived  on  the  spot  a 
moment  after  Radford,  just  in  time  to  hear  him  exclaim,  ''  I'll  sell  this  to  the  first  man 
that  makes  me  an  offer."  Greene  rode  up  to  the  solitary  window  and  sticking  in  his 


TALLULA    PRECINCT.  711 

bead,  and  taking  a  hasty  glance  at  the  state  of  affairs,  said,  "  I'll  give  you  $400  for  it." 
The  offer  was  at  once  accepted,  with  the  understanding  that  the  purchaser  should  have 
six  months  in  which  to  make  payment.  Greene  met  Lincoln  a  short  distance  from  the 
store  and  the  latter  proposed  to  go  over  and  take  an  inventory  of  the  contents ;  this 
was  done  when  the  value  was  found  to  amount  to  over  $800.  The  same  day,  he  sold 
the  store  to  Lincoln  and  a  man  named  Berry ;  they  taking  Greene's  place  on  the  note 
for  $400  and  giving  him,  in  addition,  $265  in  money  and  a  fine  horse,  saddle  and  bridle, 
belonging  to  Berry.  Radford  would  not  consent  to  the  arrangement  about  the  note  unless 
Greene  became  their  security,  to  which  at  last  he  agreed.  The  business  soon  went  to 
pieces.  Greene  assisted  Lincoln  to  close  up  the  store  and  then,  as  surety,  was  com- 
pelled to  pay  the  note  of  $400  to  Radford.  Thus  Lincoln  became  indebted  to  Greene 
for  that  amount.  In  their  conversation,  this  was  invariably  humorously  alluded  to  as 
the  "  National  Debt."  Six  years  later,  when  Mr.  Greene  had  removed  to  Tennessee, 
and  Lincoln  had  become  a  lawyer  in  Springfield,  the  latter  wrote  him,  stating  that 
he  was  ready  to  discharge  the  liabilities  of  himself  and  former  partner  to  the 
utmost  farthing.  The  friendship  between  Greene  and  Lincoln  was  never  interrupted. 
Horse-racing  was  then  one  of  the  amusements  common  in  tho  vicinity  of  Salem  and 
Lincoln  was  frequently  selected  as  judge  in  these  races.  The  honesty  of  his  decisions 
gained  for  him  the  soubriquet  of  "  Honest  Abe,"  in  bestowing  which  upon  him  Mr. 
Greene  bore  his  part.  In  1833,  Mr.  Greene  became  a  student  of  the  Illinois  College, 
at  Jacksonville.  Leaving  home  with  $20  in  his  pocket  and  a  homespun  suit  of 
clothes  on  his  back,  he  determined  to  have  an  education  if  energy  and  economy  could 
carry  him  through.  He  entered  the  industrial  department,  where  students  were 
paid  8  to  10  cents  per  hour  for  their  labor.  Here  began  a  course  of  unflagging 
industry,  which  was  increased  rather  than  diminished  through  the  three  years'  course 
at  this  institution,  and  in  which  was  laid  the  solid  foundation  of  a  liberal  educa- 
tion. He  worked  every  hour  of  the  day  not  occupied  by  recitations  and  pursued 
his  studies  far  into  the  night;  for  Saturday's  work  he  would  receive  seventy-five 
cents ;  he  prepared  his  own  food,  which  cost  him  thirty-five  cents  per  week.  He 
was  not  long  in  attracting  the  attention  of  Dr.  Edward  Beecher,  then  President  of 
the  school.  His  perfect  lessons,  his  happy  faculty  of  making  clear  the  most  puzzling 
problems  and  his  wonderful  industry  during  working-hours,  caused  Dr.  Beecher  to 
interview  him  on  several  occasions  for  the  purpose  of  having  him  enter  the  theological 
course,  Beecher  and  Sturtevant  promising  to  furnish  him  means  to  take  him  through  to 
graduation ;  but  he  told  them  that  the  Lord  had  never  called  him  to  preach  and,  more- 
over, he  believed  that  in  his  case  a  self-earned  education  was  essential  to  after  success. 
He  aimed  to  clear  a  little  more  money  every  day  than  he  spent,  and  so  well  had  he  em- 
ployed his  time  that  when  he  left  school,  at  the  end  of  three  years,  he  had  two  good  suits 
of  store  clothes,  eighty  acres  of  land  that  he  had  entered  and  $60  in  money,  $40  more 
than  he  had  left  home  with.  Richard  Yates  was  a  student  in  the  institution  at  the 
same  time,  and  a  lasting  friendship  was  formed  between  the  two.  On  one  occasion, 
whJe  Yates  was  a  guest  of  Greene's  during  a  vacation,  the  latter  took  him  up  to 
Salem  to  make  him  acquainted  with  Lincoln.  They  found  him  flat  on  his  back  on  a 
cellar  door,  reading  a  newspaper.  Greene  introduced  the  two,  and  thus  the  great  War 
Governor  of  Illinois  and  the  great  War  President  began  their  acquaintance.  At  the 
conclusion  of  his  college  course,  Mr.  Greene  went  to  Kentucky,  near  Danville,  where 
he  first  became  a  private  tutor  in  the  family  of  Mr.  George  Carpenter,  a  prominent 
man  of  the  neighborhood.  He  also  taught  a  Grammar  School  by  lectures  for  a  time 
with  great  success,  and  then  went  to  Tennessee  and  took  up  his  residence  in  White  Co. 
in  the  central  part  of  the  State.  He  here  became  Principal  of  the  Priestley  Academy. 
It  was  during  his  residence  here  that  he  became  acquainted  with  the  lady  who  is  now 
his  estimable  wife ;  her  maiden  name  was  Louisa  II.  White ;  she  was  the  daughter  of 
Woodson  P.  and  Nancy  White ;  her  father  was  one  of  the  first  citizens  of  the  county, 
and  for  several  terms  was  a  Representative  in  the  State  Legislature.  Their  marriage 
was  celebrated  March  31,  1837;  Mr.  Greene  was  25  and  she  17  years  of  age.  He 
continued  to  teach  school  for  a  few  months  after  his  marriage  and  then  returned  to 


712  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

Illinois,  remaining  eighteen  mouths ;  then  again  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  was 
appointed  Deputy  County  Sheriff.  In  1842,  he  removed  to  Mississippi  and  settled  at 
Aberdeen,  but,  on  account  of  the  unhealthy  climate,  he  resided  there  but  six  months 
and  then  removed  to  Memphis,  where,  on  a  capital  of  a  little  more  than  $100,  he 
started  a  grocery  and  provision  store.  The  two  and  a  half  years  of  his  residence  in 
Memphis  were  occupied  with  this  and  other  business  operations  in  which  he  met  with  fav- 
orable results  and  acquired  a  considerable  amount  of  property.  In  the  spring  of  1845, 
he  returned  to  Illinois  with  his  family,  now  consisting  of  wife  and  three  children,  each 
of  whom  were  bora  in  different  .States.  He  purchased  a  farm  in  Mason  Co.,  on  Quiver 
Creek,  and  began  operations  as  a  general  land-dealer  and  farmer,  in  both  of  which  he 
was  very  successful.  He  sold  his  property  in  Mason  Co.  in  1853,  and  purchased  the 
farm  near  Tallula,  on  which  he  has  ever  since  resided.  Here  he  engaged  largely  in 
farming  and  stock-dealing,  meeting  with  a  success  similar  to  that  which  has  characterized 
almost  every  enterprise  in  which  he  has  engaged.  He  has  always  farmed  on  the  principle 
that  there  are  two  ways  of  doing  a  thing.  As  he  says  himself,  "  Everything  has  two  ends 
— a  right  end  and  a  wrong  end.  If  you  begin  at  the  wrong  end,  everything  will  go  wrong  ; 
if  you  begin  at  the  right  end,  the  seasons,  the  elements,  all  Nature,  become  your  helpers. 
Every  farmer  should  become  rich  if  he  works  in  harmony  with  Nature.  I  court  her 
with  all  the  devotion  a  young  husband  brings  to  his  bride.  Nature  is  not  a  slave ;  she 
is  a  friend  and  an  ally."  In  addition  to  agriculture,  his  attention  of  late  years  has 
been  directed  in  other  channels.  He  has  largely  assisted  in  the  development  of  the 
railroad  system  of  the  State.  He  was  one  of  the  original  Directors  of  the  Tonica  & 
Petersburg  Railroad,  which  has  since  become  incorporated  with  the  Jacksonville  Divi- 
sion of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad.  He  was  interested  in  building  up  several  towns 
along  the  line ;  Mason  City  is  one  of  these ;  Greenview  has  its  name  from  him,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  original  founders  of  Tallula.  His  keen  business  foresight  brought  him 
in  possession  of  several  town  sites  alonj  the  route  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  and 
afterward,  when  the  towns  became  built  up,  he  was  enabled  to  realize  a  handsome  return 
from  his  investments.  The  Jacksonville  Division  was  in  a  very  precarious  condition  at 
the  conclusion  of  Fates'  administration  as  President ;  the  whole  enterprise,  indeed,  was 
in  serious  danger  of  a  collapse.  Mr.  Greene  was  at  that  time  one.of  the  Directors,  and 
at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  his  colleagues,  particularly  Yates  himself,  consented  to 
assume  for  a  time  the  Presidency.  The  energy  and  business  sagacity  which  he  brought 
to  his  duties,  were  effectual  in  placing  the  road  on  a  firmer  basis  than  ever  before  known. 
The  company  was  saved  from  bankruptcy,  and  the  judgment  of  the  oth.er  directors 
thoroughly  justified  in  assigning  him  the  task.  He  was  active  in  obtaiaing  the  charter  of 
the  Springfield  &  North-Western  Railroad,  was  one  of  the  original  Board  of  Directors  and 
its  first  President.  It  was  largely  through  his  energy  that  subscriptions  for  the  build- 
ing of  the  road  were  obtained  and  a  part  of  the  road  constructed.  Upon  the  road  pass- 
ing into  the  possession  of  the  present  lessee,  Mr.  Greene  retired  from  the  management. 
Mr.  Greene  has  never  divided  his  forces  but  has  given  his  energies  supremely  to  busi- 
ness. When  Mr.  Greene  had  decided  on  his  life  course,  he  threw  overboard  the  solici- 
tations of  Lincoln  and  Yates  and  set  himself  to  work  at  his  chosen  calling.  He, 
however,  played  an  important  part  privately  in  one  political  campaign  ;  that  p:irt  was 
not  as  a  politician  but  as  a  friend.  In  1859,  Richard  Yates  was  an  aspirant  for  the 
Governorship  of  [llinois,  but  Leonard  Swett  seemingly  stood  an  equal  chance  for  the 
nomination.  The  canvass  prior  to  the  Convention  was  carried  on  with  great  warmth 
and  Yates  was  fearful  of  the  result.  Lincoln  had  established  himself  at  Springfield 
and,  in  his  recent  debates  with  Douglas,  had  earned  a  national  reputation.  As  the 
Convention  day  drew  near,  Yates  felt  that  he  must  make  a  friend  of  Lincoln  and 
decided  that  their  old  companion  Greens  was  able  to  manipulate  the  nutter  to  the  satis- 
faction of  both;  accordingly,  Yates  cam?  to  see  Greene  and  told  him  he  was  certain  ot 
the  nomination,  provided  Lincoln  could  be  induced  to  "  lean  "  to  his  side  ;  moreover, 
that  Lincoln  stood  a  favorable  chance  for  the  Republican,  nomination  for  President  and 
he  asked  Greene  to  interest  Linooln  in  his  favor  in  the  race  for  Governor  ;  in  return, 
Yates  would  use  his  influence  to  bring  Lincoln  into  prominence  as  a  candidate  for  the 


TALLULA    PRECINCT.  713 

Presidency  in  I860.  Mr.  Greene  assented  to  the  arrangement;  they  rode  over  to 
Springfield  and  once  more  the  three,  who  had  made  acquaintance  at  Salem  a  quarter  of 
a  century  before,  stood  together.  Their  circumstances  had  greatly  changed  since  their 
first  meeting ;  one  had  become  an  a  :tive  member  of  Congress  and  now,  with  high  hopes, 
was  looking  forward  to  the  gubernatorial  chair ;  his  college  friend,  aided  only  by  his 
energy  and  shrewdness,  had  hewn  his  way  through  obstacles,  before  which  others  would 
have  retreated,  and  raised  himself  to  wealth  and  prominence ;  the  third  was  rapidly 
growing  into  fame  as  a  statesman.  Little  did  any  of  them  think  what  tremendous 
issues  were  gathering  around  the  path  of  one  of  that  trio.  Greene  and  Lincoln  retired 
to  the  consultation  room  of  the  office ;  there  Greene  unfolded  to  Lincoln  the  desire  of 
Yates  for  his  support.  There  had  been  a  coolness  between  the  two  for  some  years,  and 
Lincoln  was  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  lay  the  Christian's  coal  of  fire  on  the  head  of 
Yates.  Greene  next  broached  the  Presidential  matter  ;  he  showed  Lincoln  the  feasibility 
of  his  aspirations,  and  revealed  the  plan  of  introducing  him  to  the  East ;  Yates  would 
write  Congressman  George  Briggs  a  letter  and  have  him  work  up  a  call  from  the  New 
York  Central  Committee  for  Lincoln  to  deliver  an  address  on  the  political  condition  of 
the  country  at  the  Cooper  Union.  "  In  fact,  Abe,"  continued  Greene,  "  Dick  considers 
your  destiny  and  his  linked  together,  and  that  letter  is.  now  on  its  way  to  New  York." 
Yates  was  nominated  and  elected ;  Lincoln  was  invited  to  New  York,  and,  in  the  follow- 
ing May,  received  the  Presidential  nomination.  *  Mr.  Greene  voted  for  Yates  for  Gov- 
ernor in  1859  and  Lincoln  for  President  in  1860.  When  the  rebellion  broke  out,  his 
sympathies  were  warmly  enlisted  in  support  of  the  Administration,  and  Central  Illinois 
knew  no  stronger  Union  man  than  William  G.  Greene.  Tnree  of  his  sons  enlisted  in  the 
army  and  fought  during  the  war.  When,  at  the  darkest  hour  of  the  struggle,  the  Govern- 
ment called  for  money,  with  a  firm  confidence  in  the  result  which  never  forsook  him,  he 
did  not  hesitate  to  do  what  he  could  to  furnish  the  Government  with  means  to  carry  on 
its  work.  Upon  the  passage  of  the  internal  revenue  law,  considerable  trouble  was  appre- 
hended from  its  working  in  the  Ninth  Illinois  District,  in  which  Menard  Co.  was 
embraced.  President  Lincoln  selected  his  old  friend  Greene  as  the  man  above  all  others 
to  put  the  law  in  successful  operation  in  the  district.  With  some  reluctance  he  accepted 
the  appointment,  but,  after  the  work  of  collecting  the  revenue  was  thoroughly  organized 
and  the  danger  of  conflict  between  the  authorities  and  the  people  had  passed,  the  office 
was  resigned.  His  friendship  with  President  Lincoln  was  still  maintained  and  he  was 
frequently  his  guest  at  Washington,  where  he  always  met  with  a  cordial  greeting.  The 
"President  relied  much  on  his  judgment  in  giving  correct  statements  of  the  condition  of 
popular  sentiment  throughout  the  country  in  regard  to  the  war.  In  his  own  section, 
his  assistance  was  important  in  preventing  threatened  collisions  between  agents  of  the 
Government  and  parties  disaffected  with  war  measures.  His  influence  was  always 
sought  by  aspirants  throughout  the  State  for  political  appointments  at  the  hands  of  the 
President.  He  continued  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  Administration  while  Lincoln 
remained  in  office,  and,  when  at  last  the  hand  of  the  assassin  finished  the  work  of  the 
people's  President,  just  as  he  had  brought  the  country  safely  through  the  horrors  of  a 
civil  war,  nons  mourned  more  sincerely  over  his  untimely  grave  or  lavished  richer  honors 
on  his  memory  than  his  old-time  friend,  William  G.  Greene.  Mr.  Greene  has  been 
closely  identified  with  business  enterprises  near  his  home,  and  his  energy  and  capacity 
have  done  much  toward  the  development  of  the  manufacturing  and  commercial  interests 
of  the  county.  In  connection  with  Mr.  J.  A.  Brahm,  in  September,  1866,  he  estab- 
lished at  Petersburg  the  first  bank  in  Menard  Co.,  known  as  the  Banking  House  of 
Brahni  &  Greene ;  he  also  owns  the  South  Valley  Coil  Shaft,  of  Petersburg,  and  is 
one  of  the  principal  parties  who  have  brought  to  their  present  successful  operation  the 
woolen-mills  of  the  same  place.  In  the  town  of  Petersburg  he  has  ever  taken  a  deep 
interest,  maintaining  that  it  should  be  made  the  manufacturing  center  for  which  its 
natural  advantages  adapt  it.  The  growth  of  the  town  has  afforded  him  peculiar  grati- 
fication. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Greene  have  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  now  living, 
who  bid  fair  to  become  worthy  citizens  of  this  or  any  other  community  in  which  they 
may  ultimately  locate.  The  only  daughter,  Miss  Katie,  has  just  completed  a  classical 


714  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

education  at  Stuttgart,  Germany,  where  she  has  been  for  the  last  three  years.  Well 
may  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Greene  be  proud  of  their  only  daughter,  for  beyond  a  doubt  she  is 
the  most  accomplished  lady  of  Central  Illinois.  We  see  in  the  life  of  William  G. 
Greene,  a  boy  in  the  early  times  of  Illinois,  with  very  little  aid  from  parents  or  any 
other  source,  pursuing  a  life  of  honest  industry,  using  his  time  to  the  best  advantage, 
dutifully  aiding  his  parents  in  making  their  settlements  in  the  new  country,  and  edu- 
cating himself  and  making  and  saving  money  and  property  at  the  same  time.  We  find 
him  going  to  mill  mounted  upon  the  back  of  one  of  his  father's  sturdy  farm  horses, 
buying  for  a  mere  nominal  sum,  of  a  man  in  despair,  his  store  rifled  by  roughs,  and 
gelling  it  the  same  day  at  an  advance  of  several  hundred  dollars  to  Abraham  Lincoln, 
the  future  President,  then  a  young  man  ;  we  next  see  him  at  Illinois  College,  work- 
ing his  way,  keeping  up  with  hia  classes  and  saving  money;  and  now.  a  man  honored 
and  still  in  the  vigor  of  his  old  age,  a  very  wealthy  farmer  and  banker,  in  his  quiet  and 
beautiful  home,  surrounded  by  his  noble  family.  He  is  public  spirited  and  liberal,  and 
a  devoted  Christian.  Few  men  there  are  who  can  look  back  over  their  past  life  with  more 
satisfaction  than  Mr.  Greene,  who  now  in  his  ripe  old  age  lives  to  see  the  usefulness  and 
prosperity  of  his  children,  who  look  to  their  parents  with  honor  and  pride,  as  they 
have  lived  a  noble  life  and  climbed  up  from  poverty,  until  now  possessed  of  property 
valued  at  $600,000. 

J.  G.  GREENE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Tallula.  Among  the  prominent  pioneers  of  Menard 
Co.,  none  are  better  known  than  W.  G.  and  J.  G.  Greene,  who  began  without  means 
and  built  themselves  up  a  large  property,  and  have  done  much  for  the  development  of 
the  county.  J.  G.  was  born  in  Overton  Co.,  Tenn.,  Dec.  14.  1820  ;  son  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Graham)  Greene,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Menard  County,  of 
whom  further  mention  is  made  in  another  part  of  this  work.  J.  G.  has  been  one  of  the 
successful  stock-dealers  of  this  section,  and  a  model  farmer.  He  owns  a  beautiful  res- 
idence, and  a  farm  of  725  acres,  adjoining  the  town  of  Tallula.  His  wife  was  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Nancy  (Green)  Watkins;  they  were  married,  Aug.  14,  1845  ; 
she  was  born  in  this  county  Jan.  26,  1825.  They  have  seven  children  living — Nancy, 
now  Mrs.  George  Storey,  born  July  5,  1846  ;  Frances,  now  Mrs.  George  Spears,  born 
Jan.  18,  1849  ;  Annie,  now  Mrs.  Albert  Ayers,  born  Aug.  28.  1850 ;  Joseph  W., 
Sept.  7,  1852;  Woodson,  Aug.  8,  1854  ;  Maria,  now  Mrs.  Edward  Henderson,  born 
Jan.  7,  1857  ;  Alexander,  Aug.  19,  1863.  They  are  educating  their  children.  He  has 
always  taken  an  active  part  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  good  of  the  county  in  which 
he  has  lived. 

W.  P.  HENDERSON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tallula  ;  was  born  in  Morgan  Co.  111.,  Sept, 
27,1833;  son  of  Aaron  and  Sarah  (Boles)  Henderson,  who  were  Virginians  ;  they 
settled  in  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  in  1831,  where  he  died  in  October.  1844,  and  she  still 
resides  upon  the  old  homestead,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  and  raised. 
He  farmed  the  homestead  farm  until  1867,  when  he  settled  upon  his  present  farm,  con- 
sisting of  154  acres  of  fine  land.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  McFillin,  of 
Morgan  Co.,  in  September.  1859.  They  have  a  family  of  seven  children — Elizabeth  A., 
James  A.,  Recia  B.,  Charles  W.,  Mary  E.,  Laura  E.,  and  Emma  C. 

SOMERS  HEWITT,  farmer;  P.O.  Tallula;  son  of  Imla  and  Sarah  (Whitaker) 
Hewitt;  was  born  in  Cape  May  Co.,  N.  J.,  May  23,  1825  ;  he  spent  some  fifteen  years 
as  a  sailor,  going  to  sea  at  the  early  age  of  9  years.  In  1847,  he  married  Miss  Abigail 
Hand,  of  his  native  county,  and,  in  1849,  came  with  his  parents  to  Menard  Co.; 
remaining  but  a  short  time,  then  returned  and  took  to  the  sea  again,  until  1855,  when 
he,  with  his  family,  came  to  Menard  Co.,  and  located,  engaging  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
His  wife  died  in  1858,  leaving  three  children.  Oct.  26,  1863,  he  married  Mrs.  Maria 
Brisby,  of  Cass  Co.,  by  whom  he  has  four  children.  Mr.  Hewitt  has  accumulated  a 
good  property  and  owns  240  acres  of  fine  land,  with  good  buildings.  He  has  for  many 
years  been  a  zealous  worker  in  the  M.  E.  Church. 

IMLA  HEWITT,  farmer;  P.O.  Tallula;  son  of  Imla  and  Sarah  (  Whitaker)  Hew- 
itt: born  in  Cape  May  Co.,  N.  J.,  Feb.  13,  1831  ;  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  in 
1849 ;  in  1852,  he  emigrated  to  California,  -being  seven  months  on  the  journey ;  while 


,       TALLULA    PRECINCT.  715 

there,  he  engaged  in  mining,  and  remained  until  the  spring  of  1858;  he  then  returned 
home  and  began  school  at  Lebanon,  St.  Clair  Co.  ;  here  he  obtained  a  good  business 
education ;  in  1861,  he  again  crossed  the  plains ;  engaged  in  freighting  to  Walla  Walla, 
Washington  Territory,  until  1865  ;  then  he  returned  to  San  Francisco,  and  thence 
home;  in  1866,  he  began  in  the  stock  trade  through  the  Western  States,  principally  in 
Kansas,  in  which  he  continued  until  1873.  He  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Willis  Nov.  6, 
1873 ;  she  was  born  in  Circleville,  Ohio,  May  28,  1846  ;  they  have  an  adopted  child — 
William  0.  Mr.  Hewitt  is  a  well-to-do  farmer,  and  owns  160  acres  of  fine  land. 

H.  H.  IRWIN,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Tallula  ;  son  of  Hugh  B.  and  Priscilla  (Kyle) 
Irwin  ;  he  was  born  in  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  May  8,  1844;  his  parents  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Sangamon  Co. ;  they  came  to  Menard  Co.  in  1846 ;  here  Henry  H. 
has  since  lived,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  is  now  one  of  the  well-to-do, 
enterprising  farmers  of  Menard  Co.  He  entered  the  army  in  1862,  with  the  114th  I. 
V.  I.,  and  participated  in  many  heavy  battles  and  skirmishes  of  the  war,  serving  three 
years,  and  escaped  uninjured.  After  the  war,  he  returned  and  resumed  farming.  Oct. 
21,  1868,  he  married  Miss  Frances  E.  Primrn,  of  this  county;  she  died  Oct.  12,  1873, 
leaving  one  child — Elenora,  and,  Feb.  10,  1875,  he  married  Sylvia  A.  Houghton  ;  she 
died  May  6,  1877. 

COL.  JAMES  W.  JUDY,  dealer  in  stock,  Tallula;  was  born  in  Clark  Co.,  Ky., 
May  8,  1822,  and,  at  the  age  of  14,  his  parents  removed  to  Montgomery  Co.,  where 
James  spent  his  early  life  upon  a  farm ;  he  began  for  himself  at  the  age  of  21 ;  he 
came  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  in  1851,  and  began  farming;  Aug.  24,  1854,  he  made  his 
first  short-horn  sale,  which  was  for  the  late  Judge  Stephen  Dunlap,  of  Morgan  Co. ; 
here  he  displayed  a  talent  in  that  direction  which  surpassed  all  other  salesmen,  and  he 
was  frequently  called  upon  to  make  sales  in  different  parts  of  the  State ;  bis  reputation 
as  a  short-horn  auctioneer  began  in  1854,  and  has  increased  from  that  to  the  present 
time,  and  is  not  confined  to  this  State,  but  extends  from  the  far  East  to  the  far  West, 
and  now  he  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  the  leading  short-horn  salesman  of  the 
United  States  ;  his  reputation  is  the  result  of  many  years'  study  and  practice,  through 
which  he  has  amassed  a  large  property ;  his  home  farm  consists  of  565  acres,  and  is 
one  of  the  finest  places  in  Central  Illinois.  During  the  late  war,  he  organized  a  com- 
pany at  Tallula,  and  was  made  Captain,  and  removed  to  Camp  Butler,  111.,  where  he 
organized  the  114th  I.  V.  I.,  and  was  elected  Colonel  without  opposition,  and  entered 
the  army  in  1862,  serving  one  year,  during  which  time  he  participated  in  a  number  of 
battles,  including  siege  of  Vicksburg,  Jackson,  and  many  skirmishes  ;  his  family  need- 
ing his  closest  attention  on  account  of  sickness,  he  was  compelled  to  resign.  His  wife 
is  Catharine  A.,  daughter  of  James  W.  and  Emma  (Hathaway)  Simpson  ;  they  were 
married  March  23,  1851 ;  they  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  two  only  of  whom  are 
living ;  Mrs.  Judy  was  brought  to  Illinois  when  but  8  months  old,  by  her  parents,  who 
settled  and  passed  their  lives  upon  the  old  homestead  farm,  which  is  now  a  part  of  the 
Judy  place. 

E.  T.  METCALF,  physician,  Tallula;  was  born  in  Macoupin  Co.,  111.,  July  27, 
1843;  son  of  Dr.  J.  M.  Metcalf;  he  spent  his  boyhood  days  with  his  parents,  and  was 
educated  at  Waverly ;  he  enlisted  in  the  army  in  1862,  with  the  101st  I.  V.  I.,  Co.  Gr; 
after  the  service  of  about  eight  months,  his  health  became  so  impaired  that  he  was  dis- 
charged, after  which,  he  returned  and  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  J. 
Minor,  of  Waverly.  Sept.  11,  1864,  he  married  Miss  Chattie  Burnett,  of  Waverly, 
and,  in  the  winter  of  1864-65,  he  attended  Rush  Medical  College  ;  he  located  in  Tallula 
in  1867,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession ;  they  are  parents  of  four  children, 
viz.,  Daisy  B.  (deceased),  Milton,  Anna  B.  and  George  0. 

JONATHAN  NOTTINGHAM,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Pleasant  Plains  ; 
son  of  Jonathan  and  Sophia  (Eldridge)  Nottingham ;  he  was  born  in  Cape  May  Co., 
N.  J.,  Sept.  25,  1808,  where  he  was  raised  and  schooled.  In  1831,  he  married 
Miss  Hannah  Smith,  of  his  native  county;  they  came  to  Illinois  in  1837,  locating  in 
Sangamon  Co.,  and,  with  energy,  they  set  out  to  prepare  a  home ;  they  bought  a  small 
farm,  which  he  afterward  sold,  and  in  1840  settled  upon  the  farm  where  he  now  lives  ;  he 


716  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

has  been  one  of  the  most  industrious  farmers  of  the  county ;  is  now  considered  one  of 
the  solid  men  of  Sangamon  Co. ;  he  has  been  enterprising,  always  assisting  in  all  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  the  general  good  of  the  community.  His  wife  died  July  19,  1850, 
•leaving  eleven  children,  viz.,  Reuben  L.  (who  died  in  the  late  war),  John,  Abijah  S., 
Franklin  F.,  Rachel  M.  (now  Mrs.  Reuoen  Corson),  Almarine  T.,  Clark,  James  S., 
Jane  M.  (now  Mrs.  Henry  Hoff),  Elizabeth  (now  Mrs.  Alexander  Higgins),  and 
Charles  W.  Mr.  Nottingham  married  his  present  wife  Aug.  29,  1852  ;  she  was  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  Townsend,  formerly  of  his  native  county ;  his  home  farm  consists  of  600  acres 
of  as  fine  land  as  may  be  found  in  the  county ;  he  has  been  an  active  worker  in  the  M. 
E.  Church  for  many  years. 

C.  M.  ROBERTSON,  physician,  Tallula;  was  born  in  Logan  Co.,  Ky.,  June  10, 
1821  ;  the  son  of  Martin  and  Sarah  (Morton)  Robertson,  who  were  of  Scotch  and 
English  origin,  and  located  in  Jacksonville,  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  in  1827  ;  his  mother  died 
while  he  was  quite  young;  his  father  was  educated  for  the  practice  of  law,  but  had  a 
greater  inclination  toward  mercantile  life,  which  he  followed  through  life ;  he  was  one 
of  the  first  merchants  of  Schuyler  Co.,  where  he  did  business  as  early  as  1828,  at 
Rushville ;  he  died  in  April,  1849,  at  the  age  of  74  years.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
removed  to  Woodford  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1844,  where  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under 
his  brother,  a  practicing  physician  of  that  county,  continuing  there  until  1845,  when 
he  took  up  his  study  with  his  brother,  a  physician  at  Rocheport,  Mo  ;  he  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Cass  Co.,  111.,  where  he  practiced  until  1850,  when  he  came 
to  Menard  Co.,  settling  at  what  was  known  as  Robinson's  Mill ;  in  1857,  he  removed 
to  Plattsburg,  Mo.,  where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1859,  when  he  came  and  located 
in  Tallula,  where  he  has  since  lived,  devoting  his  time  and  attention  to  his  practice, 
except  four  years,  beginning  in  1869,  during  which  time  he  served  as  County  Judge  of 
Menard  Co.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  social  qualities  and  acknowledged  ability.  His  wife 
was  Salina  E.  Harris,  of  Menard  Co. ;  they  were  married  May  20,  1847  ;  they  have  a 
promising  family  of  six  children,  viz.,  William,  Edward  D.,  Henry  C.,  Mary  E., 
Thomas  M.  and  Sarah  I. 

JOHN  B.  RICHARDSON,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Tallula ;  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Bright)  Richardson,  who  came  to  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  in  an  early  day.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Cass  Co.,  but  located  in  Morgan,  where  they  lived  a  long  and  useful  life,  raising 
a  family  of  six — John  B.  (the  subject  of  this  sketch),  William  H.,  Henry  F.,  Thomas 
C.,  James  L.  and  Fannie ;  their  parents  died  in  Morgan  Co.,  111.;  their  mother  passed 
away  in  March,  1865,  and  their  father,  Nov.  15,  1868 ;  they  were  beloved  by  friends 
and  relatives,  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  them  ;  they  left  a  good  property  to  their 
family,  who  located  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  in  1870  and  1871. 

GEORGE  H.  SANFORD,  physician,  Tallula;  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  Ohio, 
Oot.  6,  1838,  and  was  raised  upon  a  farm,  receiving  a  good  common  schooling  ;  during 
his  e-irly  life,  he  had  a  great  desire  to  become  a  physician,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1862, 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  J.  C.  Neff,  of  Lima,  Ohio.  He  enlisted  in 
the  army  Aug.  30,  1862,  and,  August  31,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  M.,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Warren  Nichols,  of  Lima,  Ohio  ;  on  the  1st  of  September,  he  started  for  the  front ; 
he  participated  in  a  number  of  battles  and  skirmishes,  serving  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
after  which  he  returned  and  resumed  his  study  of  medicine,  entering  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  Michigan  University,  at  Ann  Arbor  ;  he  graduated  March  25,  1868; 
he  then  came  to  Illinois,  locating  at  Franklin,  and  there  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession;  he  came  to  Tallula  in  1870,  and  began  practice;  he  is  a  well-read  physician, 
and  has  met  with  good  success.  He  has  two  children — Frederick  W.  and  Wilbert  H. 

JOHN  Q.  SPEARS,  merchant  and  farmer;.  P.  0.  Tallula;  son  of  George  and 
Maria  W.  (Blankenship)  Spears,  prominent  pioneers  of  this  county ;  born  Nov.  28, 
1828,  upon  the  old  homestead  where  his  father  now  lives;  his  early  life  was  that  of 
a  farmer's  son ;  he  attended  the  common  schools,  and,  late  in  life,  through  observation 
and  experience,  acquired  a  good  business  education  ;  he  has  made  this  his  home  and 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  thus  far  through  life ;  when  he  began  in  life  for  himself, 
his  father  gave  him  a  farm,  and  he  has  added  to  this  until,  to-day,  he  is  considered  one  of 


TALLULA    PRECINCT.  717 

the  solid  men  of  Menard  Qo.;  he  owns  1,176  acres,  and  much  other  property;  he  is  a 
man  of  public  spirit  and  benevolence.  He  has  twice  married — first,  to  Miss  Susan  J., 
daughter  of  Jacob  Merrill,  May  2,  1854;  she  died  Dec.  16,  1873,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren—William H.,  born  June  20,  1859  :  James  J.,  Feb.  27,  1861,  and  Charles  G., 
July  6,  1869  ;  Mr.  Spears  married  his  present  wife,  Martha  R.,  daughter  of  John  L. 
and  Mary  L.  (Hawks)  Turner,  of  Mason  Co.,  Dec.  2,  1875;  she  was  born  Oct.  16, 
1837.  Mr.  Spears  is  now  engaged  in  mercantile  and  grain  business,  and  in  this,  also,  is 
quite  successful. 

GEORGE  SPEARS,  farmer;  P.  O.  Tallula  ;  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Neely) 
Spears  ;  was  born  in  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  March  9,  1805,  where  his  parents  settled  in  an 
early  day,  and  improved  a  large  tract  of  land ;  George  was  raised  upon  a  farm,  and 
received  a  good  common  schooling.  Aug.  19,  1824,  he  married  Miss  Maria  W., 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Stringer)  Blankenskip,  in  the  following  September ;  came 
to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  locating  where  George  now  lives,  buying  a  large  tract  of 
land.  His  father  died  here  April  16,  1838,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  74,  his  mother  surviv- 
ing until  Jan.  26,  1852,  when  she  finished  a  useful  career  of  90  years.  The  subject  of 
thissk,etch  has  bought  and  improved  a  large  tract  of  land — some  three  thousand  acres  ; 
he  burned  the  brick  and  built  his  present  residence  in  1829,  in  which  he  has  since 
resided ;  at  that  time,  this  was  the  second  brick  building  in  the  territory  which  now 
constitutes  Sangamon,  Menard,  Mason,  Logan  and  part  of  Cass  Cos.;  here  Mr.  Spears  has 
lived  a  long  and  prosperous  life,  and  raised  a  family  of  five — Mary  C.  (now  Mrs.  Wm. 
T.  Beekman),  William  N.  (deceased),  John  Q.,  Henry  C.  (deceased)  and  Elizabeth  F. 
(now  Mrs.  George  C.  Spears).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spears  celebrated  their  golden  wedding 
Aug.  19,  1874,  with  a  large  attendance  of  the  pioneers,  friends  and  relatives.  Mrs. 
Spears  died  June  23,  1878,  beloved  by  friends  and  relatives,  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  her.  Mr.  Spears  still  owns  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  resides  upon  the  homestead 
where  he  has  lived  for  upward  of  half  a  century  ;  he  is  yet  hale  and  hearty,  and  lives 
to  see  the  usefulness  and  prosperity  of  his  children. 

GEORGE  C.  SPEARS,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tallula;  was  born  in  Green  Co.,  Ky., 
April  18,  1822,  and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Letitia  S.  (Ewing)  Spears;  during  his 
early  life  he  obtained  a  good  common  schooling ;  he  left  his  Kentucky  home  in  1843 
and  removed  to  Missouri;  during  the  Mexican  war  he,  with  a  brother,  enlisted  and 
served  under  Col.  Doniphan  ;  they  participated  in  many  skirmishes,  during  one  of  which 
his  brother  was  killed  ;  George  C.  served  one  year,  after  which  he  returned  to  Missouri. 
He  came  to  this  county  in '1849,  and,  Dec.  20,  1849,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
George  Spears,  Esq.;  they  have  a  family  of  six,  viz.,  William  B.,  born  Sept.  17,  1850  ; 
Maria  L.,  Nov.  11,1853;  Yates,  Oct.  30,  1859;  Henrietta,  Feb.  15,  1863  ;  George 
W.,  May  1,  1869,  and  Pauline  B.,  Oct.  30, 1870.  .  Mr.  Spears  is  giving  his  family  a 
good  education.  He  has  improved  a  fine  farm,  which  consists  of  320  acres,  situated  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  pleasant  village  of  Tallula. 

R.  B.  THROPP,  nurseryman  ;  P.  0.  Tallula;  was  born  in  Lycoming  Co.,  Penn., 
June  10, 1842,  and  was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his  parents  in  1844,  locating  in  Richland 
Co.,  where  he  was  raised  and  schooled  till  1851,  when  they  removed  to  Lynn  Co.,  Iowa, 
to  avail  themselves  of  better  school  advantages ;  he  there  attended  the  Western  College, 
(at  Western),  where  he  graduated  in  1855;  in  1856,  the  family  returned  to  Richland 
Co.,  and  he  came  to  Tallula  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  which  he  continued 
until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  with  the  114th  I.  V.  I.;  he  participated  in  many  of  the 
most  severe  battles  of  the  war ;  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Gun- 
town,  Miss.,  and  lay  a  prisoner  for  eleven  months;  after  the  war,  he  returned  to  Tallula 
ani  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business,  and,  in  1870,  he  became  a  partner  in  the 
Tallula  Nursery  and  became  sole  proprietor  in  1875  ;  in  1878,  he  sold  out  his  mercan- 
tile business  and  has  since  given  his  time  and  attention  to  the  nursery,  which  is  the  only 
ona  worthy  of  mention  in  the  county  ;  he  makes  a,  specialty  of  small  fruits  and  shrub- 
bery, of  which  he  has  a  fine  assortment ;  the  grounds  are  situated  half  a  mile  from  the 
village  of  Tallula.  His  wife  was  Miss  Clementine  Jones;  they  were  married  Nov.  30, 
1866  ;  she  is  a  native  of  Kentucky  ;  they  have  a  family  of  four  children. 


718  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  : 

CAPT.  C.  B.  THACHER,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Tallula ;  was  born  in  St. 
Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  22,  1836;  son  of  Simeon  and  Elizabeth  (McClean) 
Thacher  ;  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Victoria  Co.,  Canada,  where  he  was  raised  and 
schooled,  and,  at  the  early  ase  of  14,  he  began  for  himself,  learning  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter and  joiner  ;  in  1857,  he  returned  to  New  York,  locating  near  Buffalo,  and  there 
followed  his  trade;  he  came  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  in  June,  1858,  and,  for  many  years, 
followed  contracting  and  building  in  Menard  and  Cass  Counties,  and  many  fine  buildings 
stand  as  monuments  of  his  workmanship ;  he  enlisted  in  the  late  war  of  the  rebellion,  in 
1862,  with  the  124th  I.  V.  I.,  serving  nearly  four  years,  and  was  promoted  to  the  office 
of  Captain  ;  after  the  war,  he  located  at  Tallula,  where  he  has  since  lived,  a  well-to-do 
citizen;  he  has  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  since  1868 ;  in  1875,  he  began  to  pros- 
pect for  coal,  and  was  instrumental  in  opening  the  Tallula  coal  shaft ;  he  is  enterprising, 
public  spirited  and  benevolent.  He  married  Miss  Mary  J.  White,  in  February,  1869, 
the  daughter  of  Robert  C.  White,  a  prominent  pioneer  of  this  county  ;  they  have  two 
children  living — Bertha  and  Edna. 

F.  S.  THRAPP,  druggist,  Tallula ;  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  2,  1835  ; 
son  of  Bennett  S.  and  Ann  (Stewart)  Thrapp ;  he  was  brought  to  Illinois  in  1840  by 
his  parents,  locating  in  Richland  Co.;  thence  to  Menard  Co.  in  1853;  Mr.  Thrapp 
received  a  good  common  schooling  and  began  as  a  dry-goods  clerk  ;  in  1857,  he  began 
in  mercantile  business  on  his  own  account ;  he  established  the  first  store  of  Tallula  and 
has  operated  in  mercantile  life  ever  since ;  he  is  a  man  of  fine  social  qualities  and  good 
business  ability,  always  interesting-himself  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  good  of  the 
community.  He  has  twice  married,  first  to  Emily  A.,  daughter  of  William  Smeadley, 
a  prominent  pioneer  of  Menard  Co.,  Dec.  9,  1855;  she  died  April  22,  1877,  leaving 
two  children — Martha  Etta  and  Anna  E.  His  present  wife  is  Anna  R.,  daughter  of 
Rev.  F.  R.  Holland,  of  Hope,  Ind. ;  they  were  married  Dec.  26,  1878. 

ALBERT  VON  HUGEL,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Tallula  ;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
May  30,  1820;  he  came  to  this  country  in  1853,  locating  in  Menard  Co.,  111.;  he  began 
as  a  farm  laborer,  and,  by  economy  and  industry,  saved  up  some  money  and  bought  a 
farm  near  Salem,  which  he  improved,  and,  in  1869,  sold  it  and  removed  to  Tallula, 
where  he  rented  a  farm  for  a  time ;  he  bought  his  present  farm  in  1872.  He  has 
twice  married;  first  to  Miss  Rachel  Rayman  in  January,  1857;  she  died  in  July,  1869, 
leaving  two  children — Mary  and  Mate;  and,  in  December,  1871,  he  married  Mrs.  H. 
Spalda,  of  Springfield.  They  are  enterprising  and  among  the  well-to-do  citizens  of  the 
county. 

GEORGE  B.  WELSH,  farmer  and  stock-dealer ;  P.  0.  Tallula ;  was  born  in 
Forfarshire,  Scotland,  April  1,  1838,  and  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Upper  Canada, 
near  Toronto,  in  1849  ;  his  parents  were  John  and  Joanna  (Baxter)  Welsh.  •  He  was 
married,  while  in  Canada,  to  Miss  Catharine  Miller  April  15,  1859;  they  came  to 
Illinois  in  1863,  settling  near  where  he  now  resides  ;  he  has  by  industry  and  economy 
accumulated  a  fine  property ;  he  owns  300  acres  of  well-improved  land ;  they  have 
a  family  of  seven  children — John,  Jennie,  Gains,  George,  Herbert,  Christina  and 
May.  Mr.  Welsh  has  always  interested  himself  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare 
of  the  community  in  which  he  has  lived  and  is  a  much  respected  citizen. 

MICHAEL  WITTINGER,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Tallula;  was  born  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany,  Feb.  14,  1823;  he  came  to  this  country  in  1842,  locating  in 
Cass  Co.,  where  he  began  as  a  farm  laborer;  in  1849,  he,  like  many  others,  was  taken 
with  the  California  fever  and  left  for  the  gold  fields ;  he  spent  some  fourteen  months  in 
mining  and  was  quite  successful ;  he  returned  and  bought  a  piece  of  land  and  engaged 
in  farming,  where  he  now  resides ;  he  now  owns  360  acres  of  fine  land ;  he  is  one  of 
the  well-to-do  farmers  of  the  county.  He  married  Miss  Anna  Heabig,  of  Cass  Co., 
111.,  Nov.  2,  1865;  she  was  born  in  Hessin,  Germany,  Nov.  12,  1840 ;  they  have  four 
children — Amelia  E..  Anna  K.,  Rosa  M.  and  Julia  S. 

J.  F.  WATHEN,  merchant  and  hotel-keeper,  Tallula;  the  first  thing  to  point  out 
to  the  traveling  public  is  a  place  at  which  to  stop  and  satisfactorily  replenish  the  wants 
of  the  inner  man,  and  this  can  truthfully  be  said  of  the  Wathen  House,  which  is  new 


ATHENS    PRECINCT.  719 

and  elegantly  furnished,  and  the  table  well  supplied  with  delicacies.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wathen  take  pleasure  in  supplying  the  wants  of  guests,  and  making  everything  appear 
homelike  and  pleasant.  Mr.  Wathen  was  born  in  Shawneetown,  111.,  June  18,  1838, 
and  is  a  self-made,  practical  business  man ;  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  with- 
out parental  care  and  advice  at  the  early  age  of  12  years ;  he  came  to  Menard  Co.,  Ill,, 
in  1851,  and  engaged  as  a  farm  laborer  for  a  time  ;  then,  in  1854,  he  removed  to  Peoria, 
where  he  served  a  regular  apprenticeship  at  the  trade  of  a  tinner ;  he  saved  up  a  little 
money ;  and,  in  I860,  came  to  Tallula  and  opened  a  small  tin-shop,  and  Dec.  2,  1860, 
married  Miss  Nancy  A.,  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Martha  A.  Martin,  who  were  early  set- 
tlers of  this  county  ;  she  was  born  in  this  county  July  3,  1840 ;  in  1862,  he  enlisted 
with  the  114th  111.  V.  I. ;  he  served  in  the  army  some  three  years,  during  which  time 
he  participated  in  many  of  the  most  severe  battles  and  sieges  of  the  war ;  was  wounded 
at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg;  which  disabled  him  for  a  short  time ;  after  the  war  he 
returned  to  Tallula  and  re-opened  his  stove  and  tin-shop.  Mrs.  Wathen,  being  of  an 
industrious  turn  of  mind,  desiring  to  assist  in  accumulating  property,  for  a  lime  opened 
a  small  millinery  store,  and  from  that  to  the  present  time  they  have  worked  with  that 
energy  and  industry  which  is  sure  to  be  crowned  with  success  in  due  time,  and  to-day 
Mr.  Wathen  is  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  the  county ;  they  have  one  child, 
promising  daughter  of  12  years. 


ATHENS   PRECINCT. 

W.  B.  AYERS,  Athens;  son  of  Joseph  B.  and  Catharine  (Hall)  Ayers,  who  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Menard  Co.,  and  have  lived  to  see  the  change  from  a  wild 
to  a  thickly  settled  country,  and  have  been  workers  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  good 
of  the  community  ;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  this  county  Sept.  29,  1842  ; 
he  had  good  school  advantages,  and  obtained  a  good  English  education  ;  in  1858,  he 
attended  the  North  Sangamon  Academy ;  during  the  late  war,  he  served  for  a  time  with 
the  71st  I.  V.  I.;  after  the  war,  he  was,  for  a  time,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
lumber  in  Clay  Co.,  Ind.,  after  which  he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Riner,  of  Mason  Co.,  Fob.  6,  1868;  she  died  June  8,  1879,  leaving 
three  children — Etta  M.,  Lou  and  Fred.  Mr.  Ayers  is  now  engaged  in  the  business  of 
a  livery,  sale  and  feed  stable,  at  Athens,  together  with  the  superintending  of  his  farm, 
which  consists  of  170  acres. 

MRS.  ELIZABETH  CANTRALL,  Athens;  widow  of  Thomas  Cantrall,  and 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Williams)  Estill ;  she  was  born  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky., 
Jan.  28,  1820,  and  came  to  this  county  at  an  early  day.  She  married  Mr.  Cantrall 
June  12,  1851 ;  he  was  the  son  of  Levi  and  Fanny  (England)  Cantrall,  and  was  born 
Oct.  11,  1810.  He  was  a  prominent  and  respected  citizen  in  this  county,  and  died 
June  22,  1856,  leaving  four  children — Emma  M.,  born  June  12,  1849,  and  died  April* 
29,  1870  (wife  of  David  Vandeventer)  ;  Robert  H.,  born  July  16,  1851  ;  William  M., 
April  16,  1853;  Charles  H.,  Dec.  25,  1855.  William  now  works  the  home  farm. 

ROBERT  COUNCIL,  farmer;  son  of  Hardy  and  Jane  Council;  was  born 
in  Barren  Co.,  Ky.,  March  3,  1831,  and  was  brought,  while  quite  young,  to  Sanga- 
mon Co.,  111.,  where  his  father  entered  land,  and  where  Robert  was  raised  a 
farmer,  which  business  he  has  followed  thus  far  through  life.  He  married  Ellen,  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Maria  Cresse,  Sept.  22,  1863 ;  she  was  born  in  this  county  April  14, 
1844;  her  people  came  from  New  Jersey  in  1839.  M*r.  Council  is  one  of  the  well-to- 
do  citizens  of  the  county  ;  has  fine  land,  a  beautiful  residence ;  their  family  are  as  fol- 
lows: John  W.,  born  Jan.  17,  1865;  Herbert,  May  18,  1867,  and  died  Dec.  13, 
1872  ;  Mabel  J.,  born  May  20,  1869;  Lillie  M.,  March  24,  1871;  Eddie,  March  22, 
1874,  and  died  April  21,1875;  Lulu  C.,born  April  27, 1876;  Robert  C.,  Oct.  25, 1878. 

MRS.  NARCISSA  CANTRALL,  widow  of  McDonald  Cantrall,  and  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Julia  (Holland)  Hedrick,  was  born  in  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  May  15,  1835. 


720  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

She  was  married  to  Mr.  McDonald  Cantrall  March  29,  1853;  they  settled  where  she 
now  lives  in  1854  ;  he  died  Sept.  15,  1873,  leaving  one  child,  Charles,  who  was  born 
Feb.  14,  1854.  Mrs.  Cantrall,  with  her  son  Charles,  manages  the  farm,  which  consists 
of  444  acres.  Charles  is  yet  a  young  man,  and  is  a  respected  citizen. 

CORYDON  CLARK,  farmer  and  tile  manufacturer,  son  of  Elisha  and  Sarah 
(  Gard  )  Clark,  was  born  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Oct.  12,  1820,  and  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  parents  in  1824,  where  they  passed  their  latter  days  in  Sangamon  Co.  He 
came  to  Menard  County  in  1846,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  married  Matilda  J., 
daughter  of  Abner  and  Jane  (  Overstreet )  Hall.  They  have  a  family  of  ten  living. 
For  thirty-three  years  Mr.  Hall  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick,  and  for 
the  last  four  years  has  engaged  extensively  in  the  manufacture  of  tile,  and  produces  the 
best  quality.  His  yards-are  the  largest  and  best  arranged  in  the  county,  and  he  manufac- 
tures upon  a  large  scale.  His  tile  are  from  seven  to  three  in  size  and  of  fine  quality. 
Mr.  Clark  is  one  of  the  enterprising,  industrious  and  well-to-do  citizens  of  Menard 
County. 

JAMES  M.  DEKRY,  farmer^son  of  Christian  and  Susannah  (Games)  Derry, 
was  born  in  Loudoun  Co.,  Va.,  Sept.  19,  1822,  and  came  to  Illinois  about  1849,  locating 
in  Springfield.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Cordelia  A.  Kalb,  of  Springfield,  in  April,  1851 . 
She  died  Oct.  5,  1854,  leaving  two  children.  He  married  his  present  wife  in  1861,  she 
was  Miss  Martha  J.  Pallock,  of  this  county.  Mr.  Derry  located  upon  his  present  farm,  in 
1866,  which  consists  of  280  acres  of  excellent  land.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Derry  are  members 
of  the  Free  Methodist  Church. 

J.  W.  ESTILL,  farmer,  son  of  William  and  Mary  (  Williams  )  Estill,  was  born  in 
Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  March  6,  1823,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  in  1823.  His 
father  was  born  in  Barren  Co..  Ky.,  Aug.  30,  1794,  and  now  resides  in  this  county  at 
the  ripe  age  of  85  years.  His  mother  died  Sept.  27,  1842.  He  is  one  of  a 
family  of  fourteen,  two  of  whom  died  in  the  army,  in  the  late  war,  and  nine  are  yet 
living.  He  was  married  to  Jane  E.,  daughter  of  Milo  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Telford)  Wood, 
who  came  from  Tennessee,  and  settled  in  Illinois  in  1821.  They  were  married  Oct.  5, 
1843,  and  have  had  five  children,  one  now  living,  William  M.,  born  Aug.  23,  1848. 
Mr.  Estill  spent  several  years  traveling  through  the  west,  visiting  California,  Oregon  and 
Colorado,  and  returning  in  1856,  since  which  time  he  has  followed  farming;  he  is  a 
well-to-do  and  respected  citizen. 

LEVI  GIBBS,  shoemaker,  Athens;  was  born  in  Sussex  Co.,  England,  March  3, 
1805,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (  Fuller  )  G-ibbs.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  country  in  1818.  locating  for  a  time  in  Delaware,  thence  to  Maryland  in 
1825,  and  there  his  mother  died  in  1832.  In  1820,  Levi  was  bound  as  an  apprentice 
to  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker  at  Wilmington,  Del.  In  1839,  his  father  with  family  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  at  Athens.  His  father  had  been  an  extensive  powder  manufacturer 
in  England,  and  also  in  the  Eastern  States,  and  had  acquired  a  good  property,  and  died 
in  1851.  Levi  is  one  of  a  family  of  eleven,  but  three  of  whom  are  now  living.  He 
married  Miss  Anna  M.  Gasser  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  in  April,  1827.  They  raised  two 
children,  Mary  J.,  now  Mrs.  W.  0.  Ward,  of  Clay  Co.,  Ind.,  and  William  F.,  who  died 
in  the  army  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Sept.  3,  1865.  Mr.  Gibbs  is  prosperous  and  respected. 

H.  C.  GRAHAM,  farmer;  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  A.  (Akere)  Graham;  was 
born  in  Athens  May  8,  1833  ;  his  parents  came  from  the  city  of  New  York  to 
Illinois,  in  1829,  and  to  Athens,  Menard  Co.,  in  1830,  where  they  still  live,  at  a 
combined  age  of  146  years.  H.  C.  is  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  ten,  nine  of  whom 
are  still  living ;  he  has  followed  agricultural  pursuits  thus  far  through  life,  except  a 
few  years  of  his  early  life,  which'  were  devoted  to  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  He  married 
Miss  Fanny  L.,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Ann  (Patterson)  Cantrall,  Jan.  6,  1856  ;  she 
was  born  Oct.  9,  1838  ;  they  have  raised  a  family  of  five — Mary  A.,  born  June  23, 
1858;  William  H.,  Aug.  11,  1862;  Araminta,  Oct.  13,  1868  ;  Joseph  S.,  March  26, 
1871  ;  Carrie,  Aug.  5,  1878.  They  settled  where  they  now  live  in  1856,  and  have 
for  many  years  been  members  and  workers  in  the  Athens  M.  E.  Church.  They  have 
a  fine  farm  of  400  acres,  and  a  beautiful  residence. 


ATHENS    PRECINCT.  721 

CAPT.  J.  A.  HURT,  hotel  proprietor,  Athens  ;  son  of  James  K.  and  Melinda 
(Preston)  Hurt,  and  was  born  near  Springfield,  111.,  Dec.  22,  1829  ;  his  parents  came 
from  Warren  Co.,  Ky.,  settling  at  his  birthplace  in  1828;  they  came  to  Athens,  Men- 
ard  Co.,  in  1832.  His  father  died  in  June,  1851  ;  his  mother  still  survives,  in  good 
health,  at  the  age  of  71.  Captain  is  the  oldest  of  the  family  of  twelve,  eight  of  whom 
arc  now  living.  During  the  late  war  he  enlisted  with  the  28th  I.  V.  I.,  serving  in  this 
regiment  about  one  year,  as  -First  Lieutenant,  and  afterward  went  out  with  the  106th 
I.  V.  I.,  in  which  he  was  elected  Captain,  which  position  he  held  nearly  three  years 
Since  the  war,  he  has  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  together-  with  hotel  business.  He 
wag  licensed  an  M.  E.  preacher,  by  the  M.  E.  Church,  in  1866.  and  has  since  been  a 
faithful  Christian  worker.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1866,  and  again  in 
1877,  which  office  he  now  holds.  He  is  *an  industrious,  benevolent,  and  a  much 
respected  citizen. 

CLAIBORNE  HALL,  farmer  and  merchant,  Athens ;  is  a  native  of  Patrick 
Co.,  Va.,  where  he  was  born  Sept.  5,  1819  ;  in  the  10th  year  of  his  age,  with  his 
father's  family,  he  emigrated  to  Boone  Co.,  Mo.,  and  shortly  afterward  located  near 
Athens,  Menard  Co.,  remaining  here  until  1843,  when  he  removed  to  Iowa,  and  settled 
on  the  "  New  Purchase,"  there,  for  five  years,  he  improved  and  then  purchased  a  quar- 
ter-section of  land  ;  it  was  during  this  time  that  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  what  was  known  then  as  the  "  Attached  Territory"  of  Mahaska  Co.  Marion  Co. 
was  organized  out  of  that  territory  in  1846,  Mr.  Hall  being  elected  County  Surveyor. 
He  was  subsequently  elected  to  the  offices  of  Probate  Judge,  Sheriff,  Recorder,  Collec- 
tor, and  Treasurer  for  said  county.  At  the  close  of  his  term  of  office,  in  1854,  he 
returned  to  farming,  having  purchased  another  farm,  near  Knoxville.  While  thus  engaged, 
he  became  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Democratic  Standard,  the  first  Democratic 
paper  published  in  that  county.  After  a  year's  editorial  experiencite,  he  was  elected 
County  Superintendent  of  Schools.  Two  years  afterward,  he  removed  to  Knoxville, 
and  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  continuing  in  this  until  the  autumn  of  1864,  when 
he  removed  to  Athens,  his  former  place  of  abode.  Since  that  time  he  has  farmed,  and 
for  several  years  has  been  identified  with  mercantile  life  in  Athens.  In  1845,  Mr. 
Hall  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  T.  Duncan,  daughter  of  Marshall  Duncan,  near 
Salisbury,  who  had  emigrated  from  Kentucky  at  an  early  day.  One  son,  Wil- 
son B.,  was  the  only  child  born  of  this  union.  Susan  T.  died  in  1850.  Three 
years  afterward,  Mr.  Hall '  married  Eliza  J.  Olive,  near  Zanesville,  Ohio,  who 
also  died  Dec.  10,  1864.  Two  years  later,  Mr.  H.  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  A.  Riggin,  of  this  county,  daughter  of  Harry  and  Miriam  Rigirin, 
both  of  whom  emigrated  to  this  State  from  Tennessee,  in  1817.  Mr.  Hall's 
life  has  been  one  of  varied  usefulness,  and  he  is  yet  an  active  business  man,  and  highly 
esteemed  citizen.  Of  the  religious  character  of  Mr.  Hall,  it  may  be  proper  to  state 
that  he  has  been  an  acceptable  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  since  1838,  and  was 
ordained  Elder  therein  in  1859,  and  has  discharged  the  duties  of  this  sacred  calling 
with  faithfulness  and  ability. 

ELIHU  HALL,  son  of  Fleming  and  Susanna  (Tice)  Hall;  was  born  in 
Patrick  Co.,  Va.,  June  4,  1822,  and  came  with  parents  to  what  is  now  Menard  Co.,  111., 
in  1829  ;  they  located  upon  the  farm  where  Elihu  now  lives;  his  parents  still  live  here, 
and  their  combined  ages  amount  to  178  years;  Elihu  is  a  scientific  botanist,  and  has 
devoted  the  principal  part  of  twenty-five  years  to  the  study  of  botany  and  to  his  herba- 
rium, and  has  a  collection  of  15,000  specimens,  beyond  a  doubt  the  finest  private  collec- 
tion in  this  country.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Brown  May  10,  1871  ;  they 
have  three  children — Una  M.,  Julian  H.  and  Hubert  R. 

J.  N.  HALL,  farmer  and  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county,  was  born  in  Law- 
rence Co.,  Ohio,  June  10,  1816,  and  was  the  fourth  child  of  a  family  of  fourteen;  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  county  in  1827  ;  here  his  father  died  about  1839,  and  his 
mother  in  1862  ;  he  has  resided  upon  the  old  homestead  thus  far  through  life  ;  he  owns 
the  old  homestead  farm,  which  cousists  of  390  acres.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Parker, 
of  this  county,  April  2,  1842;  she  was  born  in  Rush  Co.,  Ind.,  Nov.  4,  1825;  they 


722  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

have  raised  a  family  of  fourteen  children,  all  of  whom  are  living — Thomas  J.,  born 
April  17,  1843  ;  Anna  E.,' Aug.  10,  1844  ;  Abraham,  April  4,  1846  ;  William  E.,  May 
9,  1848;  Charles  A.,  Nov.  4,  1849;  Emily  E.,  Aug.  26,  1853;  Nancy  J.,  April  9, 
1855 ;  John  L.,  Feb.  20,  1857  ;  Samuel  B.,  Jan.  9,  1859 ;  Ada  A.,  Feb.  3,  1861  ; 
Amanda  A.,  May  9,  1863;  James  N.,  Feb.  28,  1865;  Kobert  L.,  Feb.  22,  1867; 
EllaM.,  May  16,  1869. 

M.  T.  HARGRAVE,  druggist,  Athens ;  was  born  in  Guilford  Co.,  N.  C.,  March 
17,  1842,  and,  in  1844,  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Ray  Co.,  Mo.,  where  he  was  prin- 
cipally raised,  and,  after  obtaining  a  good  English  education,  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine under  Dr.  G.  A.  Gorden,  of  Elkhorn,  Mo. ;  in  1863,  he  located  in  Bloomingtgn,- 
111.,  and  embarked  in  the  grocery  business,  continuing  until  1865,  then  came  to  Athens  ; 
here  he  was  in  the  dry -goods  business  for  several  years.  Sept.  8,  1868,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Melissa,  daughter  of  Abraham  Primm ;  he  then  began  farming  and  stock-deal- 
ing;  in  1874,  he  established  his  present  business,  which  he  operates,  together  with  his 
farm  ;  he  is  a  practical  farmer  and  an  able  business  man,  social,  genial,  and  respected  by 
all;  they  have  had  two  children — Lillie  M.,  born  Sept.  12,  1869,  and  died  May  21, 
1878;  Minnie  R.J  born  Sept.  1,  1876. 

JONATHAN  HEDBICK,  retired;  P.  0.  Athens;  was  born  in  Kentucky 
March  28,  1799,  where  he  was  raised  and  schooled.  Nov.  1,  1827,  he  married  Miss" 
Julia  A.  Holland,  of  his  native  county  ;  she  was  born  Feb.  8,  1803 ;  he  located  in 
Fleming  Co.  and  began  farming,  which  he  has  followed  ever  since ;  they  settled  in  San- 
gamon  Co.,  111.,  in  1831,  and  resided  there  until  1864,  when  they  removed  to  Menard 
Co.  and  settled  where  they  now  reside ;  they  have,  through  energy  and  industry,  been 
quite  successful,  and  have  raised  a  family  of  six  children — Rebecca  (now  Mrs.  J.  Can- 
trail,  of  Sangamon  Co.),  Rosetta  (deceased,  formerly  wife  of  A.  Clark),  Barton  R. 
(deceased),  Narcissa  (now  widow  of  McDonald  Cantrall),  Fleming  (deceased),  Monson 
(who  died  in  the  army  during  the  late  war).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  been  active  workers 
in  the  Christian  Church  since  1844. 

JEFF  JOHNSON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Athens.;  is  the  son.  of  William  and  Cynthia 
(Williams)  Johnson,  and  was  born  where  he  now  resides  Oct.  3,  1828;  his  parents 
located  here  in  1823,  coming  from  Bath  Co.,  Ky.  ;  they  entered  a  large  amount  of 
land,  and,  at  his  death,  had  quite  a  tract  improved  ;  he  died  Sept.  8,  1843;  she  still 
survives,  and.  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  75,  lives  to  see  the  prosperity  and  usefulness  of  her 
children  ;  she  well  remembers  when  this  country  was  inhabited  by  roving  bands  of 
Indians,  with  but  now  and  then  an  adventurous  settler,  and  they  experienced  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  of  pioneer  life.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  made  the  old 
homestead  his  home  thus  far  through  life ;  he  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven,  but  four  of 
whom  are  now  living ;  the  subject  of  our  sketch  has  followed  stock-dealing  and  farming 
thus  far  through  life ;  he  is  looked  upon  as  a  practical  farmer  and  a  good  financier ;  his 
farm  consists  of  some  six  hundred  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  may  be  found  in  the  county. 
His  wife  is  Mary,  daughter  of  Nathan  P.  Riley ;  they  were  married  Dec.  30.  1858; 
she  was  born  in  Miami  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  21,  1836  ;  they  have  one  child — Anna,  born 
July  7,  1867. 

JOHN  JOHNSON,  farmer ;  son  of  William  and  Cynthia  (Williams)  Johnson ; 
was  born  in  this  county  Sept.  5,  1825,  and  is  the  second  of  a  family  of  seven,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living ;  Mr.  Johnson  has  always  made  this  his  home,  following  farming ; 
he  is  industrious  and  enterprising.  He  has  been  twice  married  ;  first  to  Miss  Harriet 
Jeuison,  of  this  county,  Dec.  1,  1846  ;  she  died  Oct.  12,  1855,  leaving  two  children — 
Aclalaide,  born  Sept.  16,  1847  (who  became  the  wife  of  William  E.  Hall,  and  died 
Jan.  7,  1877),  and  William  E.,  May  11,  1850;  Mr.  J.  married  his  present  wife  March 
1,  1859  ;  she  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Gains,  of  this  county;  she  was  born  in  Bath  Co., 
Ky.,  Nov.  16,  1829  ;  by  the  last  union  he  has  four  children — Cora,  born  Jan.  18, 
1860;  lona,  Sept.  12,  1862;  Joe,  Sept.  19,  1866;  Ella/July  14,  1869. 

JOHN  KtNHART,  wagon  and  carriage  manufacturer,  Athens;  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  Dec.  6,  1848 ;  at  the  age  of  13,  he  began  the  trade  of  a  wagon- 
maker  at  Bedford,  Penn.,  serving  a  regular  apprenticeship,  after  which,  he  came  West, 


ATHENS    PRECINCT.  723 

looking  for  a  location,  and  visited  Pike's  Peak,  where  he  followed  mining  for  a  time ; 
he  then  returned  to  Lawrence,  Kan.;  in  1860,  the  drought  of  Kansas  threw  many 
laborers  and  mechanics  out  of  employment,  among  whom  was  Mr.  Kinhart;  he  started 
East  on  foot,  alone  and  without  money  ;  he  came  to  Illinois  and  found  employment  for 
a  time  at  Jacksonville,  thence  to  Athens,  and  engaged  with  Henry  Rankin,  remaining 
till  August,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  28th  I.  V.  I.  and  went  out  as  Corporal ; 
he  was  a  soldier  of  the  late  war  upward  of  four  years ;  he  was  promoted  to  First 
Lieutenant,  and  participated  in  many  of  the  most  severe  battles  of  the  war,  escaping 
without  injury.  After  the  war,  he  returned  to  Athens  and  began  in  a  small  way  at  his 
trade,  in  partnership  with  J.  Waggoner,  continuing  until  1869,  when  Mr.  Kinhart 
became  sole  proprietor,  gradually  enlarging  his  capacity  for  manufacturing;  in  1871, 
Thomas  Swaringuin  bought  an  interest  and  continued  as  a  partner  until  1873,  since 
which  time,  Mr.  Kinhart  has  operated  upon  his  own  account  and,  by  his  mechanical 
ability,  industry  and  uprightness  in  dealing,  has  built  up  a  large  trade ;  he  began  in 
Athens  with  no  means,  but  much  energy  and  determination,  and  is  now  proprietor  of 
the  largest  wagon  and  carriage  shop  in  the  county ;  in  connection  with  the  shop  he 
runs  a  blacksmith  and  general  repairing  shop  and  enjoys  a  flourishing  trade.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  Hart,  of  this  county,  Aug.  19,  1862;  they  are  the  parents  of 
three  children — David,  born  April  12,1867,  died  Sept.  18,  1868;  Linnie  A.,  born 
Jan.  11,  1869,  and  Frank,  Aug.  5,  1871. 

J.  KENNEDY  KINCAID,  farmer  and  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Menard  Co. ; 
son  of  Andrew  and  Ann  P.  (Caldwell)  Kincaid,  and  oldest  of  a  family  of  twelve;  was  born  in 
Bath  Co.,  Ky.,  June  30,  1808 ;  he  served  as  an  apprentice  at  carpentering,  after  which, 
he  worked  for  $12  per  month  to  get  money  to  go  to  school,  and  thus  succeeded  in 
obtaining  a  good  common  schooling;  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1832,  and  followed 
carpentering  for  two  years,  then  bought  land  ;  his  parents  and  family  came  to  Illinois 
in  1834;  eight  of  the  family  are  now  living;  his  parents  died  here,  bis  father  in 
August,  1872,  at  87  years  of  age,  and  his  mother  March  20,  1879,  aged  92.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Vianna,  daughter  of  James  and  Hannah  (Mappin)  Williams,  March 
24,  1836;  she  was  born  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky.,  March  4,  1817;  they  settled  near  where 
they  now  live,  and  have  had  fourteen  children,  seven  of  whom  were  raised  to  mature 
age  and  six  nowjiving,  viz.:  Hannah  E.  and  Ann  E.,  born  Dec.  8,  1840  (now  respec- 
tively Mrs.  John  Dalbey  and  Mrs.  R.  A.  Young);  John  H.,  July  9,  1848 ;  Joseph  H., 
May  8,  1850;  Huldah,  Aug.  15,  1854  (now  Mrs.  C.  C.  Scott),  and  Julia  E  ,  Jan.  9, 
1860.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  K.  have  been  active  workers  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  since 
early  in  life.  He  has  accumulated  a  large  property  and  has  improved  upward  of  a 
section  of  land;  he  now  owns  670  acres  in  this  county  and  some  700  acres  in  Iowa. 
Missouri  and  Kansas ;  they  are  well-known  and  highly  respected  people. 

THOMAS  KINCAID,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Athens ;  son  of  Andrew  and  Ann  P.  (Cald- 
well) Kincaid;  was  born  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky.,  and  came  to  what  is  now  Menard  Co.  in  1834; 
among  the  prominent  and  solid  men  of  the  county,  none  are  better  known  than  this 
gentleman  ;  he  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  good  of 
the  community  in  which  he  has  lived.  His  wife  was  Miss  Lucinda  Patterson,  of 
Hardin  Co.,  Ohio.;  they  were  joined  in  marriage  Oct.  18,  1849;  she  died  April  13, 
1874,  leaving  *  family  of  five  children,  four  of  them  girls.  As  a  family  they  are  much 
respected. 

JAMES  S.  MOORE,  farmer;  was  born  in  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  1,  1821  ;  son 
of  John  N.  and  Phebe  (Scott)  Moore,  and  was  brought  to  this  county  by  his  parents  in 
1822;  they  settled  where  James  now  lives,  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
duy.s;  his  father  died  Dec.  25,  1842,  and  his  mother,  Aug.  7,  1868.  During  early  life, 
James  acquired  a  good  education,  and  has  followed  agricultural  pursuits  thus  far  through 
lii'i:.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Narcissa  N.  Dickey,  of  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  12,  1849; 
she  died  Oct.  6,  1876.  leaving  a  family  of  three  children — Henry  M.,  born  Oct.  30, 
1850,  and  married  to  Miss  Maggie  Harris,  of  this  county,  Feb.  26,  1879;  Martha  E., 
born  May  3,  1852,  and  Laura  F.,  April  28,  1854.  Mr.  Moore  has  been  an  active 
worker  in  all  public  affairs  ;  he  was  especially  active  in  establishing  the  North  Sangamon 

Et 


724  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

Church  and  the  Academy,  institutions  of  credit  to  the  county.  A  main  character- 
istic of  Mr.  Moore,  as  well  as  of  Mrs.  Moore,  during  her  life,  has  been  faithfulness  in 
the  work  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  farm  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  county. 

G.  J.  NYBROE,  farmer  and  raiser  of  fine  stock  ;  was  born  in  Norway  Feb.  14, 
1823 ;  he  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1850,  and,  coming  directly  to  Illinois,  located  in 
Menard  Co.,  and,  for  a  time,  found  employment  as  a  farm  laborer  with  A.  Kincaid, 
continuing  about  three  years ;  then  as  a  renter  for  about  four  years,  during  which  time, 
he  married  Miss  Torber  Aleson,  daughter  of  Ale  and  Aene  Aleson,  of  Springfield, 
111.;  she  is  a  native  of  his  country.  After  having  remained  with  Kincaid  some  seven 
years,  and  having,  by  industry  and  economy,  saved  up  some  money,  he  bought  160 
acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  settled  in  1858,  where  he  has  since  resided  ;  has  added  to 
his  farm  until  now  he  owns  230  acres  of  fine  land  ;  he  makes  a  specialty  of  breeding 
fine  hogs,  sheep  and  cattle,  a  fact  which  is  becoming  extensively  known  throughout  the 
State,  as  he  is  in  the  habit  of  carrying  away  the  highest  premiums  at  all  fairs  in  the 
central  part  of  Illinois  ;  his  reputation  as  a  fine-stock  grower  (especially  of  hogs)  is  very 
high. 

MRS.  ELIZABETH  PRIMM,  widow  of  D.  C.  Primm  and  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Jane  (Hall)  Tice ;  was  born  in  Floyd  Co.,  Va.,  April  10,  1823,  and  was 
brought  to  this  county  by  her  parents  in  1833 ;  she  is  one  of  a  family  of  eleven,  seven 
of  whom  are  now  living.  She  was  married  to  David  C.  Primm  June  1,  1843 ;  he  was 
the  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Stalling)  Primm,  who  came  to  this  county  at  an 
early  day;  he  died  Oct.  24.  1864,  leaving  seven  children — James  D.,  born  Jan.  22, 
1845  ;  Susan  J.,  born  Sept.  19,  1848,  died  Dec.  4,  1864;  Dulcinea  E.,  born  June  11, 
1852  (now  Mrs.  Cline) ;  Thomas  R.,  July  14,  1854,  Clarrie  M.,  Aug.  8,  1856  (now 
Mrs.  Wm.  Kenyon) ;  Violet  L.,  born  Feb.  8,  1860;  Ninian  0.,  Nov.  21,  1861. 

ELISHA  PRIMM,  farmer  ;  son  of  John  and  Ruth  (Cox)  Primm;  was  born  in 
what  is  now  Monroe  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  24,  1814;  his  parents  settled  there  in  1808;  his 
father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  was  born  in  1780 ;  his  mother  was  born  in  Dela- 
ware in  1783,  and  was  married  in  the  Territory  of  Illinois  in  1809 ;  they  had  seven 
children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living.  His  father  died  Aug.  9,  1848,  and  his  mother, 
Feb.  3,  1856.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  the  place  where  he  now  lives  with 
his  parents,  in  1820.  and,  Sept.  19,  1837,  married  Miss  Lucinda  C.  Glasscoek  ;  she  was 
born  Aug.  12,  1819,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  this  county  in  1833  ;  they  have 
raised  one  child — Susan  J.  (wife  of  W.  L.  Rankin),  born  March  20,  1839.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Primm  have  lived  to  see  the  entire  change  fiom  a  wild  and  desolate  to  a  thickly 
settled  and  well-developed  country,  and  have  always  taken  an  active  part  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  good  of  the  community,  and  are  yet  hale  and  vigorous,  and  much- 
respected  citizens. 

T.  J.  PRIMM,  physician,  Athens ;  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Stalling) 
Primm  ;  was  born  in  this  county  Jan.  25,  1822  ;  during  his  early  life,  he  acquired  a 
good  English  education,  and  prepared  for  a  medical  course,  upon  which  he  entered  in 
1846,  at  the  Missouri  University,  St.  Louis;  he  graduated  in  1850  ;  he  entered  upon 
the  dufies  of  his  profession  at  Athens;  in  1852,  he  attended  medical  lectures  at  St. 
Louis;  also  in  1854,  and,  in  1856,  at  Louisville,  Ky.;  this  has  been  the  principal  field 
of  his  professional  labor  thus  far.  Mr.  Primm  is  a  well-read  man,  and  of  acknowledged 
ability  as  a  physician ;  he  has  accumulated  a  large  property,  and  now  owns  upward  of 
two  thousand  acres  of  fine  land,  and  is  a  highly  respected  citizen ;  his  parents  were 
natives  of  Virginia ;  his  mother,  with  her  parents,  came  into  the  Territory  of  Illinois  in 
1796,  remaining  for  a  time  at  what  was  known  as  Whiteside  Station  ;  she  lived  to  the 
ripe  age  of  85,  and  died  Oct.  26,  1877  ;  his  father  came  to  the  Territory  of  Illinois  in 
1802,  locating  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  he  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  settled  in 
Menard  Co.  in  1820;  he  died  May  14,  1856.  The  Primms  were  prominent  pioneers, 
and  further  mention  of  them  will  be  found  in  the  general  history. 

H.  C.  ROGERS,  farmer ;  P.O.  Athens;  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Menard  Co.,  and 
son  of  Matthew  and  Anna  (Morse)  Rogers;  was  born  in  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  20, 
1808,  and  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  three  only  of  whom  are  now 


ATHENS    PRECINCT.  725 

living;  he  came  to  this  State  in  1820,  with  his  parents,  and  located  near  where  he  now 
lives.  Here  his  parents  died — his  mother  Sept.  18,  1828,  and  his  father,  Aug.  14, 
1847.  H.  C.  married  Miss  Sarah  H.  Moore  Nov.  26,  1829,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Tate)  Moore,  who  was  born  March  8,  1812  ;  they  have  had  eight  children,  four 
of  whom  lived  to  grow  up,  viz.:  Marv  A.,  born  Dec.  26,  1830;  William  H.,  April  24, 
1838;  John  T.,  June  4,  1841,  died 'May  22,  1868,  and  James  M.,  born  June  22, 
1846.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  have  been  active  workers  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  for 
upward  of  forty  years ;  they  are  public-spirited,  benevolent,  well-to-do  and  highly 
respected  citizens. 

HENRY  B.  RANKIN,  is  the  son  of  Amberry  A.  and  Arminda  (Rogers)  Rankin  ; 
his  father  was  born  near  Cynthiana,  Ky.,  Nov.  30,  1806,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1828 ; 
his  niothor  was  born  in  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  20,  1803,  and  came  to  Illinois  with 
her  parents  in  1818.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  third  of  a  family  of  four,  viz., 
James  A.,  who  was  born  June  10,  1832,  and,  at  the  age  of  20,  sailed  for  Chili,  South 
America,  by  way  of  Cape  Horn,  and  remained  in  South  America  sixteen  years,  the  first 
part  of  which  time  was  spent  in  travel  and  correspondence  with  various  journals  of  the 
United  States,  and  later,  became  connected  with  Mr.  Henry  Meigs,  as  civil  engineer 
and  contractor  in  the  railroad  which  Meigs  was  constructing  for  the  Peruvian  Govern- 
ment. His  active  life  was  terminated  by  a  disastrous  railroad  accident  near  Iquique, 
Peru,  Oct.  4,  1870.  at  which  place  he  was  buried.  Edward  L.,  another  son,  born 
March  14,  1835,  and,  Sept.  20,  1860,  was  married  to  Miss  E.  R.  Searle,  of  Rock 
Island,  111.,  and.  in  1861,  located  in  Keokuk  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he  has  since  resided; 
they  have  one  child — James  E..  born  July  28,  1867.  Henry  B  ,  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  who  was  born  April  7,  1837,  still  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  where  he  was 
born,  which  was  the  first  claim  and  home  of  his  grandfather,  Matthew  Rogers.  His 
wife  was  Miss  Alma  Hurd,  of  Tonica,  La  Salle  Co.,  111. ;  they  were  married  May  4, 
1864,  and  have  two  children— Fred  H.,  born  May  18,  1865,  and  Albert  H.,  Nov.  27, 
1876  ;  Emma  F.,  deceased.  Among  the  pioneers  and  honored  citizens  of  Menard  Co., 
none  are  better  known  than  A.  A.  Rankin,  nor  more  worthy  of  historical  notice  as  a 
representative  man.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  all  matters  of  public  wel- 
fare. 

WILLIAM  F.  ROBERTS,  physician,  Athens ;  son  of  Col.  Thomas  and  Ann  M. 
(Taggart)  Roberts;  was  born  in  Winchester,  Frederick  Co.,  Va.,  June  4,  1834.  His 
father  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  during  which  he  was  made  Colonel,  and  was  for 
many  years  a  prominent  merchant  of  Winchester,  and  died  in  1837,  after  which,  his 
mother  and  family  removed  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and,  in  1842,  they  removed  to  Zanes- 
ville,  Ohio.  In  1847,  they  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Athens,  where  his  mother  now 
lives.  During  his  early  life  here,  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  cabinet  maker,  by  which 
business  he  afterward  obtained  money  to  attend  school.  After  getting  a  good  education, 
he  resolved  to  become  a  physician,  and,  in  1859  and  1860,  he  attended  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College  of  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1860,  and  located  at 
Green  view,  in  this  county,  and  began  practice.  In  1861,  he  came  to  Athens,  and  dur- 
ing the  late  war,  was  commissioned  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  106:h  I.  V.  I.,  after  which 
he  was  commissioned  First  Surgeon  of  the  28th  111.  Regt.  Since  the  war,  he  has  been 
diligently  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  at  Athens,  with  the  exception  of  a 
short  period  at  Greenview.  He  is  considered  a  well-read  and  able  physician.  His  wife 
was  Ann  E.,  daughter  of  Joseph  B.  and  Catherine  (Hall)  Ayers,  of  this  county.  They 
were  married  Oct.  14,  1856.  She  was  born  Jan.  29,  1840,  and  died  May  16,  1879, 
leaving  a  family  of  seven  children.  In  the  spring  of  1879,  he  embarked  in  the  drug 
business,  and  is  building  up  a  fine  trade. 

WILLIAM  L.  RANKIN,  farmer;  P.  O.Athens;  son  of  James  and  Anna  (Dills) 
Rankin;  was  born  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ky.,  Sept.  15,  1816,  and,  in  1833,  came  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois,  locating  where  he  now  lives,  and  where  his  parents  died — his  mother, 
Oct.  27,  1858,  and  his  father,  Dec.  1,  1861.  He  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  six, 
three  only  of  whom  are  now  living,  and  has  lived  upon  the  old  homestead  since  1833. 
He  has  twice  married  ;  first,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Sudduth,  of  Sangamon  Co.,  Sept.  22r 


726  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

1842;  she  died  July  15,  1859,  leaving  four  children— James  T.,  born  Aug.  2,  1843  ; 
Caroline  (now  Mrs.  H.  C.  Hurt),  born  Nov.  14,  1844;  Benjamin  C.  (who  died  in  the 
army  during  the  late  war),  born  March  18,  1846,  died  May  4,  1865;  Jason  L., 
born  Sept.  24,  1855,  and  now  living  in  Page  Co.,  Iowa.  March  29,  1860,  he  married 
Miss  Susan  J.,  daughter  of  Elisha  and  Lucinda  C.  (Glasscock)  Primm,  by  whom  he  has 
six  children  living — Anna  M.,  born  April  27,  1863;  George  M.,  born  June  4,  1865  ; 
William  L.,  born  Jan.  8,  1868;  Lewis  T.,  born  March  28,  1870;  Lucinda  C.,  born 
Oct.  6,  1872 ;  Herman  P.,  born  July  31,  1877.  Mr.  Rankin  has  followed  farming  and 
stock-dealing  thus  far  through  life,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  well  to-do  citizens 
of  the  county.  He  owns  1,800  acres  in  this  county,  including  the  homestead  farm,  also 
3,000  acres  in  Missouri,  and  7,080  acres  in  Iowa.  He  is  one  of  the  solid  men  of  Cen- 
tral Illinois,  and  is  enterprising  and  benevolent.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in 
all  matters  pertaining  to  the  general  good  of  the  community.  He  is  now  occupied  in 
looking  after  the  interests  and  welfare  of  his  family  and  property.  He  resides  near 
Athens,  and  has  one  of  the  finest  farm  residences  in  Central  Illinois.  His  present  high 
position  as  a  citizen  and  a  capitalist  is  wholly  the  result  of  his  uprightness,  energy, 
industry,  and  good  financiering  in  handling  stock,  in  which  business  he  has  been  largely 
engaged  for  many  years. 

W.  B.  TURNER,  farmer,  and  a  pioneer  of  Menard  C).,  was  born  in  Tennessee, 
March  1,  1802,  and  was  raised  principally  in  Madison  Co.,  Ohio;  he  is  the  son  of  John 
and  Hannah  (Balenger)  Turner ;  his  parents  removed  from  Tennessee  to  Madison 
Co.,  Ohio,  while  he  was  quite  small,  and  after  he  became  grown  he  was  put  to  the 
trade  of  a  tanner,  which  business  he  has  followed  some  twenty-five  years  in  Illinois ;  his 
parents  came  to  Illinois,  locating  where  W.  B.  now  lives,  in  an  early  day ;  his  parents 
were  married  when  they  were  but  about  19  years  old,  and  lived  together  as  man  and 
wife  for  about  seventy  years,  and  died  within  a  few  months  of  each  other.  W.  B.  was 
married  to  Miss  Joanna  Bracken,  of  this  county,  Oct.  16,  1828;  she  was  born  in  Bath 
Co.,  Ky.,  Nov.  29,  1808.  They  are  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  only  four  of  whom 
are  now  living,  viz.,  Alfred,  born  May  23,  1830 ;  Robert  L.,  Feb.  23,  1834  ;  Lucinda 
R.,  Aug.  31,  1839,  now  Mrs.  E.  Worth  ;  William  A.,  Sept.  2,  1850.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Turner  have  long  been  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  Mr. 
Turner  has  been  a  Deacon  for  upward  of  forty  years.  They  are  well-to-do  and  respected 
citizens,  and  now  live  to  see  the  usefulness  and  prosperity  of  their  children. 

E.  D.  THOMAS,  physician,  Athens,  son  of  Joseph  R.  and  Sarah  (Hawthorne) 
Thomas,  was  born  in  St.  Clair  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  28,  1844  ;  his  father  was,  for  a  number  of 
years,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  married  in  Mississippi,  and  came  to 
Illinois  about  1844.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  obtained  his  early  education  at 
Waverly,  Morgan  Co.,  111.;  in  1861,  he  enlisted  with  10th  I.  V.  I.;  he  served  in  the 
late  war  four  and  a  half  years,  participating  in  many  of  the  most  severe  battles  and 
skirmishes  ;  he  was  one  of  the  fortunate  ones  who  escaped  without  injury  ;  after  the  war, 
he  returned  and  took  a  commercial  course  at  Springfield,  "and  began  the  study  of  med- 
icine, under  Dr.  A.  H.  Lanphear,  of  Springfield ;  he  took  up  the  practice  of  medicine 
at  Athens  in  1868,  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  his  practice;  he  is  a 
well-read  and  able  physician.  In  1873  and  1874,  he  attended  the  Sterling  Medical 
College,  from  which  he  graduated.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Shipps,  of  Chatham,  Ohio, 
Nov.  22,  1868;  she  was  born  Sept.  2i,  1849.  They  have  three  children — Helen  A., 
born  Oct.  28,  1869  ;  Gaillard  D.,  June  23,  1874  ;  Nathaniel  H.,  Aug  14,  1877. 

W.  B.  THOMPSON,  Professor  of  the  North  Sangamon  Academy,  son  of  Elihu 
and  Mary  (McKnight)  Thompson,  was  born  in  Meigs  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  13,  1848;  his 
early  education  was  obtained  at  Chester  Academy,  and  he  has  since  added  to  his  store  of 
knowledge  by  close  application  to  books,  and  by  teaching ;  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois  in  1861,  served  for  a  time  in  the  late  war,  and  located  in  Richland  Co.;  he 
removed  to  Minnesota  in  1867,  and  taught  school  in  Winona  Co.,  and,  in  1869,  went  to 
Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  thence  to  Clairmont,  111.,  where  he  was  engaged  as  teacher,  until 
1872,  when  he  was  appointed  Principal  of  the  North  Sangamon  Academy  for  a  time, 
after  which  he  taught  the  Power  Settlement  School  for  over  four  years,  and  was  then 


GREENVIEW    PRECINCT.  727 

appointed  to  his  present  position  ;  he  is  a  young  man  of  fine  mental  powers.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Laura  J.,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Higgins)  White,  March  14, 
1878.  They  have  had  one  child,  Mary  E.,  born  Jan.  5,  1879. 

R.  F.  WHITE,  son  of  Robert  White,  was  born  in  St.  Glair  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  27, 
1819,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  in  1819,  and  in  1820,  to  where  R.  F.  now 
lived,  and  where  his  parents  died.  His  father  died  Nov.  27,  1847,  and  his  mother, 
April  2,  1867  ;  they  raised  a  family  of  five,  three  of  whom  are  now  living.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  married  to  Miss  Rachel  E.,  daughter  of  Needham  and  Frances 
(Hamilton)  Roach,  Oct.  31,  1844.  They  have  had  seven  children,  three  only  of 
whom  are  now  living — John  E.,  Mary  E.  and  Esther  A.,  now  Mrs.  William  T.  Moore. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  reside  upon  the  old  homestead,  of  which  they  own  240  acres ; 
they  have  lived  a  useful  life,  and  are  highly  respected. 

COL.  JOHN  WILLIAMS,  President  and  Manager  of  the  Springfield  &  North- 
Western  Railroad,  and  President  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Springfield ;  is  the  son 
of  James  and  Hannah  (Mappin)  Williams,  and  was  born  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky.,  Sept.  11, 
1808  ;  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  in  1823,  who  located  where  the  Colonel  now 
resides.  Here  they  entered  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  the  Colonel  entered  one  section  , 
here  his  father  died  in  1834,  and  his  mother  in  1855.  A  further  mention  of  his 
parents  is  given  in  the  general  and  township  history.  During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Will- 
iams was  appointed,  by  Gov.  Yates,  to  the  office  of  Commissary  General  of  the  State ; 
he  served  in  this  capacity  about  two  years,  then  was  appointed  Manager  of  Sanitary 
affairs ;  he  served  in  a  number  of  honorable  and  prominent  positions  during  the  war. 
He  has  been  prominently  connected  with  the  First  National  Bank  of  Springfield  for 
many  years,  and  has  accumulated  a  large  property.  He  became  connected  with  the 
S.  &  N.-W.  R.  R.  in  1871.  He  owns  and  superintends  a  1,400-acre  stock  farm,  and 
has  always  been  identified  with  public  affairs.  His  wife  is  Lydia,  daughter  of  Asa 
Porter,  of  Lima,  N.  Y.;  they  were  married  March  31,  1840;  she  was  born  Aug.  28, 
1821  ;  they  have  raised  a  family  of  six,  who  bid  fair  to  become  worthy  citizens  of  this 
or  any  community  in  which  they  may  ultimately  locate. 

J.  C.  WEST,  farmer;  son  of  Jacob  West ;  was  born  in  Sumner  Co.,  Tenn.,  April 
14,  1808,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  in  1833,  locating  in  Knox  Co.,  at  which 
time  J.  C.  West  came  to  Menard  Co.,  where  he  has  since  lived.  His  mother  died  in 
September,  1858,  at  the  age  of  81,  and  his  father  in  March,  1868,  aged  92.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Esther  (McNabb) 
White,  March  13,  1834;  she  was  born  in  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  20,  1812;  they  are  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  now  living — John  M.,  a  practicing 
physician,  of  Williamsville,  111.,  born  Dec.  22,  1836,  and  Jacob  B.,  farmer,  born  Dec. 
3,  1847.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  West  are  workers  in  the  Christian  cause,  and  are  respected 
citizens. 


CREENVIEW    PRECINCT. 

J.  D.  ALKIRE,  banker,  Greenview  ;  was  born  in  Menard  Co..  111.,  Feb.  10, 1832; 
he  is  the  youngest  son  of  Leonard  and  Catharine  (Davis)  Alkire,  who  came  from  Ohio 
to  Illinois  .in  1823,  and  settled  in  Sugar  Grove;  here  our  subject  passed  his  youth  and 
early  manhood  on  the  farm  of  his  father  ;  he  received  such  education  as  could  be 
obtained  from  the  schools  of  that  early  day  ;  at  the  age  of  19,  he  and  his  brother  Leon- 
ard built  a  storeroom  in  the  then  newly  laid  out  town  of  Swcetwater,  and  put  in  a 
general  stock  of  goods.  Neither  had  had  any  experience  in  the  mercantile  business ; 
and,  strange  as  it  may  i-cem,  they  succeeded  beyond  their  most  sanguine  expectation  ; 
they  continued  in  this  business  for  a  period  of  eight  years,  when  they  sold  the  store 
and  contents  to  William  Engle  &  Son  ;  not  long  after,  they  bought  out  Engle  &  Son, 
and  continued  in  business  for  more  than  a  year ;  they  then  sold  out  to  a  Mr.  Whipp. 
In  all  of  these  transactions  they  were  very  successful,  making  money  at  every  change 


728  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

they  made  ;  this  was  about  the  year  1862  ;  then  for  a  period  of  eleven  years,  the  two 
brothers  engaged  in  farming  and  the  live-stock  trade ;  in  this,  as  in  mercantile  business, 
they  were  very  successful ;  about  this  time  they  went  to  the  Far  West,  where  they 
improved  a  large  ranch,  and  handled  a  large  number  of  sheep  ;  at  the  end  of  two  and 
.a  half  years,  the  partnership  that  had  existed  between  the  brothers,  for  a  period  of 
twenty-four  years,  ceased — J.  D.,  our  subject,  taking  the  property  they  owned  in 
Menard  Co.,  111.,  and  his  brother  the  ranch  and  stock  in  Colorado ;  after  J.  D.  Alkire's 
return  to  his  native  State,  he,  and  his  eldeft  brother,  Milem,  started  a  private  bank  in 
the  village  of  Greenview ;  this  was  the  first  enterprise  of  that  kind  in  Eastern  Menard 
Co.;  they  continued  in  business  one  year,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000  ;  at  the  expiration 
of  that  time  they  dissolved,  and  a  new  bank  was  started,  under  the  name  of  Marbold, 
Alkire  &  Co.;  this  is  one  of  the  best  and  safest  banking-houses  in  the  State,  represent- 
ing a  capital  of  $150,000.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Caroline  D.  Stone,  April 
15,  1860 ;  she  is  a  native  of  Bath  Co.,  Ky.;  from  this  union  there  were  nine  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  now  living — William  P.,  John  D.,  Eva  E.,  Henry,  Ethalinda,  Mary 
E.,  and  a  babe  not  named  ;  the  names  of  those  deceased  were  Edwin  D.  and  Ida  H. 
Mr.  Alkire  is  one  of  Menard  Co.'s  wealthiest  and  most  respected  citizens,  and  a  self- 
made  man.  A  Democrat  in  politics,  but  quite  liberal  in  his  views. 

DEDERICH  AMERKAMP,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  Sec.  6  ;  P.  0.  Greenview ; 
was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  Oct.  3,  1817.  He  passed  his  youth  and  early  man- 
hood in  his  native  country,-  working  on  a  farm  and  attending  school.  In  1843,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Ottman.  From  this  union  there  were  four  children — 
Harmon,  Annie  K.,  Catharine  M.  and  Eliza  M.  All  are  married,  and  live  in  Menard 
Co.  In  1860,  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  located  in  Greenview  Precinct, 
Menard  Co.,  III.,  where  he  has  since  resided,  and  owns  500  acres  of  nicely  improved 
land,  which  he  has  obtained  by  close  attention  to  business,  combined  with  honesty  and 
industry.  He  was  again  married  Oct.  29, 1860  ;  this  time  to  Mary  Wansing,  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  a  most  estimable  lady.  Mr.  Amerkamp  is  one  of  the  most  intelligent 
and  influential  men  in  the  county. 

GEORGE  W.  BLANE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  24  ;  P.  0.  Greenview  ;  was 
born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  July  12,  1836;  son  of  George  Blane,  who  came  to  Sugar 
Grove,  Menard  .Co.,  in  1819.  Irish  Grove  derives  its  name  from  the  fact  that  in  that 
year  Mr.  George  Blane,  his  mother,  three  brothers  and  a  sister  stopped  for  some  time  in 
that  grove.  They  were  natives  of  Ireland,  and  were  the  first  white  persons  who  ever 
lived  in  that  grove.  He  was  married  soon  after  settling  in  Sugar  Grove  to  Miss  Mary 
M.  Alkire.  sister  of  Leonard  Alkire,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Sugar  Grove.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  brought  up  to  farming,  in  which  he  has  always  continued. 
He  received  a  good  education — much  better  than  most  of  the  boys  of  that  period  who 
lived  in  the  country.  He  remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  27  years  of  age. 
He  was  married  to  Harriet  Cleveland  Dec.  18,  1862,  daughter  of  Asa  and  Experience 
(Avery)  Cleveland,  who  was  born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  May  11,  1841.  Her  parents 
came  to  Menard  Co.  in  1840.  Mr.  Cleveland  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  his  wife 
of  New  Hampshire.  From  this  union  there  were  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now 
living — Minnie  V.,  Jennie  K.,  Lizzie  B.,  Mary  A.,  Jessie  M.,  Geo.  W.  and  Jay  E. 
The  names  of  those  deceased  were  Herbert,  Emma  A.  and  Sadie  A.  Mr.  Blane  is  a 
Republican,  and  at  present  a  candidate  for  County  Commissioner. 

JOHN  P.  BLANE,  farmer  arid  stock-raiser ;  P.  0.  Greenview ;  was  born  in 
Menard  Co.,  111.,  July  25,  1845  ;  is  a  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Alkire)  Blane,  both  of 
whom  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Menard  Co.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
and  came  to  Illinois  as  early  as  1818,  and  to  Sugar  Grove,  Menard  Co.,  in  1819.  He 
died  in  1864.  John  P.  passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood  on  his  father's  farm.  He 
received  such  an  education  as  the  schools  of  that  day  afforded.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mary  A.  Bracken  Feb.  7,  1867.  She  was  born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  0.  P.  Bracken,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Menard  Co.  From  this  union  there 
were  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living — Ella  M.,  born  Jan.  19,  1871  ;  Carrie 
M.,  born  May  31,  1875,  and  Lee  E.,  born  March  8,  1877.  The  name  of  the  one 


GREENVIEW    PRECINCT.  729 

deceased  was  Emma  F.,  born  Dec.  22,  1867,  died  March  21,  1869.     Mr.   Blane  owns 
364  acres  of  well-improved  land  ;   is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  self-made  man. 

0.  P.  BRADLEY,  farmer  and  dealer  in  live-stock,  Sec.  31;  P.  0.  Greenview ; 
was  born  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  28,  1831 ;  son  of  Elijah  and  Martha  (Hornback) 
Bradley,  both  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  father  was  a  blacksmith,  and  was  drowned  in  the 
Licking  River  when  his  son  was  14  years  of  age.  This  left  a  family  of  nine  children  to  the 
care  of  the  mother  and  older  members  of  the  family.  Mr.  Bradley  passed  his  youth  in 
Kentucky,  assisting  his  mother  to  care  for  the  family.  At  the  age  of  20,  he  commenced 
business  for  himself.  He  worked  by  the  month  for  some  time,  then  rented  a  farm,  and 
for  some  years  remained  there  and  followed  farming.  la  1853,  he  and  his  mother  and 
family  came  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  and  located  on  Salt  Creek.  Here  he  and  his  brother 
bought  196  acres  of  wild  prairie  land.  Since  that  time  he  has  not  only  purchased  his 
brother's  share  of  the  land,  but  now  owns  800  acres  of  well-improved  land,  200  of  which 
joins  the  village  of  Greenview.  His  Salt  Creek  farm  is  one  of  the  best  improved  and  most 
pleasantly  situated  in  the  county.  At  the  time  of  his  coming  to  Illinois  he  had  but 
$250,  and  what  he  now  has  is  due  to  close  attention  to  business,  honesty  and  industry. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Amelia  A.  McDonald  in  1856.  She  is  a  native  of 
Bath  Co.,  Ky.  From  this  union  there  were  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now 
living — Almeda,  William  N.,  Lewis,  Leander,  Charles,  Henry  and  Luther  C.  The 
name  of  the  one  deceased  was  Trinville.  Mr.  Bradley  has  devoted  his  time  almost 
entirely  to  farming,  and  his  skill  and  energy  have  met  with  deserved  success.  His  judg- 
ment in  handling  live  stock  has  also  been  a  source  of  material  advantage.  He  has 
always  voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  but  is  quite  liberal  in  his  views  of  men  and  things. 
He  has  always  been  liberal  in  his  support  of  moral  and  educational  enterprises,  the 
churches  and  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  has  ever  been  foremost  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  best  interests  of  the  county. 

J.  W.  CALL  A  WAY,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  16 ;  P.  0.  Greenview;  was 
born  in  Woodford  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  9,  1838,  to  which  county  his  parents  removed  in 
1837.  In  1846,  they  came  to  Menard  Co.,  where  our  subject  has  since  resided.  He 
passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  such  education 
as  the  schools  of  that  early  day  afforded.  On  the  breaking-out  of  the  rebellion  he 
enlisted  in  Company  A,  10th  I.  V.  C.,  and  served  four  years  and  eight  months.  He 
was  in  all  the  battles  in  which  the  "brave  old  Tenth"  was  engaged.  There  are  few 
men  who  saw  so  much  service  and  escaped  without  a  wound.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Sarah  A.  Glaspy  Dec.  5,  1868.  She  was  born  in  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  April  4, 
1850.  From  this  union  there  are  four  children — Leonard,  George,  Edwin  and  Harry 
E.  Mr.  Callaway  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  and  owns  eighty  acres  of  nicely 
improved  land,  and  is,  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word,  a  self-made  man. 

WILLIAM  CLAYPOOL,  fanner  and  dealer  in  livestock,  Sec.  18  ;  P.  O.  Green- 
view  ;  was  born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  March  14,  1831  ;  his  father,  Levi,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Melinda  Rollins,  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky  ;  they  came  to  Illinois  in  1826,  and  located  near  where  the  village  of  Athens 
now  is;  here  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Feb.  2,  1867  ;  his  wife  survives 
him,  and  now  resides  in  the  village  of  Athens ;  William  remained  with  his  father,  and 
assisted  him  on  his  farm  until  28  years  of  age ;  he  received  a  good  common-school 
education,  such  as  the  advantages  of  those  early  days  afforded.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Elizabeth  Engle  Sept.  30,  1863;  she  was  born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  March 
26,  1846,  and  is  the  daughter  of  William  Engle,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Sugar 
Grove;  they  have  one  child — Edward  Everett,  born  July  19,  1865.  Mr.  Claypool  has 
been  a  resident  of  Greenview  Precinct  since  1864,  and  owns  a  nicely  improved  farm  of 
480  acres,  which  he  has  made  by  his  own  exertions. 

W.  R.  DONALDSON,  farmer  and  dealer  in  live  stock,  Sec.  9;  P.O.  Greenview ;  was 
born  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky.,  July  16,  1824;  son  of  Alex,  and  Sarah  (Power)  Donaldson, 
both  natives  of  Kentucky;  in  1850,  they  came  to  Menard  Co.,  and  located  five  miles 
east  of  Petersburg;  he  died  in  1855,  and  his  wife  survives  him  and  is  now  83  years  of 
age ;  she  is  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living.  W.  R. 


730  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

Donaldson  carne  to  Menard  Co.  six  months  before  his  parents  ;  in  1852,  he  went  overland 
to  California  with  a  large  drove  of  sheep,  starting  in  the  month  of  February,  and 
arrived  in  the  Sacramento  Valley  in  October,  the  same  year ;  he  remained  there  four 
years  and  was  engaged  in  different  kinds  of  business,  in  all  of  which  he  was  very  suc- 
ful ;  while  he  was  a  resident  of  Kentucky,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  3d  Ky.  V.  I.,  and 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  with  Mexico ;  was  under  Gen.  Scott,  and  participated  in 
all  the  engagements,  from  the  coast  to  the  ancient  city  of  the  Montezumas ;  after  his 
return  from  California,  he  engaged  in  the  live-stock  trade,  in  which  business  he  con- 
tinued for  a  number  of  years  with  varied  success ;  in  1864.  he  purchased  420  acres  of 
wild  prairie  land,  six  miles  northeast  of  the  village  of  Green  view ;  by  close  attention 
to  business,  he  has  not  only  nicely  improved  the  land  he  at  that  time  purchased,  but 
has  since  purchased  seventy-five  acres,  and  now  owns  515  acres  of  nicely  improved  land. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Rebecca  Sours,  is  a  most  estimable  lady  and  has 
greatly  assisted  him  in  acquiring  what  they  now  have ;  they  have  four  children — 
Richard  W.,  Alexander,  George  and  John.  Mr.  Donaldson  is  a  Democrat  and  an  ear- 
nest advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  party,  and  is,  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word,  a 
self-made  man. 

M.  M.  ENGLE,  merchant,  Greenview ;  among  the  prominent  merchants  and 
influential  citizens  of  Menard  Co.  is  Mr.  M.  M.  Engle,  whose  father,  William 
Engle,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Sugar  Grove,  having, come  there  in  1828.  His 
wife's  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Alkire,  sister  of  Leonard  Alkire,  the  well-known 
pioneer.  Mr.  Engle,  in  his  life-time,  was  a  prominent  and  influential  man,  and  proba- 
bly did  as  much  to  build  up  the  interests  and  morals  of  the  county  as  any  other  man 
of  his  time  ;  he  was  the  father  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  youngest 
but  three.  He  passed  his  youth  at  the  old  homestead  in  the  village  of  Sweetwater, 
assisting  his  father  on  the  farm  and  helping  his  mother  indoors,  as  there  were  no  girls 
sufficiently  lar^e  to  help  her  in  the  care  of  this  large  family.  Mr.  Engle,  Sr.,was  born 
in  1801  and  departed  this  life  in  1870  ;  his  wife  survives  him  and  resides  with  her  son, 
John,  near  Sweetwater.  M.  M.  Engle  received  such  education  in  early  life  as  the  school." 
of  that  day  afforded ;  at  the  age  of  17,  he  was  sent  to  Eureka  College,  where  he 
remained  a  year ;  he  then  attended  Berean  College,  at  Jacksonville,  two  years,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  time  he  came  home,  and,  together  with  his  father,  bought  out  the 
Alkire  Bros,  in  Sweetwater ;  this  was  his  introduction  to  mercantile  business ;  he  and 
his  father  kept  the  store  some  time,  and  then  sold  out.  Soon  after  this,  April  17,  I860, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Annie  M.  Marbold,  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany, 
born  May  6,  1841  ;  from  this  union  there  were  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing— Milem  M.,  Elizabeth,  Henry  S.,  Charles  L.  and  Lewis  F.  W.;  the  name  of  the 
one  deceased  was  Harmon  W.  Mr.  Engle  is  at  this  time  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  the  village  of  Greenview ;  he  has  a  good  trade  and  is  a  thorough  business 
man. 

J.  T.  FOSTER,  merchant,  Greenview;  in  Marion  County,  Tnd.,  July  25,  1836, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  first  saw  the  light ;  he  is  the  sori  of  Augustine  E.  and  Permelia 
Foster,  both  natives  of  Kentucky ;  their  removal  from  Kentucky  to  Indiana  occurred 
in  1835  ;  there  they  remained  a  few  years  and  then  returned  to  Kentucky;  here  they 
lived  until  their  removal  to  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  in  1843.  The  son  was  brought  up  to 
farm  labor,  in  which  he  continued  until  1865,  when  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
in  the  town  of  Greenview,  Menard  Co.;  in  this  he  has  since  continued.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Martha  E.  Smith  April  10.  1856;  she  .was  born  in  Owen  Co.,  Ind., 
July  28,  1837 ;  eight  children  have  been  born  to  them,  six  of  whom  are  now  living — 
Martha  A.,  Rosetta  P.,  Maggie  E.,  Thomas  L.,  Sarah  E.  and  Addie  M.;  deceased, 
James  A.  and  Lincoln  J.  Mr.  Foster  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  a  consistent  member 
of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

GAGE  S.  GRITMAN,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  Sec.  11  ;  P.  0.  Greenview  ;  was  born 
in  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  13,  1835  ;  his  father,  Hiram  Gritman,  was  born  in  Delaware 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  23,  1807,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Lydia  D.  Luther, 
was  born  Nov.  27,  1805,  in  Massachusetts.  Gage  S.  passed  his  youth  and  early 


GREEN  VIEW    PRECINCT.  731 

manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  assisting  him  in  raising  crops  during  the  spring  and  summer, 
and  in  the  winter  teaching  school  ;  in  the  spring  of  1856,  he  came  West  and  resided  at 
Middletown,  Logan  Co.,  111.,  for  a  period  of  three  years  ;  engaged  in  farming  and  school 
teaching.  In  August,  1862,  he  was  enrolled  as  Fifth  Sergeant  in  Co.  K,  106th  I.  V. 
I. ;  soon  after  he  was  chosen  Orderly  Sergeant  of  his  company,  which  position  he  held 
about  two  years ;  he  was  then  commissioned  First  Lieutenant  of  his  company,  which 
office  he  held  until  July,  1865,  when  he  received  his  discharge ;  soon  after  his  return 
from  the  army,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ruth  A.  Jackson,  who  was  born  in  Ohio 
Nov.  25,  1844;  from  this  union  there  are  six  children — William  L.,  born  Dec.  14, 
1866  ;  Harry  E.,  Jan.  14,  1869  ;  Blanche  E.,  Feb.  8, 1871 ;  Harvey  L.,  Aug.  8,  1873  ; 
Frank  H.,  Nov.  15,  1876,  and  Charles  E.,  Oct.  18,  1878.  Mr.  Gritman  has  been  a 
resident  of  Greenview  Precinct  since  1858,  and  owns  160  acres  of  improved  land,  the 
results  of  his  untiring  energy  and  toil.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Republican, 
although  liberal  and  generous  in  his  views  of  men  and  things. 

SPENCER  GIBBS,  retired  farmer,  Sec.  11.;  P.  0.  Middletown;  the  grand- 
father of  Spencer  Gibbs  was  an  emigrant  from  England,  and,  on  his  arrival  in  this 
country,  settled  in  Delaware,  and,  with  his  son  Stephen  (father  of  Spencer),  worked  in 
the  well-known  powder-mills  of  Dupont,  the  old  gentleman  superintending  the  work ; 
from  there  they  went  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  to  superintend  the  running  of  the  powder- 
mills  of  James  Beatty,  of  that  city;  in  that  place,  Sept.  16,  1825,  Spencer  Gibbs  was 
born  ;  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Ellis  ;  she  died  in  1842  ;  in  the  fall  of  1839, 
the  grandfather  and  his  sons  came  West  and  located  in  different  parts  of  Menard  Co., 
111. ;  Stephen  Gibbs  settled  near  Athens  and  remained  two  years,  when  he  removed  to 
Irish  Grove,  where  he  lived  and  followed  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1876.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm  ;  at  17  years 
of  age,  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  blacksmith  trade ;  this  business  he  has  followed, 
together  with  farming,  all  his  life.  He  was  married  to  Louisa  Alkire  Dec.  24,  1845  ; 
she  was  born  in  Menard  Co.  March  28,  1827  ;  her  father,  John  Alkire,  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Sugar  Grove ;  from  this  union  there  were  five  children,  three  of  whom 
are  now  living — William  R.,  born  July  24,  1847  ;  Charles,  June  27,  1851  ;  Laura, 
Aug.  10,  1868 ;  the  names  of  those  deceased  are  Lavina.  born  April  6,  1849,  died  May 
17,  1849,  and  John,  born  Feb.  7,  1855,  died  in  early  life.  Mrs.  Gibbs  died  Oct.  14, 
1878.  Mr.  Gibbs'  habits  of  earnest  thought  and  thorough  investigation  have  led  him 
to  take  a  decided  stand  in  regard  to  the  issues  of  the  day ;  he  was  an  Old  Line  Whig, 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Zachary  Taylor ;  on  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  he  joined  it.  He  owns  103  acres  of  land,  and  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man. 

ELDER  DANIEL  TRAVIS  HUGHES,  druggist,  Greenview ;  was  born  near 
Flemingsburg,  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  Jan.  3,  1829 ;  the  youngest,  but  two,  of  a  family  of 
eight  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  James  Hughes,  extensively  known  in  Kentucky, 
Indiana  and  Illinois,  as  a  devout  Christian  and  a  minister  in  the  Christian  Church.  He, 
with  his  family,  emigrated  to  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  in  1830,  and  settled  at  Sugar  Grove, 
then  in  Sangamon  Co.,  but  now  in  Menard,  but  was  permitted  to  remain  with  his  family 
in  their  new  home  but  a  short  time,  when,  after  a  long  and  severe  illness,  he  was  called  to 
his  reward.  This  occurred  Dec.  11,  1834.  Soon  after,  the  older  members  of  the  family 
scattered  abroad  to  do  for  themselves,  leaving  the  mother  with  the  care  of  four  little  ones 
and  but  little  means.  This  lady,  the  second  wife  of  James  Hughes,  and  a  woman  of 
strong  constitution,  firm  faith  in  God  and  unyielding  determination,  provided  for  these 
children,  and  maintained  them  until  they  grew  up,  by  labor  at  her  loom  and  spinning- 
wheel.  Three  of  them  died  before  she  was  called  to  her  reward.  Her  death  occurred 
Oct.  8,  1858.  Daniel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  at  the  age  of  15,  on  confession  of  his 
faith  in  Christ,  was  immersed  by  Rev.  John  A.  Powell,  but,  owing  to  the  somewhat 
unsettled  state  of  the  Church  at  the  time,  he  did  not  identify  himself  with  it,  and,  in  the 
course  of  a  few  years,  had  become  what  is  usually  termed  a  "backslider."  In  this  con- 
dition he  did  not  long  remain,  and,  at  a  meeting  held  at  Sugar  Grove,  in  1852, by  Elder 
Philemon  Vawter,  he  was  received  into  the  fellowship  of  the  Church,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  its  strongest  supporters  and  earnest  workers.  In  the  fall  of  1859,  he  was  chosm 


732  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

one  of  the  Elders  of  said  Church,  and,  in  July,  1862,  he  was  ordained  an  Evangelist, 
•which  office  he  has  ever  since  held.  Those  officiating  at  the  ordination  were  Elders 
William  Engle,  D.  A.  Alkire  and  John  H.  Hughes,  an  older  brother  of  his,  who  was  an 
Evangelist  in  that  Church.  On  the  14th  of  September,  1856,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Martha  J.  Brown.  From  this  union  there  were  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are 
now  living.  Mr.  Hughes  has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  was  for  four  years  a  member  of  the  County  Court.  His  labors  in  the  Church 
have  been  confined  for  most  part  to  Menard  and  adjoining  counties,  although  he  has 
labored  in  Iowa,  Kansas  and  Missouri,  where  he  is  known  as  a  devout  Christian  and  a 
successful  minister  of  the  Gospel.  At  present,  he  is  engaged  during  the  week  in  his 
drug  store,  and  attending  to  the  duties  of  his  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and,  on  Sun- 
day, preaches  in  the  Christian  Church  at  Greenview,  and  in  those  of  the  surrounding 
•country,  and  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  men  in  the  county. 

STITH  T.  HURST,  physician,  Greenview ;  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Ky., 
Sept.  5,  1844.  His  father,  James  Hurst,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  his  mother,  of 
South  Carolina.  She  died  when  her  son  was  but  3  months  old.  In  1849,  he 
removed  with  his  father  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  where  he  has  resided  most  of  the  lime  since. 
He  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  152d  I.  V.  I.,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  early 
life,  his  opportunities  for  acquiring  an  education  were  limited,  but,  by  perseverance  and 
energy,  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  liberal  education,  and  engaged  in  school-teaching, 
and  attending  school  for  a  period  of  four  years,  after  his  discharge  from  the  army.  Dur- 
ing this  time,  he  studied  as  best  he  could  such  medical  books  as  his  limited  means  would 
admit  of  his  buying.  One  year  of  this  time,  he  devoted  exclusively  to  the  study  of  his 
chosen  profession.  In  1869,  he  attended  his  first  course  of  lectures  at  Rush  Medical 
College,  Chicago,  and,  in  1871,  he  graduated  from  that  school,  receiving  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  His  union  with  Marietta  Walker  was  celebrated  Oct.  19,  1870.  She  was  born 
in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  28,  1847,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Walker,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Menard  Co.  Dr.  Hurst  owns  a  nicely  improved  property  in  the  town  of 
Greenview,  and  a  nice  and  tastily  arranged  office  on  the  public  square.  He  owes  his 
success  in  life  to  perseverance,  close  attention  to  business  and  economy,  and  is,  in  the 
fullest  sense  of  the  word,  a  self-made  man.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

JOHN  HAMIL,  farmer  and  dealer  in  live  stock,  Sec.  23  ;  P.  0.  Greenview. 
As  one  who  has  fully  identified  himself  with  all  the  interests  of  Menard  Co.,  for  a 
period  of  forty  years,  none  is  more  deserving  of  notice  than  John  Hamil.  He  was  born 
in  Sheuandoah  Co.,  Va.,  Aug.  7,  1821;  his  father  died  when  he  was  a  child,  leaving 
him  in  care  of  his  grandfather,  on  his  mother's  side,  and  his  mother.  In  an  early  day, 
the  grandparent  moved  to  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio,  taking  young  Hamil  with  him  ;  there 
the  boy  passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood,  working  on  the  farm  of  his  grandfather, 
and  remained  until  1839,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Shelby ville  ;  there 
he  engaged  in  carrying  the  mail  from  that  point,  by  way  of  Clinton,  to  Bloomington, 
and  from  Bloomington  to  Springfield,  by  way  of  Postville ;  he  continued  at  this  about 
two  years,  and  then  came  to  Irish  Grove,  and,  for  a  number  of  years,  worked  by  the 
month  for  the  farmers  in  that  locality.  During  this  time,  he  had  saved  enough  money, 
from  his  wages,  to  purchase  eighty  five  acres  of  land;  soon  after  doing  so,  he  married 
Mary  A.  Borders,  May  12,  1844.  They  had  nine  children,  four  of  whom  are  now 
living — William  A.,  John  D.,  Charles  and  Lawrence.  The  names  of  those  deceased 
are — Nancy  E.,  Mary  C.,  and  three  infants.  Mrs.  Hatnil  died  on  March  22,  1870. 
He  was  married,  on  July  25,  1871,  to  Mrs.  Agnes  M.  Anderson,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Young.  By  this  union  there  are  two  children — Mary  M.  and  Frederick  L.  He 
owns  a  nicely  improved  farm  of  570  acres,  all  of  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. Is  a  Democrat,  but  quite  conservative,  and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbvterian  Church. 

MALKOM  HUBLY,  farmer  and  dealer  in  live  stock,  Sec.  3;  P.  0.  Mason 
City  ;  is  a  native  of  Canton  Schwytz,  Switzerland ;  he  remained  at  home,  with  his 
parents,  until  1 1  years  old  ;  his  father  then  entered  him  as  an  apprentice  at  the  trade 


GREENVIEW    PRECINCT.  733 

of  a  blacksmith  ;  owing  to  an  accident,  he  did  not  serve  the  full  time  of  his  apprentice- 
ship. After  his  return  home  he  assisted  his  father  in  feeding  his  stock.  He  left  home 
at  the  age  of  14,  and  worked,  by  the  month,  for  a  number  of  years  in  an  adjoining  can- 
ton, receiving,  at  different  times,  50  cents,  75  cents,  and  $1  a  week.  March  11,  1849, 
he  landed  in  New  Orleans  ;  he  did  not  long  remain  there,  but  took  passage  on  a  steam- 
boat for  Cincinnati.  On  his  arrival  there  he  had  less  than  $5  in  money,  and  it  was 
some  time  before  he  could  find  employment ;  at  last  he  hired  to  a  farmer  from  Butler 
Co.,  Ohio  ;  while  working  for  him,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Catharine  Wiget.  Their 
capital,  at  that  time,  consisted  of  $14.  In  March,  1856,  he  came  to  Springfield,  aid 
worked  for  some  time  in  a  brickyard ;  he  then  removed  to  Irish  Grove,  Menard  Co., 
where  he  lived  six  years,  and  was  engaged  in  farming.  In  1872,  he  removed  to  Salt 
Creek,  Greenview  Precinct,  and  there  engaged  in  farming  and  cattle-feeding.  He  has 
accumulated  a  good  property,  and  has  identified  himself  with  all  the  interests  of  the 
county. 

HARMON  H.  MEYER,  farmer  and  dealer  in  stock,  Sec.  32 ;  P.  0.  Greenview  ; 
was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  Feb.  16,  1826  ;  he  passed  his  youth  and  early  man- 
hood in  his  native  country,  working  on  a  farm  ;  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1854.  The  first  years  in  the  New  World  were  passed  in  a  brickyard  in  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
working  for  very* low  wages;  at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  came  to  Menard  Co., 
111.,  where  he  has  since  resided  ;  he  worked  by  the  month  for  sometime,  and  by  economy 
and  industry,  saved  sufficient  means  to  buy  200  acres  of  wild  prairie  land,  near  Salt 
Creek  ;  he  has  since  added  to  this,  by  purchase,  200  acres  more,  all  now  well-improved  land. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Dorotha  Hackman  Dec.  18,  1855  ;  they  have  two 
daughters — Amelia,  born  July  10, 1857,  and  Margaret,  born  Jan.  15, 1859.  Mr.  Meyer 
came  to  the  county  a  poor,  unknown,  and  almost  friendless  German  boy,  but,  by  his 
energy,  industry  and  honorable  conduct,  he  has  become  a  representative  man  of  Men- 
ard Co.  He  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man. 

H.  H.  MARBOLD,  banker  and  dealer  in  live  stock,  Greenview ;  was  born  in  the 
Province  of  Hanover,  Prussia,  April  21,  1835;  son  of  John  H.  and  Maria  E.  (Sher- 
horn)  Marbold,  both  natives  of  Hanover;  the  former  was  born  May  7,  1800,  and  the 
latter  Feb.  2,  1809 ;  they  were  united  in  marriage  Nov.  3,  1829,  and  were  the  parents 
of  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living;  the  mother  departed  this  life  in  Septem- 
ber, 1843 ;  they  came  to  this  country  and  landed  at  New  Orleans  Nov.  17,  1847  ;  they 
stopped  there  a  short  time,  and  also  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  when  they  came  to  Peters- 
burg, Menard  Co.,  Dec.  6,  same  year;  they  remained  in  Petersburg  about  three  year's, 
when  the  father  bought  200  acres  of  land  near  the  village  of  Sweetwater,  upon  which 
they  moved  and  where  they  have  since  resided.  H.  H.  Marbold  received  a  good  lit- 
erary education  and,  at  the  same  time,  a  much  better  practical  one,  for,  when  quite 
young,  his  father  furnished  him  with  means  to  trade  in  cattle,  a  business  he  has  success- 
fully followed  ever  since.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Margaret  Hackman  June 
28,  1860;  she  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Hanover,  Prussia,  Jan.  14,  1840;  from 
this  union  there  were  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living — Anna  M.,  born  Aug. 
21,  1861 ;  John  H.,  April  17,  1865,  and  Benjamin  F.,  Dec.  14,  1877.  The  names  of 
the  deceased  are — Dora,  born  July  26,  1871,  died  Feb.  16,  1877  ;  Henry  H.,  born 
April  6,  1874,  died  Feb.  19,  1877,  and  a  babe  who  died  in  infancy.  In  1876,  Mr. 
Marbold  built  a  large  two-story  brick  building  in  the  village  of  Greenview,  at  a  cost  of 
SI 2, (100,  in  which  was  started  a  banking  firm  known  as  Marbold,  Alkire  &  Co  He 
owns  2,600  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  grazes  and  feeds  a  large  number  of  cattle 
each  year ;  he  has  always  been  liberal  in  his  support  of  moral  and  educational  enter- 
prises, the  churches  and  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  has  ever  been  foremost  in  the 
development  of  the  best  interests  of  the  countv. 

JAMES  MONTGOMERY,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  ;  P.O.  Middletown  ;  was  born 
in  Gibson  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  27,  1838 ;  son  of  Thomas  J.  and  Sarah  (Stone)  Montgomery ; 
the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  came,  with  his  parents,  to  Indiana  when  but  a 
child,  and  the  latter  a  native  of  Indiana ;  after  their  marriage,  they  remained  in  Indi- 
ana until  the  fall  of  1849,  when  they  moved  to  Bee  Grove,  Menard  Co.,  111.  Mr. 


734  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

Montgomery  and  his  brother-in-law  (Mr.  Stone)  were  the  first  settlers  of  that  grove. 
Thomas  J.  and  Sarah  Montgomery  were  the  parents  of  seventeen  children,  three  of 
whom  are  now  living;  Thomas  Montgomery  departed  this  life  Dec.  9,  1868,  and  his 
wife,  in  April,  1861.  During  the  late  war,  three  of  the  sons  were  in  the  army — James, 
Richard  and  Samuel ;  the  last  two  never  lived  to  see  their  old  home  in  Illinois  again. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  in  Co.  G,  38th  I.  V.  I.,  and  served  three  years  with 
honor  and  distinction,  and  was  in  the  following  notable  engagements,  through  all  of 
which  he  escaped  without  a  wound :  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Perryville  and  all  the 
engagements  between  Mission  Ridge  and  Atlanta ;  after  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  he,  with 
his  command,  was  sent  back  to  re-enforce  Gen.  Thomas,  where  they  arrived  in  time  to 
participate  in  the  bloody  battle  of  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  he  was  discharged  at  Huntsville, 
Ala.,  having  been  in  active  service  for  more  than  three  years.  Perhaps  there  is  not  a 
man  in  Menard  Co.  who  can  show  a  better  war  record  than  James  Montgomery.  He 
passed  his  early  life  and  manhood  working  on  his  father's  farm  ;  received  a  very  indif- 
ferent education.  Soon  after  his  return  from  the  army,  be  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Sarah  E.  Steel  Sept.  20,  1866 ;  they  had  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living — 
Calvin  C.,  born  Jan.  3,  1868;  Arthur  M.,  Aug.  8, 1869  ;  Edgar  W.,  March  15,  1871, 
and  Avery  D.,  March  5,  1873.  He  was  married  Jan.  23,  1879,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  C. 
Harrison,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  Montgomery  owns  160  acres* of  well-improved 
land,  and  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  C.  P.  Church.  His  only  sister,  Elizabeth, 
resides  with  him,  and  is  an  intelligent  young  lady. 

JOHN  A.  PETRIE,  dealer  in  hardware,  farm  implements  and  grain,  Greenview  ; 
was  born  in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  28,  1856,  and  is  the  son  of  D.  A.  and  H.  C.  Petrie. 
In  1865,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Greenview,  Menard  Co.,  where  he  has  lived  most 
of  the  time  ever  since.  In  early  life,  he  worked  on  a  farm,  but,  after  his  father  removed 
to  Illinois,  he  attended  one  of  the  best  colleges  in  the  State  until  his  "  junior  "  year  ;  he 
then  came  home,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  with  his  father.  At  the  end  of  two 
years,  a  copartnership  was  formed  between  a  Mr.  Frorer,  of  Lincoln,  his  father  and  him- 
self, he  style  of  the  firm  being  Petrie  &  Co.  They  engaged  in  the  hardware,  farm 
implement  and  grain  business.  Since  that  time,  the  father  has  retired  from  the  firm, 
leaving  his  son  and  Mr.  Frorer  alone  in  the  business.  At  the  present  time,  they  are 
doing  an  immense  business,  which  is  in  a  great  measure  due  to  Mr.  Petrie's  close  atten- 
tion to  business  and  upright  dealing.  They  keep  the  largest  and  most  complete  stock 
of  hardware  and  tinware  to  be  found  in  Menard  Co.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Samantha  Pierce  Feb.  8,  1877.  They  have  two  children — Nina  Edith,  born  Nov.  13, 
1877,  and  Eve  M.,  born  Jan.  14,  1879.  Mrs.  Petrie's  parents  have  been  residents  of 
Logan  Co.  for  thirty-four  years.  Her  mother  was  a  Hartwell,  whose  parents  settled  near 
Athens,  in  an  early  day. 

LEWIS  PAGE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  19  ;  P.  0.  Greenview  ;  born  in  Flem- 
ing Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  28,  1838;  son  of  Allen  and  Clarinda  (Lawrence)  Page,  natives  of 
Kentucky.  He  lived  with  his  parents  until  17  years  old,  then  he  began  doing  for  him- 
self, working  by  the  month  on  a  farm,  for  about  three  years.  He  then  came  to  Menard 
Co.,  111.,  where  he  has  since  resided.  At  the  time  of  his  coming  to  Illinois,  he  had  no 
means  whatever,  and  what  he  now  has  he  has  made  by  his  own  exertions.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  A.  Barnes  Sept.  5,  1861.  She  was  born  in  Logan  Co., 
111.,  Oct.  3,  1835.  They  had  six  children,  five  now  living — Lucy  J.,  born  Aug.  9, 
1862;  Clara,  Dec.  19,  1867;  John  A.,  Sept.  5,  1869;  Annie  C.,  Aug.  13,  1873,  and 
Nora,  Feb.  14,1875  ;  deceased— Eliza  C.,born  May  10,  1864,  died  Jan.  22, 1877.  Mr. 
Page  owns  155  acres  of  well-improved  land,  and  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  as  is  his  wife  also. 

DAVID  A.  PETRIE,  dealer  in  lumber,  and  builder  and  contractor,  Greenview  ; 
was  born  in  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  21,  1828,  where  he  lived  until  26  years  of  age; 
he  then  went  West,  and  located  in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.  There  he  was  married  April  30, 
1855,  to  Hannah  C.  Lewellin.  She  was  born  in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  March  24,  1832. 
Mr.  Petrie's  father  was  a  native  of  Holland,  and  died  when  David  was  a  child.  His 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  O'Connell,  was  a  niece  of  the  famous  Irish  patriot, 


GREENVIEW    PRECINCT.  735 

O'Connell,  and  a  native  of  New  York.  Mrs.  Petrie's  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  in  early  life  came  to  Kentucky,  where  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lydia  Hart. 
Mr.  D.  A.  Petrie  has  had  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  now  living — John  A.,  whose 
biography  appears  in  this  work,  born  Feb.  8,  1856;  Clarence  A.,  April  21,1859; 
Frank  H.,  June  25,  1861  ;  Lucy  G.,  May  4,  1863  ;  Lydia  A.,  March  21,  1867,  and 
Claude,  Sept.  22,  1873;  deceased— Phebe  A.,  born  April  20,  1869,  and  died  Oct.  8, 
1870,  and  Charles  A.,  born  Dec.  28,  1871,  and  died  July  18,  1872.  Mr.  Petrie  lived 
in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  until  1865,  at  which  time  he  came  with  his  family  to  Greenview, 
Menard  Co.,  111.,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Petrie,  with  his  family,  lived  in  Ken- 
tucky during  the  late  war,  where  he  was  a  strong  Union  man,  although  he  took  no 
active  part.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  in  one  of  the  engagements  was 
wounded  five  times.  He  is  a  self-made  man,  and  owes  his  success  in  life  to  his  close 
attention  to  business,  industry  and  economy.  He  is  the  owner  of  several  nicely 
improved  properties  in  the  town  of  Greenview,  and  one  of  its  prominent  and  leading 
citizens. 

C.  C.  PATTERSON,  farmer  and  stock-raiser ;  P.  O.  Middletown ;  was  born  in 
Adair  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  6,  1828 ;  son  of  J.  W.  and  Jane  (Ramsey)  Patterson ;  they  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living;  in  1829,  they  came  from 
Kentucky  to  Irish  Grove,  Menard  Co.,  where  they  continued  to  live  until  their  decease  ; 
C.  C.  Patterson  passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood  upon  the  farm  of  his  father,  and 
received  such  education  as  the  schools  of  that  time  afforded ;  he  was  in  the  late  war  in 
Co.  K,  17th  111.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  the  following  engagements:  Fredericktown,  Mo.,  Ft. 
Donelson,  Shiloh,  Vicksburg,  Meridian,  and  a  number  of  lesser  engagements.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Martha  E.  Lloyd  April  16,  1867  ;  from  this  union  there 
were  three  children — John  L.,  Charles  J.  and  Francis  L. ;  he  was  married  Dec.  25, 
1875,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Shipley ;  from  this  union  there  is  one  child — James  0.  Mr. 
Patterson  owns  eighty  acres  of  well-improved  land.  Is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics, 
and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  has  made  what  he  now  has 
by  his  own  exertions. 

0.  P.  PAULSON,  proprietor  of  a  livery,  feed  and  sale  stable,  Greenview  ;  was 
born  Feb.  5,  1834,  in  Helsingburg,  Sweden ;  he  worked  on  a  farm  with  his  father  until 
16  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  a  carriage  shop  and  served  an  apprenticeship  of  four 
years ;  he  then,  according  to  the  law  of  the  country,  served  one  year  in  the  army  ;  he 
then  entered  an  agricultural  school,  where  he  continued  for  more  than  a  year ;  after 
leaving  school,  he  engaged  chiefly  in  farming  until  he  came  to  this  country,  in  1868 ;  he 
worked  at  his  trade  in  Chicago  for  some  time,  and  then  came  to  Greenview  and  com- 
menced in  the  livery  business ;  in  this  he  has  since  continued,  with  the  exception  of 
three  years,  when  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Bettie 
Nilson  Oct.  26,  1859  ;  she  was  born  in  Helsingburg,  Sweden,  Sept.  26, 1834  ;  they  had 
six  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living — Fritz  G.,  born  Feb.  22,  1861  ;  Emma, 
July  22,  1862  ;  Ida  H.,  Nov.  13,  1866  ;  the  names  of  the  deceased  are — Ida,  born  June 
10,  1864,  died  Sept.  11,  1865;  S.  M.,  born  June  28,  1871,  died  July  14,  1872; 
Sophia  W.,  born  May  26,  1873,  died  Feb.  21, 1874. 

H.  K.  RULE,  grocery  merchant,  Greenview;  is  prominent  among  the  younger  men 
of  Menard  Co. ;  his  father,  Samuel  Rule,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  resided  for 
a  number  of  years ;  he  then  moved  to  Ohio,  and  from  there  in  1852  to  Menard  Co.,  111. ; 
his  wife,  a  most  estimable  lady,  whose  maiden  najne  was  Magdalena  Bowser,  was  a 
native  of  Maryland  and  the  mother  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living — 
H.  K.,  David  (of  the  firm  of  Rule  &  Rule,  Petersburg,  111.),  and  Mrs.  M.  J.  Ritter 
(wife  of  Col.  R.  A.  Ritter,  of  the  28th  I.  V.  I.).  H.  K.  Rule  spent  his  youth  and 
early  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  ;  his  education  was  such  as  could  be  obtained  from 
the  schools  of  that  time,  and  he  became  quite  proficient  in  the  branches  commonly 
taught ;  he  resided  in  Mason  Co.  some  years,  and  was  Assistant  Circuit  Clerk  of  that 
county  four  years.  His  marriage  with  Mary  J.  Godbey  occurred  Nov.  29,  1859  ;  she 
was  born  in  Menard  Co.  May  29,  1841,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Russell  Godbey,  whose 
sketch  appears  in  this  work ;  from  this  union  they  have  three  children — Ettie  L.,  born 


736  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

Oct.  5,  1860;  Richard  R.,  May  10,  1863;  Samuel  H.,  June  16,  1868.  H.  K.  Rule 
was  born  in  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio,  May  20,  1840  ;  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the  village  of 
Greenview  a  number  of  years,  and  has  done  a  great  deal  to  make  and  sustain  the  good 
name  the  town  now  bears.  He  was  one  of  the  first  officers  and  charter  members  of 
Greenview  Lodge,  No.  653,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  his  wife  is  a  member  of  Eastern  Star 
Lodge,  of  Petersburg,  and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Rule  is  a 
'Democrat  in  politics,  and  from  his  boyhood  has  been  an  earnest  advocate  of  its  princi- 
ples and  measures. 

WILLIAM  A.  STONE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  13;  P.  0.  Greenview ; 
was  born  in  Botetourt  Co.,  Va.,  Oct.  20,  1809.  His  parents  came  to  Kentucky  in  an 
early  day,  where  they  resided  until  their  removal  to  Irish  Grove,  Menard  Co.,  111.,  in 
1830.  His  father,  Moses  Stone,  was  a  native  of  Bedford  Co.,  Va.,  as  well  as  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Nancy  Whittin.  At  the  time  of  their  coming  to  Illinois,  they 
had  but  little  of  this  world's  goods,  and  a  family  of  twelve  children  depending  on  them. 
The  year  following  their  coming,  both  parents  died.  Thus,  in  a  new  and  unsettled 
country,  twelve  children  were  left  to  the  care  of  Providence  and  the  few  neighbors 
in  that  vicinity.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  being  one  of  the  older  members  of  the 
family,  the  greater  part  of  the  responsibility  of  carinz  for  the  orphaned  children  fell  on 
him.  He,  with  the  assistance  of  the  neighbors,  cared  for  them  until  they  were  able  to 
do  for  themselves.  He  is  now  the  oldest  living  representative  of  the  lamily,  seven  of 
the  children  being  dead.  Mr.  Stone  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  also  a 
soldier  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  was  intimately  acquainted  with  Abraham  Lincoln,  who 
was  a  frequent  visitor  at  his  house.  Mr.  Stone,  for  a  number  of  years,  commanded  a 
company  of  State  Militia,  and  is  still  called  "  Capt.  Stone."  He  married  Martha  J. 
Patterson  April  3,  1833,  who  was  a  native  of  Adair  Co.,  Ky.,  and  came,  with  her 
parents,  to  Irish  Grove  at  an  early  day.  They  had  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
now  living — Caleb  T.,  James  P.,  Lucella  K.,  Margaret  C.,  John  L.,  Claudius  L.,  Will- 
iam L.  aod  Bertha  A. ;  deceased  was  Martha  E.  Mrs.  Stone  departed  this  life  Sept. 
24,  1874.  In  early  life,  Mr.  Stone  and  his  wife  connected  themselves  with  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Few  men  have  done  so  much  for  the  cause  of  religion.  Although 
not  an  educated  man,  he  has  taken  great  care  to  educate  his  children  well,  sending  them 
to  the  best  colleges  and  seminaries  in  the  country.  He  always  has  been  a  sound  Repub- 
lican ever  since  the  party  was  organized.  At  present,  Mr.  Stone  owns  250  acres  of 
improved  land,  which  he  has  made  by  close  attention  to  business.  He  has  given  his 
children  upward  of  $18,000,  and  has  always  been  ready  to  give  his  support  to  any- 
thing that  he  believed  would  be  of  general  benefit.  He  has  held  a  number  of  positions 
of  profit  and  trust,  and  acquitted  himself  with  honor. 


SUGAR    GROVE    PRECINCT. 

D.  H.  ALKIRE,  merchant,  Sweetwater ;  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  2r 
1824.  Two  years  later,  his  father,  J.  N.  Alkire,  removed  to  Sugar  Grove,  in  what  is 
now  known  as  Menard  Co.,  111.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  the  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Jane  Henderson,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  Our  subject  was 
brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  in  the  vicinity  of  Sweetwater,  where  he  received 
such  education  as  the  schools  of  that  early  day  afforded.  At  21  years  of  age,  his 
father  gave  him  eighty  acres  of  wild  prairie  land,  and  he  commenced  business  for 
himself.  He  spent  five  years  improving  his  land,  when  he  engaged  in  the  live-stock 
trade  and  hotel  business  in  the  village  of  Williamsville,  Sangamon  Co.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  two  years,  he  returned  to  Sweetwater,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  in 
which  he  has  since  continued.  In  all  of  his  business  transactions,  he  has  been  very 
successful,  and  is  what  is  properly  termed  a  self-made  man.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Sarah  Hayden  in  1847.  She  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  her  parents  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  Menard  Co.  From  this  union  there  were  six  children,  four 


SUGAR  GROVE  PRECINCT.  73T 

of  whom  are  now  living — Thomas  J.,  Mary  J.,  Theodore  and  Lavina.  The  names  of 
those  deceased  were  Francis  M.  and  Marion. 

MILEM  ALKIRE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Sweetwater;  was  born  in 
Madison  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  10,  1818  ;  oldest  son  of  Leonard  and  Catharine  Alkire,  who 
came  to  Sugar  Grove  at  a  very  early  day ;  our  subject  at  this  time  was  6  years  of  age  ; 
he  had  always  a  great  fondness  for  books,  and  spent  all  his  leisure  time  in  study ;  the 
schools  of  that  day  afforded  but  poor  advantages,  but  young  Alkire  persevered  and  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  a  good  education  ;  at  21,  he  began  life  on  his  own  account ;  he  has 
always  been  engaged  in  agriculture  and  stock-raising  and  has  been  very  successful  in 
all  his  undertakings.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Eliza  J.  Barnes  Dec.  21, 1843  ; 
she  was  born  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  29,  1823  ;  her  pa'rents  removed  to  Logan  Co., 
111.,  at  a  verv  early  day  ;  from  this  union  there  were  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  now 
living— Eliza  C.,  born  Dec.  7,  1848;  Franklin  V.,  April  24,  1853;  John  B.,  Oct.  30, 
1855;  Thomas  H.,  Aug.  11,  1859;  Alvin  D.,  July  2,  1862,  and  Milem  C.,  Feb.  7, 
1865  ;  the  names  of  those  deceased  were  Louisa  A.,  born  Nov.  11,  1844,  died  Sept.  5, 
1845  ;  Leonard  M.,  born  Aug.  28,  1846,  died  Jan.  21,  1859  ;  Mary  A.,  born  Jan.  22, 
1851,  died  March  24,  1855.  Mr.  Alkire  has  held  the  offices  of  Associate  Judge  of 
Menard  County  and  County  Commissioner ;  owns  750  acres  of  well-improved  land  ;  he 
is  a  Democrat,  although  quite  liberal  in  his  views. 

T.  H.  BRASFIELD,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  10;  P.  0.  Sweetwater;  was 
born  in  Madison  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  4,  1829  ;  son  of  James  E.  and  Tabitha  (Moberly) 
Brasfield  ;  the  former  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  South  Carolina  ;  they 
were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  ten  of  whom  are  now  living ;  they  removed  to 
Menard  Co.  in  1834,  and  settled  near  Athens  ;  the  father  departed  this  life  in  1864,  and 
the  mother,  in  1858.  T.  H.  Brasfield  passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm  and  received  a  good  common-school  education.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Laura  F.  Camp  Feb.  13.  1856  ;  she  died  Aug.  22,  1865  ;  he  was  married,  Sept.  19,. 
1876,  to  Miss  Cynthia  M.  Camp;  from  this  union  there  is  one  child — John  E.,  born 
March  10,  1879.  Soon  after  his  first  marriage,  he  came  to  Sugar  Grove  Precinct,  where 
he  has  since  resided  ;  he  owns  320  acres  of  well-improved  land.  Mr.  Brasfield  is  a 
stanch  Republican  and  an  earnest  advocate  of  its  principles;  his  sympathies  were  always 
warmly  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  Antislavery. 

ED.  CULVER,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Athens;  was  born  in  St. 
Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1835;  his  parents  came  to  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  when  he  was 
less  than  1  year  of  age ;  he  passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood  on  his  father's  farm, 
receiving  such  an  education  as  the  schools  of  that  early  day  afforded  ;  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  Sugar  Grove  Precinct  since  its  organization  ;  he  owns,  in  connection  with  the 
heirs  of  the  late  John  S.  Culver,  700  acres  of  well-improved  land,  of  which  he  has  the 
management ;  he  is  a  self-made  man,  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word ;  a  Republican  in 
politics,  but  quite  liberal  in  his  views  of  men  and  things. 

J.  B.  COPPER,  farmer  and  sto^k-raiser  ;  P.  0.  Sweetwater  ;  was  born  in  Portage 
Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  14,  1809  ;  third  son  and  fifth  child  of  Michael  and  Mary  (Glasgow) 
Copper,  who  were  the  parents  of  nine  children  ;  the  father  was  a  native  of  Kent  Co., 
M<1.,  and  the  mother  of  Westmoreland  Co.,  Penn.  ;  they  were  marriedin  1797  ;  in  1838, 
the  parents  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  Rock  River  in  which  is  now  known  as  Car- 
rull  Co.;  in  the  summer  of  1851,  the  father  died ;  this  was  the  same  year  our  subject 
came  to  Illinois ;  he  had  passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood  in  Licking  Co.,  Ohio, 
assisting  his  father  on  the  farm.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Pence,  a  native  of  Lick- 
ing Co.,  in  1837  ;  from  this  union  there  were  three  children — William,  David  and 
George;  Mrs.  Copper  died  in  the  fall  of  1853;  Mr.  Copper  was  married  March  27, 
1854,  to  Miss  Emily  Goff;  the  Goffs  were  early  settlers  of  this  county  and  date  tluir 
history  back  to  its  first  settlement ;  from  this  union  there  are  twelve  children — Harvey 
E.,  Charles  B.,  John  E.,  Laura  J.,  Eliza  E.,  Sarah  M.,  Robert  F.,  Thomas  H.,  Louis 
C.,  Ida  F.,  Lorena  and  Lydia  N.  Mr.  Copper  owns  316  acres  of  land,  286  of  which 
are  well  improved  and  which  he  has  made  by  his  own  exertion-*.  He  and  his  wife  are 


738  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

members  of  the  Baptist  Church  ;  they  have  a  nice  home,  pleasant  family  and  are  among 
Menard  County's  most  respected  citizens. 

GEORGE  T.  DEAL,  dealer  in  live  stock,  Sweetwater ;  was  born  in  Menard  Co., 
111.,  Jan.  14,  1849 ;  is  a  son  of  J.  H.  and  Jane  (Eldridge)  Deal,  whose  sketch  appears 
in  this  work ;  George  T.  attended  school  until  about  20  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he 
entered  the  store  of  his  father,  where  he  remained  five  years ;  during  this  time,  he  had 
entire  charge  of  the  business;  at  the  expiration  of  this  time,  the  father  sold  out,  and 
our  subject  then  assisted  in  the  mill,  owned  by  his  father  and  James  Hughqs,  in  Sweet- 
water ;  in  July,  of  1870,  he  went  to  Chicago,  and  was,  for  some  six  months,  in  the 
employ  of  Wood  Bros.,  livestock  commission  merchants ;  since  that,  he  has  been 
engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  hogs  and  cattle.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary  J.  Pickrell,  Dec.  2,  1873;  she  was  born  in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  June  15,  1851 ; 
they  have  one  child — Lizzie,  born  Sept.  4,  1  874.  Mr.  Deal  is  a  stanch  Republican  in 
politics,  and  one  of  the  prominent  young  men  of  Menard  County. 

JOHN  H.  DEAL,  miller,  Sweetwater ;  was  born  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Md., 
March  20,  1826;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Wilhelm)  Deal;  the  father  was  a 
native  of  Maryland,  and  a  butcher  by  trade;  he  departed  this  life  Dec.  6,  1826;  the 
mother  remained  in  Maryland  until  1839,  when  she  and  our  subject  came  to  Menard 
Co.,  where  they  have  since  resided ;  John  H.  received  such  an  education,  as  the  schools 
of  that  early  day  afforded ;  in  1852,  he  and  Hugh  D.  Hughes  built  the  Sweetwater 
Mill ;  it  cost,  at  the  time  of  building,  about  $2,500  ;  it  has  been  constantly  run,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year,  since  its  building ;  it  is  now  the  property  of  J.  H.  Deal  and 
J.  L.  Hughes — son  of  Hugh  D.  Hughes;  it  was  one  of  the  first  steam-mills  in  Menard 
Co.,  and  has  ground  more  than  one  million  bushels  of  grain  since  it  was  built.  Mr. 
Deal  is  the  present  miller,  and  to  his  exertions  the  mill  owes  its  success  and  pop- 
ularity. He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Jane  Eldridge  in  1848  ;  she  was  born  in 
England  Sept.  8,  1828  ;  from  this  union  there  were  six  children,  two  of  whom  are 
now  living;  she  died  Sept.  4,  1861.  Mr.  Deal  was  again  married  Aug.  23,  1866,  to 
Mary  E.  Enslow  ;  they  have  four  children  by  this  union.  Mr.  Deal  is  a  Republican 
in  politics. 

WILLIAM  S.  ENGLE,  farmer  and  dealer  in  live  stock;  P.  0.  Sweetwater  ;  was 
born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  11,  1832  ;  is  a  son  of  the  late  William  Engle,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  this  county.  Our  subject  passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood  assisting  his 
father  on  the  farm  and  in  the  store ;  at  the  age  of  18,  he  commenced  business  for 
himself;  he  has  been  engaged,  most  of  his  life,  in  dealing  in  live  stock ;  there  are 
few  men  in  the  county  who  have  done  more  business  in  this  line  than  Mr.  Engle. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary-C.  Deal  April  11,1867;  she  was  born  in 
Menard  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  16,  1851 ;  from  this  union  there  are  two  children — Edward 
A.,  born  Jan.  12,  1868,  and  Florence,  Jan.  24,  1871.  Mr.  Engle  has  a  well-improved 
farm,  and  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

JOHN  ENGLE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  ;  P.  0.  Sweetwater  ;  is  the  eldest  son  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  ( Alkire)  Engle,  whose  sketch  appears  in  this  work ;  he  was 
born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  19,  1826 ;  he  now  owns  and  lives  upon  the  place  settled 
by  his  father  in  1824 ;  in  1850,  John  Engle  went  overland  to  California,  where  he 
remained  some  time.  Soon  after  his  return,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  A. 
Sykes  June  21,  1855;  she  was  born  in  Ohio  Aug.  7,  1834;  from  this  union  there 
were  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  are  now  living — Josephine,  John,  James  H.,  Will- 
iam, Charles  L.,  Ella,  Henry,  Francis  M.  and  Minnie  M.  Mr.  Engle  owns  404  acres 
of  well-improved  land ;  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

E.  M.  GOFF,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  4 ;  P.  0.  Sweetwater  ;  was  born  in 
Green  Co.,  Ky.,  Sept.  9,  1818 ;  the  eldest  son  of  a  family  of  five  children  of  William 
and  Amy  (Trent)  Goff,  an  account  of  whom  appears  in  the  biography  of  William  Goff ; 
he  passed  his  youth  in  Menard  Co.,  III.,  assisting  his  mother  to  care  for  the  family,  his 
father  having  died  when  he  was  9  years  of  age ;  he  received  but  an  indifferent  educa- 
tion, us  the  major  part  of  the  hardships  of  caring  for  the  family  devolved  on  him  after 
his  father's  death  and  he  could  not  be  spared  from  home.  He  remained  at  home  until 


SUGAR    GROVE    PRECINCT.  739 

his  marriage  with  Miss  Clark,  which  occurred  July  29,  183*7  ;  from  this  union  there 
were  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  are  now  living — Mary  A.,  Jennie  F.,  Winfield  H., 
William  A..  Lee  M.,  Augustus  R.,  Eli  E.,  Ida  F.  and  David  A.;  deceased — Wesley, 
John  C.  and  Dica  D.  On  the  4th  of  July,  1879,  Mr.  Goff  sustained  the  deepest 
bereavement  of  his  life  in  the  death  of  his  wife,  who  for  forty-two  years  had  endured 
with  him  the  trials  and  hardships  of  life ;  Mr.  Goff 's  success  in  life  is  greatly  owing  to 
this  good  woman's  help  and  advice ;  he  commenced  life  as  a  poor  boy  and  has  made 
what  he  now  possesses  by  hard  work  and  close  attention  to  business ;  he  owns  a  nicely 
improved  farm  of  405  acres ;  he  is  a  self-made  man.  In  politics  a  Democrat. 

ANDREW  GADDIE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser.  Sec.  10 ;  P.  0.  Sweetwater ;  was 
born  on  the  Orkney  Islands,  May  31.  1837 ;  when  about  13  years  of  age,  he  went  to 
sea;  he  followed  the  sea  until  19  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States. 
He  was  in  the  late  war,  served  a  little  over  two  years  and  was  discharged  on  account 
of  sickness ;  he  was  in  Co.  K,  106th  I.  V.  I.  In  1867,  Mr.  Gaddie  bought  200 
acres  of  land  in  Sugar  Grove  Precinct,  upon  which  he  has  since  resided.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Keen  Nov.  20,  1866 ;  she  was  born  in  England  Oct. 
8,  1848;  Mrs.  Gaddie's  parents  came  to  this  country  when  she  was  about  2  years  of 
age;  from  this  union  there  are  six  children — John  T.,  Cora  N.,  Katie  G.,  Charles  H., 
Mary  E.  and  Jessie  A.  Mr.  Gaddie  came  to  Illinois  a  poor  boy,  and  is  emphatically 
a  self-made  man.  He  has  held  the  responsible  position  of  County  Commissioner  three 
years  and  well  and  faithfully  has  he  served  the  county ;  he  is  a  Democrat. 

WILLIAM  GOFF,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  9  ;  P.  0.  Sweetwater ;  was  born 
in  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  19,  1822 ;  second  son  of  William  and  Amy  (Trent)  Goff, 
natives  of  Kentucky,  and  the  parents  of  seven  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living ; 
the  parents  came  to  Menard  Co.  in  1825,  and  stopped  for  about  a  year  in  Clary's  Grove; 
they  then  removed  five  miles  southeast  of  where  the  city  of  Petersburg  is  now  located  ; 
soon  after  their  removal,  the  father  died ;  the  mother,  who  was  a  noble  specimen  of  the 
pioneer  woman,  not  only  cared  for  the  fatherless  children,  but  succeeded  in  retaining 
their  "  claim  "  and  laid  up  some  money.  Our  subject  passed  his  youth  and  early  man- 
hood amid  the  wild  surroundings  of  the  then  new  country,  receiving  little  or  no  educa- 
tion, and,  when  12  years  of  age.  earned  his  first  money  by  riding  horses  while 
"tramping  out  wheat;"  with  this  money  he  purchased  a  pig;  this  was  his  first  business 
transaction ;  in  a  short  time,  he  had  quite  a  herd  of  young  cattle ;  he  continued  trading 
until  about  30  years  of  age  ;  about  this  time,  he  entered  forty  acres  of  land  in  Mason 
Co. ;  at  the  expiration  of  two  years,  he  sold  his  land  in  Mason  Co.  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  in  Sugar  Grove  Precinct,  Menard  Co.,  upon  which  he  has  since  resided  and  to 
which  he  has  added  until  he  now  owns  a  nicely  improved  farm  of  285  acres ;  he  com- 
menced life  as  a  poor  boy,  but,  by  hard  work  and  economy,  he  has  made  what  he  now 
possesses ;  he  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
D.  Westfall  Oct.  24,  1840  ;  she  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  Oct.  24,  1824;  her  parents 
removed  to  Des  Moines  Co.,  Iowa,  in  1834  ;  from  this  union  there  were  ten  children, 
eisht  of  whom  are  now  living — Theodore  L.,  Commodore  P.,  Leonard  K.,  Louisa  E., 
Frederick  W.,  Murray  M.  and  Emma  and  Ella,  twin  sisters. 

JAMES  P.  HALL,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.O.  Sweetwater;  was  born  in  Law- 
rence Co.,  Ohio,  July  1,  1818;  son  of  Elisha  and  Nancy  (Overstreet)  Hall,  both 
natives  of  Bedford  Co.,  Va. ;  they  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1826,  and  located  in 
Menard  Co.,  where  they  died — the  father  in  1838,  and  the  mother  in  1862.  John 
Overstreet,  father  of  Nancy  and  grandfather  of  Mr.  Hall,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier 
under  Washington,  and  was  at  the  battles  of  Bunker  Hill,  Cowpens,  Brandywine, 
Monmouth  and  others;  he  died  in  1848,  at  90  years  of  age.  Our  subject  passed  his 
youth  and  early  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  but  a  limited  education. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  J.  Pierce  Dec.  24,  1850 ;  she  was  born  in  San- 
gamon  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  16,  1831  ;  from  this  union  there  were  fourteen  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  now  living — Charles  W.,  Emma,  Caroline,  Rosa,  Laura  J.,  Douglas  D.  and 
Mollie.  Mr.  Hall  owns  480  acres  of  well-improved  land ;  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
a  self-made  man  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word. 

FF 


740  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  : 

JOHN  H.  KINCAID,  farmer  and  stock -raiser ;  P.  0.  Sweetwater;  is  the  son  of 
John  Kennedy  Kincaid,  one  of  Menard  Co.'s  most  prominent  an>i  influential  men  ; 
he  was  born  in  Menard  Co.  July  9,  1848,  and  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Ella  J.  Culver,  which  occurred.  Feb.  20, 1878;  she  was  born  in 
Menard  Co.  July  31,  1849  ;  she  is  the  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Elizabeth  (Brabfield) 
Culver,  both  of  whom  are  now  dead ;  the  former  died  in  1874,  and  the  latter  in  1872 ; 
they  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Menard  Co.  Our  subject  owns  217  acres  of 
nicely  improved  land ;  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  is  his  wife. 

JOHN  D.  LEE,  retired  physician,  Sec.  18;  P.  0.  Athens;  was  born  in  Jefferson 
Co.,  Va.,  April  22,  1812  ;  his  grandfather,  John  Lee,  was  a  physician  and  surgeon,  and 
came  from  England  previous  to  the  Revolutionary  war;  his  son,  Robert  C.  Lee, was  the 
father  of  John  D.,  and  was,  for  a  number  of  years,  clerk  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Jef- 
ferson Co.,  Va.  Our  subject  passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood  in  the  cities  of 
Charlestown  and  Winchester,  Va. ;  he  received  a  good  education,  and,  when  12  years 
of  age,  he  held  the  position  of  Deputy  Postmaster  in  the  city  of  Winchester;  in  1832, 
he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  and,  in  1834,  graduated  at  the  University  of 
Maryland ;  soon  after  this,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and,  for  some  years,  practiced  in  Spring- 
field ;  he  at  last  came  to  Menard  Co.  and  practiced  a  year  in  Petersburg,  and  then  went 
to  Athens,  where  he  continued  in  the  practice  of  medicine  for  more  than  twenty  years  ; 
then,  owing  to  ill  health,  he  removed  to  Indian  Point  and  bought  a  small  farm,  upon 
which  he  has  since  resided.  Dr.  Lee  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Looinis,  of  Whately,  Mass.,  in  February,  1839 ;  they  had  one  child — John  D.,  who 
died  when  12  years  of  age.  Among  the  physicians  of  Menard  Co.,  none  stand  higher 
in  reputation  for  professional  skill  and  as  an  honored,  useful  citizen,  than  Dr.  John  D. 
Lee. 

DAVID  PROPST,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  1  ;  P.  0.  Greenview ;  was  born 
in  Grcenbrier  Co.,  W.  Va.,  Jan.  26,  1818.  His  father,  Nicholas  Propst,  was  a 
native  of  German}'.  He  came  to  the  United  States  when  he  was  a  boy  and  located  in 
Virginia,  where  he  married.  He  was  the  father  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are 
now  living.  In  1829,  he  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Sugar  Grove,  Menard  Co. 
Mr.  Propst  in  his  lifetime  was  a  great  help  to  the  early  settlers  of  Menard  Co.  He 
had  considerable  means  and  he  furnished  many  a  settler  with  money,  at  a  low  rate, 
to  enter  land  with.  He  was  an  "  Old  Line  Whig,"  as  were  his  sons,  until  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party,  when  they  became  identified  with  it.  Our  subject  passed 
his  youth  on  his  father's  farm  ;  received  a  limited  education,  as  there  were  but  few 
schools  in  that  early  da}r.  He  now  owns  and  is  living  on  the  place  settled  by  his  father, 
in  1829.  When  he  was  yet  a  young  man  he  purchased,  with  land  warrants,  160  acres 
of  land  on  Salt  Creek,  for  which  he  paid  75c  per  acre ;  six  years  after,  he  sold  the  land 
for  $20  per  acre.  This  and  like  transactions  are  characteristic  of  his  success  in  life. 
He  now  owns  over  400  acres  of  well-improved  land.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Sarah  Wilcox  April  10,  1851.  She  was  born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  11, 
1829  ;  her  parents  came  from  Green  County,  Ky.,  in  a  very  early  day.  From  this 
union  there  are  two  children — Ephraim,  born  Feb.  1,  1853,  and  Melinda,  born  March 
26,  1855.  Mr.  Propst  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics  and  a  firm  believer  and  advo- 
cate of  its  principles. 

LEVI  PROPST,  carpenter  and  joiner,  Sweetwater;  was  born  in  Greenbrier 
Co.,  W.  Va.,  Aug.  9,  1828.  His  grandfather,  Nicholas  Propst,  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  came  to  Sugar  Grove  in  1829.  John,  his  eldest  son  and  the  father  of  Levi, 
came  to  Menard  Co.  in  1840.  Here  our  subject  passed  his  youth  assisting  his  father 
on  the  farm.  His  father  taught  him  to  read  and  write,  and  this  was  all  the  education 
young  Propst  received.  Later  in  life,  however,  he  applied  himself  to  his  books  and  be- 
came quite  proficient.  At  20  years  of  age,  he  began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  a 
busim  ss  he  has  followed  all  his  life  except  eight  years,  when  he  was  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  in  the  village  of  Sweetwater,  during  which  time  he  was  also  village  Postmaster. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Swank  April  10, 1851.  She  was  born  in  Putnam 


SUGAR  GROv'E  PRECINCT.  741 

Co.,  Ind.,  July  1,  1829.  From  this  union  there  were  six  children,  three  of  whom 
are  now  living — Elzina,  David  E.  and  James  A.  The  names  of  those  deceased  are 
Mary  E.,  Annie  E.  and  Clara  E.  Mr.  Propst  is  a  Democrat  and  a  self-made  man. 

E.  L.  SWINEY,  farmer  and  stock -raiser,  Sec.  35  ;  P.  0.  Greenview ;  was  born  in 
Bath  Co.,  Ky.,  July  28,  1823.  His  father  died  when  he  was  2  years  old.  He 
lived  in  Kentucky  until  he  was  11  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Indian  Point, 
Menard  Co.,  with  Mr.  Kennedy  Kincaid.  They  brought  a  flock  of  sheep  with  them, 
which  young  Swiney  helped  to  drive.  He  continued  to  live  with  Mr.  Kincaid  until 
21  years  of  age.  He  received  such  education  as  the  schools  of  that  early  day  afforded. 
In  1845,  he  bought  285  acres  of  land  in  Sugar  Grove  Precinct,  upon  which  he  has  since 
resided.  He  now  owns  700  acres  of  land  upon  which  are  good  buildings.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Melinda  Johnson  Sept.  10,  1846.  She  was  born  in  Menard 
Co.,  111.,  Aug.  25, 1824.  Her  parents  came  to  the  county  in  1823,  and  her  mother, 
who  is  now  living,  is  one  of  the  oldest  living  settlers.  Mr.  Swiney  is  the  father  of  seven 
children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living — Emma,  Elijah,  Laura,  Ned  and  Frank.  Mrs. 
Swiney  departed  this  life  Feb.  9, 1877.  Mr.  Swiney  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics. 

ADAM  SHARP,  boot  and  shoemaker,  Sweetwater;  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany, 
Sept.  18,  1850.  His  father  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  a  business  he  taught  his  three 
sons.  In  1853,  John,  the  eldest  son,  came  to  the  United  States,  and  located  in  the 
village  of  Sweetwater,  Menard  Co.,  111.  ;  he  also  lived  in  Missouri  about  five  years.  He 
died  in  1878.  Adam  came  to  this  country  in  1872,  and  commenced  working  at  his 
trade  in  the  village  of  Sweetwater  the  same  year.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Bertha  Kyle  Dec.  11,  1877  ;  she  was  born  in  Logan  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  16,  1857.  They 
have  had  one  child — Augustus,  born  Jan.  5,  1879,  died  April  12,  1879.  Mr.  Sharp 
came  to  this  country  as  a  poor  German  lad,  but  by  close  attention  to  his  trade,  com- 
bined with  industry  and  economy,  he  has  gained  quite  a  competency.  He  owns  a  large 
shop,  in  which  he  always  keeps  a  large  and  well-selected  stock.  He  also  owns  one  of 
the  nicest  residences  in  the  village. 

JOSEPH  SCHOFIELD,  merchant.  Sweetwater;  was  born  in  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y, 
March  22,  1845  ;  son  of  David  and  Prudence  (Sargent)  Schofield.  He  passed  his 
youth  on  his  father's  farm  in  New  York,  and  received  a  good  common-school  education. 
At  the  age  of  18,  he  started  West,  and  upon  his  arrival  in  Springfield,  111.,  enlisted  in 
Co.  B,  58th  I.  V.  I.,  and  served  three  years  as  a  private  soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion.  He  was  in  all  the  battles  that  his  regiment  was  engaged  in,  and  he  escaped 
without  a  wound.  After  his  discharge,  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  attended  school  for 
a  year',  at  Bloomington.  He  then  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  remained  two  years,  when 
he  come  to  Menard  Co.,  where  he  has  since  resided,  and  where  he  has  been  engaged  in 
farming  and  the  mercantile  business.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Alice  Meteer 
O*ct.  14,  1873;  she  is  a  native  of  Menard  Co.  ;  from  this  union  there  are  two  sons — 
Thomas  and  John.  Mr.  Schofield  is  a  stanch  Republican  in  politics,  an  influential 
citizen  and  prominent  man. 

JOHN  W.  SHAVER,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Elkhart;  was  born  in 
Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  March  18,  1855;  his  father,  William,  was  born  in  Virginia, 
March  13,  1818,  where  he  remained  until  about  35  years  of  age,  when  he  removed  to 
Ohio,  and  from  there,  in  1850,  to  California.  On  his  return,  he  stopped  in  Spring- 
field, 111.,  and  while  there  bought  the  Twelve-Mile  House  and  farm  of  Sangamon  Co., 
where  he  resided  about  four  years.  He  then  sold  out,  and  removed  to  Menard  Co., 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Aug.  10,  1871.  After  he  had  resided 
in  Menard  Co.,  two  years,  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane  Ross,  of  Augusta  Co.,  of  the  "  Old  Dominion  State;"  this 
union  resulted  in  three  children — John  W.,  Lizzie  and  Mary.  John  W.,  is  the  only 
surviving  child ;  he  owns  8(52  acres  of  well-improved  land  in  Menard  Co.,  and  160 
in  Logan  Co.  He  received  a  good  education  and  is  to-day  one  of  Menard  Co.'s  most 
prosperous  farmers.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but  quite  conservative. 

CHARLES  C.  SCOTT,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Athens;  was  born  in 
Hardin  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  6,  1849.  His  father,  Charles  C.  Scott,  was  a  native  of 


742  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

Kentucky,  as,  was  the  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Jane  Patterson.  They  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living.  The  father  departed  this  life  Jan. 
28, 1854.  Our  subject  was  brought  up  to  farm  labor  ;  he  received  a  good  common-school 
education;  at  18  years  of  age,  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  ;  in  1869,  he 
came  on  a  visit  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  where  he  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Hulda 
Kincaid,  to  whom  he  was  married,  March  24,  1875  ;  she  is  a  daughter  of  John  Ken- 
nedy Kincaid,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Menard  Co.;  she  was  born  Aug.  15,  1854. 
From  this  union  there  have  been  two  children — Warren  C.,  born  Oct.  14,  1876,  and 
Kennedy  E.,  Dec.  27,  1878.  Mr.  Scott  owns  eighty  acres  of  nicely  improved  land. 
Is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

STEPHEN  STONE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Sweetwater;  was  born  in 
Adair  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  16,  1829;  is  a  son  of  John  and  Lucy  (Preston)  Stoae ;  both 
natives  of  Kentucky  ;  in  1830,  they  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Irish  Grove;  they 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children ;  the  mother  died  in  1872.  Stephen  passed  his 
early  liPe  with  his  father  on  the  farm ;  he  began  business  for  himself  when  quite 
young;  he  received  but  an  indifferent  education,  and  what'  he  now  possesses  he  has 
made  by  hard  work  and  economy.  His  marriage  with  Mary  C.  Young  was  celebrated 
March  2,  1863  ;  she  was  born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  Sept.  25,  1839  ;  she  is  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Rachel  (Purkapile)  Stone,  both  of  whom  were  among  the  early  pioneers 
of  Menard  Co.  From  this  union  there  are  three  children — Carrie  V.,  Morris  G. 
and  Charles  H.  Mr.  Stone  owns  188  acres  of  nicely  improved  land,  and  is  emphat- 
ically a  self-made  man. 


INDIAN    CREEK    PRECINCT. 

THOMAS  BENNETT,  farmer,  Sec.  7  ;  P.  0.  Petersburg.  Prominent  among  the 
successful  and  enterprising  business  men  in  this  county,  is  the  party  w'hose  name  heads 
this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co.,  Va.,  May  11,  1833  ;  he  is  the  son  of 
John  Bennett ;  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Boyd.  Thomas  was  but  2  years 
old  when  he  came  to  this  State  with  his  parents ;  they  first  stopped  near  Rochester, 
remaining  but  a  short  time,  and  then  came  to  Menard  Co.,  where  his  father  located, 
and  was  for  several  years  a  prominent  business  man  in  that  place,  and  was  engaged  in 
merchandising  several  years ;  he  built  what  is  now  known  as  the  Menard  House,  which 
he  ran  for  a  few  years,  and,  after  the  sale  of  the  same,  he  returned  to  his  former  love, 
that  of  selling  goods;  this  he  continued  until  the  year  1857,  since  which  time  he  lias 
retired  from  business.  Thomas  remained  with  his  father  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  during  which  time,  from  the  age  of  16  years,  he  was  engaged  in  the  store 'as 
clerk  for  his  father ;  after  reaching  manhood,  he  engaged  in  business  with  his  father, 
which  he  continued  for  three  years ;  he  then  began  on  his  own  account  in  the  dry-goods 
line,  and  being  an  active  business  man,  an  excellent  salesman,  and  enjoying  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people,  his  efforts  as  a  merchant  were  crowned  with  success  ;  he  continued 
in  the  business  until  1873,  when  the  close  confinement  and  the  nature  of  the  business 
had  so  impaired  his  health  that  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  business ;  he  then 
moved  to  Town  19,  Range  6,  where  he  now  resides,  where  he  had  purchased  a  large 
tract  of  land  on  the  rich  alluvial  soil  in  the  Salt  Creek  bottom,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  ;  his  first  efforts  as  a  farmer  were  not  attended  with  the 
flattering  results  that  marked  his  career  as  a  merchant,  his  lands  being  subject  to  the 
encroachments  of  high  water  from  the  overflow  of  Salt  Creek  ;  his  crops  have  been  for 
several  years  almost,  and,  in  several  instances,  quite  destroyed  ;  this  was  very  discour 
aging,  and,  added  to  the  insinuations  of  many  who  pronounced  the  whole  thing  a 
failure,  was  not  at  all  calculated  to  afford  much  consolation,  yet  Mr.  Bennett,  notwith- 
standing all  this,  never  lost  his  courage,  and  with  a  determination  and  firm  resolution, 
characteristic  of  the  man,  set  to  work  to  counteract  these  damaging  overflows  by  the 
erection  of  suitable  levees,  and  after  much  labor  and  expense,  has  now  1 ,800  acres  cor- 
raled  by  a  substantial  earthwork,  and  the  land  that  was  by  the  masses  considered  worthless 


INDIAN    CREEK    PRECINCT.  743 

is  to-day  the  most  valuable  land  in  the  county,  and  he  has  a  bonanza  in  his  bottom 
farm  of  1,800  acres;  this  land  will  produce,  with  good  cultivation,  from  seventy-five  to 
eighty  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre,  and  for  farming  purposes  is  much  more  valuable  than 
the  upland.  In  November,  1855,  was  united  in  matrimony  to  Lucy  Wright,  born 
March  29,  1838,  who  is  the  daughter  of  A.  D.  Wright,  an  old  and  well-known  citizen  of 
Petersburg.  They  have  eight  children — Thomas  W.,  Lucy  A.,  John  A.,  Sandy  B., 
Mary  C.,  Elbert  Lee,  Ellen  B.  and  Johnnie  ;  all  the  family  are  at  home.  Mr.  Bennett 
is  a  member  of  Clinton  Lodge,  No.  19,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  his  father  was  the 
founder,  and  has  been  W.  M.  of  same  for  many  years,  and  is  now  and  has  been  for 
several  years  Deputy  Grand  Master  of  the  State. 

JOSEPH  W.  ESTELL,  farmer,  Sec.  5  ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  was  born  in  this 
county  and  on  the  same  plat  of  ground  he  is  to-day  farming,  Aug.  1,  1833;  son 
of  William  Estell,  one  of  the  old  pioneers  of  this  country,  who  was  born  in  Fleming  Co., 
Ky.,  Aug.  30,  1794,  and  came  to  this  State  in  1824,  and  first  stopped  near  Cantrall, 
remaining  there  two  years ;  then  located  permanently  on  the  land  now  owned  by 
Joseph  ;  he  is  now  past  85,  and  is  well  preserved  for  one  of  his  years.  Joseph  lived  the 
life  of  a  bachelor  until  he  was  33  years  old,  at  which  time  he  united  in  matrimony  with 
Mary  Knowles,  who  was  born  in  Gibson  Co.,  Ind.,  daughter  of  Burton  Knowles ; 
their  marriage  was  celebrated  Jan.  2,  1866.  They  have  four  children — Martha  E., 
James,  Cora  E.,  Effie  M.  Mr.  Estell  has  a  snug  farm  of  130  acres,  well  improved. 

RUSSELL  GODBEY,  farmer;  P.  0.  Greenview;  was  born  in  Montgomery  Co., 
Va.,  Nov.  2,  1800  ;  is  a  son  of  William  Godbey,  wlio  participated  in  the  war  of  1812, 
whose  father  was  a  participant  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  In  the  fall  of  1829,  he 
moved  to  Indiana,  stayed  one  winter,  and  in  July  of  the  following  year,  came  to  this 
county  and  entered  160  acres  of  land  on  Sees.  20  and  30;  Abraham  Lincoln  was  the 
surveyor,  and  stayed  with  him  over  night,  and  Mr.  Godbey  sold  him,  for  $1,  a 
quantity  of  buckskin,  with  which  he  faced  his  pants  to  enable  him  the  better  to  travel 
through  the  brush  and  rough  grass  ;  the  sale  of  this  skin  paid  the  bill  of  surveying. 
Mr.  Godbey  soon  erected  a  rude  cabin  out  of  rough  logs,  the  raising  of  which  required 
the  united  services  of  all  the  men  that  could  be  gathered  in  the  entire  country.  Dec. 
10,  1822,  he  married  Elizabeth  Brown,  who  was  born  Feb.  25,  1799.  They  had  eight 
children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living — Nancy,  Russell  B.,  Margaret,  Eliza  and  Mary  J., 
three  boys,  Overton  B.,  William  R.  and  Moses,  died  after  arriving  at  manhood.  Mrs. 
Godbey  died  Feb.  19, 1854.  He  was  married,  Jan.  24, 1856,  to  Eleanor  Carpenter,  who 
was  born  in  Sangamon  Co.,  Nov.  15,  1822.  Had  two  children,  Virginia  and  John 
D.  In  the  early  time,  he  was  captain  of  the  militia,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  was  deterred  from  going  on  account  of  sickness  in  his  family.  lias  been  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  since  Feb.  13,  1841,  and  is  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.; 
has  been  a  life-long  Democrat ;  has  served  several  terms  as  Justice  of  the  Peac^,  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  county  almost  half  a  century,  watching  its  growth  and 
progress  with  earnest  solicitude. 

R.  B.  GODBEY,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  16;  P.  O.  Greenview;  among  the 
young  settlers  in  this  county  whose  interests  have  been  for  his  life-time  identified  with 
that  of  the  county  is  Russell  B.  Godbey ;  he  is  a  son  of  Russell  Godbey,  well  known  in 
this  county  as  an  old-time  friend  and  associate  of  the  lamented  Lincoln ;  was  born  in 
Rush  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  14,  1830,  and  was  but  3  months  old  when  he  came  to  this 
county  ;  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  attained  his  23d  year,  at  which  time  he  was 
married,  March  28,  1854,  to  Susan  Montgomery,  daughter  of  Charles  L.  Montgomery; 
nine  children  have  been  born,  but  five  of  whom  are  now  living — Eliza  E.  (now  the  wife 
of  C.  Crawford),  Edward  E.,  Harry  H.,  George  and  Eva  S. ;  since  his  marriage,  he  has 
been  located  on  the  land  he  now  owns  ;  he  has  525  acres  of  land,  440  acres  of  which  are 
under  cultivation,  and  which  ranks  among  the  best  land  in  the  county.  Mr.  Godbey 
has  always  been  engaged  in  farming  pursuits,  and  has  been  successful  in  this  direction ; 
he  takes  considerable  interest  in  political  matters,  yet  never  h;is  desired  office ;  he  has 
always  been  identified  with  the  interests  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  a  member  of 
Greenview  Lodge,  No.  653,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. 


744  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

MRS.  SARAH  E,  KILLION,  farming;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Bath 
Co.,  Ky.,  April  22,  1822;  she  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Abigail  (Bracken)  Hornback, 
both  of  whom  are  natives  of  Kentucky,  and  catne  to  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1825, 
locating  on  the  land  now  owned  by  Andrew  Hornback  ;  she  was  but  3  years  of  age  when 
she  caine  to  this  county,  and,  having  been  in  the  county  over  fifty-four  years,  is  one  of 
its  pioneers,  and  has  grown  up  with  it;  their  interests  have  been  identical;  she  well 
remembers  the  time  when  she  went  to  mill  with  her  father  and  bolted  the  flour  by  hand  ; 
she  has  seen  deer  in  droves;  Indians  encamped  on  Salt  Creek  bottom.  Aug.  18,  1840, 
she  married  James  E.  Killion,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky  Dec.  13,  1820 ;  had  ten  chil- 
dren, but  six  of  whom  are  now  living — Catharine  J.,  Robert  H.,  Maria  L.,  Thomas  W., 
John  A.  and  Emery  K. ;  after  their  marriage,  they  had  nothing  but  willing  hearts  and 
industrious  hands  ;  their  first  house  was  a  rude  cabin,  withrone  room,  cat  and  clay  chim- 
ney, puncheon  floor,  board  shutter  for  window,  home-made  table,  and  bed  made  out  of 
walnut  logs ;  corn  bread  was  their  chief  staple.  Notwithstanding  all  these  incon- 
veniences, these  were  their  happiest  days ;  the  first  barn  her  husband  built  she  spun  and 
wove  cloth  to  pay  for  the  covering  of  the  roof;  in  1846,  they  moved  to  the  place  where 
Mrs.  Killion  now  lives,  having  accumulated  money  enough  to  buy  them  a  home.  July 
5,  1875,  Mr.  Killion  died  of  consumption ;  he  and  his  wife  were  both  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church ;  he  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Church,  officiating  as 
Elder.  .  / 

WILLIAM  KNOWLES,  farmer,  Sec.  16;  P.  0.  Greenview;  son  of  Elijah 
Knowles,  a  native  of  Georgia,  and  Margaret  (Woods)  Knowles,  who  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee and  came  to  Gibson  Co.,  Ind.,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born,  which 
occurred  in  the  year  1821  ;  during  his  16th  year  the  family  moved  to  what  is  known  as 
Logan  Co.;  remained  there  until  the  winter  of  1841-42.  Oct.  5,  1843,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Harriet  Chapman ;  had  two  children — James  H.  and  Margaret  M. ;  his  wife 
died  March  13,  1849;  Jan.  11,  1850,  he  married  Mary  Taylor;  she  died  Sept.  12, 
1859  ;  had  two  children,  but  one  living — Sarah  (wife  of  Felix  Robinson).  Married  the 
third  time  to  Elizabeth  Shepherd,  and  had  one  child — Alice ;  wife  died  Dec.  18,  1872  ; 
in  1875,  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Reynolds.  Mr.  Knowles  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  for  thirty-six  years ;  has  408:1 
acres  of  land,  and  a  good  deal  of  property  in  the  town  of  Greenview,  and  has  always 
been  engaged  in  farming,  and  has  been  successful. 

WOODSON  B.  POWER,  farmer  and  stock-raiser ;  P.  O.  Petersburg ;  is  a  son  of 
E.  D.  Power,  one  of  the  old  settlers  in  this  county ;  was  born  on  the  same  section  he 
now  lives  on  Sept.  3,  1839  ;  remained  with  his  parents  and  assisted  his  father  in  the 
duties  of  the  farm,  and  also  worked  in  the  saw-mill  which  his  father  ran  for  several 
years,  Woodson  officiating  as  sawyer.  Feb.  7,  1861,  he  married  Hannah  McDougall,  a 
native  of  this  township  ;  six  children  were  born,  but  five  of  whom  are  living — George  C., 
Anna  M.,, Nellie  E.,  Mary  T.,  Williain  D.  and  Surrency,  now  deceased;  Feb.  10,  1873, 
his  wife  died  with  consumption;  the  fall  of  1861,  he  located  on  the  farm  which  he  now 
owns,  where  he  has  since  built  the  handsome  brick  residence  he  now  occupies,  and  made 
all  the  substantial  improvements  that  adorn  the  premises.  He  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Ludum,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  but  raised  in  this  county ;  had  four  chil- 
dren, three  living — Emma  V.,  Edgar  D.,  Martha  L.,  Roma  (now  deceased).  Since  his 
first  marriage  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  and  feeding,  and  is  a 
good  farmer,  industrious  and  prudent,  and  the  general  appearance  of  the  premises  gives 
evidence  of  the  enterprise  and  good  management  of  the  proprietor. 

E.  D.  POWER,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Fayette 
Co.,  Ky.,  Sept.  8,  1804  ;  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Stogsdill)  Power,  natives  of 
Maryland,  who  came  first  to  North  Carolina,  thence  to  Kentucky,  where  E.  D.  was 
born.  Feb.  7,  18^8,  he  married  Martha  S.  Thompson,  who  was  born  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky., 
in  1808  ;  in  1829,  he  concluded  to  cast  his  lot  on  the  fertile  prairies  of  Illinois,  and 
shipped  from  Maiysville  by  boat  to  St.  Louis,  and  there  bought  an  old  horse  for  his 
wife  to  ride,  hired  an  ox  team  to  haul  his  lew  household  goods,  ard  took  up  his  line  of 
march  for  this  country,  arriving  here  with  75  cents  in  money,  an  old  horse  and  a  few 


INDIAN    CREEK    PRECINCT.  745 

household  effects ;  he  made  him  a  table  out  of  boards,  sawed  by  hand,  and  a  bedstead 
of  walnut  rails,  borrowed  a  horse,  and  with  his  own  horse,  made  his  first  crop ;  soon 
after  he  bought  eighty  acre.-),  paid  what  little  he  had  down,  and  borrowed  money  to  pay 
the  balance,  at  40  per  cent ;  raised  one  crop,  and  sold  his  team,  which  liquidated  the 
debt;  in  the  spring  of  1834,  he  sold  his  place,  and  came  to  this  township,  where  he 
bought  200  acres  of  school  land;  in  1835,  sold  eighty  acres  for  $500,  and  entered  240 
acres,  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Power  spent  the  early  portion  of  life  in  the  log  cabin 
of  that  day,  built  in  the  rude  style  of  the  times.  He  was  more  fortunate  than  many 
of  his  time,  as  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  education  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  teach 
school,  which  he  did  in  the  year  1835,  in  a  log  cabin,  with  puncheon  floor,  greased 
paper  for  window  panes,  and  split  logs  for  seats.  With  the  exception  of  four  years, 
which  he  spent  in  Petersburg,  he  has  been  a  constant  resident  of  the  county.  He 
made  the  first  assessment  that  was  made  in  the  county,  on  the  east  side  of  the  county  ; 
names  of  his  children  are  Nancy  J.,  Elizabeth  S.,  George  S.,  John  D.  and  Woodson 
B.  He  has  been  successful  in  his  business  career ;  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Andrew 
Jackson. 

S.  T.  ROGERS,  farmer  and  stock-raiser ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  is  a  worthy  and  reli- 
ible  citizen,  who  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this  county,  and,  like  Pat,  "  would  have 
jeen  here  longer,  had  he  been  sooner  born."  He  was  born  April  23, 1832,  on  the  same 
section  of  land  he  now  owns;  his  father  was  born  in  Bath  Co.,  Ky.;  his  mother's 
name,  prior  to  her  marriage,  was  Rebecca  Lancaster,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky ;  his 
father,  on  his  first  arrival,  bought  out  a  place  and  its  improvements,  and  then  entered  the 
land  about  him,  including  that  owned  by  S.  T.  He  died  in  June,  1843,  his  wife  dying 
several  years  previous.  Feb.  7,  1858,  Mr.  Rogers  was  married  tq  Nancy  Ann  Trumbo, 
who  was  born  in  this  county  Feb.  10,  1835;  they  had  five  children,  four  living— 
John,  born  in  1858,  and  died  Aug.  11,  1867 ;  Flora  Bell,  born  Jan.  3,  1861 ;  Charles 
T.,  Jan.  16,  1867;  Nora  A.,  Sept.  26,  1868;  Elizabeth  C.,  Aug.  13,  1874.  Mrs. 
Rogers'  father's  name  was  Andrew  Trumbo,  and  her  mother  was  a  sister  of  Henry  Sears,  of 
Mason  County.  Mr.  Rogers  has  300  acres  of  choice  land,  and  is  an  excellent  farmer 
and  one  of  Menard  Co.'s  best  men. 

W.  W.  M.  REED,  farmer,  Sec.  20  ;  P.  6.  Greenview ;  was  born  in  Dubois  Co., 
Ind.,  Dec.  20,  1823;  is  the  second  child  of  a  family  of  twelve  children,  born  of  Isaac 
and  Winnie  Morgan  Spears,  both  natives  of  Kentucky,  who  came  to  Indiana  at  an 
early  day ;  at  the  age  of  23,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  this  county  empty- 
handed,  but  with  ready  hands  and  a  willing  heart,  and  resolved  to  make  something  of 
himself,  if  economy  and  industry  would  accomplish  it;  he  began  work  by  the  month, 
for  E.  D.  Powers  ;  subsequently,  went  to  Indiana,  where  he  was  engaged  as  Super- 
intendent of  a  gang  of  men  on  the  Evansville  &  Crawfordsville  Railroad,  and  continued 
here  three  years,  and  discharged  his  duties  with  credit  to  himself,  and  to  the  satisfaction 
of  his  employers ;  having  accumulated  means  enough  to  purchase  forty  acres  of  land, 
he  returnei  to  this  coun'ty,  and  made  the  purchase.  Jan.  24,  1856,  he  was  married  to 
Charlotte  Lanternuian,  who  was  born  May  17,  1836;  they  have  had  four  children — 
Winnie,  born  Dec.  18,  1856;  Charles  H.,  June  3,  1858;  A.  J.,  March  30,  1860; 
Charlotte  T.,  Aug.  25,  1862.  His  wife  died  Aug.  25,  1862,  at  the  birth  of  last  child. 
Sept.  10,  1863,  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wilcox,  born  Aug.  15,  1835  ;  daughter  of 
George  and  Mary  Curry  ;  have  three  children — Clara  F.,  born  July  18,- 1864 ;  George 
C.,  April  9,  1866 ;  Wallace  M.,  Aug.  25,  1875.  Since  his  first  marriage,  has  been 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  has  a  snug  farm,  and  i-i  a  well-to-do  farmer,  all  the 
result  of  his  own  labor.  Is  a  member  of  Greenview  Lodge,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M,  No.  653. 

A.  RIGGIN,  fanner  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  9.  Prominent  among  the  stanch  and 
reliable  men  in  this  county,  who  have  grown  up  with  it,  and  been  identified  with  its 
interests,  before  and  since  its  organization,  is  A.  K.  Riiririn,  who  was  born  one  and  one- 
quarter  miles  northeast  of  Athens,  April  23,  1822.  He  is  the  second  child  of  a  family 
of  five  born  to  Harry  and  Merriam  Lee  (Rogers)  Riggin.  The  Lees  are  supposed  to 
eb  relatives  of  the  Lees  in  Virginia,  and  the  Rogerses  related  to  those  of  martyrdom  fame. 
Mr.  Riggin  was  born  in  Sevier  Co.,  E.  Tenn.,  in  1793.  His  wifo,  Merriam,  was  born 


746  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

in  Oswego  Co.,N.  Y.  Harry  Riggin  came  to  this  country  before  it  was  a  State,  in  1817r 
and  was  married  in  March,  1818,  and  located  at  Troy,  Madison  Co.,  and  came  to  what 
is  now  known  as  Athens,  in  the  spring  of  1820,  where  he  settled.  He  obtained  a  good 
education  for  those  early  times.  His  father  being  greatly  interested  in  education,  gave 
his  son  every  advantage,  and  boarded  many  a  school  teacher  free  of  charge  to  encourage 
them  to  give  his  son  some  special  aid,  while  at  home,  which  he  improved  so  well,  that, 
before  he  attained  his  majority,  he  had  taught  four  quarters  at  school.  Then  attended 
school  at  McKendree  College  one  year,  also  one  year  at  the  Illinois  College,  at  Jackson- 
ville. Subsequent  to  this,  he  taught  school  at  different  places,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1848, 
became  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  Circuit  Clerk,  but  was  defeated  by  four  votes.  This 
was  the  first  election  held  for  that  purpose  in  the  county.  He  then  made  a  trip  to  Mis- 
sissippi, where  he  taught  about  one  year.  In  1852,  he  was  again  a  candidate  for  the 
office  of  Circuit  Clerk,  and  was  elected,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  that  term,  was  re-elected 
by  a  handsome  majority.  After  the  Lincoln  election,  he  retired  from  the  political  arena, 
and  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  farming.  He  lived  the  life  of  a  bachelor  until 
his  52d  year.  Nov.  26,  1874,  he  married  Mary  C.  Deal,  who  was  born  in  McLean  Co. 
April  12,  1850,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  C.  Deal,  of  Augusta  Co.,  Va.  Had  two 
children — Harry,  born  Oct.  9,  1875;  Augustus,  born  Oct.  5,  1877.  Has  always  been 
a  temperate  man,  and  owes  the  practice  of  this  virtue  to  the  teachings  of  his  mother. 
He  deals  in  fine  stock,  and  remembers  when  there  was  no  Petersburg  or  Lincoln. 

GEORGE  G.  SPEAR,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  20 ;  P.  0.  Greenview ;  was 
born  in  Vermont,  Oct.  16,  1836  ;  was  the  third  of  a  family  of  seven  children, 
born  to  Elisha  Spear.  His  mother's  name  prior  to  her  marriage  was  Lucretia  Walker. 
They  came  to  this  State  in  the  fall  of  1838,  and  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this 
in  this  county.  George  was  but  2  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came,  which  makes 
him  a  resident  of  the  county  forty-one  years,  and,  while  there  are  many  older  men  in  the 
county,  yet,  not  many  of  them  have  been  here  as  long  as  he.  He,  we  might  say,  never 
left  the  parental  roof,  from  the  fact  that  he  has  always  remained  on  the  homestead, 
though  leading  the  life  of  a  bachelor  for  several  years.  Oct.  6,  1870,  he  changed  his 
mode  of  living  by  uniting  his  fortunes  with  Sarah  A.  Dawson,  who  was  born  in  Indiana 
in  October,  1841.  They  have  three  children — Flora,  born  Oct.  2,  1871  ;  Elsa,  born 
Jan.  26,  1873;  Elisha  G.,  born  Jan.  28,  1876.  He  has,  since  his  marriage,  been 
engaged  in  farming  pursuits,  and  has  510  acres  of  land.  Has  been  successful,  and  ranks 
among  the  stanch  farmers  of  this  township. 

W.  S.  SMOOT,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  27  ;  P.  0.  Greenview ;  was  born  in 
Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  13, 1830,  and  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  three  children,  bora 
to  Colman  Smoot  and  Rebecca  (Wright)  Smoot.  The  former  was  born  Feb.  13,  1791, 
and  the  latter  Aug.  3,  1795.  They  were  married  March  17,  1817,  and,  in  1832,  came 
to  this  county,  and  settled  on  the  land  now  owned  by  William.  Colman  Smoot  died 
March  21,  1876.  His  wife  died  March  27,  1864.  July  17, 1851,  William  was  united 
in  wedlock  to  Catharine  A.  Engle,  who  was  born  in  Sugar  Grove  Nov.  5,  1830.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  William  Engle,  a  prominent  citizen  in  his  time.  Her  mother  was  an 
Alkire,  sister  of  Milern  A.  After  their  marriage,  they  lived  with  his  parents  until  he  came 
to  the  place  on  which  he  now  lives.  Seven  children  have  crowned  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs,  Smoot — Colman  ;  Mary  E.,  born  Dec.  2,  1854;  Charles  E.,  July  30,  1856  ; 
John  M.,  May  14,  1860;  Anna  M.,  Aug.  13,  1865,  and  Edward  E.,  June  23,  1870. 
Their  second  child  was  Rebecca,  died  Nov.  19,  1860.  Mary  is  now  the  wife  of  John 
W.  Terhune,  married  March  26, 1879.  Charles  married  Tempa  Clark  the  day  previous. 
Mr.  Smoot  has  been  unusually  successful  in  his  business,  and  is  one  of  the  best  financiers 
in  the  county,  is  shrewd,  long-headed,  and  a  man  of  untiring  industry,  religiously  honest, 
conscientious  and  just.  He  has  as  large  and  commodious  a  farmhouse  as  any  in  the 
county.  He  is  Democratic  in  sentiment,  and  is  now  serving  as  County  Commissioner 
for  the  second  term. 

HARMON  WARNSING,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Greenview.  Prominent  among  the 
stanch  men  of  the  county,  who  have  crossed  the  ocean  from  the  "  Fatherland  "  and 
have  grown  up  and  thoroughly  identified  themselves  with  the  interests  of  this  county, 


SANDRIDGE    PRECINCT.  747 

is  Harmon  Warnsing,  who  was  born  in  Badbergen,  Kreisamt,  Bersenbeiick,  Kingdom 
of  Hanover,  in  Germany,  Jan.  14,  1839  ;  he  is  a  son  of  George  Frederick  Warnsinir 
and  Margaretti  Ottmann  ;  at  the  age  of  14  years,  Harmon  took  leave  of  his  home  and 
friends  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  land  across  the  sea,  and,  arriving  at  New  Orleans,  he 
came  to  this  county,  where  his  uncle,  John  Marbold,  lived,  and  for  whom  he  worked  by 
the  month;  he  also  worked  for  Charles  Montgomery;  in  the  winter  of  1855,  he 
attended  the  Lutheran  College  at  Springfield,  and,  upon  his  return,  began  improving 
some  land  he  had  purchased  near  Salt  Creek ;  in  1859,  returned  to  Germany,  where  he 
remained  fifteen  months,  and,  while  there,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Maria  Liideling, 
who  was  born  Dec.  29,  1836  ;  Aug.  21,  1860,  is  the  date  of  their  marriage.  Return- 
ing the  same  year  with  his  bride,  he  located  on  the  land  he  had  purchased,  upon  which 
he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1872,  when  he  moved  to  the  place  he  now  occupies ; 
he  has  been  successful  in  his  business  and  now  is  owner  of  1,920  acres  of  land,  1,650 
acres  of  which  are  improved.  He  has  not  taken  much  interest  in  political  matters,  but 
was  elected  County  Commissioner  one  term  on  the  Democratic  ticket ;  he  has  two 
children— George,  born  Oct.  5,  1863;  Emilie,  Jan.  27,  1862. 


SANDRIDCE     PRECINCT. 

JAMES  ALTIG,  farmer ;  P.  O.  Petersburg ;  was  born  in  Mason  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1821  ', 
his  father  died  soon  after  this  date,  and  his  mother,  with  her  family,  removed  to  this 
township  in  1836;  since  that  date,  he  has  lived  within  two  miles  of  his  present  resi- 
dence. He  was  first  married,  in  1844,  to  Sarah  W.  Berry,  who  lived  but  a  short  time ; 
a  second  matrimonial  alliance  occurred  in  1847,  when  he  was  joined  in  wedlock 
with  Sarah  Ann  Potter ;  they  have  ten  children  living ;  one  of  the  sons  is  a  Deputy 
Assessor  in  this  county.  Mr.  A.  has  never  been  active  in  politics,  but  has  held  several 
offices  in  the  gift  of  the  people ;  has  been  School  Director  fifteen  years,  School  Trustee 
two  terms  and  is  at  present  one  of  the  County  Commissioners.  He  owns  468  acres  of 
land,  well  improved  and  valued  at  $15,000. 

WILLIAM  ENSLEY,  farmer;  P.  0.  Atterberry ;  was  born  in  Pickaway  Co., 
Ohio,  June  12,  1829;  son  of  Christopher  and  Elizabeth  Ensley ;  in  1842,  they  emi- 
grated to  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  where  Christopher  Ensley  died  April  8,  1846;  after  which, 
Mr.  Ensley.  with  his  mother,  moved  to  Menard  Co.  in  1853 ;  Mr.  Ensley  began  life  for 
himself  at  the  age  of  13,  with  good  health  and  plenty  of  ambition,  which  has  enabled 
him  to  provide  for  his  mother  and  family  and  also  to  accumulate  a  fine  farm  of  370 
acres,  well  stocked  ;  he  makes  stock  raising  and  shipping  a  specialty.  He  was  married, 
Jan.  25,  1855,  to  Chloe  H.  Aylesworth,  second  daughter  of  Philip  and  Chloe  Ayles- 
worth,  of  New  York.  Mr.  Aylesworth  was  the  first  settler  in  Beardstown,  surveying 
the  country  around,  and  established  the  first  ferry  at  Meredosia  and  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  prominent  residents  of  Fulton  Co.,  where  he  still  lives.  Mr.  Ensley  has  two 
children  living — Henry  E.  and  Harvey  L.,  and  has  lost  five.  Mr.  Ensley  has  filled  the 
office  of  Road  Supervisor  and  School  Director  for  many  years  and  is  at  present  Over- 
seer of  the  Poor. 

S.  D.  MASTERS,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  O.  Petersburg.  Prominent  among 
the  stanch  men  of  Menard  Co..  we  find  the  name  of  S.  D.  Masters,  who  was  born  in 
Overton  Co.,  Tenn.,  Nov.  12,  1812;  he  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Matlock) 
Masters,  who  were  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion ;  Thomas  Masters  emigrated  to  the 
State  of  Tennessee,  where  S.  D.  Masters  was  born  ;  but,  slavery  prevailing,  and  he  hav- 
ing seen  enough  of  its  workings,  he  resolved  to  go  North,  and,  in  the  year  1830,  went 
to  Morgan  Co.,  not  far  from  what  is  now  Jacksonville.  March  6,  1833,  was  married 
to  Lucy  Young,  who  was  born  in  Davidson  Co.,  Tenn.,  Nov.  11,  1814;  nine  children  ; 
six  lived  to  maturity,  of  whom  but  four  are  now  living — Minerva  (now  the  wife  of 
Rev.  B.  F.  Vincent,  now  of  Philadelphia),  Hardin  W.  (attorney  at  law,  at  Petersburg), 
Anna  M.,  (now  the  wife  of  N.  K.  Rankin);  Anna  and  Minerva  were  both  graduates  of 


748  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

the  Female  College  at  Jacksonville ;  Wilber  is  now  at  home.  Harry  was  drowned  in 
the  river  Platte  while  crossing  the  plains  in  1862  ;  Mary  died  during  her  28th  year, 
lu  April,  1847,  Mr.  Masters  came  to  this  county  and  located  in  Town  19,  Range  7,  and 
has  since  been  closely  identified  with  the  interests  of  the  county ;  he  is  one  of  the  self-made 
men  of  our  county,  having,  by  industry  and  economy,  acquired  a  home  and  a  competence 
for  declining  years ;  he  has  been  a  man  of  progress  and  enterprise.  He  has  been  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  several  years,  and,  in  1856,  represented  the  county  in  the  State 
Legislature ;  he  and  his  wife  for  many  years  have  been  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
He  lias  always  been  engaged  in  farming  pursuits  and  identified  with  the  principles  of 
Democracy. 

MRS.  EMMA  MANN,  farmer;  P.  O.  Oakford;  was  born  in  Marshall  Co., 
Ind.,  Jan.  10,  1833;  daughter  ofv  Allen  Burns,  whose  wife's  name  prior  to  marriage 
was  Mary  Ann  Kelly.  Mrs.  Mann,  during  her  9th  year,  moved  to  Benton  Co., 
Texas,  remaining  eleven  years.  She  was  married  to  John  H.  Brown,  and  one  child  was 
born  to  them,  Franklin,  born  Nov.  3,  1872.  Shortly  after  their  marriage,  they  moved 
to  Galesburg,  where^he  practiced  medicine  until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  26,  1873. 
April  26,  1875,  she  was  married  to  William  Mann,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  After 
their  marriage,  they  moved  to  the  place  she  now  occupies.  Mr.  Mann  died  April  28, 
1879.  They  had  one  child,  Henry,  born  Dec.  20,  1876.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 

J.  C.  McDOEL,  farmer;  P.  0.  Atterberry ;  was  born  in  New  York,  April  10, 1829  ; 
son  of  Varnum  and  Elizabeth  McDoel,  of  Scotch  descent ;  was  educated  in  New  York 
and  moved  to  Missouri  in  1857.  In  1859  he  settled  in  Menard  Co.,  on  his  present  home- 
stead. He  married  Caroline  Robinson,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  P.  and  Lucy  C.  Robinson, 
of  Menard  Co.  Mrs.  McDoel  was  an  intimate  acquaintance  of  President  Lincoln,  he 
having  boarded  with  her  father  while  surveying  in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  J.  C.  McDoel  also 
assisted  him  in  making  the  surveys.  Mrs.  McDoel  was  educated  at  Princeton  and 
Jacksonville.  She  was  first  married  to  Mr.  S.  Buckley  and  left  a  widow  with  two  children, 
Newton  and  J.  C.  Buckley.  Mr.  J.  C.  McDoel  has  accumulated  a  tract  of  500  acres, 
and  has  filled  the  office  of  Treasurer  for  thirteen  years. 

R.  C.  PANTIER,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  Mr.  R.  C.  Pantier  was  born  in  Me- 
nard Co.,  111.,  March  7,  184r>son  of  D.  M.  and  Eliza  Pantier.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation at  home  schools.  He  began  for  himself  at  the  age  of  21,  and  was  encouraged 
from  boyhood  to  rely  upon  his  own  tact  in  the  way  of  a  trade.  At  the  age  of  26,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Truth,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Truth.  Mrs. 
Pantier  was  born  in  Menard  Co.  Dec.  20,  1846.  Their  children  are  Daniel  H., 
William,  31.  E.,  and  Ollie.  Mr.  Pantier  has  acquired  a  tine  farm  of  142  acres  and 
makes  stock-raising  a  specialty. 

DAVID  M.  PANTIER,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  born  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio, 
Oct.  16,  1808 ;  son  of  James  and  Susannah  Pantier,  and  his  father  was  the  second 
male  white  child  born  in  Kentucky,  and  his  grandfather,  Philip  Pantier,  was  one  of 
Daniel  Boone's  sturdy  companions.  D.  M.  Pantier  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Shaw- 
neetown  in  1815  and  to  Menard  Co.,  in  1826,  on  present  homestead.  He  was  married 
Aug.  16,  1829,  to  Lizzie  Armstrong,  daughter  of  Robert  ard  Nancy  Armstrong.  Mrs. 
Lizzie  Pantier  died  Aug.  7,  1848,  leaving  the  following  children  viz.,  Nancy,  Hannah, 
Juhn  B.,  James  T.,  Polly  and  Robert  C.  Mr.  Pantier  was  married,  May  19,  1849,  to 
Maria  Haram,  daughter  of  Morris  and  Elizabeth  Hutchins,  of  New  York  and  by  this  second 
alliance,  Mr.  Pantier  has  two  children — Francis  M.  and  Minerva  E.  Mr.  Pantier  served 
in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  under  Capt.  Abraham  Lineoln,  and  tells  many  interesting 
anecdotes  of  those  times.  In  1828,  he  went  120  miles  to  mill  and  often  stayed  a  week  for 
his  turn.  The  first  pair  of  shoes  ever  worn  by  Mr.  Pantier,  he  earned  trapping  in  the 
winter  barefooted,  carrying  a  board  to  stand  on  while  setting  his  traps. 

J.  L.  SHORT,  former;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  was  born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  6, 
1827  ;  son  of  Elias  and  Sarah  Short,  of  English  and  German  origin.  He  obtained  what 
education  he  could,  at  home  schools,  and  began  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  18.  Mr. 
Short  was  married,  April  8,  1861,  to  Ada  Potter,  daughter  of  John  and  Lucy  C.  Potter, 


ROCK    CREEK   PRECINCT.  749 

of  Menard  Co.,  111.,  their  children  are — John  R.,  Leslie  M.,  Ada  0.,  Meloint,  Ollie, 
Mollie  May.  Mr.  Short  has  a  fine  farm  of  300  acres,  and  raises  some  stock,  but  is  not 
termed  a  shipper. 

R.  C.  TRENARY,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  was  born  in  Perry  Co.,  Ind., 
Dec.  16,  1829;  son  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  Trenary.  He  came  to  Menard  Co.,  in 
1846,  and  began  for  himself  at  the  age  of  18.  Married,  Nov.  27,  1851,  Elizabeth 
Altag,  daughter  of  M.  Altag.  Mr.  Trenary  and  wife  both  received  a  liberal  education. 
They  have  four  children  living — Mary  C.,  Fannie  A.,  Pina  M.  and  Lizzie  D.  Mr. 
Trenary  makes  stock-raising  a  specialty,  and  has  a  fine  farm  of  250  acres,  worth  $12,000. 

GEO.  K.  W ATKINS,  stock-shipper;  P.  0.  Oakford ;  was  born  in  Menard  Co., 
111.,  Feb.  11,  1837  ;  son  of  Samuel  and  Sophia  Watkins,  who  settled  in  Illinois  at  an 
early  day.  Mr.  Watkins  was  educated  at  the  home  schools,  and,  at  the  age  of  26,  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Thomas,  in  December,  1863,  daughter  of  Joshua  Thomas,  of  Menard 
Co.  They  have  one  child  living — Miss  Alice  Watkins,  born  July  7,  1867,  and  now 
being  educated  in  Mason  Co.  Mr.  Watkins  began  life  at  the  age  of  17,  with  40  acres 
of  land,  and  he  has  now  over  2,000.  He  is  one  of  the  largest  stock-dealers  in  this  county, 
shipping  annually  110  car  loads  of  hogs  and  from  40  to  50,  of  cattle.  He  also  devotes 
much  care  to  farming;  he  has  now  over  1,000  acres  of  corn,  120  of  wheat  and  oats, 
the -rest  of  farm  is  pasture. 


ROCK   CREEK    PRECINCT. 

JOHN  J.  CLARKE,  farmer;  P.  0.  Petersburg;  son  of  Charles  J.  F.  and  Rachel 
(Smith)  Clark ;  was  born  upon  the  old  homestead,  where  he  now  resides,  Sept.  7,  1843. 
His  parents  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Menard  Co.  He  has  lived  upon  the  old 
farm,  following  agricultural  pursuits,  thus  far,  and  has,  by  observation  and  experience, 
obtained  a  good  business  education.  He  served  as  Deputy  County  Assessor  for  two 
years.  His  wife  is  the  daughter  of  James  H.  and  Sarah  (Brown)  Thompson.  They 
were  married  Oct.  19,  1870,  and  have  two  children — Albert  B.  and  Francis  H.  Mr. 
Clark  is  a  young  man  of  good  business  ability,  and  a  respected  citizen. 

MRS.  RACHEL  CLARKE,  farmer;  P.  O.  Tallula;  widow  of  C.  J.  H.  Clark, 
and  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Anna  (Rhodes)  Smith ;  was  brought  to  this  county  by 
her  parents,  in  1836.  After  a  time  they  removed  to  Cass  Co.,  where  her  parents  died. 
She  was  married  to  Mr.  Clark  Nov.  25,  1841.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent  pioneers 
of  the  county.  He  served  as  County  Commissioner  four  years,  and  eight  years  as 
County  Judge.  He  lived  an  industrious,  enterprising  and  useful  life.  He  died,  April 
9,  1870,  leaving  a  family  of  four  children — John  J.,  Mary  A.  (now  Mrs.  John  H. 
Burkholder,  of  this  county),  Charles  R.  and  Luella  F.  Mrs.  Clark  remembers  when 
this  was  a  wild  country.  When  her  parents  came  to  this  county,  they  spent  their  first 
winter  with  another  family,  in  a  cabin  12x16,  and  there  were  sixteen  persons  in  the 
two  lamilies.  She  occupies  'a  beautiful  residence,  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life. 

ISAAC  COGDAL,  farmer ;  P.O.  Lloyd;  son  of  Joseph  and  Lucy  (Sothern) 
Cogdal,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  this  county.  Their  advent  to  this  county 
dates  back  to  1823.  They  settled  near  where  Isaac  now  resides,  and  there  passed  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  His  father  died  in  1828,  and  his  mother  survived  until  1846. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Kentucky,  Sept.  16,  1812.  During  early 
life,  he  learned  the  trade  of  stone  and  brick  mason,  which  he  followed  for  many  years. 
When  a  young  man,  Abraham  Lincoln  became  his  warm  friend,  and  they  frequently 
advised  each  other.  After  Mr.  Lincoln  became  a  prominent  lawyer,  he  advised  Mr. 
Cogdal  to  study  law  under  his  instruction,  which  he  did,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1860,  since  which  time  he  has  practiced  law  and  superintended  his  farm.  Mr.  Cog- 
dal is  a  man  of  ability  and  of  high  standing.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  125  acres.  He 
has  twice  been  married,  first  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Elijah  Hougiiton,  Nov.  1,  1833. 
She  died  Sept.  22,  1347,  leaving  five  children,  but  throe  of  whom  are  now  living — 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

Julia  A.,  Al^P  E.  and  Alvira.     He  married  his   present   wife  July   22,   1848.     She 
was  Miss  Sanm  Whitlow.     They  have  one  child — Thomas  J. 

AMOS 'COMBS,  farmer;  P.  0.  Lloyd;  son  of  Jonah  Combs  and  grandson  of 
Nelson  and  Hannah  (Glover)  Combs.  His  father  was  born  in  Nelson  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  3, 
1794,  where  he  was  raised,  and  was  married  June  23,  1824,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Bixler ; 
they  came  to  Illinois,  locating  where  he  now  resides,  in  1826,  and  in  1849  she  died, 
leaving  eight  children.  March  23,  1850,  he  married  his  present  wife,  the  mother  of 
Amos  ;  she  was  Mrs.  S.  D,  Shephard,  and  daughter  of  Enoch  Ayers,  and  was  born  in 
Cumberland  Co.,  N.  J.,  Nov.  26,  1806.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  upon  the 
old  homestead,  where  he  now  resides,  June  24,  1851.  He  acquired  a  good  common 
schooling,  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Virginia  M. 
Primm.  They  have  four  promising  children — Enoch  H.,  Harrie  S.,  Celia  A.  and  Sarah 
L.  Mr.  Combs  owns  100  acres  of  the  old  homestead  farm,  and  is  a  respected  citizen. 

J.  B.  GORDEN,  farmer;  P.  0.  Lloyd;  son  of  William  B.  and  Mary  (Gunter- 
man)  Gorden,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Menard  Co.;  was  born  where  he  now 
lives,  Dec.  29,  1839  ;  he  has  resided  on  the  old  homestead,  and  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  thus  far  through  life.  He  married  Miss  Julia  A.  Kirsch,  of  Springfield,  Oct. 
25,  1875.  She  was  born  Feb.  13,  1853.  He  now  owns  120  acres. 

GEORGE  H.  HARRISON,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Petersburg  ;  was  born  in  this  county 
in  1839  ;  son  of  John  F.  and  Parthena  S.  Harrison.  During  his  early  life  he  endeav- 
ored to  obtain  a  good  education,  though  he  only  had  the  advantage  of  a  few  terms  at 
district  school ;  but  by  study  at  home,  he  became  able  to  teach  school,  and  followed 
teaching  a  number  of  years.  He  has  now  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  married 
Miss  Luella  B.  Woods,  daughter  of  Rev.  Giles  W.  Woods,  of  Sangamon  Co.;  they 
were  married  Sept.  26,  1878.  He  resides  upon  his  father's  farm,  superintending  it. 

HARM  HARMS,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Lloyd  ;  son  of  Jacob  and  .Margaret  (Barnes) 
Harms  ;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  April  19,  1827  ;  his  father  died  in  Hanover  in 
1849,  and  his  mother  died  in  1867.  During  his  early  life,  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
weaver,  which  he  followed  a  number  of  years.  He  manufactured  woolen  and  linen 
goods  on  his  own  account  for  a  time,  just  previous  to  coming  to  this  country,  which  was 
in  1857  ;  he  came  directly  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  and  began  farming.  In  1865,  he 
removed  to  Nebraska  for  a  time,  then  returned  to  Germany.  He  returned  to  this 
country  with  Miss  Mary  Julifs,  and  they  were  married  at  Petersburg  Oct.  14,  1866  ; 
they  at  once  came  and  settled  where  they  now  live.  She  was  born  July  2,  1839. 
He  owns  200  acres  of  good  land,  the  result  of  his  own  energy.  They  have  a  family 
of  four— Anna  M.,  born  July  10,  1867  ;  Christine,  July  24, 1869  ;  Fannie  D.,  May  6, 
1872 ;  Sophia  H.,  Feb.  26,  1874. 

A.  R.  HOUGHTON,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  son  of  Chas.  P.  and  Elizabeth 
(Vandeventer)  Houghton  ;  was  born  near  where  he  now  resides  Feb.  7,  1825 ;  he  has 
followed  farming,  and  served  one  year  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  married  Miss  Elvira 
Stevenson,  of  Menard  Co.,  May  29,  1855,  and  shortly  afterward  settled  where  he  now 
resides;  they  have  raised  three  children — James  F.,  born  Aug.  19,  1856,  and  died  Feb. 
12,  1877  ;  William  C.,born  Oct.  22.  1859  ;  Mary  A.,  April  23,  1862.  His  farm  con- 
sists of  230  acres  of  land. 

A.  M.  HOUGHTON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Lloyd;  son  of  Elijah  and  Catharine  (Mer- 
rill) Houghton,  who  came  from  Mason  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1824,  locating  where  A.  M.  now 
resides  ;  here  this  son  was  born  Oct.  12,  1826,  and  here  he  has  always  lived  on  the  old 
farm  ;  he  is  an  enterprising  and  prosperous  citizen  and  now  owns  520  acres  of  fine  laud. 
His  father  died  in  1852.  Mr.  Houghton  married  Miss  Barbara  A.  Renshaw,  of  San- 
gamon Co.,  111.,  April  9,  1856  ;  they  have  had  two  children — Ann  M.  (now  Mrs.  John 
S.  Hury,  of  this  county),  and  Wyley  P.  (deceased). 

TARLTON  LLOYD,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Lloyd ;  one  of  the  first  white  settlers  of 
Menard  Co.;  came  from  Rockingham  Co.,  Va.,  where  he  was  born  May  9,  1784,  and 
located  where  he  now  lives  in  1820  ;  here  he  has  since  resided,  and  is,  beyond  a  doubt, 
the  most  active  man  of  his  age  in  Central  Illinois.  In  1800,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Nancy  Hunter ;  she  died  in  1834,  leaving  seven  children.  In  1837,  he  married  Catharine 


ROCK    CREEK    PRECINCT. 


T51 


Keltner,  who  died  in  1876,  leaving  nine  children.  He  is  now,  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  95,  residing  with  his  youngest  son,  who  works  his  farm,  which  consists  of  173 
acres. 

CATHARINE  D.  PURKAPILE,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Petersburg ;  widow  of  the 
late  James  Purkapile  ;  was  born  in  Mason  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  14,  1817  ;  daughter  of  Chas. 
P.  and  Elizabeth  ( Vandeventer)  Houghton ;  her  parents  were  among  the  first  settlers 
of  Menard  Co.,  coming  from  Mason  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1824.  Her  father  died  in  1835,  and 
her  mother  in  1836.  She  was  twice  married — first,  to  Mr.  T.  J.  Nance,  Sept.  20, 1836, 
who  was  a  prominent  man  of  this  county,  and  died  in  1842,  leaving  three  children,  but 
one  of  whom  is  now  living — Hon.  Albert  G.  Nance ;  she  married  for  her  second  hus- 
band, J.  Purkapile,  May  26,  1859  ;  he  was  one  of  the  prominent  pioneers  of  this 
county,  industrious,  benevolent  and  highly  respected  ;  he  died  Jan.  19,  1878;  she  had 
one  child  by  this  marriage — Mary  E.  Mrs.  Purkapile  owns  and  superintends  her  farm, 
which  consists  of  230  acres  of  land.  Her  residence  is  among  the  best  in  the  county. 

J.  H.  SMITH,  farmer;  P.  0.  Tallula;  son  of  Samuel  and  Anna  (Rhodes) 
Smith;  was  born  in  Schuyler  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  4,  1836;  the  same  year,  his  parents 
came  to  Illinois,  remaining  until  1851,  when  they  removed  to  Cass  Co.,  111.,  where  they 
died  in  1877,  his  father  in  January,  and  his  mother  in  June.  In  1859.  he  went  over- 
land to  California,  and  remained  some  two  years,  and  returned  by  water.  Mr.  Smith 
enlisted  in  the  late  war  with  the  51st  I.  V.  I.;  served  about  twenty-eight  months,  par- 
ticipating in  many  of  the  most  severe  battles,  and  escaped  injury.  After  the  war,  he 
came  to  Menard  Co.,  and,  Aug.  22,  1865,  married  Miss  Courtney  A.  Capper,  of  Cass 
Co.;  they  have  two  children — George  H.  and  Addie  R.  He  owns  a  fine  little  farm  of 
ninety-five  acres. 

E.  B.  YOAKUM,  farmer;  P.  0.  Lloyd;  son  of  Matthias  and  Elizabeth  (McHenry) 
Yoakum;  was  born  where  he  now  resides  Nov.  10,  1837  ;  his  parents  were  among  the 
first  settlers  of  Menard  Co.,  coming  from  Tennessee  in  1820,  and  located  where  E.  B. 
now  resides  ;  here  his  father  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  died  in  1855  ;  his 
mother  survives  at  the  ripe  age  of  80  ;  E.  B.  now  owns  ninety  acres  of  the  old  home- 
stead farm.  He  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Cogdal  May  19,  1857  ;  she  was  born  March 
11,  1841 ;  they  have  raised  two  children — Amanda  J.,  born  July  26,  1860,  and  John 
T.,  Jan.  12,  1863. 


MASON    COUNTY. 


HAVANA    TOWNSHIP. 

CYRENIUS  W.  ANDRUS,  retired,  Havana  :  was  born  in  Rutland,  Jefferson 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  23,  1810,  but  removed,  when  about  16  years  of  age,  with  his  father's 
family,  to  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  thence,  in  the  spring  of  1836,  to  Illinois.  His  first  loca- 
tion was  at  Havana,  then  within  the  confines  of  Tazewell  Co.  Mr.  Andrus,  soon  after 
his  arrival,  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  with  the  late  Northrup  J.  Rockwell,  and 
about  three  years  later  removed  to  Fulton  Co.,  and  became  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  In 
1845,  he  returned  to  Havana,  which  has  since  been  his  home,  and  again  engaged  in 
merchandising.  The  condition  of  the  country,  and  the  methods  of  doing  business  on  the 
arrival  (and  for  many  years  after)  of  Mr.  Andrus  and  other  early  settlers,  will  be  fully 
set  forth  in  another  department  of  this  work.  Mr.  Andrus  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  at  quite  an  early  date  in  the  history  of  the  city,  but  declined  all  other  invitations 
to  public  honors.  He  is  the  oldest  in  the  mercantile  trade  of  any  one  now  living  in 
Mason  Co.  He  was  married,  in  1834,  to  Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of  Northrup  Rockwell, 
and  sister  of  the  late  Judge  Rockwell  ;  she  was  born  in  Vermont ;  died  at  Havana,  in 
1853.  By  this  union  there  were  five  children,  none  of  whom  are  now  living.  In  1855, 
he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rutledge,  daughter  of  R.  Simms ;  her  native  place 
was  Virginia ;  her  death  occurred  in  1873.  He  was  married  to  Mrs.  Sigourney 
(Clark),  bis  present  wife,  in  1876  ;  she  was  born  in  Watertown,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y. 

HENRY  BORGELT,  SB.,  farmer,  Sec.  23  ;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Han- 
over, Germany,  Feb.  27,  1827  ;  he  came  to  America,  in  1844,  and  first  located  in  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  In  1850,  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  and  the  following  year,  with  others,  man- 
ufactured the  brick  used  in  the  construction  of  the  Court  House,  at  Havana.  He  was 
married,  June  7,  1852,  to  Miss  Eliza  Horstman,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
Dec.  7,  1832  ;  she  came  to  America  in  1837.  Her  father,  Henry  Horstman,  settled 
near  Matanzas,  this  county.  They  have  nine  children — Charlotte  (wife  of  G.  B.  Holz- 
graefe).  Henry,  Jr.,  Frank,  Lizzie,  William,  Charles  W.,  Horace  0.,  Mary  and  Yettie. 
Mr.  Borgelt  owns  130  acres  of  farm  land,  and  seventy-three  acres  of  timber. 

JAMES  BLAKELEY  (deceased),  Sec.  33 ;  Havana ;  was  born  in  Mon- 
mouth  Co.,  N.  J.,  May  14,  1807,  where  he  resided  until  1834,  then  removed  to 
Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  and  two  years  later  to  Illinois,  locating  first  in  Sangamon  Co. 
In  April,  1838,  he  settled  in  Kilbourne  Township,  this  county.  For  twenty-three  years 
prior  to  his  death,  which  occurred  Sept.  19,  1870,  his  home  was  in  Havana  Township, 
where  his  widow  now  resides  with  her  son,  James  H.  In  1828,  she  was  married  to 
Mr.  Blakeley,  by  whom  she  had  nine  children ;  seven  are  now  living — Jacob  resides  in 
Nebraska  ;  Aaron  S.,  in  Kilbourne  Township  ;  Hannah  and  Sarah  (twins),  the  former, 
wife  of  William  Polland,  lives  in  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  and  the  latter,  wife  of  B.  F.  Wallace, 
resides  in  Kansas  ;  John  M.  lives  in  Kilbourne  Township  ;  Lydia  A.,  wife  of  P.  O'Neal, 
resides  in  Missouri ;  James  H.  resides  on  the  old  home  place,  in  Havana  Township ; 
James,  died  Jan.  17,  1833;  Mary,  Oct.  28,  1838.  Mrs:  Blakeley  owns  130  acres  of 
land  in  Havana  Township.  James  H.  Blakeley  was  born  in  Havana  Township,  this 
county,  Aug.  4,  1847.  He  was  married,  April  1,  1875,  to  Miss  Caroline,  daughter  of 
C.  Hurley  ;  they  have  two  children,  Jacob  C.  and  Ella  J.  Mr.  Blakeley  owns  seventy 
acres  of  land  in  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  160  acres  in  Nebraska.  Mrs.  Hannah  Blakeley  is 
the  eldest  daughter  of  Aaron  Scott,  who  settled  in  Mason  Co.  in  1838 ;  she  was  born 
in  Salem,  Salem  Co.,  N.  J.,  Feb.  8,  1809  ;  although  she  is  now  past  70  years  of  age, 
her  memory  of  events  and  dates  is  remarkably  accurate  and  ready. 


HAVANA    TOWNSHIP.  753 

BENJ.  F.  BOWMAN,  farmer,  Sec.  20  ;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born  in  Havana 
Township,  this  county,  Dec.  29,  1846.  His  father,  D.  W.  Bowman,  who  was  born  in 
Tennessee,  came  to  Illinois  in  1836,  and  settled  in  Greene  Co.,  and  in  February,  1845, 
removed,  with  his  family,  to  Mason  Co.,  where  they  have  since  resided.  His  mother 
was  Elizabeth  Ballard.  She  was  born  in  North  Carolina.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
now  resides  on  the  farm,  which  has  been  his  home  since  birth.  He  has  served  one  term 
as  School  Trustee,  owns  eighty  acres  of  farm  land  in  Havana  Township,  this  county, 
and  forty  acres  of  timber  in  Fulton  Co.,  111. 

SAMUEL  BIVENS,  Treasurer  of  Mason  Co.,  Havana;  was  born  in  Pike 
Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  22,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  William  Bivens,  a  native  of  Salem,  N.  J. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  enlisted  in  the  117th  Ohio  V.  I.,  in  1862,  and  remained  one 
year,  then,  by  order  of  Gov.  Todd,  proceeded  to  enlist  men  for  the  artillery.  From  these 
recruits  Battery  C,  First  Ohio  Artillery,  was  formed,  and  Mr.  Bivens  commissioned 
Captain.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  participating  in  all  the  battles  from 
Chattanooga  to  Atlanta ;  also  the  siege  at  Nashville.  In  August,  1865,  he  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service,  and,  in  the  following  October,  came  to  Illinois,  locating  at 
Lincoln,  where,  for  one  year,  he  was  engaged  in  the  live  stock  business,  then  came  to- 
Mason  City,  this  county,  where,  for  a  term  of  six  years,  he  was  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware trade.  In  1873,  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Mason  Co.,  and  is  the  present 
incumbent.  Mr.  Bivens  is  a  member  of  the  following  Masonic  bodies :  Mason  City 
Lodge,  No.  403 ;  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86,  and  Damascus  Commandery,  No.  42. 

DE  WITT  C.  BROWN,  farmer  and  stock-raiser.  Sec  33 ;  P.  0.  Havana  ;  was  bom 
near  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  May  19,  1822,  but  removed,  in  childhood,  with  his  father's 
family,  to  Chautauqua  Co.,  that  State,  and  subsequently  to  Allegheny  Co.,  Penn.  In 
1845,  he  removed  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  Mason  Co.,  in  the  spring 
of  that  year.  He  fenced  a  forty-acre  tract  by  digging  a  ditch  around  it,  which,  to  a 
person  coming  from  a  heavily  timbered  country,  was  a  novelty.  He  now  owns  about 
1,000  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  which  is  the  original  purchase  made  when  he  came  to  the 
State.  Mr.  B.  has  served  a  period  of  about  twenty  years  as  School  Director.  He  was 
married,  in  1851,  to  Mrs.  Ann  (Gibbs)  Shelly,  who  was  born  in  England.  Her  father, 
William  Gibbs,  was  a  powder  manufacturer,  and  at  one  time  was  employed  by  Du  Pont. 
They  have  three  children — John,  Charlie,  and  Josephine,  wife  of  John  Brent,  who- 
resides  in  Mason  Co.  Mrs.  Brown  has  one  child  by  her  former  marriage,  Julia  A.,  wife 
of  John  Mowder,  who  resides  in  Kansas. 

HON.  WASHINGTON  H.  CAMPBELL,  lawyer,  Havana;  was  born  in 
Bath,  this  county,  Oct  12,  1847.  His  father  and  grandfather,  George  H.  and  P.  W. 
Campbell,  settled  in  Bath  Township  in  1842,  and  were  from  Tennessee.  They  were  of 
Scotch  descent,  and  men  of  talent  and  ability.  George  H.  Campbell  is  at  present  a 
resident  of  Mason  City,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  resided  at  Bath  until  1857  (then  10  years  old),  when  his  father  was 
elected  County  Judge,  and  removed  to  Havana.  He  entered  Lincoln  University  in 
1866,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1869.  He  then  entered  the  Law  Department  of  the 
University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor.  In  the  summer  of  1870,  he  entered  the  law 
office  of  Dearborn  &  Son,  and  soon  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  formed  a  copartner- 
ship with  Hon.  Luther  Dearborn,  the  elder  member  of  the  above  firm,  which  still  exists. 
He  has  been  admitted  to  the  U.  S.  Dist.  Court,  the  U.  S.  Circuit  Court,  also  the  several 
adjoining  Circuit  Courts  and  State  Supreme  Court,  in  all  of  which  he  has  a  large  and 
increasing  practice.  In  April,  1879,  he  was  admitted  to  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court,  and  went  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  has  in  charge,  at  this  time,  a  case 
involving  over  $80.000,  which  he  has  gained  in  the  lower  courts.  Mr.  Campbell,  after 
having  graduated,  kept  up  his  studies  as  prescribed  by  Lincoln  University,  and  in  June, 
1872,  the  degree  of  B.  S.  was  conferred  upon  him,  and,  in  1873,  he  addressed  the  Alumni 
Society.  It  would  seem  almost  superfluous  to  add  that  Mr.  Campbell  is  one  of 
the  ablest  lawyers  in  his  judicial  district.  He  was  married,  March  23,  1876,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Samuel  C.  and  Mary  A.  Conwell,  who  was  born  in  Havana. 
They  have  one  child — Hillery  E.  Mr.  Campbell  is  a  member  of  Havana  Lodge,  No. 


754  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

88,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Havana  in  April,  1879, 
and  is  the  present  incumbent. 

JOHN  R.  CHANEY,  farmer,  Sec.  25  ;  P.  O.  Biggs  Station ;  was  born  in  Simp- 
son Co.,  Ky.,  Nov.  4,  1811,  and  is  a  son  of  Moses  and  Elizabeth  Chaney,  the  former  a 
native  of  Virginia,  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  The  family  removed  to  Tennessee  when 
John  R.  was  about  15  years  of  age.  He  removed  to  Illinois  in  1837,  locating  first  in 
Greene  Co.,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1839,  settled  in  what  is  now  Crane  Creek  Town- 
ship, Mason  Co.  He.  came  to  Havana  Township  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  having  located 
his  claim  the  year  previous,  and  now  resides  on  the  original  claim,  which  has  been  his 
home  for  the  last  forty  years.  At  the  second  election  after  the  organization  of  Mason 
Co.,  Mr.  Chaney  was  elected  County  Commissioner.  He  was  married,  May  8,  1834,  to 
Miss  Missouri  Gregor,  who  was  born  in  Sumner  Co.,  Tenn.  They  have  had  ten  chil- 
dren by  this  union,  nine  of  whom  are  now  living — Sarah  A.,  wife  of  James  Haynes, 
resides  in  Bourbon  Co.,  Kan. ;  James  T.  resides  in  Mason  Co. ;  Elizabeth  resides  in 
Mason  Co. ;  Charity  J.  lives  at  home  ;  Catharine,  wife  of  Daniel  Clark,  resides  in  Mason 
Co. ;  Harriet,  wife  of  William  H.  Williamson,  lives  in  this  county  ;  Martha  C.,  wife  of  J. 
R.  Poland,  resides  in  Mason  Co. ;  John  ;  Missouri  A.,  wife  of  Albert  Glyn,  resides  in 
Pike  Co.,  111.;  Thomas  H.  died  Feb.  16,.1873.  Mr.  Chaney's  father  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  locating  there  as  early  as  1830. 

WALTER  L.  COON,  farmer,  Sec.  35  ;  P.  0.  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Quiver  Town- 
ship, this  county,  Aug.  16,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  George  D.  Coon,  who  was  born  in  New 
Jersey,  and  settled  in  Mason  Co.  as  early  as  1842.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  to  Miss  Emma  J.,  daughter  of  Charles  Howell,  Feb.  19, 1874.  They  have 
two  children — George  C.  and  Ralph  W.  Mrs.  Coon's  father  came  to  the  county  in 
1837. 

JOHN  N.  CARMAN,  farmer,  Sec.  13;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Hancock 
Co.,  Ky.,  Jan.  24,  1846 ;  when  about  10  years  of  age,  he  came  to  Peoria,  111.,  and  sub- 
sequently went  to  Princeville,  Peoria  Co.  At  the  opening  of  the  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.,  he 
was  employed  as  baggage-master,  and  checked  the  first  trunk  sent  over  the  road.  He 
was  in  the  employ  of  the  company  three  and  a  half  years,  and  then  engaged  as  clerk 
with  Frankinfield  &  Solenburg,  of  Havana,  and,  subsequently,  for  J.  R.  Foster  and  Lang- 
ford  &  Griffith,  in  all  about  ten  years.  In  1868,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Nettler, 
who  was  born  in  Havana  Township,  this  county ;  her  death  occurred  the  same  year. 
He  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  Miss  Ella  Kelsey,  in  July,  1871  ;  she  was  born  in 
Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  have  two  children — Fannie  and  Frank. 

JAMES  COVINGTON,  farmer,  Sec.  1  ;  P.  O.  Havana ;  was  born  in  Dearborn 
Co.,  Ind.,  Feb.  10,  1824,  where  he  resided  till  he  came  West,  in  1844,  locating  in  Crane 
Creek  Township,  Mason  Co.,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 
After  a  residence  in  Crane  Creek  of  about  three  years,  he  came  to  Havana  Township, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  served  as  School  Trustee  some  three  terms,  and  is 
the  present  incumbent.  Married,  April  1,  1851,  Miss  Sarah  Wheeler,  who  was  born  in 
Logan  Co.,  111. ;  she  died  May  30,  1859.  Three  children  by  this  union,  two  of  whom 
are  living — Arabella,  wife  of  William  Prettyman,  and  Susan  P.,  wife  of  James  Hen- 
ninger;  Catharine,  died  March  6,  1864.  In  1865.  he  married  Sarah  Hole,  daughter  of 
Stephen  Hole :  she  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Ind. ;  her  death  occurred  in  May, 
1870.  By  this  union  there  are  two  children — William  T.  and  Stephen  H.  Mr.  Cov- 
ington  owns  220  acres  of  farm  lands,  and  160  acres  of  timber. 

GEORGE  CORDES,  farmer,  Sec.  20 ;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born  in  Hanover. 
Germany,  in  February,  1819  ;  came  to  America  when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  first 
located  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  thence  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  from  there  he  removed  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  He  subsequently  went  to  New  Orleans,  and  on  his  return  to  St.  Louis,  he 
enlisted  in  Col.  Easton's  Battalion,  1st  Mo.  Inf.,  and  served  eighteen  months  in  the  war 
with  Mexico,  under  Gen.  Price.  In  the  summer  of  1848,  after  his  discharge  from  the 
service,  he  located  in  Havana  Township,  this  county,  where  he  has  since  followed  farm- 
ing. Owns  360  acres  of  land  in  this  township.  In  1853,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ellen 
Woster,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany.  They  had  four  children — Lizzie,  wife  of 


HAVANA   TOWNSHIP.  755 

D.  Kretner  ;  Lucy,  wife  of  William  Reipe ;  Mary  J.  and  George  J.  Mr.  Cordes  is  now 
serving  his  second  terra  of  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

SAMUEL  C.  CON  WELL,  attorney,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Sussex  Co.,  Del.,  Aug. 
27,  1819,  and  is  the  son  of  George  and  Hannah  (Gum)  Conwell ;  when  about  11  years 
of  age,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  removed  to  Shelby ville,  Ind.  He  received  his.  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  in  Indiana,  and  had  for  a  classmate  Gov.  Thomas 
Hendricks.  Mr.  Conwell  says  the  students  generally  gave  more  thought  to  having  a 
good  time  and  enjoying  the  present,  with  little  regard  to  the  future ;  also,  that  their 
teacher,  on  account  of  the  waywardness  of  the  youth,  or  from  some  other  cause,  took  to 
the  woods  and  hanged  himself.  This  tragedy  closed  the  school  and  graduated  the  stu- 
dents. In  about  1835,  Mr.  Conwell  went  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  where  he  served  for  a 
time  as  clerk  in  a  store,  and,  in  1840,  removed  to  Illinois,  locating  at  Walker's  Grove, 
this  county.  In  1848,  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  with  William  Walker,  at  Havana, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  January,  1851  ;  his  license  was  signed  by  Samuel  H. 
Treat  and  Lyman  Trumbull.  He  is  the  oldest  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  of  any 
attorney  in  Mason  Co.,  and  served  as  the  second  School  Commissioner  of  the  county. 
In  December,  1841,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  James  Walker,  of 
Walker's  Grove.  Her  father  settled  there  in  1837  ;  she  was  born  in  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind. 
Eight  children  by  this  union,  five  of  whom  are  living — Amelia  L.,  wife  of  James  F. 
Kelsey  ;  Henrietta,  wife  of  F.  Pollitz  ;  Charles  A.,  now  practicing  law  at  Rawlins,  Wyo- 
ming Ter.  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  W.  H.  Campbell,  and  Fannie. 

M ARCELLUS  E.  COVINGTON,  drugs,  medicines,  etc.,  Havana ;  was  born  in 
Havana  Township,  this  county,  April  14,  1854,  where  he  has  since  resided;  his  father, 
Robert  Covington,  settled  in  Mason  Co.  about  1845.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has 
resided  in  Havana  since  1862,  and  established  his  present  business  in  1873.  He  was 
married,  June  18, 1879,  to  Miss  Katie  Kemp,  who  was  born  in  this  city.  Mr.  Covington 
is  a  member  of  Havana  Lodge,  No.  743,  K.  of  H.,  and  Prosperity  Lodge,  No.  114,  A. 

o.  u.  w. 

JACOB  F.  COPPEL,  banking  and  insurance,  Havana;  was  born  in  Adams  Co., 
Ohio,  Aug.  17,  1833,  where  he  resided  until  March,  1853,  when  he  removed  to^Havana 
and  engaged  in  the  stove  and  tinware  business  until  1858 ;  he  then  commenced  the 
study  of  law  with  Walker  &  Dearborn,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1861,  and  com- 
menced practice;  in  1862,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  William  Walker,  which  con- 
tinued until  1865,  then  engaged  in  insurance  in  connection  with  law,  and,  in  1866, 
commenced  the  banking  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Kemp.  Coppel  &  Co.,  until 
1867,  in  September,  when  Mr.  Kemp  died,  and  the  firm  became  McFadden  &  Coppel, 
and  still  so  remains.  Mr.  Coppel  served  as  Master  in  Chancery  for  about  twelve  years ; 
was  Mayor  in  1877-7-8 ;  appointed  United  States  Deputy  Collector  of  Fourth  District 
July  1,  1878,  which  office  he  still  retains.  He  was  married,  in  1856,  to  Miss  Mary  L. 
daughter  of  Robert  McReynolds,  a  native  of  Columbia  Co.,  Penn.,  but  came  to  Mason, 
Co.,  111.,  when  but  2  years  old  ;  the  result  of  this  marriage  is  eight  children — Clarence 
E.,  Frank  M.,  Charley  H.,  Myrtie  L.,  Daisy  D.,  Thusnelda,  Clara  E.  (died  in  1864), 
and  Nellie  F.  (died  in  1873).  His  father,  Daniel  Coppel,  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in 
1787,  and  came  to  Adams  Co.,  Ohio,  when  about  18  years  old,  and  thence  to  Illinois  ; 
he  died  in  1871  ;  his  wife  (Martha  Whiteman)  was  born  in  Fairfax,  Va.,  in  1791,  and 
died  in  1863.  Mr.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  following  Masonic  bodies :  Havana  Lod^e, 
No.  88  ;  Havana  R.  A .  Chapter,  No.  86 ;  Damascus  Commandery,  No.  42 ;  Mason 
Lodge,  No.  143,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

GEORGE  W.  CRAIG,  SR.,  dealer  in  cigars  and  tobacco,  Havana  ;  was  born  in 
Canton,  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  28,  1845,  where  he  resided  till  about  19  years  of  age;  he 
then  worked  at  his  present  trade  in  different  localities  in  the  Western  and  Southern 
States,  and,  in  1868,  located  in  Havana,  his  present  home,  where  he  engaged  in  his 
present  business  about  eight  years  since.  In  December,  1871,  he  married  Miss  Annie, 
daughter  of  Henry  Taylor;  she  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Penn.;  they  have  two 
children — Frank  F.  and  George  W.,  Jr.  Mr.  Craig  is  a  member  of  the  follow- 
ing Masonic  bodies :  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  and  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86.  He 

oo 


756  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

enlisted  in  Co.  E,  132d  I.  V.  I.,  in  the  spring  of  1864,  and  served  till  the  fall  of  same 
year. 

JOHN  M.  DEHM,  farmer,  Sec.  12;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, May  20,  1832  ;  he  came  with  his  father's  family  to  America  in  1851  ;  they  first 
settled  in  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  where  they  engaged  in  farming,  and  subsequently  removed 
to  Woodford  Co.  He  was  married,  in  1861,  to  Miss  Ann  B.  Lieb,  who  was  born  in 
Baden,  Germany,  Jan.  13,  1835  ;  she  came  to  America  in  1859  ;  they  have  one  child — 
John  W.,  born  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  in  1871,  they  came  to  Havana,  but  have  resided  some 
seven  years  in  the  State  of  Missouri. 

JOHN  H.  DIERKER,  retired  farmer,  Sec.  31  ;  P.  O.  Havana ;  was  born  in 
Hanover.  Germany,  Aug.  17,  1799;  in  1838,  he  came  to  America  with  his  brother, 
John  Henry ;  they  made  a  short  stay  at  New  Orleans,  La.,  and  with  their  brother 
George,  who  had  preceded  them  about  three  years,  then  came  to  Mason  Co.  in  April  of 
the  same  year ;  George  and  John  Henry  settled  in  Bath  Township,  and  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  In  1839,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
C.  Heye,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany  ;  her  death  occurred  Dec.  10,  1874  ;  they 
had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living — Maggie  (wife  of  Louis  Hahn),  and 
Hannah  (wife  of  Henry  Hahn).  Mr.  Dierker  has  been  identified  with  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  of  Havana  since  its  organization,  and  has  contributed  liberally  fn  time 
and  money  in  building  up  the  society. 

WALTER  S.  DRAY,  loan  business,  Havana;  was  born  in  Allegheny  City,  Penn., 
Sept.  20,  1838,  but  removed,  when  about  1  year  old,  with  his  father's  family  to  the 
Territory  of  Iowa  ;  thence,  in  1845,  to  Pike  Co.,  Mo.,  and,  three  years  later  to  Vermont', 
Fulton  Co.,  111.  Prior  to  his  leaving  Iowa,  his  mother  died,  and,  as  his  father  was  then 
in  California,  he  became  the  protege  of  his  grandmother.  In  1857,  he  removed  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio  ;  but,  two  years  later,  returned  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Canton,  Fulton  Co., 
and  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business.  He  removed  to  Havana,  his  present  home,  in 
July,  1861,  and  embarked  in  the  same  line  of  trade.  In  1868,  Mr.  0.  C.  Town,  who 
had  been  with  the  establishment  since  1864,  became  a  partner  in  the  business,  which 
continued  till  1875.  Mr.  Dray  then  sold  out  to  Mr.  Town  and  gave  his  especial  atten- 
tion to  other  interests.  He  was  married,  in  1864,  to  Miss  Louisa  F.,  daughter  of  Hon. 
William  Allen,  of  Havana ;  by  this  union  there  were  three  children,  only  one  of  whom 
is  living — Gail,  a  bright  and  interesting  lad  of  7  years,  who  lives  with  his  grand- 
mother Allen ;  Roy,  who  was  born  in  July,  1866,  died  Nov.  12,  1872 ;  George  W. 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Dray  is  a  member  of  the  following  Masonic  bodies  :  Havana 
Lodge,  No.  88 ;  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86,  and  Damascus  Commandery,  No.  42.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  during  the  last  four  years,  serving  as 
President  of  the  Finance  Committee  during  that  period. 

PHILIP  L.  DIEFFENBACHER,  physician  and  surgeon,  Havana;  born  in 
Northumberland  Co.,  Penn.,  Feb.  6,  1830.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of  Daniel  and  Cath- 
arine (Long)  Dieffenbacher ;  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois  in  1837,  and  settled  in 
what  was  then  a  part  of  Tazewell  (now  Mason)  Co.  He  remained  at  home  and  helped 
improve  a  new  farm  until  1849,  when  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania  for  the  purpose  of 
attending  school.  He  entered  the  Newville  Academy,  a  preparatory  school  to  the  Jef- 
ferson College,  at  Cannonsburg,  where  he  finished  his  preparatory  education.  He  then 
came  to  Mason  Co.  and  taught  in  the  schoolhouse  he  helped  to  build,  known  as  the 
Dieffenbacher  Schoolhouse,  situated  about  six  miles  east  of  Havana.  In  the  summer  of 
1851,  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office 
of  Drs.  P.  H.  &  S.  H.  Long,  of  Mechanicsburg,  that  State.  He  entered  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  of  Philadelphia,  in  1853,  and  graduated  at  that  institution  in  the 
spring  of  1855  ;  during  the  winter  of  1854-55,  he  attended  clinical  lectures  and  prac- 
tice of  Blockley  Hospital,  West  Philadelphia.  After  graduating,  he  established  his 
office  at  Mount  Joy,  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn.,  and  there  began  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
In  the  spring  of  1856,  he  returned  to  Illinois,  locaiing  at  Havana,  and  the  following 
year  was  married  to  Miss  Frances  A.  Parmelee,  of  Lockport,  N.  Y.  In  August,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  the  United  States  Service  as  First  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  85th  Illinois 


HAVANA    TOWNSHIP.  757 

Infantry,  and  was  promoted  to  Surgeon  with  rank  of  Major,  in  June,  1863.  He  served 
with  this  body  until  the  close  of  the  war ;  was  with  Gen.  Sherman  in  his  march  to  the 
sea,  and  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service,  June  5,  1865, 
and  received  final  pay  and  discharge  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  on  the  llth  of  the  same 
month.  He  then  returned  to  Havana,  where  he  has  since  resided,  constantly  occupied 
in  the  duties  connected  with  his  profession,  in  which  he  makes  surgery  a  specialty.  He 
performed  the  operation  of  resection  of  the  shoulder-joint,  for  a  gun-shot  wound,  suc- 
C3ssfully  in  1860,  just  before  the  war.  In  1874,  he  was  married  to  Martha  M.  Mitchell, 
who  was  born  in  Cass  Co.,  111. ;  they  have  two  children — Mattie  M.  and  Edith  L. 
Mrs.  Dieffenbacher's  parents  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and  came  from  Kentucky  to 
Cass  Co.,  111.,  at  an  early  day,  and  to  Mason  Co.  in  1846.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of 
the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  President  of  Mason  County  Medical  Society,  and  U. 
S.  Pension  Examiner.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  following  Orders  :  Prosperity  Lodge, 
No.  1 14,  A.  0.  U.  W. ;  I.  0.  M.  A.  and  Pioneer  Relief  Association.  He  became  a 
member  of  Humane  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  at  York,  Penn.,  in  1854.  He  has  filled  all 
the  chairs  in  both  the  subordinate  Lodge  and  Encampment. 

DANIEL  DIEFFENBACHER,  retired  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born  in 
Columbia  Co.,  Penn.,  Aug.  7,  1803,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Christiana  (Cotner) 
Dieffenbacher  ;  the  former  was  born  in  Columbia  Co.,  Penn.,  Nov.  17,  1775,  died  Oct. 
30,  1840  ;  the  latter  was  born  in  Lycoming  Co.,  Penn.,  Feb.  14,  1784,  died  Dec.  21, 
1858.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  resided  in  the  place  of  his  nativity  till  the  spring  of 
1827,  when  he  moved  to  an  adjoining  county  (Northumberland).  He  was  married 
Jan.  18,  1827,  to  Miss  Catharine  Long,  who  was  born  in  Columbia  Co.,  Penn.,  Sept.  3, 
1808.  In  1833,  he  returned  to  the  county  of  his  nativity,  and  in  the  fall  of  1837, 
removed  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  this  county,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  the  following  spring.  He  served  on  the  first  grand  jury  after  the  organization 
of  Mason  Co.,  in  1841  ;  was  also  School  Director  at  an  early  date.  He  "became  iden- 
tified with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  fall  of  1839,  at  which  time  services 
were  held  in  a  log  cabin.  Their  first  preacher  was  the  Rev.  Michael  Shunk.  Mr. 
Dieffenbacher's  wife  died  Nov.  4,  1860  ;  they  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are 
still  living — Christiana,  wife  of  Thomas  Covington,  born  Dec.  16,  1827,  and  resides  io 
Havana  ;  Dr.  Philip  L.  (see  sketch)  ;  Joseph  M.,  born  Jan.  25,  1836,  resides  at  Ipava, 
Fulton  Co.," 111.;  Mary  E.,  born  Dec.  27,  1838,  wife  of  Dr.  Willing,  lives  at  Bath; 
Sarah  C.,  born  Nov.  11,  1844,  wife  of  Rufus  Smith,  resides  in  Kansas;  Lorinda  J., 
born  March  4,  1848,  wife  of  Cotner  Weaver,  resides  in  Pennsylvania.  The  following 
are  the  names  of  deceased  :  John  F.,  born  June  3,  1833,  died  Oct.  7, 1834  ;  Susan  R., 
born  Aug.  16,  1841,  died  April  11,  1877  ;  Alice  A.,  born  July  9,  1851,  died  May  20, 
1860.  Mr.  Dieffenbacher  has  disposed  of  his  lands  in  Mason  Co.,  but  still  owns  a  farm 
of  165  acres  in  Miami  Co.,  Kansas. 

JOSEPH  DEHM,  grocer  (firm  of  J.  Dehm  &  Bro.),  Havana;  was  bom 
in  Bavaria,  Germany,  Jan.  5,  1837,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1851,  locating  in 
Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  October,  1854,  emigrated  to  Illinois.  He  located  in 
Tazewell  Co.,  and  engaged  in  farming,  where  he  remained  until  1864,  when  he 
removed  to  Woodford  Co.,  remaining  there  four  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  came  to  Havana  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business  ;  he  erected  the  building: 
containing  groceries  in  1874,  and  the  building  containing  dry  goods  was  erected  by  his 
brother  two  years  ago.  He  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Dehm  &  Bro.,  and  of  George 
Dehm  &  Co.  He  was  married,  in  1869,  to  Miss  Surah  L.  Barringer,  a  native  of 
Dayton,  Ohio.  They  have  three  children — Martha  J.,  Jacob  B.  and  Maggie.  Mr.  D. 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

HON.  LUTHER  DEARBORN,  attorney  (Dearborn  &  Campbell);  Havana; 
was  born  in  Plymouth,  Grafton  Co.,  N.  H.,  March  24,  1820,  and  is  a  son  of  Jonathan 
and  Nancy  (Walker)  Dearborn  ;  he  received  his  early  education  at  the  Newhampton 
Academical  and  Theological  Institution,  where  he  spent  about  five  years ;  at  an  early 
age,  he  began  teaching,  and  during  the  winter  months  followed  this  vocation,  until 
his  removal,  with  his  father's  family,  to  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  in  1841.  His  first 


758  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

employment  in  his  new  home  was  in  the  office  of  the  Circuit  Clerk,  where  he  also 
commenced  the  study  of  law.  In  April,  1844,  he  came  to  Havana,  but  after  a  res- 
idence here  of  about  one  year,  removed  to  St.  Charles,  Kane  Co.,  this  State,  and 
the  following  year  located  at  Elgin,  in  the  same  county  ;  he  was  here  employed  as 
book-keeper  for  W.  C.  Kimball,  and  afterward  engaged  in  mercantile  business  on  his 
own  account.  In  1850  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Kane  Co.,  having  for  his  deputy 
the  well-known  Allan  Pinkerton.  At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  of  office  as 
Sheriff,  Mr.  Dearborn  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Kane  Co.;  during 
his  term  of  office,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  soon  after  commenced  the  practice 
of  law.  In  the  fall  of  1858,  he  removed  to  his  present  home  and  became  a  law 
partner  of  William  Walker.  For  the  benefit  of  his  wife's  health,'  Mr.  Dearborn,  in 
1862,  removed  to  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  where  he  resided  for  two  years,  after  which, 
attracted  by  the  educational  advantages  of  Faribault,  that  State,  he  went  to  that 
beautiful  city  ;  while  a  resident  there,  he  became  interested  in  the  schools,  which  have, 
under  the  able  and  successful  management  of  Bishop  Whipple,  acquired  such  a  rep- 
utation at  home  and  abroad,  and  was  soon  after  elected  one  of  the  Trustees,  which 
position  he  has  since  held  ;  he  was  also  nominated  by  Gov.  Marshall,  and  twice 
confirmed  by  the  Senate  of  that  State,  as  a  Trustee  of  the  Deaf,  Dumb  and  Blind 
Asylum,  located  at  Faribault,  and,  as  Chairman  of  the  Building  Committee,  superin- 
tended the  commencement  of  that  elegant  structure,  now  completed,  which  beautifies 
the  city  and  honors  the  State,  and  which,  in  connection  with  the  schools,  gives  the  place 
such  a  reputation  abroad.  In  1867,  he  was  elected  by  the  Grand  Chapter  of  the  State 
as  Grand  High  Priest,  and  in  that  capacity  visited  most  of  the  Chapters  in  the  State, 
delivering  lectures  and  exemplifying  the  work  of  the  Order.  While  on  a  visit  to  Illinois, 
in  the  spring  of  1868,  Mr.  Dearborn  was  nominated,  unexpectedly  to  himself,  by  the 
Democratic  Convention,  assembled  in  St.  Paul,  as  one  of  the  Electors  at  Large,  and 
made  the  canvass  of  the  State  for  Gov.  Horatio  Seymour,  of  New  York,  as  their  candi- 
date for  President  of  the  United  States.  In  1869,  Mr.  Dearborn  returned  to  Havana, 
which  has  since  been  his  home.  In  1876,  he  was  elected,  by  the  Democratic  party, 
State  Senator,  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  married,  iu  March,  1850,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Walker.  Mrs.  Dearborn's  father  bought 
several  thousand  acres  of  land  in  Mason  County,  in  1836,  and  located  at  Walker's  Grove 
the  following  year.  She  was  born  in  Aurora,  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  Jan.  3,  1829.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dearborn's  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  three  of  whom  are  living — Luther 
M.,  Frank  A.  and  James  H.  Mr.  Dearborn  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fra- 
ternity since  1846;  he  is  a  member  of  Havana  Lodge  No.  88,  Havana  Chapter  No.  86, 
and  Damascus  No.  42,  and  has  served  as  the  First  Commander  of  the  latter  body. 

JABEZ  DUNBAR,  saloon-keeper,  Havana ;  was  born  in  Northampton  Co., 
Penn.,  Oct.  28,  1826,  where  he  resided  until  his  removal  to  Illinois  in  1851  ;  he 
first  located  in  Havana  in  September  of  that  year,  and,  about  eighteen  months  later, 
removed  to  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  where  he  resided  about  six  years,  and  then  returned 
to  Havana,  his  present  home;  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cigars,  farm- 
ing and  grocery  trade  since  his  residence  here,  and,  in  1877,  engaged  in  his  present 
business.  By.  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth  Keller,  there  were  four  children,  only  one  of 
whom  is  now  living — Edward  J.;  his  second  wife  was  Margaret  Keller,  by  whom  he 
had  one  child.  His  present  wife  was  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Thompson  (Griffith)  ;  she  was 
born  in  Tennessee ;  they  have  two  children — Omer  and  Preston.  Mr.  Dunbar  is  a 
member  of  Mason  Lodge  No.  143,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

ISAAC  W.  ENGLAND,  dealer  in  candies, confectionery, etc.,  Havana;  born  in  Ha- 
vana Township,  this  county,  Aug.  11,  1850,  where  he  has  since  resided  ;  engaged  in  his 
present  business  in  August,  1876.  He  was  married,  in  1872,  to  Miss  Annie  Elkin,  who 
was  born  in  the  State  of  Kentucky,  but  came  to  Illinois  in  early  childhood.  Their 
only  child,  Kyle,  died  in  1875. 

OLIVER  C.  EASTON,  Postmaster,  Havana ;  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Butler  Co., 
Ohio,  Aug.  17,  1829,  where  he  resided  until  1856;  in  July  of  that  year,  he  came 
West  and  located  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  which  city,  at  that  time,  owing  to  financial  depression 


HAVANA    TOWNSHIP.  759 

and  other  causes,  was  practically  bankrupt ;  after  a  residence  of  about  two  years, 
he  found  himself  in  about  the  same  condition  ;  he  left  Keokuk  in  the*  spring  of  1858, 
with  a  sum  total  to  defray  traveling  expenses  of  5  cents  ;  he  reached  Havana,  his  pres- 
ent home,  soon  after,  in  a  somewhat  depressed  financial  condition  ;  here  he  worked  for 
a  time  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and,  on  the  1st  of  March,  1865,  he  received  the 
apppointment  of  Postmaster,  which  position  he  has  since  held,  with  the  exception  of  a 
period  of  seven  months  ;  he  has  served  one  year  as  Town  Clerk.  In  1852,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Angeline,  daughter  of  Spoom  R.  and  Mary  Pierce.  Mrs.  Easton  was 
born  in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  May  25,  1832  ;  two  children  by  this  union,  one  living — Cora  ; 
Belle  died  in  1857. 

GEORGE  S.  EMERSON,  agent  of  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.,  Havana;  was  born  in 
Essex  Co.,  Mass.,  May  13.  1833,  but  removed  in  early  childhood  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
Tiskilwa,  Bureau  Co.,  with  his  father's  family  ;  he  remained  in  the  county  from  1836 
until  1871,  with  the  exception  of  a  residence  of  about  six  years  in  De  Kalb  Co.;  for 
about  fifteen  years,  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Buda,  in  Bureau  Co.;  in 
1871,  he  removed  to  Whiteside  Co.,  and  was  employed  as  agent  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  R. 
R.,  at  Prophetstown  ;  in  November,  1875,  he  located  in  Elavana  and  assumed  his  pres- 
ent position.  He  was  married,  in  1857,  to  Miss  Catharine  L.  Holton ;  born  in  Catta- 
raugus  Co.,  N.  V.,  and  died  in  1867 ;  they  have  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living — Wilmot  H.  Fannie  P.  and  Georgiana.  He  was  married,  in  December,  1867, 
to  Celia  L.  Stone,  born  in  Stark  Co.,  111.;  had  one  child  by  second  marriage — Roy  W., 
who  died  in  1873.  Mr.  E.  is  a  member  of  Buda  Lodge,  No.  399,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. 

ELIN  C.  FISK,  farmer,  Sec.  3;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
Aug.  22,  1825,  but  removed  with  his  father's  family  to  Illinois  in  August,  1835,  arriv- 
ing at  Havana,  this  county,  the  6th  of  that  month,  where  they  resided  until  August, 
1837,  when  they  removed  to  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  His  father,  Eli  Fisk,  was 
born  in  Stafford,  Windham  Co.,  Conn.,  April  9,  1781  ;  his  death  occurred  Feb.  27, 
1861  ;  his  mother,  Margaret  (Moore)  Fisk,  was  born  in  Union,  Windham  Co.,  Conn., 
May  16,  1788  ;  she  died  in  February,  1858.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  worked  on 
bis  father's  farm  till  October,  1847,  when  he  entered  the  Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville, 
graduating  at  that  institution  in  1853,  receiving  the  A.  B.  degree;  and,  three  years 
later,  the  A.  M.  degree  was  conferred  ;  he  was  licensed  to  preach  about  1856,  and,  on 
the  19th  of  February,  1858,  ordained  Pastor  of  the  Mason  Congregational  Church; 
among  other  literary  pursuits,  he  has  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1869 ; 
has  served  as  Notary  Public  since  that  date,  and  School  Trustee  several  terms.  On  the 
23d  of  June,  1867.  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rose  A.  Wagoner,  who  was  born  in  Knox 
Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  19,  1840  ;  six  children  by  this  union — Margaret  M.,  Lucy  A.  0.,  Eli 
C.,  John  W.,  Frank  F.  aud  Rose  M.  Mr.  Fisk  has  resided  in  his  present  home  forty- 
two  years,  having  located  there  in  August,  1837.  He  owns  380  acres  of  land  in 
Havana  Township.  The  elm,  a  large  and  beautiful  tree,  a  few  rods  southwest  of  Mr. 
Fisk's  residence,  grew  from  the  seed  which  he  planted  in  May,  1839.  It  now  measures 
10  feet  1  inch  in  circumference. 

JUDSON  R.  FOSTER  (Low  &  Foster),  grain  and  commission,  Havana  ;  was 
born  in  Canada  West  Sept.  14,  1835,  but  removed  in  early  childhood,  with  his  father's 
family,  to  Havana,  111.,  which  has  since  been  his  home,  with  the  exception  of  a  resid- 
ence in  St.  Louis  of  about  two  years.  His  father,  Orren  E.  Foster,  was  born  in  the 
State  of  Vermont,  in  1812,  and  removed  to  the  West  in  1835;  he  first  stopped  at 
Davenport,  Iowa,  and  while  there  repaired  guns  for  Black  Hawk's  son ;  Mr.  Foster 
removed  to  Havana  that  fall,  or  in  the  spring  of  1836,  and  engaged  in  hotel  business  ; 
he  subsequently  bought  a  farm,  about  three  miles  northeast  of  Havana,  which  was 
his  home  until  the  time  of  his  death,  Dae.  17,  1843.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
remained  on  the  farm  till  1856,  then  removed  to  Havana,  his  present  home;  here  he 
was  first  employed  as  clerk,  and,  in  1858,  engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account;  in 
the  fall  of  the  following  year,  he  engaged  in  general  merchandise,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Low  &  Foster  (E.  Low),  and  continued  in  that  till  1863.  Since  the  above  date,  he 
has  been  engaged  in  lumber  and  grain  trade.  In  1876,  the  present  firm  of  Low  & 


760  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

Foster  was  established.  Mr.  Foster  served  as  Town  Trustee  in  1871,  Supervisor  in 
1872,  and,  during  the  last  seven  years,  has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board,  daring 
which  time  the  present  fine  school  edifice  was  erected.  In  1859,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Melloria  E.  Rupert,  who  was  born  in  Wisconsin ;  they  have  three  children — 
Orren  W.,  Anson  J.  and  Luther.  Mr.  Foster  is  a  member  of  Mason  Lodge,  No.  143, 
I.  0.  0.  F.  ;  also  of  the  Encampment. 

SIMON  FRANKINPIELD,  retired,  Havana ;  was  born  in  Lehigh  Co.,  Penn., 
July  24,  1823,  but  removed  to  Clarion  Co.,  that  State,  when  about  14  years  of  age. 
In  1841,  he  came  West,  and  on  May  5,  of  that  year,  located  in  Havana  Township, 
Mason  Co.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  which  occupation  he  followed  about  four 
years ;  he  then  removed  to  Havana,  and  worked  at  tailoring,  having  learned  the  trade 
before  coming  West.  He  subsequently  followed  farming,  but  since  1864  has  resided  at 
Havana,  and,  from  1866  to  1876,  was  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business.  He  was 
married  Sept.  3,  1846,  to  Miss  Angeline.  daughter  of  Reuben  Henninger  ;  she  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  F.  is  a  member  of  the  following  Masonic  bodies  :  Havana 
Lodge,  No.  88 ;  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86,  and  Damascus  Commandery,  No.  42. 

JOHN  A.  GRAY,  farmer,  Sec.  35;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Sullivan  Co., 
N.  Y.,  June  26,  1838,  but  removed,  when  about  4  years  of  age,  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
Havana  Township,  this  county,  about  1842.  His  father,  Alexander  Gray,  was  born  in 
Scotland;  he  came  to  America  when  young,  and,  for  some  years,  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  sailor  ;  his  mother,  Sarah  G.  (Tempest)  Gray,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Penn. 
Mr.  Gray  has  served  as  Commissioner  of  Highways  and  School  Director.  He  was 
married,  Sept.  24,  1867,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Henninger,  who  was  born  in  Northumberland 
Go.,  Penn. ;  they  have  had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living — William  F.  and  John ; 
Arthur  A.,  died  in  1868.  Mr.  Gray  owns  280  acres  of  land  in  Havana  Township  and 
240  acres  in  Sherman. 

EDWIN  B.  H  ARPH AM,  physician  and  druggist,  Havana ;  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, April  14,  1814,  but,  when  about  5  years  old,  removed,  with  his  father's 
family,  to  what  was  then  Dearborn  Co.  (now  Ohio  Co.),  Ind. ;  here  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  William  Cruikshank,  in  1842,  and,  in  1842  and  1843, 
attended  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  at  Cincinnati.  After  graduating,  he  practiced  one 
year  with  Dr.  Cruikshank,  and,  in  1844,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Havana, 
where  he  followed  the  practice  of  his  profession  for  more  than  twenty  years.  His 
father,  Jonathan  Harpham,  came  to  Illinois,  and  to  Mason  Co.,  in  1850,  and  died  in 
1852  ;  his  wife  was  Mary  Bates,  and  seven  children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  E. 
B.,is  the  eldest  ;  James  A.,  lives  in  Havana;  Silas  G.,  near  Havana;  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  G.  W.  Squibb,  lives  near  Salem,  111.  ;  Levi,  on  a  farm  near  Havana ;  Louisa,  the 
wife  of  W.  Hoffher,  died  at  Muscatine,  Iowa,  in  1861  ;  John  lives  in  Wright  Co.,  Iowa. 
Dr.  H.  served  as  County  Superintendent  of  Schools.  He  was  married,  in  1844,  to  Miss 
Laura  Holliday,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  Co.,  Ind.  They  have  three  children,  Oscar 
H.,  who  is  in  the  hardware  trade,  in  Havana;  Lucy  E.,  wife  of  J.  B.  Browning, 
M.  D.,  of  Havana,  and  Corinne,  who  died  in  1860. 

JACOB  HENNINGER,  farmer,  Sec.  21  ;  P.  0.  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Columbia 
Co.,  Penn.,  Sept.  5,  1828,  but  removed,  in  childhood,  with  his  father's  family,  to  Nor- 
thumberland, and  thence  to  Clinton  Co.,  Penn.;  in  1867,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located 
in  Havana  Township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  May,  1851,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Lucretia  Quigle,  who  was  born  in  Clinton  Co.,  Penn.;  they  have  had  ten  children, 
six  of  whom  are  living — William,  John,  George,  Isaac,  Samuel  and  Dora;  the  four 
deceased  are  Eli,  McClelland,  Ada  and  Etta. 

BARTLEY  F.  HOWELL,  farmer,  Sec.  6  ;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Lyco- 
ming  Co.,  Penn.,  April  29,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  Nathan  and  Anna  (Richart)  Howell 
— the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey  (near  Mt.  Bethel); 
the  family  came  to  Illinois  in  1840,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  this  county,  in  April 
of  that  year ;  Mr.  Howell  worked  on  his  father's  farm  till  about  21  years  of  age,  when 
he  became  a  tiller  of  the  soil  on  his  own  account;  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land, 
when  about  16  years  old.  On  the  15th  of  November,  1849,  he  married  Miss  Amanda, 


HAVANA    TOWNSHIP.  761 

daughter  of  Reuben  and  Susanna  (Boyer)  Henninger ;  she  was  born  in  Dauphin  Co., 
Pcnn.;  they  have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living — John  W.,  Mary  M., 
Susan  E.,  Lovina  I.  and  Charles  C.;  Frances  L.,  died  Aug.  8,  1858.  Mr.  Howell,  by 
nature  well  endowed,  by  habits  well  preserved,  shows  a  record  of  health  and  physical 
force  rarely  met ;  he  has,  during  the  last  thirty-nine  years,  worked  in  every  harvest  and 
plowed  every  season,  without  the  loss  of  a  week  by  sickness ;  he  owns  170  acres  of 
land  in  Havana  Township. 

LOUIS  HAHN,  farmer,  Sec.  32;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, July  11,  1836,  where  he  resided  till  about  15  years  of  age,  when  his  father's 
family  emigrated  to  America,  and  located  in  Havana  Township,  this  county  ;  his  father. 
Louis  Hahn>  and  his  mother,  Fredrica  (Cella)  Hahn,  were  born  in  Hanover,  Germany. 
The  subject  of  these  lines  was  married,  Nov.  5,  1858,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
H.  Dierker  ;  she  was  born  in  Havana  Township  Feb.  22,  1840,  and  died  March  6, 
1859  ;  their  only  child,  Lucy,  died  Aug.  15,  of  the  same  year.  On  the  17th  of  April, 
1860,  he  married  Miss  Maggie  Dierker  (sister  of  his  first  wife)  ;  she  was  born  in 
Havana  Township,  this  county,  April  24, 1842  ;  they  have  seven  children — Harman  L., 
Hanna  F.,  Henry  F.,  Louis  H.,  Gusta  C.,  Regena  L.  and  Anna  M.  Mr.  Hahn  owns 
600  acres  of  land  in  Havana  Township,  and  573  acres  in  Logan  Co.,  111. 

JOHN  HENNINGER,  farmer,  Sec.  1  ;  P.  O.  Havana  ;  he  is  a  son  of  Reuben 
and  Susanna  (Boyer)  Henninger;  was  born  in  Berks  Co.,  Penn.,  May  28,  1829  ;  in 
the  fall  of  1842,  he  came  with  his  father's  family  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Havana  Town- 
ship, this  county;  Mr.  Henninger  worked  on  his  father's  farm  till  23  years  of  age, 
when  he  began  farming  on  his  own  account.  He  was  married,  Oct.  16,  1851,  to  Miss 
Altha  J.  Faulkner,  who  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  Ind.,  Feb.  25,  1835;  six  children 
by  this  union,  five  now  living — Charles  A.,  born  Dec.  18,  1852;  James  S.,  May  18, 
1856 ;  Ora  A.,  Feb.  24,  1866  ;  Ada  J.,  May  21,  1871,  and  John  M.,  April  19,  1875; 
William  P.  was  born  Nov.  1,  1860,  and  died  March  30,  1861.  Mr.  Henninger  owns 
320  acres  of  farm  land  in  Sec.  1 ,  and  eighty  acres  of  timber  in  Sec.  12,  Havana  Township. 

JOHN  W.  HEINRICH,  manager  for  the  Singer  Manufacturing  Co.  for  the 
counties  of  Mason  and  Fulton,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  March  10,  1851  ; 
in  the  spring  of  1853,  his  father's  family  emigrated  to  America,  and  located  at  Henry, 
Marshall  Co.,  Ill ;  he  worked  on  his  father's  farm  till  past  21  years  of  age;  since  1873, 
he  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Singer  Manufacturing  Co.;  he  located  in  Havana, 
his  present  home,  Jan.  26,  1876,  and  now  has  charge  of  the  business  of  the  Company 
for  Mason  and  Fulton, Cos.  He  was  married,  Jan.  6,  1876,  to  Miss  Carrie  Ward, 
who,  though  born  in  Woodford  Co.,  111.,  is  of  English  descent ;  they  have  one  child — 
Charles  A. 

REUBEN  HENNINGER,  retired  farmer;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Nor- 
thumberland Co.,  Penn.,  Sept.  13, 1801,  but  removed  with  his  father's  family  to  Columbia 
Co.  in  April,  1802,  where  he  resided  till  about  17  years  of  age,  when  the  family  removed 
to  Berks  Co.,  and,  some  ten  years  later,  to  Dauphin  Co.;  in  1832,  they  removed  to 
Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio ;  the  subject  of  these  lines  came  to  Illinois  in  1842,  and  located  in 
Havana  Township,  this  county,  on  the  20th  of  October,  of  that  year  ;  he  has  followed 
farming  since  his  arrival  until  about  1866,  when  he  removed  to  Havana,  his  present 
home;  he  still  owns  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Mason  Co.,  some  1,200  acres,  and  about 
200  acres  of  land  in  Kansas.  On  the  22d  of  June,  1823,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Susanna  Boyer,  who  was  born  in  Berks  Co.,  Penn  ,  March  8,  1804 :  her  death  occurred 
Nov.  1,  1847  ;  eleven  children  by  this  union,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living — William, 
Angeline  (wife  of  S.  Frankinfield),  John.  Amanda  (wife  of  B.  F.  Howell),  Reuben, 
Daniel,  Susan  (wife  of  Charles  Fager)  and  Sarah  (wife  of  George  Shaneberg),  Margaret 
J.  died  in  1847 ;  Cyrus,  Oct.  16,  1872 ;  Franklin,  in  July,  1879.  He  was  married  to 
his  present  wife.  Mrs.  Catharine  (Bell)  Fager,  Oct.  8,  1848;  she  was  born  in  Union 
Co.,  Penn.,  April  6,  1803,  and  had  three  sons  by  a  former  marriage — John  F.,  Harry 
A.  and  Charles  C.  Fager. 

ALEXANDER  D.  HOPPING,  farmer,  Sec.  11  ;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in 
the  Province  of  Lower  Canada  Dec.  4,  1809,  and  is  a  son  of  Ephraim  and  Mary 


762  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

(Young)  Hopping,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  the  latter  of  Maine;  the 
subject  of  these  notes  resided  in  his  place  of  nativity  till  6  years  of  age,  when  the  family 
removed  to  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.;  Mr.  Hopping  removed  to  his  present  home  in  1851. 
He  has  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  since  1869,  School  Treasurer  since  1873,  School 
Trustee  and  Director  several  years.  On  the  2d  of  May,  1839,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Covington,  who  was  born  in  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  6,  1816;  nine  children 
by  this  union,  four  of  whom  are  living — George  N.,  Alice  A.,  Charles  E.  and  Milton 
G. ;  the  names  of  the  deceased  are  Mary  J.,  Thomas  E.,  Susanna  N.,  James  C.  and 
Harvey  P.  Mr.  Hopping  owns  345  acres  of  land,  including  five  acres  in  the  city  of 
Havana. 

HENRY  H.  HAVIGHORST,  hardware,  Havana ;  was  born  in  Mason  Co.  June 
13,  1844,  and  is  the  eldest  son  of  John  H.  Havighorst,  Sr.,  who  settled  in  the  county 
as  early  as  1837  ;  Henry  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  the  fall  of  1858,  when, 
with  his  father's  family,  he  removed  to  Havana,  which  has  since  been  his  home ;  he 
received  his  education  at  the  Northwestern  University  at  Naperville,  111 ;  In  1867,  he 
went  to  Colorado  and  spent  the  greater  portion  of  that  and  the  following  year  in  the 
mountain  and  mining  districts  of  Colorado  and  Wyoming,  serving  for  a  time  as  agent 
for  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co.  and  also  operating  a  branch  store  for  John  Wanless  &  Co.,  post 
sutlers  at  Ft.  Sanders ;  he  returned  to  Havana  in  the  fall  of  1868,  and,  on  the  22d  of 
December  following,  was  married  to  Miss  Harriett  A.  Howell,  who  was  born  in  Mason 
Co.,  111. ;  two  children  by  this  union — Bertha  L.  and  Flora  A.  In  the  spring  of  1869, 
he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in  this  city  under  the  firm  name  of  Bennett  & 
Havighorst,  and,  in  1872,  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner  and  served  as  Deputy  Sheriff 
under  L.  M.  Hillyer  for  nearly  one  year,  and  then  purchased  the  hardware  stock  of  his 
former  partner,  since  which  he  has  continued  in  the  same  line  of  trade. 

JOSIAH  HARTSELL,  Sheriff  of  Mason  Co.,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Washington 
Co.,  Penn.,  June  6, 1836,  where  he  resided  until  his  removal  to  Illinois  in  April,  1858, 
locating  in  Mason  Co.;  he  followed  farming  in  Sherman  Township  from  1863  to  1872, 
and  served  as  the  first  Collector  of  that  town  after  township  organization  ;  he  was  Deputy 
Sheriff  from  1872  to  1876,  and,  in  the  latter  year,  elected  Sheriff  of  Mason  Co.  and 
re-elected  in  1878,  which  position  he  at  present  occupies;  has  also  served  as  City  Mar- 
shal. Mr.  Hartsell  was  married,  in  1861,  to  Miss  Maria  K.Walter;  she  was  born 
in  the  same  county  and  State  as  himself. 

WILLIAM  H.  HOLE,  farmer,  Sec.  29 ;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born  in  Washington 
Co.,  Ind.,  April  13,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Lucinda  (Mitchell)  Hole;  the 
former  born  on  the  site  of  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  July  12j  1795,  and  the  latter 
in  Woodford  Co.,  Ky. ;  his  father'died  Jan.  26,  1873,  and  his  mother  Sept.  19,  1877  ; 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  resided  in  his  place  of  nativity  till  the  removal  of  the  family 
to  Illinois  in  1856,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  this  county.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  K, 
85th  I.  V.  I.,  Aug.  18,  1862;  was  promoted  to  First  Sergeant  and  served  in  that 
capacity  during  the  last  year  of  the  war ;  was  with  Gen.  Sherman  on  his  march  to 
the  sea,  arriving  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  June  5,  1865,  and  received  final  pay  and  dis- 
charge at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  on  the  1 1th  of  the  same  month.  In  1866,  he  was  married 
to  Susan  R..  daughter  of  Daniel  Dieffenbacher,  who  was  born  in  Havana  Township ; 
she  died  April  11,  1877  ;  two  children  by  this  union — Philip  B.  and  Garnet  D.  Mr. 
H.  owns  eighty  acres  in  Havana  Township. 

THOMAS  A.  HOLE,  farmer,  Sec.  32  ;  P.  O.  Havana ;  a  brother  of  William 
H.  Hole,  whose  sketch  is  given  above,  and  what  has  already  been  written  of  their 
father's  family  need  not  be  repeated  here  ;  he  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Ind.,  Oct. 
15,  1835,  and  came  with  other  members  of  the  family  to  Illinois  in  1856.  On  the  9th 
of  March,  1856,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  R.,  eldest  daughter  of  William  Snyder; 
she  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Ind. ;  they  have  three  children — Erne  M.  and  the 
twins,  Stephen  G.  and  William  S.  Mr.  Hole  owns  120  acres  of  land  in  Havana  Town- 
ship. 

GIRARD  W.  D.  HAVIGHORST,  retired  farmer ;  P.  O.  Havana ;  was  born  in 
Quackenbruck,  Hanover,  Germany,  July  1,  1827.  He  came  to  America  in  the  fall  of 


HAVANA   TOWNSHIP.  763 

1844  and,  via  New  Orleans,  reached  Shute's  Landing,  about  one  mile  below  the  present 
city  of  Havana.  Soon  after  his  arrival  here  he  went  to  Meredosia,  Morgan  Co.,  111., 
and  engaged  as  clerk  with  Conn,  Chambers  &  Pratt,  where  he  remained  till  1849.  He 
then  returned  to  Mason  Co.  and  located  in  Bath  Township,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
In  1864  he  visited  his  place  of  nativity  and,  on  his  return,  located  at  Havana,  in  the 
the  spring  of  1865,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  still  owns  640  acres  of  land  in 
Sherman  and  Pennsylvania  Townships,  in  this  county.  He  served  as  Assessor  of 
Havana  Township  one  term,  and  member  of  the  Town  Board  oneyear.  Married,  in  1851, 
Miss  Mary  C.,  daughter  of  John  H.  Marbold,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany. 
Three  children  by  this  union — Annie,  widow  of  Ira  Williams,  Sophia  W.,and  Grace  V., 
wife  of  Frank  Strickle.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  Mason  Lodge,  No.  143,  I.  0.  0.  F.T 
and  Havana  Lodge,  No.  743,  K.  of  H. 

WILLIAM  HIGBEE,  retired,  Havana;  was  born  in  Lexington,  Ky.,  Nov. 
6,  1813;  son  of  Vincent  and  Susannah  (Poindexter)  Higbee ;  the  former  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  and  the  latter  of  Virginia ;  the  family  removed  to  Illinois  and  located  i» 
Greene  Co.,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  resided  until  1843,  when  he  removed  to 
Christian  Co.  111.,  and  to  Quiver  Township,  this  county,  in  1847.  In  1841,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Fannie  C.,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Maria  D.  (Brown)  Cross,  both  parents 
born  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.  Mrs.  Higbee  was  also  born  in  the  same  county  and 
State,  Sept.  26,  1821  ;  their  parents  settled  in  Quiver  Township,  this  county,  in  1843, 
where  the  family  resided  at  the  time  of  her  father's  death ;  her  mother's  death  occurred 
after  removal  to  Havana.  In  February,  1849,  Mr.  Higbee  removed  to  Havana,  hi* 
present  home.  His  mother,  who  has  nearly  reached  her  ninetieth  year,  resides  at 
Whitehall,  Greene  Co.,  111. 

LEWIS  R.  HAACK,  SR.,  dealer  in  wall  paper,  window  shades,  window  glas-<,  cur- 
tains, etc.,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  York,  Penn.,  Oct.  1,  1841.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  87th 
Penn.  V.  I., .Aug.  24,  1861,  and  served  till  Oct.  13,  1864,  when  he  was  mustered  out; 
during  the  last  two  years  he  served  as  Sergeant.  In  1867,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located 
at  Havana,  in  March  of  that  year.  He  was  married,  April  2,  1867,  to  Miss  Louisa 
Shermeyer,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany.  They  have  five  children — Alice  M., 
Maria  B.,  William  H.,  Lewis  R.,  Jr.  and  Charles  F.  Mr.  Haack  served  as  Alderman 
of  the  First  Ward,  in  1875-76.  He  is  District  Deputy  Grand  Master  of  Mastifc  Lodge, 
No.  143,  and  District  Deputy  Grand  Patriarch  of  State  Encampment,  No.  34, 1.  0.  0.  F., 
and  of  Masonic  bodies,  S.  D.  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  King,  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86r 
and  Generalissimo,  Damascus  Commandery,  No.  42. 

JOHN  HURLEY,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  20;  P.  0.  Havana,  was  born  in 
Ocean  Co.,  N.  J.,  May  26,1824.  In  the  spring  of  1834,  he  came  with  his  father's 
family  to  De  Witt  Co.,  111.,  where  he  remained  till  1843,  when  he  came  to  Mason 
Co.,  and  settled  in  the  north  part  of  Havana  Township.  He  engaged  in  farming 
until  the  spring  of  1856,  when  he  went  to  Kansas,  but  returned  in  the  fall  following. 
He  was  with  Jim  Lane  all  through  the  Kansas  troubles  of  that  period.  Mr.  H.  own» 
230  acres  of  excellent  land  in  Havana  Township.  He  was  married,  Sept.  30,  1847,  to 
Miss  Julia  A.  Baldwin,  from  near  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Moses  Baldwin,  a 
captain  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  now  living  in  Le  Roy,  Kansas,  but  formerly  of  Havana 
Township.  The  result  of  this  union  is  eight  children — James  M.,  Sarah  E.  (  wife  of 
James  L.  Hurley  ) ,  Mary  (  wife  of  Joseph  Snider)  ,  William,  George  W.  and  Ellen  ; 
two  dead — Martha  (wife  of  L.  Lawson  ),  died  in  1868,  Stephen  D.,  who  was  11  years 
old  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  Hurley  built  the  first  house  between  Havana  and 
McHarry's "mill,  on  the  prairie;  he  helped  build  McHarry's  mill,  which  was  afterward 
burned,  and  helped  to  build  the  one  now  in  use.  Men  came  eighteen  miles  to  help  raise 
McHarry's  first  mill.  Mr.  Hurley  possesses  a  natural  fondness  for  hunting,  but  has 
usually  turned  this  sport  to  profit.  He  and  his  sons,  aside  from  farming,  are  engaged 
in  fishing,  from  October  to  May.  See  card  in  the  Business  Directory. 

JOHN  H.  HAVIGHORST,  SR.,  retired,  Havana;  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  Jan.  27,  1820,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1836,  stopping  in  New 
Orleans  until  the  following  summer;  he  then  came  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  settled  in 


764  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

Havana  Township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1840,  when  he  entered  the  store 
•of  John  H.  Schulte  as  a  clerk,  at  Schulte's  Landing,  about  one  mile  below  the  city  of 
Havana;  in  1844,  he  commenced  business  on  his  own  account  at  Matanzas,  and 
remained  there  until  1858.  He  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Mason  Co.  in  the  fall  of  that 
year,  and  moved  to  Havana,  where  he  still  resides;  was  again  elected  in  the  fall  of  1862, 
and  elected  Circuit  Clerk  in  1864,  serving  four  years;  he  also  served  as  Sheriff  two 
years,  beginning  in  1848.  He  was  married,  April  16,  1842,  to  Miss  Susanna  Mounts, 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  who  died  in  1851  ;  three  children  were  the  result  of  this  marriage 
— Henry  H.,  Maggie  H.  (wife  of  John  C.  McBride,  residing  at  Jacksonville)  and  John 
H.,  Jr.  He  was  married  to  Sarah  J.  Skinner  Dec.  23,  1852;  she  was  born  in  Erie 
Co..  N.  Y. ;  they  have  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living — Horace  R.,  Chester 
M.  and  Lulie ;  Myra  M.  (died  Feb.  3,  1877;. 

CHARLES  HOWELL,  retired  farmer,  Sec.  22 ;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born  in 
Lycoming  Co.,  Penn.,  Feb.  18,  1808,  and  is  a  son  of  Nathan  and  Ann  (Richart) 
Howell,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania ;  when  about  17  years  of  age,  Mr.  Howell  went 
to  Columbia  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  wheelwright  and  chair-maker;  he 
subsequently  learned  the  carriage  trade  in  New  York,  where  he  resided  about  four 
years;  in  1830,  he  engaged  in  the  chair  and  cabinet  business  at  Horscheads,  N.  Y.,  but 
sold  out  about  a  year  later  and  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  where,  for  about  two  years,  he 
was  engaged  with  Mr.  Richart  in  manufacturing  carriages  and  sleighs ;  he  subsequently 
engaged  in  chair  and  cabinet  work  at  McEwensville,  Penn.,  on  his  own  account;  in 
December,  1836,  he  went  to  Jackson,  La.,  where  he  was  employed  in  a  carriage-shop  for 
a  short  time,  and  then  went  to  Port  Hudson,  that  State,  where  he  helped  to  build  a 
blacksmith  shop  and  depot  for  the  Port  Hudson  &  Clinton  Railroad  Company  ;  the  fol- 
lowing spring,  he  built  a  bridge  356  feet  in  length  for  the  railroad  company,  which  is  still 
called  the  Howell  bridge ;  in  the  latter  part  of  June  of  that  year,  he  went  to  New 
Orleans  and  purchased  some  articles  of  merchandise  which  he  brought  to  Alton,  111., 
and  sold ;  after  disposing  of  his  goods,  he  came  up  the  Illinois  River  and  stopped  at 
Havana,  and.  in  July,  1837,  entered  land  four  miles  east  of  the  present  city  of  Havana  ; 
he  sold  to  Reuben  Henninger  in  1842,  and,  with  Messrs.  Jones  &  Pollard,  purchased 
the  mill  site  (now  owned  by  Mr.  McHarry) ;  they  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Quiver  in  1842  ;  in  1845,  sold  the  site  to  Mr.  McHarry,  who  built  a  grist-mill  on 
the  south  side  ;  in  1843,  Mr.  Howell  went  to  Matanzas  and  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  the  following  year  went  to  Bath,  where  he  remained  a  few  months  and  then 
returned  to  the  Quiver,  where  he  sold  goods  some  four  or  five  years;  in  1849,  he  went 
to  California  via  overland  route  (Sublett's  Cut-off  north  of  the  Salt  Lake  route),  reach- 
ing Sacramento,  then  a  city  of  tents,  in  October  of  that  year  ;  here  he  engaged  in  man- 
ufacturing rockers  used  in  mining  ;  in  August,  1850,  he  returned  to  the  States  by  way 
of  the  Isthmus,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1859,  made  his  second  trip  to  the  Pacific  Coast 
by  way  of  Virginia  City,  then  just  springing  into  existence ;  he  returned  to  Mason  Co. 
the  following  November.  He  was  married,  Jan.  16, 1834,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Long,  who 
was  born  in  Columbia  Co.,  Penn.;  by  this  union  there  were  ten  children,  six  of  whom 
are  living — Mary  (widow  of  J.  L.  Yates),  Sallie  M.  (widow  of  Mr.  Ballzell),  Martha 
A.  (wife  of  Mr.  Hodge),  Oscar,  Charles  L.  and  Emma  J.  (wife  of  Walter  L.  Coon); 
the  following  are  deceased  :  Franklin,  Orpha,  Catharine  0.  and  Anson  W.  Mr.  Howell 
has  resided  in  Mason  Co.  since  1837,  a  period  of  forty-two  years,  with  the  exception  of 
his  absence  in  California  and  a  residence  in  Kansas  of  a  few  years. 

REV.  JOHANNES  HEINIGER,  Pastor  of  St.  Paul's  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  Havana;  was  born  in  the  Canton  of  Eriswyl,  Switzerland,  Dec.  31,  1843, 
where  he  resided  until  10  years  of  age,  and  then  removed  to  Basle,  Switzerland,  where 
he  was  educated  in  a  Missionary  institution  of  that  place.  In  1866,  he  received  a  call 
from  Beardstown,  111.,  as  assistant  Pastor  of  the  Church  at  that  place.  He  left  his 
native  country  in  1866,  and  arrived  at  Beardstown,  111.,  on  the  10th  of  August  of  that 
year.  He  was  ordained  Pastor  in  full  by  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  Illinois 
and  other  States,  at  Peoria,  111.,  in  1869  ;  he  then  received  a  call  from  Effinghatn,  111., 
where  he  served  as  Pastor  from  the  above  date  till  1872,  when  he  followed  a  call  to 


HAVANA    TOWNSHIP.  765 

Hannibal,  Mo.,  and  filled  the  pastorate  at  that  place  from  1872  to  1875.  He  then,  on 
account  of  failing  health,  entered  the  field  as  traveling  missionary,  and  organized  the 
congregation  at  tit.  Joseph,  Mo.  ;  also  one  at  Atlanta,  Ga.  In  1877,  he  followed  a  call 
as  Professor  in  the  Normal  School  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and,  the  following  year,  came  to 
Havana,  111.,  and  has  since  served  as  Pastor  of  the  Church  here.  He  was  married,  June 
4,  1868,  to  Miss.Hanna  Looniann,  of  Beardstown  ;  they  have  five  children — Minna  L., 
born  March  25,  1869  ;  Johannes,  Dec.  28,  1871  ;  Lydia  E.,  Feb.  3, 1874  ;  Hannah  M. 
E.,  March  8,  1876,  and  George  L.,  Nov.  26,  1878.  Mr.  Heiniger  is  now  a  member  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Wartburg  Synod. 

JOHN  W.  HOLZGR^FE,  farmer,  Sec.  13;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Han- 
over, Germany,  June  27,  1809  ;  he  came  to  America  in  1836,  locating  first  at  Boston, 
Mass.,  where  he  worked  in  the  factories  of  that  city  some  three  or  four  years.  In  July, 
1840,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Boston,  Mass.,  to  Miss  Katrina  M.  Hackmann,  May  13,  1837  ;  she  was  born 
in  Hanover,  Germany,  Feb.  22,  1814,  and  came  to  America  the  same  time  as  her  hus- 
band. There  were  nine  children  by  this  union,  six  of  whom  are  living — George  William, 
born  Aug.  5,  1839;  George  Henry,  Jan.  26,  1842;  George  Lewis,  Feb.  21.  1845; 
George  Brans,  Feb.  4,  1848  ;  Charlotte  H.  (wife  of  Frederick  W.  Menke),  March  4, 
1»51  ;  George  Frank,  Feb.  22,  1854.  The  deceased  are  Catherine  E.,  born  Feb.  23, 
1838,  died  March  27,  1838  ;  George  Frederick,  born  Aug.  22,  1843,  died  May  31, 
1849  ;  Catharine  M.,  born  May  16,  1855,  died  Jan.  29,  1860.  Mr.  Holzgraefe  owns 
120  acres  of  farm  land,  and  twenty-three  acres  of  timber  in  Havana  Township. 

GEORGE  HENRY  HOLZGRAEFE,  billiard  and  sample  room,  cigars,  wines  and 
liquors,  Havana ;  Mr.  Holzgraefe,  son  of  John  W.  Holzgraefe,  whose  sketch  is  given 
above,  was  born  in  Havana  Township,  this  county,  Jan.  26,  1842.  He  was  raised  a 
farmer,  and  worked  on  his  father's  farm  till  about  26  years  of  age.  In  1866,  he  engaged 
in  his  present  business,  which  he  has  since  followed.  He  was  married,  in  1867,  to  Miss 
Anna  Devermann,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany.  They  have  had  seven  children 
by  this  union,  six  of  whom  are  living — Matilda  C.,  born  June  25,  1868  ;  Frederick  W., 
Sept.  11,  1869  ;  Julia  A.,  July  3,  1871  ;  Oscar  R.,  April  1, 1873  ;  Augusta,  Aug.  11, 
1876  ;  John  Darwin,  Nov.  22,  1878,  and  Katie  M.,  born  May  1,  1875,  died  Aug.  1, 
of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Holzgraefe  is  a  member  of  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  A.,  F.  &  A. 
M.  and  Havana  Grove,  No.  40,  U.  A.  O.  D. 

HERMAN  HACKMAN,  farmer,  Sec.  18  ;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  Aug.  8,  1834;  came  to  America  in  the  fall  of  1855,  byway  of  New  Orleans, 
and  stopped  at  Quincy,  111.,  until  the  following  June,  when  he  came  to  Havana  Town- 
ship, Mason  Co.,  where  he  has  since  followed  farming.  He  now  owns  240  acres  of 
land.  He  was  married,  April  3,  1866,  to  Miss  Hannah  Wissmann,  who  was  born  in 
Hanover,  Germany,  Aug.  9,  1847  ;  they  have  three  children — Lizzie,  VVene  and  Clara. 
His  father,  Ruldolph  Hackman,  came  to  America  the  same  year  (1855) ;  both  parents 
were  natives  of  Hanover,  Germany.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  Hollenback. 

EDMUND  M.  JOYCE,  of  the  firm  of  E.  M.  Joyce  &  Co.,  dealers  in  groceries, 
crockery  and  queensware,  Havana;  was  born  in  Jefferson,  Lincoln  Co.,  Me.,  Oct.  14, 
1835  ;  when  he  was  9  years  of  age,  his  father  removed  to  Springfield,  111.,  where  he 
resided  about  eighteen  months,  and  then  went  to  Peoria.  Edinond  here  learned  the 
trade  of  a  mechanic,  and,  at  the  age  of  18,  was  employed  by  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island 
&  Pacific  Railroad  Company,  and  afterward  by  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw  Rail- 
road ;  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  two  companies  about  thirteen  years,  during  which 
time  be  performed  his  various  duties  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  employers.  He  was 
married,  in  December,  1864,  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  to  Miss  Agnes  Smith,  daughter  of  M. 
Smith,  formerly  of  Peoria,  but  a  native  of  London,  England ;  Mrs.  Joyce  was  also  born 
in  London ;  the  result  of  this  union  is  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living, 
viz.,  Mary  I.,  James  E.,  Aggie  L.  and  Walter  M. :  deceased — William,  who  died  in 
1870  ;  Blanche  A.,  in  1872,  and  Aggie  E.,  in  1873.  Mr.  Joyce  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business  in  Havana  in  1872,  and  may  be  reckoned  among  the  enterprising  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city. 


766  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

ALMON  H.  JONES,  farmer  and  stock-raiser.  Sec.  21  ;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born 
in  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  June  25, 1828 ;  he  is  a  son  of  Julius  and  Elvira  (Wilcox)  Jones ; 
the  former  born  in  Massachusetts,  the  latter  in  New  York  ;  in  1837,  the  family  removed 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  Menard  in  the  fall  of  that  year;  in  the  spring  of  1842,  they 
came  to  Mason  Co.  and  settled  in  Havana  Township,  where  his  father,  with  Charles 
Howell  and  William  Pollard,  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream  from 
the  mill  now  owned  by  Hugh  McHarry.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  worked  on  his 
father's  farm  till  about  24  years  of  age,  and  then  became  a  tiller  of  the  soil  on  his  own 
account ;  he  has  resided  on  his  present  farm  since  1856 ;  owns  about  380  acres  of  land 
in  Havana  and  Quiver  Townships ;  he  has  served  as  School  Director  about  seventeen 
years,  and,  in  1852,  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabath  Pugh,  who  was  born  in  Luzerne 
Co.f  Penn. ;  seven  children  by  this  union,  four  of  whom  are  living — Julius  P.,  Iris  L. 
(wife  of  Sheldon  Atwater),  Fannie  M.  and  Florence  A. ;  the  three  deceased  are  Orilla, 
Arthur  D.  and  Charles  C. 

JOHN  S.  KIRK,  Police  Magistrate,  Havana;  was  born  in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio, 
April  4,  1833 ;  when  about  15  years  of  age,  he  went  to  Iberia,  Morrow  Co.,  where  he 
was  employed  as  station  agent;  in  1853,  he  removed  to  Ft.  Madison,  Iowa,  and  took 
a  contract  to  build  ten  miles  of  railroad  ;  he  served  for  a  time  as  guard  at  the  State's 
Prison,  and,  in  August,  1861,  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  19th  Iowa  V.  I. ;  in  July,  1862,  he 
was  commissioned  Captain,  and  served  in  that  capacity  till  the  close  of  the  war ;  was  at 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  battles  of  Prairie  Grove,  Red  River  Expedition,  Port  Hudson, 
and  Morganzia ;  at  the  latter  place,  the  entire  regiment,  with  the  exception  of  seventeen 
men,  was  captured  by  the  enemy,  the  Captain  being  among  the  number  not  taken.  He 
served  for  some  time  prior  to  the  close  of  the  war  in  garrison  duty  at  New  Orleans 
and,  when  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  1866,  returned  to  Ft.  Madison,  Iowa,  and 
from  there  to  Havana,  his  present  home,  in  June  of  the  same  year ;  here  he  engaged  in 
books  and  stationery  business,  and,  three  years  later,  on  account  of  failing  health,  sold 
out  and  went  to  Colorado ;  was  there  one  summer,  and,  on  his  return,  engaged  in  dry- 
goods  trade  under  firm  name  of  Hackman  &  Kirk ;  sold  his  interest  four  years  later, 
and,  in  May,  1874.  was  elected  Police  Magistrate;  re-elected  in  1878;  Mr.  K.  is  a 
member  of  Mason  Lodge  No.  143,  I.  0.  0.  F. ;  Havana  Lodge  No.  743,  K.  of  H. ; 
Standard  Lodge,  No.  231,  I.  0.  M.  A. ;  he  is  also  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  7th  Regi- 
ment. I.  N.  G. 

FREDERICK  KETC  HAM,  editor  of  the  Mason  County  Republican,  Havana;  was 
born  in  Lisle,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  4,  1809,  and  was  educated  at  Madison  Univer- 
sity, Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  graduating  at  that  institution  in  1836 ;  in  1845,  he  received  the 
degree  of  A.  B.  at  Columbia  College,  D.  C.,  and,  two  years  later,  the  degree  of  A.  M. 
at  Madison  University,  New  York.  He  was  married,  in  August,  1837,  to  Miss  Callista 
Griffith,  who  was  born  in  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  17,  1812.  In  October,  1837,  he 
was  ordained  a  Baptist  minister  at  Saybrook,  Conn.,  and,  three  years  later,  removed  to 
Philadelphia,  Penn.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  ministerial  work  eight  years.  He  lost 
his  wife  in  1846,  and,  two  years  after,  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  P.  Brower,  of 
Philadelphia,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  Feb.  22,  1821.  In  July,  1848.  he 
removed  to  New  Haven,  Conn.,  as  Pastor  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church ;  he  attended 
scientific  lectures  under  Prof.  Silliman.  Sr.,  and  Prof.  Olmstead ;  he  removed  to  Illinois 
in  1850,  and  made  his  first  home  at  Rock  Island;  subsequently  labored  at  Galena, 
Peoria  and  Pontiac,  111. ;  by  an  accidental  fracture  of  the  left  ankle  and  the  general 
shattering  of  the  nervous  system,  he  was  obliged  to  retire  from  pastoral  work  and 
engaged  in  business ;  he  first  engaged  in  nursery  and  general  insurance  business,  and, 
in  1869,  with  C.  B.  Ketcham,  his  eldest  son,  established  the  Delavan  Independent,  at 
Delavan,  111,  of  which  he  remained  editor  till  1873,  when  he  established  the  Mason 
County  Republican,  at  Havana,  111.,  of  which  C.  B.  Ketcham  was  publisher,  and  F. 
Ketcham,  editor.  The  Republic  m  has  now  been  in  existence  six  years,  and  has  a  large 
and  increasing  circulation.  In  connection  with  his  editorial  work,  Mr.  K.  has  taken  a 
very  active  interest  in  the  Sunday-school  work  of  Mason  Co.,  and,  in  1876,  was  elected 
County  Secretary  of  the  Sunday-School  Association,  which  position  he  still  holds. 


HAVANA    TOWNSHIP.  767 

CHARLES  G.  KREBAUM,  grain,  commission  and  live-stock  dealer,  Havana ; 
was  born  in  Havana,  Mason  Co.,  Dec.  22,  1837,  and  is  the  oldest  native  inhabitant  of 
Mason  Co.  His  father,  Barnhard  Krebautn,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1834,  and  located  at  Havana  July  3  of  that  year.  When  about  17  years  of 
age.  the  subject  of  this  sketch  entered  the  employ  of  Walker  &  Hancock,  who  were 
doing  a  very  extensive  business  in  general  merchandise ;  he  was  in  the  employ  of  differ- 
ent firms  until  1858,  when  he  received  the  appointment  of  Deputy  County  Clerk  of 
Mason  Co.,  serving  in  that  capacity  till  1863 ;  in  September  of  that  year,  he  engaged 
in  merchandising  under  the  firm  name  of  Langford  &  Krebaum,  and,  in  1867,  bought 
out  his  partner's  interest,  and  then  established  the  firm  of  Krebaum  &  Middelkamp ;  in 
December  of  that  year,  the  store  was  burned,  and  the  brick  building,  known  as  "  Kre- 
baum's  Iron  Front,"  was  erected  the  following  spring ;  the  firm  continued  in  business 
in  the  new  building  till  January,  1869,  when  Mr.  K.  disposed  of  his  interest  in  the 
stock  and  embarked  in  his  present  business,  which  he  has  since  followed.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  May,  1861,  to  Miss  Mary  E.,  eldest  daughter  of  William  M.  and  H.  M.  John. 
Mrs.  Krebaum  was  born  in  Coshocton  Co.,  Ohio.  By  this  union,  there  were  three 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living — Nina  F.  and  Carlisle  M. ;  Frances  P.  died  in 
August,  1865.  Mr.  Krebaum  is  a  member  of  the' following  Masonic  bodies:  Havana 
Lodge,  No.  88,  and  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86. 

GEORGE  KARL,  proprietor  of  the  Taylor  House,  Saloon,  Havana ;  was  born  in 
Baden,  Gernfany,  May  8,  1843 ;  came  to  America  in  1862,  stopping  in  New  York  City 
about  one  year  ;  then  came  West  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  a  few  months, 
and  then  went  to  Dayton,  Ohio;  in  August,  1865,  he  came  to  Illinois,  lociting  in 
Havana,  his  present  home,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  (stonemason)  until  1870  ;  he 
then  engaged  in  his  present  business,  which  he  has  since  followed.  He  was  married, 
March  18,  1868,  to  Miss  Caroline  Pump,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany  ;  they 
have  three  children — Emma,  Lena  and  John  G.  Mr.  Karl  is  a  member  of  Prosperity 
Lodge,  No.  114,  A.  0.  U.  W. 

ADOLPH  KREBAUM,  retired,  Havana ;  was  born  in  the  city  of  Eschwege,  in 
the  electorate  of  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  Oct.  10,  1814,  and  is  a  son  of  Bernhard  and 
Frederika  (Siebert)  Krebaum  ;  the  following  are  the  names  of  the  children  of  Bern- 
hard  and  Frederika  Krebaum  —  Frederick  (deceased),  Adolph,  William,  Charles 
(deceased),  Emilie  (deceased),  Mary,  Herman  (deceased),  Gustav  (deceased),  Caroline 
( widow  of  Dr.  A.  Burns),  Edward  (deceased)  and  Charles  G.  (see  sketch)  ;  there  were 
fourteen  children  in  all ;  three  died  in  infancy,  two  in  Germany,  and  one  in  this  country; 
the  survivors  of  this  family  reside  in  Havana,  and  of  the  deceased  members  all  died  in 
this  city  except  the  two  mentioned  above;  the  family  emigrated  to  America  in  1834, 
and,  in  June  of  that  year,  located  in  Havana.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  in  Havana  in  1851,  but  prior  to  the  above  date  (1847)  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  County  Clerk  and  served  six  years  ;  he  was  again  elected  to  that 
office  in  1855,  and  served  till  December,  1865.  In  1853,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Julia  A.  Morton,  who  was  born  in  New  York ;  she  died  in  December  of  the  same  year. 
He  was  married  Jan  1.  1861,  to  Sarah  E.  Field,  who  was  born  in  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
Krebaum  is  a  member  of  the  following  Masonic  bodies :  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88 ; 
Havana  Chapter,  No.  86,  and  the  Commandery  at  Rushville,  111. 

ROBERT  LOFTON  (deceased),  Sec.  35 ;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington Co..  Ind.,  Dec.  10,  1835  ;  became  to  Illinois  in  1856,  locating  in  Havana  Town- 
ship in  the  spring  of  that  year.  In  1862,  he  married  Miss  Louisa  M.,  daughter  of 
Stephen  Hole;  she  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Ind.;  in  1865,  they  removed  to  Liv- 
ingston Co.,  111.,  and,  two  years  later,  to  Ford  Co.,  returning  to  Mason  Co.  in  1875,  the 
year  of  her  husband's  death  ;  their  children  are  Stephen  F.,  Charlie  M.,  Allie  L.,  K\i 
and  Freddie. 

ANSON  LOW,  of  the  firm  of  Low  &  Foster,  grain  and  commission  merchants, 
Havana;  was  born  in  Havana  Township,  this  county,  Oct.  14,  1846;  his  father, 
Eliphaz  Low,  with  two  other  brothers,  settled  here  in  the  autumn  of  1836.  The  sub- 
ject of  these  lines  remained  on  his  father's  farm  until  10  years  of  age,  when  the  family 


768  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

removed  to  Havana;  in  1862,  he  entered  the  Northwestern  University  at  Evanston, 
111.,  where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  entered  the  Lombard  University,  at  Galesburgr 
111.,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  till  1865  ;  in  1866,  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  at 
Havana,  under  the  firm  name  of  Jones  &  Low,  and,  about  a  year  later,  Mr.  Foster  bought 
Jones'  interest ;  some  two  years  later,  the  firm  was  changed  to  McFadden.  Low  &  Co., 
and  engaged  in  the  grain  and  lumber  business  ;  in  1876,  the  present  firm  of  Low  & 
Foster  was  established,  and  their  business  since  that  date  has  been  exclusively  grain  and 
commission.  Mr.  Low  is  a  member  of  the  present  Board  of  Aldermen.  He  was 
married,  in  1875,  to  Miss  Alice  E.  Long,  who  was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Penn.;  they 
have  one  child — Corinne.  Mr.  Low  is  a  member  of  the  following  Masonic  bodies: 
Havana  Lodge,  No.  88 ;  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86,  and  Damascus  Commandery, 
No.  42. 

GEORGE  W.  L  ANGFORD,  with  W.  C.  Browning  &  Co.,  clothing  merchants  of  New 
York  ;  residence,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  March  17,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of 
Asa  and  Nancy  (Nevitt)  Langford  ;  the  former  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  the  latter  of 
Kentucky  ;  he  (the  elder  Langlbrd)  removed  to  Illinois  in  1824,  and  settled  in  Fulton 
Co.,  and  there  laid  out  the  old  town  of  Waterford,  subsequently  becoming  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  Lewistown  (present  capital  of  that  county),  and  of  Havana,  this  county, 
also  connected,  in  various  ways,  with  the  early  history  of  both  counties.  George  W., 
the  subject  of  these  notes,  when  about  8  years  of  age,  came  with  his  father's  family  to 
Point  Isabel,  just  across  the  river  from  the  present  city  of  Havana,  and  »about  seven 
years  later,  located  in  the  latter  place;  in  1848,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Walker, 
Hancock  &  Co.,  and,  in  1856,  became  a  partner  in  the  farm  ;  this  was  the  principal 
business  house  in  Havana  at  that  period,  and  had  a  large  patronage — sales  ranging  from 
$75,000  to  $110,000  per  annum;  in  1864,  he  engaged  in  general  merchandise  with  C. 
G.  Krebaum,  under  the  firm  name  of  Langford  &  Krebauru,  aud  about  three  yeare 
later  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  about  one  year,  and  then  went  to  New  York 
City  ;  since  1869,  he  has  been  with  his  present  house — W.  C.  Browning  &  Co.,  whole- 
sale clothiers.  Mr.  Langford  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Town  Board,  and  several 
terms  as  a  school  officer.  He  was  married,  in  1851,  to  Miss  Hester  A.  Allen  ;  by  this- 
union  there  were  two  children — William,  living  in  Havana,  and  Charles  R  ,  who  vol- 
unteered to  take  the  place  of  telegraph  operator  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  during  the  prev- 
alence of  the  yellow  fever  there  in  1878,  after  all  the  operatives  in  the  office  had  been 
stricken  down  with  the  terrible  plague,  and  fell  a  victim  to  it  himself,  in  1878.  Mr. 
L.  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  Mrs.  Amanda  W.  Blanchard  (nee  Walker),  daugh- 
ter of  James  Walker,  on  June  22,  1878 ;  she  had,  by  her  first  marriage,  three  children 
— Frank  W.,  Dell  and  Nellie.  Mr.  L.  is  a  member  of  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  A.,  F_ 
&  A.  M. 

HON.  LYM AN  LACEY,  Circuit  and  Appellate  Judge;  Havana;  was  born 
in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  9,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Chloe  (Hurd)  Lacey, 
the  former  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  latter  of  New  York.  In  1836,  the  family 
emigrated  to  Michigan,  and  the  following  year  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Fulton. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early  education  in  the  common  schools  of  this 
State,  and  subsequently  entered  Illinois  College,  at  Jacksonville,  where  he  graduated,  in 
1855,  with  the  degree  of  A.  M.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law  the  same  year,  with 
Hon.  L.  B.  Ross,  of  Lewistown,  111.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1856.  In  October 
of  that  year  he  located  at  Havana,  where  he  followed  the  profession  of  law  till  1862, 
when  he  was  elected  to  the  Lower  House  of  the  Legislature  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
as  Representative  of  Mason  and  Menard  Cos.,  and  served  one  term.  He  was  elected  in 
June,  1873,  Circuit  Judge  of  the.  Seventeenth  District,  comprising  the  counties  of 
Mason,  Menard,  Logan  and  De  Witt.  In  1877,  when  the  Seventeenth  and  Eighteenth 
Judicial  Circuits  were  consolidated,  and  designated  the  Seventh  Judicial  District, 
embracing,  in  addition  to  the  above-named  counties,  Cass,  Greene,  Jersey,  Scott  and 
Morgan,  Judge  Lacey  was  appointed  by  the  Supreme  Court  Appellate  Judge  of  the 
Third  or  Springfield  District,  and,  in  1879,  re-appointed  to  serve  in  the  Second  or 
Ottawa  District.  He  was  re-elected  Circuit  Judge  June  2,  1879.  He  was  married,. 


HAVANA    TOWNSHIP.  769 

May  9,  1860,  to  Caroline  A.  Potter,  of  Beardstown,  111.,  who  died  Sept.  12,  1863. 
Two  children  by  this  union,  one  living — Lyman,  Jr.  May  19,  1865,  he  married 
Mattie  A.  Warner,  of  Havana,  who  was  born  in  Ohio.  By  this  union  there  were 
six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living — Charles,  Frank,  Mattie  and  Edward. 

EDWARD  F.  LEONARD,  teacher,  Sec.  22;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in 
Coshocton  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  29,  1855,  but  removed  in  childhood,  with  his  father's 
family,  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  this  county.  In  the  spring  of 
1874,  he  entered  the  State  Normal  University  at  Bloomington.  He  commenced 
teaching  in  1873,  which  occupation  he  has  since  followed,  except  when  attending 
school.  His  father,  Charles  C.  Leonard,  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  Nov.  12,  1819,  and 
came  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  in  1862.  His  death  occurred  July  9,  1869.  Mrs. 
Leonard's  father,  Daniel  Ott,  came  to  Illinois  in  1839.  She  was  born  in  Bradford 
Co.,  Penn.,  and  was  married  to  Mr.  Leonard  April  9,  1842.  They  had  five  children, 
four  of  whom  are  living — Florence,  wife  of  C.  Travelute,  who  resides  in  Iowa  ;  Robert 
B.,  Edward  F.  and  Charles  C.  Eddie  F.  died  Feb.  25,  1854. 

FRANCIS  LOW,  banker,  Havana;  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass., 
Sept.  28,  1813,  and  is  the  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  (Kendall)  Low,  both  of  whom, 
were  natives  of  Massachusetts.  He  received  his  education  at  the  Lancaster  and  Berlin 
Academies,  and  when  about  18  years  of  age,  removed  with  his  brothers,  Thomas  and 
Eliphaz,  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  where,  for  a  period  of  two  years,  they  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits.  From  Louisville,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  same  business,  and  also  to  St.  Louis ;  thence,  he  came  to  Havana,  where  his 
brothers,  named  above,  had  preceded  him  a  short  time.  They  built  a  steam  saw-mill 
here,  which  they  afterward  sold  to  Pulaski  Scoville.  Mr.  Low  served  as  Deputy  Sheriff 
of  Tazewell  Co.  when  this  part  of  Mason  was  included  in  Tazewell ;  was  also  elected  the 
first  Sheriff  of  Mason  after  its  formation  as  a  county,  an  office  he  held  for  two  terms. 
He  was  connected,  at  an  early  day,  with  the  Illinois  River  Railroad  (now  the  Peoria, 
Pekin  &  Jacksonville),  and  was  one  of  its  Directors.  He  is  President  of  the  Havana  & 
San  Jose  Narrow-Gauge  Railroad  Company,  a  company  formed  for  the  purpose  of  build- 
ing a  narrow-gauge  road  from  Havana  to  San  Jose,  to  connect  with  the  Rantoul,  Havana 
&  Western  Narrow-Gauge.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  organization  of  the  Havana 
National  Bank,  of  which  he  has  been  President  during  its  entire  existence.  Mr.  Low  has 
been  married  twice.  By  the  first  marriage,  there  were  three  children,  of  whom  two  are 
living — William  and  Thomas;  Frank,  the  youngest,  is  dead.  He  has  no  children  by  his- 
last  marriage.  Mr.  Low  is  a  man  of  education,  and  of  fine  literary  tastes  and  attain- 
ments, and  his  ample  means  enable  him  to  gratify  his  inclinations  in  this  direction  to  his 
entire  satisfaction.  A  personal  friend  of  Lincoln  and  Trumbull,  and  the  leading  men  of 
the  times,  he  has  entertained  them  at  his  elegant  home  whenever  they  visited  the  city 
of  Havana,  as  business  sometimes  led  them  to  do. 

SAMUEL  A.  MURDOCK,  junior  editor  of  the  Democrat^  Havana  ;  was  born  in 
Mt.  Holly,  N.  J.,  Jan.  12, 1848,  and  is  a  son  of  N.  R.  and  Pho3be  B.  (Scoti)  Murdoch 
In  1836,  his  father  moved  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Mason  Co.,  and,  after  remaining 
some  years,  returned  to  New  Jersey,  where  he  resided  until  1854,  when  he  again 
removed  to  Mason  Co.,  where  he  still  lives.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  four  brothers 
living — John  S.,  Charles  H.  (now  in  the  regular  army,  and  1st  Duty  Sergeant  of  Co.  F, 
6th  U.  S.  Infantry,  stationed  at  Ft.  Buford,  Dakota),  James  R.  and  WTilIiam  M.,  and 
one  dead,  Jacob  L.  Three  sisters,  two  living ;  Sarah  C.  and  Mary  E.,  living,  and 
Hannah  Elmira,  dead.  Tw-)  half-brothers  living — Andrew  J.  and  Thorrras  K.  Mr. 
Murdock  spent  his  early  life  on  a  farm,  until  his  enlistment  in  the  late  war,  from  which 
he  was  mustered  out  in  October,  1865.  He  served  in  Co.  F,  llth  111.  Cav.,  of  which 
R.  G.  Ingdrsoll  was  the  first  Colonel.  After  his  discharge  from  the  army,  he  worked  on 
a  farm  until  February,  1868,  when  he  went  to  New  Jersey,  and  attended  school  five 
months,  then  returned  to  Illinois,  in  October,  and  commenced  teaching.  He  taught 
and  went  to  school  alternately,  until  1875,  when  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  with 
Fullerton  &  Wallace,  and  remained  with  them  until  admitted  to  the  bar,  in  January, 
1878,  before  the  Supreme  Court.  In  April,  1878,  he  was  elected  Assessor  of  Havana 


770  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

Township,  and.  in  August.  1878,  in  connection  with  John  F.  Mounts,  he  bought  the 
Havana  Democrat,  in  which  he  is  a  partner,  and  of  which  he  is  junior  editor.  In 
April,  1879,  he  was  again  elected  Assessor  of  the  township.  Is  a  member  of  the  Mason 
Lodge,  No.  143,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  and  of  State  Encampment,  No.  34,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  also  of 
Havana  Lodge,  No.  743,  Knights  of  Honor.  He  was  married,  Sept.  23,  1877,  to  Miss 
Minnie  Eagles,  daughter  of  T.  M.  and  Agnes  (Fink)  Eagles,  of  Indiana.  They  have 
one  daughter,  Phoebe  Agnes. 

GEORGE  MACK  (Dehm  &  Mack),  proprietor  of  Havana  Brewery,  Havana ; 
was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  April  29,  1845  ;  he  came  to  America  in  1864, 
locating  at  Freeport,  111.,  thence  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  the  following  year.  In  1868,  he 
started  a  brewery  at  Edwardsville,  111.,  where  he  remained  about  one  year,  and  then 
returned  to  St.  Louis.  In  1873,  he  went  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and,  two  years  later,  removed 
to  Havana,  his  present  home  ;  here  he  was  employed  as  foreman  of  the  brewery  till  1877, 
since  which  date  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  above  firm ;  he  was  married,  in  1866,  to 
Mrs.  Ernestine  Wirth  (Franzlaur),  who  was  born  in  Germany.  Six  children,  the  first 
four  by  her  first  marriage — Anna,  wife  of  G.  H.  Carl ;  Zelle,  Mary,  Ella  and  Ludy  ; 
Maggie  and  George  F.  Willie.  Mr.  Mack  is  a  member  of  Havana  Grove,  No.  40, 
U.  0.  A.  D. 

WILLIAM  B.  MORGAN,  proprietor  of  the  Taylor  House,  Havana;  was 
born  in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  29,  1853,  but  removed  with  his  parents  when  about  8 
years  of  age,  to  Champaign,  Champaign  Co.,  111.  In  1870,  he  was  employed  in  the 
office  of  the  United  States  Express  Company,  and  about  two  years  later,  as  agent  of 
the  Company,  went  on  the  Havana  extension  of  the  I.,  B.  &  W.  Railway,  serving  in  the 
capacity  of  messenger  on  this  road,  until  February,  1878,  when  he  located  at  Havana, 
his  present  home.  He  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  and  on  the  24th  of  May,  1879, 
became  proprietor  of  the  Taylor  House.  The  excellent  manner  in  which  he  keeps  his 
house,  his  well-spread  table,  and  his  universal  courtesy  and  kindness  to  guests,  show 
him  to  be — what  he  is — a  model  landlord.  He  was  married,  in  October,  1878,  to  Miss 
Ida  Sanford,  who  was  born  in  Griggsville,  Pike  Co.,  111.  They  have  one  child — Maud 
M.,  born  Aug.  12,  1879. 

JACOB  T.  MOWDER.  farmer,  Sec.  33  ;  P.  0.  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Lycoming 
Co.,  Penn.,  March  24,  1836,  but  removed,  in  early  childhood,  with  his  father's  family, 
'  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  this  county,  in  May,  1839,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  was  married,  Nov.  25,  1867,  to  Miss  Margaret  J.  Pond,  who  was  born  in 
Menard  Co.,  111.;  they  have  three  children — Emma,  Frank  and  Freddie.  Mr.  Mowder 
has  served  as  Supervisor  one  term,  Commissioner  of  Highways  six  years,  Town 
Clerk  one  term,  and  School  Director  several  years  ;  also  School  Trustee.  He  owns 
273  acres  of  land  in  Havana  and  Crane  Creek  townships.  Mr.  Mowder,  aside  from 
farming,  has  followed  teaching  for  the  last  twelve  years,  mostly  during  the  winter  season. 

ISAAC  N.  MITCHELL,  insurance  and  real  estate,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Morgan 
Co.,  111.,  Feb.  13,  1829  ;  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Frances  (Stribling)  Mitchell,  the  former 
a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky  ;  his  parents  removed  from  Kentucky 
to  Morgan  Co.,  111.  in  1828 ;  here  they  resided  till  1846  ;  then  removed  to  Field's 
Prairie  in  this  county.  Isaac  N.  followed  farming  until  about  21  years  of  age,  com- 
bining with  it  wolf-hunting,  usually  devoting  Saturdays  to  that  amusement ;  when  he 
left  the  farm,  he  entered  the  employ  of  B.  &  J.  M.  Beesley,  of  Bath  ;  from  1850  to 
1861,  followed  the  mercantile  trade.  He  subsequently  served  one  term  as  Constable, 
and,  for  two  years,  followed  steamboating  on  the  Illinois  River.  In  1867,  he  was  elected 
Treasurer  of  Mason  Co.,  and,  two  years  later,  elected  County  Clerk,  serving  in  that, 
capacity  four  years.  He  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Havana  in  1875  ;  was  also 
a  member  of  the  School  Board,  and  with  his  associates  (Messrs.  Wheeler  and  Foster), 
erected  the  present  fine  school  edifice.  In  1856,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  L., 
daughter  of  P.  W.  Campbell ;  four  children  by  this  union,  two  of  whom  are  living — 
Franklin  I.  and  Gay  Edgar ;  Charles  W.  died  May  1,  1872 ;  Thomas  N.  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  member  of  the  following  Masonic  bodies  :  Havana  Lodge,  No. 
88 ;  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86  ;  Damascus  Commandery,  No.  42. 


HAVANA   TOWNSHIP.  771 

HON.  JOHN  A.  MALLORY.  Judge  of  County  Court  of  Mason,  Havana ;  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Lexington,  Ky.,  Nov.  17,  1830  ;  but,  when  5  years  of  age,  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Jacksonville ;  his  father,  Ambrose  Mallory,  who 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  Jacksonville,  and  it  was  in 
this  city  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  education.  At  the  age  of  17,  he 
engaged  in  the  printing  business,  first  with  the  Pike  County  Free  Press,  of  Griggsville, 
111.,  and  in  1848,  with  the  Morgan  Journal,  Jacksonville,  which  paper  he  edited  for  six 
months.  He  was  afterward  connected  with  the  Eagle  and  Enquirer,  of  Memphis,  Tenn., 
for  one  year.  A  man  of  fine  literary  tastes,  a  poet  and  an  editpr,  he  has  given  to  the 
world  of  letters  many  bright  gems  of  more  exalted  merit  than  he  himself  cares  to 
admit.  He  was  the  successful  competitor  for  a  silver  cup,  valued  at  $50,  offered  in  the 
city  of  Memphis,  for  the  best  poem  on  the  New  Year,  in  1860.  As  a  New- Year's  poem, 
it  is  pronounced  almost  unequaled.  He  came  to  Havana  in  1858  ;  afterward  studied 
law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1868.  On  the  breaking-out  of  the  late  war,  though 
a  Southern  man  by  birth,  he  deemed  it  his  duty  to  unite  with  the  Union  army ;  and, 
accordingly,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  85th  I.  V.  I.,  as  Second  Lieutenant,  in  which  regi- 
ment he  served  until  February,  1863,  when  he  resigned.  In  1865,  he  was  elected  Police 
Justice  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and,  afterward,  elected  for  a  full  term.  He  was  elected  County 
Judge  in  1869,  and  re-elected  in  1873,  by  the  largest  majority  any  officer  ever  received 
in  Mason  Co.  He  was  again  re-elected  in  1877,  and  still  holds  the  office.  His  official 
record  is  without  blot  or  blemish,  and  his  decisions  are  made  according  to  the  law  and 
testimony. 

HENRY  W.  McFADDEN,  banking  and  grain,  Havana;  was  born  in  Cayuga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  26,  1826,  where  he  resided  until  1848,  at  which  time  he  came  West 
and  located  at  Peoria,  111.  In  1849,  he  was  appointed  Deputy  County  Surveyor  of 
Peoria  Co.,  and  in  November,  of  the  same  year,  elected  to  that  office  and  served 
four  years.  He  then  engaged  in  farming  in  Akron  Township,  that  county ;  in  the 
spring  of  1856,  he  sold  his  farm  and  spent  the  summer  traveling  in  Iowa,  Nebraska  and 
Kansas  in  company  with  J.  Moffit,  and,  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  located  at  Chillicothe, 
Peoria  Co..  111.,  and  engaged  in  the  grain  and  lumber  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
McFadden  &  Moffit;  in  1863,  he  engaged  in  the  grain  and  lumber  business  at  Havana, 
under  the  firm  name  of  H.  W.  McFadden  &  Co.,  still  continuing  his  business  at  Chilli- 
cothe until  1865,  being  associated  there  with  various  partners;  in  1866,  the  banking 
firm  of  McFadden,  Coppel  &  Kemp  was  established  and  continued  under  the  above  firm 
name  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Kemp  in  1867,  when  the  present  firm  name  (McFadden 
&  Coppel)  was  adopted;  in  1868,  Mr.  McFadden  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he 
attended  to  the  purchase  and  sale  of  lumber  and  grain  for  the  firm  here,  and,  also, 
during  the  winter  of  1869-70,  with  William  J.  Dobbins  and  John  E.  McClure,  built 
the  Central  City  Elevator  at  Peoria,  which  was  the  first  built  in  that  city;  since  1873, 
Mr.  McFadden  has  made  Havana  his  home.  In  1851,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet 
M.  Munson,  who  was  born  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  by  this  union  there  were  five  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  living — Bruce  H.  (member  of  the  firm  of  McFadden  &  Co.), 
George  C.,  Benjamin  L.  and  Henry  L. ;  John  W.  died  in  1873. 

RUDOLPH  MEYER,  farmer,  bee.  18;  P.O.  Havana;  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  Feb.  15,  1841,  but  removed  to  America  in  childhood  with  his  father's  family; 
they  came  via  New  Orleans  and  located  in  Bath  Township,  this  county,  in  the  fall  of 
1848;  his  father  was  Harman  Meyer  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Margaret 
Horstman  ;  both  were  born  in  Hanover,  Germany.  On  the  16th  of  May,  1867,  Mr. 
Meyer  married  Miss  Joanna  M.  Dierker,  who  was  born  in  Bath  Township,  this  county, 
Aug.  13,  1846;  her  parents  came  to  the  county  in  the  spring  of  1838  ;  they  were 
natives  of  Hanover,  Germany.  Mr.  Meyer  owns  365  acres  of  land  in  Havana  Town- 
ship;  they  have  four  children  living — Harman  H.,  John  W.,  August  R.  and  Anna 
M.;  John  H.  died  Aug.  26.  1878. 

JOSEPH  MO WDER,  farmer,  Sec.  15;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Columbia 
Co.,  Penn.,  July  3,  1808 ;  when  about  6  years  of  age,  his  father's  family  removed  to 
Harrison  Co.,  but  he  remained  with  his  grandfather;  he  removed  to  Lycoming  Co., 


772  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

Penn.,  when  about  25  years  of  age,  and,  on  the  31st  of  July,  1833,  was  married  to 
Miss  Judith  Stroup,  who  was  born  in  Columbia  Co.,  Penu.,  Dec.  4,  1810  :  by  this 
union  there  were  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  living — Jacob  T.,  John,  Elizabeth  (wife 
of  George  Lewis,  who  lives  in  Nemaha  Co.,  Neb.),  Martha  J.  (wife  of  John  Blakely, 
who  resides  in  Mason  Co.,  111.)  and  Charles  C. ;  the  five  deceased  are  David,  Mary  C., 
died  in  October,  1845;  Harriet  A.,  Aug.  2,  1834;  one  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Mowder 
removed  to  Havana  Township,  this  county,  in  May,  1839,  and  now  resides  within  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile  of  where  he  first  settled  ;  he  says  his  first  residence  was  constructed  of 
logs  and  not  encumbered  with  either  upper  or  lower  floor.  Many  of  the  early  settlers 
had  their  houses  so  arranged  that  (if  they  were  wealthy  enough  to  own  a  horse)  they 
could  hitch  to  a  log  of  wood  and  "  haul "  it  in  at  one  door  and  pass  out  with  the  horse 
at  the  other,  thus  securing  their  fuel  by  horse  power.  He  now  owns  240  acres  of  land 
in  Havana  Township. 

JOHN  H.  NETELER,  deceased ;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  in  1801  ;  he 
came  to  America  in  August,  1832,  locating  first  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  thence  to  New 
Orleans,  La.,  the  following  spring,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade,  blacksmithing,  sone 
two  years,  and  then  removed  to  Illinois,  stopping  for  a  short  time  in  Menard  Co. ;  in 
the  spring  of  1835,  he  entered  land  in  what  is  now  Havana  Township,  Mason  Co.,  and 
returned  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  R.  Speckmann,  also 
a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany.  In  the  spring  of  1836,  Mr.  Neteler  and  wife  located 
in  Havana  Township,  which  was  their  home  up  to  the  time  of  their  death.  Mr. 
Neteler's  death  occurred  Dec.  3,  1863,  his  wife  having  died  some  four  years  previous. 
Mr.  Neteler,  afcer  his  location  in  Mason  Co.,  gave  his  attention  for  the  most  part  to 
farming,  but  for  a  time  worked  at  his  trade,  and  is  frequently  mentioned  by  the  early 
settlers  in  this  connection,  fully  appreciating  his  services,  as  mechanics  in  these  early 
days  were  very  rare  ;  he  also  assisted  Mr.  Lincoln  in  the  early  surveys  of  Mason  Co. 
The  following  are  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neteler :  Hannah  (deceased,  wife  of 
John  H.  Bruning),  Henry  (whose  sketch  is  given  below),  Mary  (wife  of  Henry  Von- 
hold),  Lucy  (deceased,  wife  of  John  Carman),  Rebecca  (deceased),  Katrina  (deceased) 
and  Rebecca. 

HENRY  NETELER,  farmer,  Sec.  12;  P.  0.  Havana;  is  a  son  of  John  H. 
Neteler,  whose  sketch  is  given  above,  and  was  born  in  Havana  Township  Dec.  16,  1848  ; 
he  now  resides  on  the  old  homestead  near  Havana  and  owns  a  farm  of  about  300  acres. 
He  was  married,  Oct.  7,  1875,  to  Miss  Anna  K.  E.  Devermann,  who  was  born  in  this 
township  Oct.  10,  1856  ;  they  have  one  child — Lucy  M.  Mr.  Neteler  has  served  as 
School  Trustee  and  Highway  Commissioner  one  term  each. 

JAMES  C.  NEWLIN,  Constable,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Scotland  July  27,  1828, 
and  came  to  the  United  States  with  his  father's  family  when  a  bairn  but  1  year  old. 
The  family  located  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio.  In  1851,  his  father  came, to  Illinois,  and  died 
in  Putnam  Co.  in  1854.  James  C.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  in  Butler  Co., 
Ohio,  till  1858 ;  then  went  to  California  overland,  and  remained  there  until  1864, 
engaged  mostly  in  mining,  but  was  two  years  in  the  employ  of  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co. ; 
returned  to  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  married,  in  1866,  to  Miss  Jane  Lesourd,  who  was 
born  in  Ohio  ;  one  child — Rosa.  Is  a  member  of  Rose  of  Sharon  Lodge,  No.  77,  A., 
F.  &  A.  M.,  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio,  has  been  a  member  about  twenty-two  years.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  1867,  and  located  in  Quiver  Township,  in  this  county,  and  engaged  in 
farming  ;  removed  into  Havana  in  1873. 

HARMON  R.  NORTRUP,  attorney-at-law,  Havana  ;  was  born  near  Quacken- 
bruck,  Hanover,  Germany,  April  6,  1852;  he  came  to  America  when  about  13  years 
of  age,  and  located  at  Havana,  his  present  home,  in  the  fall  of  1865;  here  he  followed 
clerking  and  book-keeping  for  a  few  years,  and,  in  1870,  was  appointed  Deputy  County 
Clerk,  of  Mason  Co.,  serving  in  that  capacity  for  a  period  of  about  three  years.  He 
entered  the  Lincoln  (111.)  University  in  1873,  and,  two  years  later,  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  remained  for  a  few  months ;  he  then  returned  to  Havana,  and  read  law  in  the 
office  of  Dearborn  &  Campbell  until  the  fall  of  1877,  when  he  entered  the  law  school 
at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  from  which  he  graduated  May  21.  1878.  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 


.  HAVANA   TOWNSHIP.  773 

that  State  the  same  date  ;  he  then  returned  to  Havana  and  opened  a  law  office,  being 
admitted -to  the  bar  of  Illinois  in  June,  1878.  Mr.  Nortrup  is  a  member  of  Havana 
Lodge,  No.  88,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  now  City  Attorney  and  Public  Administrator  of 
Mason  Co. 

.  PHILIP  OPP,  farmer,  Sees.  9  and  10  ;  P.O.Havana;  was  born  in  Lehigh  Co., 
Penn.,  May  3,  1814, where  he  resided  till  about  25  years  of  age;  then  removed  to  Trumbull 
Co.,  Ohio.  In  the  fall  of  1842,  he  removed  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Havana  Township, 
Mason  Co.,  where  he  has  since  followed  farming.  In  the  fall  of  1838,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Margaret  Roberts,  who  was  born  in  Berks  Co.,  Penn.  They  have  had  eight  chil- 
dren ;  five  are  now  living — John  A.,  Benwell  H.,  Benjamin  F.,  George  W.  and  Almira 
J.  Mr.  Opp  has  resided  on  his  present  farm,  in  Havana  Township,  over  thirty  years  ; 
he  owns  240  acres  of  land  in  this  township,  and  120  acres  in  Sherman.  His  parents, 
Conrad  and  Margaret  (Weise)  Opp,  were  born  in  Lehigh  Co.,  Penn. 

CHARLES  PULLING,  farmer,  Sec.  27  ;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Bucking- 
hamshire, England,  Jan.  31,  1827,  but  emigrated  to  America  when  about  3  years 
of  age,  with  his  father's  family  ;  they  located  near  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  and  soon  after 
removed  to  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio.  In  March,  1848,  they  removed  to  Mason  Co.,  111. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  worked  first  at  brickmaking,  for  S.  C.  Conwell,  and  in  1849 
engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account.  In  1852,  he  went  to  Oregon,  where  he  was 
for  about  three  years  engaged  in  the  lumber  business ;  then  returned  to  this  township, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  served  as  School  Director  nine  years  ;  owns  340 
acres  of  land  in  Havana  Township.  Was  married,  in  April,  1849,  to  Miss  Eliza  Leaf, 
who  was  born  in  England  ;  she  died  in  1850.  By  this  union,  there  were  two  children 
(twins),  Adaline  and  Caroline,  born  Jan.  18,  1850,  the  former,  deceased,  wife  of  Charles 
Waterworth.  Mr.  Pulling  was  married  to  Louisa  A.  Samms,  Dec.  2,  1855  ;  she  was 
born  in  Greene  Co.,  111.  Nine  children  by  this  union,  three  of  whom  are  living — 
Jonathan,  born  Nov.  30,  1858;  Clark,  Feb.  20,  1862  ;  Evelina,  July  23,  1868.  The 
following  are  the  deceased — Charles,  born  Dec.  30,  1860;  Thomas,  Dec.  21,  1865; 
Jacob,  Sept.  15,  1866;  Junetta,  Oct.  17,  1871 ;  Ann,  Aug.  31,  1873;  Sarah  J.,  Oct. 
10,  1875  ;  Josephine,  April  5,  1877. 

ISAAC  P.  PRETTYMAN,  farmer,  Sec.  27  ;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland Co.,  N.  J.,  Jan.  14,  1822  ;  when  about  16  years  of  age,  his  father's  family 
removed  to  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  where  he  learned  the  cooper's  trade.  His  father,  Isaac 
Prettyman,  served  in  the  war  of  1812  ;  he  was  born  in  the  State  of  Delaware,  and  his 
mother,  Mary  (Jones)  Prettyman,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  In  the  spring  of  1856, 
Isaac  Prettyman  removed  to  Illinois,  and  located  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  and 
has  since  that  date  been  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  He  has  served  as  School  Director  and 
School  Trustee,  several  years.  In  1870,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Minerva  Beckwith,  who 
was  born  in  Mas^n  Co.,  111.  Five  children  by  this  union — Perry,  Venus,  Emeline, 
Henry  and  Phil  S.  Mr.  Prettyman  owns  301  acres  of  land  in  Havana  Township. 

JOHN  W.  PITMAN,  attorney  at  law,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Madison  Co.7 
Ky.,  Dec.  11,  1832,  where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1842,  when  his  father 
removed  to  Illinois,  locating  near  Canton,  Fulton  Co.,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  worked  on  the  farm  until  1852,  attending  the  common 
schools  during  the  winter.  Entered  Lombard  University,  at  Galesburg,  in  the  fall  of 
1852,  remaining  until  1856,  teaching  during  a  portion  of  vacations.  In  the  spring  of 
1857,  commenced  the  study  of  law  with  Judge  G.  C.  Lanphere,  of  Galesburg.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  fall  of  1859,  and  commenced  practice  in  Galesburg.  Went 
into  the  army  as  Adjutant  of  102d  I.  V.  I.,  in  1862.  In  1863.  came  to  Havana,  and 
has  practiced  his  profession  here  ever  since.  He  was  married,  in  1860,  to  Miss  Nancy 
A.  Haley,  who  was  born  at  Monmouth,  Warren  Co.,  111.;  she  died  in  .August,  1870. 
Three  children,  two  of  whom  are  living — Park  W.,  Paul  B.;  former  graduated  at 
Havana  High  School.  May  L.  died  in  1870.  Second  marriage  took  place  Oct.  2, 1878, 
to  Amanda  K.  Allen,  who  was  born  in  Shelbyville,  Ind. 

JOSEPH  B.  PAUL,  physician  and  surgeon,  Havana;  was  born  in  Solon, 
Me  ,  April  30,  1823,  but  removed,  when  about  16  years  of  age,  to  Waldo  Co.,  and 


774  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

subsequently  to  Penobscot.  He  received  his  education  at  the  Foxcroft  Academy,  and 
for  several  years  followed  teaching  in  different  localities,  having  charge  of  schools  at 
Houlton,  Calais  and  Bangor,  Me.  In  1851,  on  account  of  failing  health,  he  came  West 
and  located  at  Peoria,  111.,  where  he  resumed  his  vocation,  serving  as  Principal  of  the 
Fourth  Ward  School  from  the  above  date  till  1855,  during  which  period  his  spare  time 
was  given  to  the  study  of  medicine.  He  came  to  Havana,  his  present  home,  in  the  fall 
of  1855,  and  took  charge  of  the  public  schools.  In  February,  1857,  he  graduated  at 
Rush  Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Havana, 
where  he  has  since  followed  the  practice  of  his  profession  a  period  of  twenty-two  years. 
He  was  married,  in  1848,  to  Lavina  G.  Laughton,  who  was  born  in  Harmony,  Somerset 
Co.,  Me.,  March  17,  1827.  They  have  three  children — Edward,  who  is  a  graduate  of 
the  Wesleyan  University,  at  Bloomington,  111. ;  Charles  A.  and  Catharine  C.  In  1862, 
he  was  appointed,  by  Gov.  Yates,  United  States  Examiner  for  Recruits.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Brainard  District  Medical  Society ;  also  a  member  of  the  following  Masonic 
bodies:  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  and  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86.  In  Doctor  Paul 
we  see  exemplified  the  truth  of  the  saying,  "  The  will  is  father  to  the  way." 
Privileges  of  schooling  in  the  backwoods  of  Maine  were  not  great,  therefore 
he  sought  abroad  what  could  not  be  readily  obtained  at  home ;  carving,  so  to  speak, 
out  of  the  solid  rock,  with  his  own  pick  and  pen,  his  own  way  in  the  world,  ever  bear- 
ing in  mind  the  fact  that  *'  He  who  would  thrive  himself  must  either  hold  or  drive." 
Hence  his  success  in  his  chosen  profession. 

JESSE  P.  PIPKIN,  of  the  firm  of  Pipkin  &  Cunningham,  manufacturers  of 
farm  and  spring  wagons,  Havana ;  was  born  in  Jackson  Co.,  Tenn.,  March  18, 
1850,  but  in  early  childhood  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father's  family  and  located  at 
Havana.  He  followed  farming  until  about  19  years  of  age.  when  he  learned  the  black- 
smith trade,  and,  in  1874,  commenced  business  under  the  above  firm  name.  He  was 
elected  Alderman  of  the  First  Ward  in  the  spring  of  1879.  In  June,  1878,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Lienesch,  who  was  born  in  Germany.  The  firm  of  which  Mr. 
P.  is  a  member  manufactures  farm  and  light  wagons,  and  plows,  but  their  specialty  is 
the  manufacture  of  farm  wagons.  All  their  work  is  warranted  thoroughly  first-class. 

GEORGE  W.  PARKINS,  physician  and  surgeon,  Havana;  was  born  in 
Greenbrier  Co.,  W.  Va.,  Dec.  20,  1821,  where  he  resided  until  about  12  years  of  age,  when 
he  removed  to  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio.  He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  1844, 
and  the  practice  of  the  same  in  1849.  He  removed  to  Illinois  in  1850,  and  located 
in  Schuyler  Co.,  where  his  father's  family  had  settled  in  1840.  Here  he  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  partnership  with  Dr.  McMurphy.  He  was  married,  in 
1853,  to  Mrs.  Rosa  Bell  Maxwell  (Stevenson),  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  removed 
to  Havana  in  1853,  the  year  of  his  marriage,  and  has  practiced  his  profession  here 
ever  since — a  period  of  twenty-six  years.  He  has  one  son — Horace  G.,  a  graduate  of 
the  Chicago  University.  Dr.  Parkins  is  a  member  of  Mason  Lodge,  No.  143, 1.  O.  0.  F. 

JACOB  PRETTYMAN,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Havana;  was  born  in  Salem  Co., 
N.  J.,  March  23,  1824 ;  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Jones)  Prettyman ;  his  father  was 
born  in  Delaware,  and  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  in  the  Black  Hawk  war;  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  when  about  21  years  of  age,  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he 
resided  seven  years,  then  to  his  birthplace,  and  in  November,  1857,  came  West  and 
located  in  Havana  Township,  where  he  followed  farming  until  1864,  when  he  located  in 
Havana,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes,  and,  three  years  later,  gave 
up  this  line  of  trade,  and  embarked  in  the  grocery  business;  in  1864,  he  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and,  although  engaged  in  other  business,  has  held  the  office  since, 
and,  during  1870  and  1871,  he  served,  also,  as  Police  Magistrate,  but  resigned  the  lat- 
ter office  in  1871.  He  was  married,  in  1845,  to  Miss  Hannah  A.  Mullen,  who  was 
born  in  Gloucester  Co.,  N.  J.,  April  25,  1826  ;  eleven  children  by  this  union,  nine  of 
whom  are  living — Jacob  H.,  who  served  in  Co.  K,  85th  I.  V.  I.,  and  was  with  Gen. 
Sherman  in  his  march  to  the  sea,  and  now  resides  in  Peoria ;  William  M.  and  George 
W.  (twins) — the  former  residing  in  Sherman  Township,  and  the  latter  in  Forest  City ; 
Isaac  P.,  residing  in  Havana;  Ida  V.,  Klwood,  Sylvester,  Lena  and  Charles  F.;  last 


HAVANA   TOWNSHIP.  775 

three  and  Ida  at  home ;  Elwood  resides  at  Peoria  ;  two  deceased — Edward  M.,  born 
Nov.  6,  1852,  and  died  March  13,  1873;  Henry,  born  Jan.  14,  1862,  and  died  Feb. 
4,  1863.  Mr.  Prettyman  is  a  member  of  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. 

JAMES  QUICK,  farmer,  Sec.  36 ;  P.  0.  Topeka  ;  was  born  in  Somerset  Co., 
N.  J.,  July  14,  1820,  where  he  resided  until  his  removal  to  Illinois  in  1841;  arriving 
at  Jacksonville  in  June  of  that  year,  and  the  following  spring  locating  in  Havana  Town- 
ship, this  county,  where  he  has  since  resided  ;  he  has  served  as  School  Director  about 
fourteen  years.  He  was  married,  Jan.  7,  1847,  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Simmons,  who  was 
born  in  Mason  Co.,  Ky.;  her  father,  Pollard  Simmons,  and  John  Hitter  were  both  from 
Mason  Co.,  Ky.,  and  perhaps  for  the  sake  of  its  familiar  and  homelike  sound,  selected 
the  name  which  was  adopted  for  this  county ;  the  following  are  the  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Quick:  Richard  R.,  George  W.,  William  T.,  Harriet,  Lucy,.  Emma  and  J. 
Thomas ;  they  have  lost  three — Lucretia,  John  and  Charles.  Mr.  Quick  has  resided 
on  his  present  farm  since  1 847 ;  he  owns  207  acres  of  farm  land,  and  40  acres  of 
timber. 

GEN.  JAMES  M.  RUGGLES,  retired,  Havana;  was  born  in  Mansfield, 
Richland  Co.,  Ohio,  March  7,  1818,  and  in  1837  came  to  Illinois;  at  the  age  of  15,  he 
engaged  in  the  printing  business,  which  vocation  he  followed  some  years  after  locating 
in  this  State;  in  1846,  he  settled  in  the  town  of  Bath,  then  the  seat  of  Justice  of 
Mason  Co.;  although  he  had  studied  law  and  been  admitted  to  the  bar,  he  laid  it  aside 
and  engaged  actively  in  merchandising ;  all  through  the  sanguinary  war,  between 
Havana  and  Bath,  on  the  county  seat  question,  Mr.  Ruggles  fought  the  battle  for  Bath 
against  overwhelming  odds  ;  in  1852,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  for  the  district, 
composed  of  the  counties  of  Sangamon,  Menard  and  Mason,  where  he  served  four  years 
with  distinction.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  member  of  the  Lower  House  at  the  time,  and  was 
a  candidate  for  the  United  States  Senate  against  Lyman  Truiabull ;  he  solicited  the 
support  of  Mr.  Ruggles,  which  was  given  with  the  utmost  zeal  and  cordiality — so  much 
so,  that  he  was  carried  to  the  Senate  Chamber  upon  a  sick-bed,  to  cast  his  vote  for  Mr. 
Lincoln  ;  he  was  ever  a  warm  friend  and  ardent  admirer  of  the  martyred  President, 
and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Chicago  Convention  in  1860  ;  about  1850,  Mr.  Ruggles 
began  the  agitation  of  an  Illinois  River  railroad,  and  during  his  term  as  Senator  pre- 
pared a  charter,  which,  mainly  through  his  influence,  passed  both  Houses ;  he  was  one 
of  its  corporators,  and  from  the  first  inception  of  the  enterprise,  until  the  road  was 
completed,  took  an  active  interest  in  it,  working  faithfully,  till  the  requisite  amount  of 
stock  was  subscribed,  to  insure  its  success ;  alone  and  unaided,  he  drafted  the  first  plat- 
form on  which  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois  was  founded ;  he,  together  with  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Ebenezer  Peck,  were  appointed  a  committee  for  that  purpose,  during  the 
session  of  the  Legislature  in  February,.  1856,  but  the  other  two  being  otherwise 
engaged,  the  work  devolved  on  Mr.  Ruggles ;  at  the  Convention,  the  same  year,  he  was 
his  party's  candidate  for.  Lieutenant  Governor,  but  declined  in  favor  of  a  German  can- 
didate. At  the  beginning  of  the  late  war,  he  entered  the  army,  and  was  appointed 
Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster  by  Gov.  Yates,  in  the  1st  I.  V.  C.,  and  was  sent  to  Mis- 
souri, but,  dissatisfied  with  the  inactivity  of  his  position,  at  his  earnest  solicitation,  he 
was  sent  to  the  front,  by  order  of  Gen.  Grant,  and  promoted  to  Major  in  the  3d  I.  V.  C., 
in  which  regiment  he  served,  until  mustered  out  in  1864;  at  Pea  Ridge  he  was  pro- 
moted to  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  for  a  time  commanded  the  regiment ;  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  he  was  breveted  Brigadier  General  for  meritorious  services ;  after  the  war,  he 
served  a  time  as  Master  in  Chancery,  but  has  never  been  afflicted  with  the  mania  for 
office.  In  all  the  various  positions  held  by  Gen.  Ruggles,  his  official  duties  have  been 
performed  with  unswerving  fidelity;  a  scholar,  and  a  man  of  fine  literary  tastes,  he 
enjoys,  and  is  sought  by  the  best  class  of  society  ;  he  wields  an  able  pen,  but  has  never 
been  forced  to  the  necessity  of  using  it  for  a  livelihood  ;  his  latest,  and  perhaps  his  best 
literary  effort,  is  the  writing  of  the  general  history  of  this  work,  which  is  done  in  the 
most  thorough  manner.  The  reputation  he  achieved  in  his  younger  days,  as  the  editor 
of  a  country  paper  in  Scott  Co.,  made  him  the  candidate  of  the  Whig  party  for  State 
printer  in  the  Legislature  of  1844;  in  all  the  early  enterprises  to  improve  the  country 


776  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

by  the  establishment  of  wagon  roads  and  building  of  railroads,  Gen.  Ruggles  has  been 
active  and  energetic  ;  he  was  the  author  of  the  first  drainage  law  in  Illinois,  gotten  up 
for  the  purpose  of  draining  the  lands  in  Havana  and  Bath  Townships,  which  law  was 
extensively  copied  into  other  local  laws,  for  the  same  purpose.  Gen.  Ruggles  comes  of 
no  ignoble  stock.  Brigadier  Timothy  Rusgles,  President  of  the  first  Congress  that  met 
in  America,  in  1765,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  one  of  the  most  noted  men  in  New 
England  before  the  Revolution,  was  a  brother  of  his  grandfather.  John  Ruggles, 
another  branch  of  the  family,  was  three  times  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  from 
the  State  of  Maine,  and  Benjamin  Ruggles  was  the  first  United  States  Senator  elected 
from  Ohio  in  1818,  in  which  body  he  served  for  eighteen  years.  Judge  Spooner  Rug- 
gies,  the  father  of  Gren.  Ruggles,  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  from  Ogle  and  Win- 
nebago  Cos.  in  1842,  and  was  a  man  of  note  for  his  integrity  and  ability  in  Ohio, 
as  well  as  in  Illinois. 

JOHN  ROAT,  farmer,  Sec.  10;  P.  O.  Havana;  was  born  in  New  Jersey  March 
7,  1809,  but  removed,  when  about  7  years  of  age,  with  his  father's  family,  to  Warren 
Co.,  Ohio,  residing  in  this  and  Clermont  Co.,  until  his  removal  to  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of 
1851,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  this  county,  in  the  fall  of  that  year;  his  present 
residence  is  located  within  three-quarters  of  a  mile  of  where  he  first  settled.  In  1829, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Sophie  Schuyler,  vrho  was  born  in  Warren  Co.,  N.  J.,  Jan  4, 
1811 ;  eight  children  by  this  union,  six  of  whom  are  living — Anna,  wifeof  Joel  Crater, 
born  April  27,  1830 ;  Jacob,  Aug.  23,  1832  ;  Margaret,  widow  of  D.  Athy,  Dec.  3, 
1833;  John  W.,  Aug.  9,  1841;  Christina.  Aug.  24,  1845;  George  W.  M.,  Jan.  1, 
1850.  The  names  of  the  deceased  are  Elsie  C.,  born  March  31,  1837,  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1868,  and  William,  who  enlisted  in  Co.  L,  llth  111.  Cav.,  Dec.  7,  1861 — died 
while  in  the  service,  at  Bolivar  Aug.  30,  1862  ;  he  was  born  Sept.  22,  1838. 

JOHN  W.  RHODES,  agricultural  implements,  Havana.  The  subject  of  these 
lines  was  born  in  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  Nov.  7,  1841,  where  he  remained  until  July, 
1854,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Whiteside  Co.  In  April,  ,1861,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  B,  13th  I.  V.  I.,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  a  period  of  four 
years  and  eleven  months.  He  was  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant  in  May,  1863  ;  in 
fall  of  same  year,  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  and  to  Captain  in  the  early  part  of 
1864.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Pea  Ridge,  Chickasaw  Bayou,  Jackson,  Miss., 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  Atlanta,  Lookout  Mountain,  and  was  with  Sherman  on  his  march 
to  the  sea.  After  the  war  ended,  he  remained  one  year  in  Louisiana,  and  engaged  in 
the  cultivation  of  cotton,  after  which  he  returned  to  Whiteside  Co.  In  1869,  he  came 
to  Mason  Co.,  where  he  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  farming  and  merchandising. 
He  was  married,  in  1869,  to  Miss  Gyrene  H.  Hancock,  who  was  born  in  Havana,  her 
father  having  settled  here  as  early  as  1842,  when  buildings  of  any  kind  were  scarce — 
their  dwelling  being  used  for  a  court-room  at  an  early  session  of  Mason  County  Court. 
They  have  three  children — Walter  H.,  Lizzie  and  Ruth.  Mr.  R.  is  a  member  of 
Havana  Lodge,  No.  88.,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. 

MRS.  ANN  M.  ROBERTS,  farming,  Sec.  3  ;  P.  0.  Havana  ;  was  born  in 
Montreal,  Canada,  Oct.  25,  1829  ;  when  about  15  years  of  age  she  went  to  New  York, 
and,  in  1845,  was  married  to  Edward  A.  Schermerhorn,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
City.  His  death  occurred  June  15,  1855.  They  had  four  children — Edward  A., 
resides  in  Havana  ;  George  H.,  has  charge  of  the  farm;  Kate  M.,  the  wife  of  Charles 
G.  Howell,  resides  in  Nebraska  ;  John  W.  resides  in  Iowa.  After  the  death  of  her 
husband,  Mrs.  Roberts  removed  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Havana  in  1858.  In  1861,  she 
was  married  to  Daniel  M.  Roberts,  who  was  born  in  Berks  Co.,  Penn.,  Sept.  5,  1807  ; 
he  settled  in  Mason  Co.  in  1842.  Mr.  Roberts  died  Dec.  2,  1873.  The  only  child  by 
this  union  was  Harriet  A.,  whose  death  occurred  Aug.  1,  1864.  Mrs.  Roberts  owns 
172  acres  of  land  in  Havana  Township. 

LEONARD  SCHWENK,  Circuit  Clerk,  Mason  Co.,  Havana;  was  born  in  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany,  July  23,  1832  ;  came  to  this  country  in  1854,  locating  at  Pottsville, 
Schuylkill  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  resided  till  his  removal  to  Illinois.  In  1864,  he  removed 
to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  located  in  Manito  Township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  In 


HAVANA   TOWNSHIP.  777 

the  fall  of  1872,  Mr.  Schwenk  was  elected  to  his  present  office  and  removed  his  family 
to  Havana  ;  he  was  re-elected  in  1876.  While  a  resident  of  Manito  Township,  he  served 
as  Collector  three  years,  and  School  Director  four  years.  In  1856,  he  married  Miss 
Rebecca  Singley,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio  ;  they  have  eight  children — Annie 
K.,  wife  of  Frank  Sedlatzeck ;  John  L.,  George  D.,  Mary  E.,  William  H.,  Paulina  M., 
Catharine  Louisa  and  Sarah  R.  Mr.  Schwenk  still  owns  a  farm  of  320  acres  of  land 
in  Manito  Township. 

MARTIN  SCOTT,  farmer,  Sec.  24  ;  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Rahway,  Union  Co., 
N.  J.,  June  10,  1814,  where  he  resided  till  his  removal  to  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1837, 
his  father  s  family  came  to  Illinois ;  their  first  location  was  at  Beardstown,  on  the  3d  of 
December  of  that  year,  and  the  following  February,  they  located  in  Crane  Creek  Town- 
ship, this  county  ;  they  removed  to  Havana  Township  in  January,  1839,  locating  on 
the  farm  where  Mr.  Scott  and  his  brother  now  reside.  His  father,  Aaron  Scott,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey,  Jan.  22,  1786;  his  death  occurred  April  1,  1847.  His  mother, 
Mary  (Evens)  Scott,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  Dec.  25,  1787,  died  Aug.  30,  1859. 
Mr.  Scott  has  served  as  Assessor  six  years  and  Commissioner  of  Highways  three  years. 
He  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  when  about  16  years  of  age,  and  worked  in  the  shops 
of  the  Camden  &  Amboy  Railroad,  from  1834  to  1837.  From  1842  to  1847,  he 
worked  at  his  trade  in  this  county,  since  which  he  has  followed  farming.  Owns  160 
acres  of  land  in  Havana,  and  200  acres  in  Sherman  Township. 

THEODORE  STEPHENSON,  of  the  firm  of  Stephenson  &  Wahlfeld,  groceries 
and  provisions,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Denmark  Jan.  6,  1834 ;  came  to  the  United  States 
in  the  summer  of  1867,  landing  in  New  York  City  July  4th,  and  the  following  year  removed 
to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  which  occupation  he  followed  about 
-one  year  ;  he  then  entered  the  store  of  John  H.  Bruning  as  clerk.  In  1871,  he  com- 
menced business  at  Bishop  Station  on  his  own  account,  and,  some  four  years  later,  sold 
out  and  visited  the  place  of  his  nativity.  On  his  return,  in  1875,  he  engaged  in  business 
under  the  present  firm  name.  He  was  married,  in  1879,  to  Mrs.  Margaret  Bodecker 
(Deverman),  who  was  born  in  Germany.  She  has  two  children  by  her  first  husband— 
Emma,  wife  of  B.  Zelle,  and  Otto.  Mr.  Stephenson  is  a  member  of  Havana  Grove, 
No.  40,  U.  A.  0,  D.,  and  also  of  the  Mutual  Aid  Society. 

NICHOLAS  SIEBENALER,  tobacconist,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  the  Province  or. 
Luxemburg  July  22,  1834,  and  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1848,  with  his  father's 
family,  locating  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  had  come  from  the  old  country  via  New  Orleans. 
In  1853,  he  went  to  California  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  reaching  the  Pacific 
Slope  on  the  15th  of  May,  and  engaged  in  trade  at  McCulma  Hill  mines.  He  returned 
to  St.  Louis  in  1858,  and  worked  at  his  trade  of  tobacconist.  In  the  spring  of  1859, 
he  came  to  Havana,  and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  cigars.  He  was  elected  City 
Treasurer  in  1877,  and  served  two  years.  He  was  married,  Nov.  22,  1860,  to  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Graham,  who  was  born  in  Scotland  Nov.  12,  1844.  The  result  of  this  mar- 
riage is  five  children — Katie  I.,  William,  Lucy,  Albert  and  Gracie.  He  is  a  member  of 
Mason  Lodge,  No.  143,  I.  O.  0.  F.,  and  Encampment,  also  of  Havana  Lodge  No.  88, 
A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  Damascus  Com- 
mandery,  No.  42,  Knights  Templar,  and  Havana  Grove,  No.  40,  U.  A.  0.  D. 

C.  STEVENS,  dentist,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  March  7, 1834. 
When  about  19  years  of  age,  he  came  West,  and  located  at  Peoria,  111.,  where  he  resided 
until  his  removal  to  Havana,  in  the  fall  of  1868,  with  the  exception  of  an  interval  of 
about  three  years.  He  commenced  the  study  of  dentistry  in  1858;  a  profession  he  has 
since  followed.  In  1855,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Kate  Stevison,  who  was  born  in  Mt. 
Vernon,  Ohio.  The  result  of  this  union  is  four  children — May,  wife  of  Charles  Con- 
nelly ;  Frank  E.,  Kate  and  Gracie  B.  He  is  a  member  of  A.  0.  U.  W. 

JACOB  F.  STRICKLE,  dealer  in  dry  goods,  Havana;  was  born  in  Wilmington, 
Clinton  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  2,  1845,  where  he  resided  till  his  removal  to  Bloomington, 
McLean  Co.,  in  1867  ;  there  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  for  about  six  years, 
then  removed  to  Chicago,  111.,  and,  about  two  years  later,  located  at  Havana,  his  present 
hume.  In  December,  1878,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Angie  Biggs,  who  was  born  in 


778  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES : 

Clinton  Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  Strickle  has  a  fine  stock,  and  full  assortment  of  staple  and  fancy 
dry  goods,  hats,  caps,  boots  and  shoes,  constantly  on  hand. 

CHARLES  STUART,  farmer,  Sec.  4  ;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born  in  Havana 
Township,  Mason  Co.,  III.,  Jan.  19,  1848  ;  his  father,  Alexander  Stu.art,  of  Havana, 
was  one  of  the  earlier  settlers  of  Mason  Co.,  locating  here  in  1837.  Charles  S.,  was 
married,  Nov.  29,  1867,  to  Miss  Marilda  Rose,  who  was  born  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  they 
have  two  children — Walter  and  Jennie. 

CHARLES  SCHILL,  dealer  in  stoves,  tinware,  etc.,  Havana ;  was  born  in 
Baden,  Germany,  Nov.  30,  1838.  He  came  to  America  in  .1854,  locating  first  in  New 
York  City,  and  two  years  later  came  West  and  located  at  Havana,  his  present  home. 
In  1862,  he  commenced  in  his  present  business,  having  partially  learned  the  tinner's 
trade  in  his  native  country,  and  completed  it  in  New  York.  Mr.  S.  is  a  member  of  the 
following  Masonic  bodies  :  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86,  and  Damas- 
cus Commandery,  No.  42. 

AUGUST  SCHILL,  firm  of  A.  &  W.  Schill,  meat  market,  Havana ;  was 
born  in  Baden,  Germany,  May  30,  1830,  and  came  to  America  in  1851,  locating  in 
New  York  City,  where  he  engaged  in  the  business  he  now  follows,  and  which  he  learned 
when  but  10  years  of  age ;  he  left  home  at  the  age  of  18,  traveled  through 
Switzerland,  France  and  Southern  Germany,  being  employed  in  different  places.  In 
1857,  removed  from  New  York  to  Peoria,  and  with  others  established  the  City  Market, 
at  corner  of  Fulton  and  Madison  streets.  In  1860,  he  came  to  Havana  and  engaged  in 
his  present  business.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  Board  of  Aldermen  after  Havana 
was  organized  as  a  city.  He  was  married  Jan.  1,  1861,  to  Miss  Bertha  Bruder,  who 
was  born  in  Baden,  Germany.  They  have  six  children — Emma,  August,  William, 
Charles  M.,  Ida  and  Bertha.  He  is  a  member  of  Havana  Grove  No.  40,  U.  A.  0.  D. 

ROBERT  M.  SCANLAND,  dentist,  Havana;  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Pike 
Co.,  111.,  Oct.  16.  1853.  His  grandfather,  William  Watson,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  that  county.  In  1872,  the  Doctor  commenced  the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  A.  B. 
Carey,  of  Pittsfield,  111.,  and  two  years  later  removed  to  Havana,  his  present  home.  He 
was  married,  in  1878,  to  Miss  Virginia  R.  Woollen,  who  was  born  in  Franklin,  Ind. 
They  have  one  child,  William  W. 

HENRY  H.  SHERMEYER,  saddle  and  harness  manufacturer,  Havana; 
was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  Jan.  25,  1826  ;  he  came  to  America  about  1846, 
locating  first  at  York,  Penn., -where  he  learned  the  harness-maker's  trade ;  after  a  residence 
here  of  some  five  years,  he  worked  at  his  trade  in  Cincinnati,  Johnstown  and  Ports- 
mouth, Ohio,  and  in  Maysville,  Ky.  In  1853,  he  came  to  Danville,  111.,  thence  to 
Bloomington,  and  from  there  to  Petersburg.  Since  the  4th  of  July,  1855,  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  the  city  of  Havana.  Has  served  one  year  as  member  of  the  Town  Board. 
He  was  married,  in  1859,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Wilson,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania. 
They  have  had  six  children,  four  living — Eddie,  Fannie,  Freddie  and  Myrtie  L.;  the 
names  of  the  deceased  are  Allie  and  William. 

JAMES  P.  SMITH,  baggage  and  transfer  express,  Havana ;  was  born  in  Fulton 
Co.,  111.,  April  22,  1844;  his  father.  Jacob  L.  Smith,  who  now  resides  in  Texas,  was 
born  near  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  and  settled  in  Fulton  Co.,  this  State,  as  early  as  1834. 
The  subject  of  these  lines  followed  farming  till  1873,  when  he  removed  to  Havana  and 
engaged  in  his  present  business.  He  was  married,  in  1865,  to  Miss  Mary  R.  Weese, 
who  was  born  in  Fulton  Co.,  111. ;  they  have  one  child  living — Cienient  V.  Mr.  Smith 
is  a  membei  of  the  A.  0.  TJ.  W.  His  wife's  parents  were  also  early  settlers  of  Fulton 
Co.,  having  settled  there  in  about  1835. 

JOHN  W.  SARFF,  farmer  and  hedge-grower,  Sec.  6 ;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born 
in  Union  City,  Randolph  Co.,  Ind.,  March  26,  1844;  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1860  with 
his  father's  family  and  located  at  Snicarte,  Lynchburg  Township,  Mason  Co. ;  in  the 
spring  of  1865,  he  came  to  Havana  Township,  and  was  employed  by  A.  P.  Glenn,  then 
engaged  in  hedge  growing;  in  1869,  Mr.  Sarff  commenced  in  the  same  business  on  his 
own  account,  which  he  has  since  followed  together  with  farming  ;  he  has  now  about 
forty  acres  in  hedge  plants.  He  was  married,  Nov.  5,  1865,  to  Miss  Sarah  Hill,  who 


HAVANA    TOWNSHIP.  779 

was  born  in  Sussex,  England  ;  they  have  three  children — Lawrence,  Ella  and  Harry. 
Mr.  Sarff  owns  about  300  acres  of  land  in  Lynchburg  Township,  this  county,  where 
his  parents  now  reside.  His  father,  Jacob  C.,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  his 
mother,  Sarah  (Russell)  Sarff,  is  also  a  native  of  the  same  State. 

KEY.  GEORGE  SEIBERT,  Pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  America;  residence, 
Havana  ;  was  born  in  Frankinfeldt  Laudkeright,  New  Stadt  Auderich,  Germany,  Jan. 
24,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Barbara  (Hefler)  Seibert;  in  early  childhood,  he 
came  to  America  with  his  father's  family,  locating  in  Hudson  Co.,  N.  J. ;  in  1858,  he 
entered  Rutger's  College  (Grammar  Department)  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,and,  a  year 
later,  commenced  the  college  course,  which  he  continued  for  two  years,  and  then  enlisted  in 
Co.  G.  1st  N.  J.  V.  I.,  May  28, 1861  ;  he  participated  in  the  first  battle  at  Bull  Run  and 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  ;  on  the  15th  of  January,  1863,  he  was  discharged  from  the 
service  by  reason  of  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability.  Mr.  Seibert  spent  his  spare  time 
after  entering  the  army  in  study,  completing  the  college  course,  and,  in  June,  1862, 
graduated,  receiving  the  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  degrees;  in  the  fall  of  1864,  he  entered  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  New  Brunswick,  graduating  at  that  institution  in  the  summer 
of  1866,  and  was  ordained  and  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Classis  of  Monmouth,  N.  J.,  Aug. 
12,  of  the  same  year ;  he  was  installed  by  them  at  the  same  time  Pastor  of  the 
Reformed  Church  of  Middletown,  N.  J.,  and  served  in  that  capacity  till  March,  1873, 
when  he  accepted  the  appointment  by  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  to  occupy  the 
field  at  Havana,  111.,  and  commenced  his  labors  there  April  1,  1873.  He  was  married 
June  20,  1866,  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Gurnew,  who  was  born  in  New  York  City  Jan.  30, 
1841  ;  they  have  five  children — George  G.,  Edward  T.,  Henry  P.,  Frank  A.  and  their 
adopted  daughter,  Jennie.  Mr.  Seibert  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Illinois  K.  of  H.,  also  Grand  Chaplain  of  the  same. 

PETER  SPECKMANN,  farmer,  Sec.  23  ;  P.  0.  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Havana 
Township,  this  county,  March  14,  1838 ;  his  father,  Frederick  Speckmann,  who  was 
born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  came  to  America  in  1835,  and  settled  in  Mason  Co.  in  the 
fall  of  1836 ;  he  died  Nov.  27,  1854  ;  his  mother,  Ann  M.  (Netler)  Speckmann,  was 
born  in  Hanover,  Germany ;  settled  here  May  5,  1837  ;  her  death  occurred  Aug.  22, 
1875.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married,  Oct.  3,  1865,  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Ermel- 
ing,  who  was  born  in  Bath  Township,  this  county,  Nov.  28, 1847  ;  they  have  had  eight 
children,  four  living,  Anna — born  Oct.  3,  1867  ;  Amelia,  March  9,  1869  ;  Frederick, 
Dec.  31, 1870,  and  Eda,  Sept.  10,  1878.  Mr.  Speckmann  has  served  as  Commissioner 
of  Highways  two  years  and  School  Director  several  terms.  He  owns  340  acres  of  farm 
lands  and  215  acres  of  timber  in  Havana  Township. 

FREDERICK  SPECKMANN,  farmer,  Sec.  14 ;  P.  0.  Havana  ;  was  born  in 
Havana  Township,  this  county,  Nov.  13,  1845 ;  his  father,  Frederick  Speckmann,  who 
was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  came  to  this  country  in  1835,  and  settled  in  Mason  Co. 
in^the  fall  of  1836  ;  his  death  occurred  Nov.  27,  1854;  his  mother,  Ann  M.  (Netler) 
Speckmann,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  came  to  America  in  May,  1837  ;  she 
died  Aug.  22,  1875.  On  the  15th  of  July,  1877,  Mr.  Speckmann  was  married  to  Miss 
Auna  M.  M.  Strodtmann,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  Dec.  18,  1857  ;  their 
only  child  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Speckmann  owns  300  acres  of  land  in  Havana  Town- 
ship. 

WILLIAM  SPECKMANN,  farmer,  Sec.  14;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in 
Havana  Township,  this  county,  March  14,1838;  his  father,  Frederick  Speckmann, 
who  was  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  came  to  America  in  1835,  and  settled  in  Mason 
Co.  in  the  fall  of  1836 ;  his  death  occurred  Nov.  27,  1854 ;  his  mother,.  Ann  M.  (Net- 
ler) Speckmann,  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany ;  settled  in  Mason  Co.  in  May,  1837  ; 
she  died  Aug.  22,  1875.  In  1874,  Mr.  Speckmann  visited,  the  birthplace  of  his 
parents,  and,  in  1877,  made  his  second  journey  to  that  country.  He  owns  380  acres  of 
land  in  Havana  Township,  this  connty. 

HARM  AN  TEGEDES  (deceased), .  Sec.  28;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
Aug.  8,  1821,  and  came  to  America,  in  1844;  he  came  by  way  of  New  Orleans, 
and  located  in  Havana  Township,  this  county,  the  same  year.  In  1852,  he  was 


780  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

married  to  Miss  Mary  Kust,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  July  14,  1830  ; 
she  came  to  this  country,  with  her  father's  family,  in  1850,  via  New  Orleans,  and  set- 
tled in  Havana  Township ;  by  this  union  there  are  eight  children — Mary  A.,  wife  of 
Henry  Riep  ;  Maggie  C.,  Henry  J.,  Anna  M.,  Harman  G.,  August  J.,  Louis  H.  and 
Hannah.  The  death  of  Mr.  Tegedes  occurred  May  17,  1875,  since  which  his  widow 
has  had  the  management  of  the  farm,  consisting  of  220  acres  of  land. 

.  PETER  A.  THORN  BURG,  farmer,  Sec.  34  ;  P.  0.  Havana  ;  was  bom  in  Har- 
per's Ferry,  Md.,  Sept.  19,  1818,  but  removed  to  Fairfield  Co.,  Ohio,  when  about  10 
years  of  age,  with  his  father's  family;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came  West  in  the 
fall  of  1837,  and,  after  stopping  at  Havana,  this  county,  about  four  months,  returned  to 
Ohio.  In  November,  1840,  he  came,  with  his  brother  Eli,  and  located  in  Fulton  Co.,  and 
about  two  years  later  removed  to  Havana,  where  Mr.  Thornburg  engaged  in  blacksmithing, 
and  established  the  first  permanent  blacksmith  shop  in  Havana.  In  1850,  he  removed 
to  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  and,  until  about  fifteen  years  ago,  worked  at  his  trade, 
and  has  since  followed  farming.  In  1868,  Mr.  Thornburg  laid  out  the  town  of  Peter- 
ville.  He  was  married,  Sept.  26,  1842,  to  Miss  Leah,  daughter  of  James  Milleson  ;  she 
was  born  in  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  7,  1828;  by  this  union  there  were  fourteen 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living — John  M.,  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Edward  Eddy,  who 
resides  in  Kansas ;  Geo.  S.  and  Allen  C.  The  deceased  are — Boanerges,  died  Dec.  12, 
1845 :  James  L.,  Sept,  22,  1848  ;  Mahlon  A.,  Feb.  7,  1852  ;  Jonathan  K.,  July  22. 
1854;  Malvina,  Sept.  1,  1864;  Livingston  P.,  Sept.  12,  1869;  Virginia  L.,  Dec.  16, 
1870  ;  Maribe  E.,  March  7,  1872;  and  Emily  A.,  July  2,  1877.  His  father,  James  S., 
and  his  mother,  Eve  (Coon)  Thornburg,  were  both  natives  of  Virginia.  Mrs.  Thorn- 
burg's  father,  James  Milleson,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  Sept.  17,  1788,  and  died  in 
Fulton  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  29,  1879.  Her  mother,  Dorothy  (Knight)  Milleson,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  May  8,  1791,  and  died  in  Kilbourne  Township,  this  county,  May  17, 
1857. 

ORLANDO  B.  THORP,  dealer  in  hardware,  guns,  pistols,  etc.,  Havana; 
born  at  Canton,  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  27,  1850,  where  he  resided  until  his  removal  to 
Havana,  in  the  winter  of  1872.  Here  he  first  opened  a  gun-shop,  the  same  year,  and 
in  1878  engaged  in  his  present  business.  He  married  Miss  Kate  A.  Wagoner  in  1875, 
who  was  born  in  Mason  Co.,  111.  They  have  one  child — Edith  N.  Mr.  T.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.  At  Mr.  Thorp's  establishment  will  be 
found  a  good  assortment  of  sporting  goods — guns,  pistols,  fishing  tackle  and  amunition 
of  all  kinds. 

JOHN  H.  TAYLOR,  SR.,  clothing  and  gents'  furnishing  goods.  Havana  ; 
was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  June  9, 1840,  where  he  resided  until  1855,  when, 
with  his  father's  family,  he  came  West  and  located  in  Havana,  his  present  home.  For 
several  years  he  followed  farming,  and,  in  1862,  went  to  Colorado  and  entered  the 
employ  of  Benj.  Holliday,  who  afterward  sold  the  express  line  to  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co., 
and  Mr.  Taylor  also  acted  as  agent  for  the  latter.  He  subsequently  engaged  in  the 
live-stock  business.  On  his  return  to  Havana,  in  1866,  he  purchased  the  Taylor 
House  and  embarked  in  the  hotel  business,  and,  in  1870,  engaged  in  the  grocery  business, 
which  he  followed  until  1874.  In  1877,  he  engaged  in  his  present  business.  Mr.  T. 
has  served  two  years  as  member  of  the  Town  Board.  Married,  in  1866,  Miss  Lou 
Riggins,  who  was  born  in  Beardstown,  111.  Her  death  occurred  in  1872.  By  this 
union  there  were  three  children — Maud,  William  S.  and  Henry  J.  In  1873,  he  was 
married  to  his  present  wife,  Miss  Ida  B.  Riggins,  who  was  born  in  this  city.  They 
have  two  children  living — Lula  B.  and  John  H.,  Jr.  Ralph  died  May  16, 1875.  Mr. 
Taylor  is  a  member  of  Prosperity  Lodge,  No.  114,  A.  0.  U.  W. 

HARMAN  UTHMILLER,  farmer,  Sec.  9 ;  P.  O.  Havana;  was  born  in  Prussia, 
April  25,  1808.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1850  (via  New  Orleans),  arriving  at 
Beardstown,  111.,  in  November  of  that  year.  In  the  spring  of  1852,  he  came  to 
Havana  Township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  married,  in  September,  1836, 
to  Anna  Jane  Bulk,  who  was  born  in  Prussia  in  August,  1810.  Six  children  by  this 
union — Frederick  W. ;  Mary,  wife  of  Simon  Brinkman ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Geo. 


HAVANA   TOWNSHIP.  781 

Dehm.  They  have  lost  three  children — Henry  and  Frederick ;  also  one  that  died  in 
infancy. 

HENRY  VALENTINE,  farmer  and  hedge-grower;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in 
Monmouth  Co.,  N.  J.,  Sept.  8,  1832,  where  he  resided  till  his  removal  to  Illinois,  in 
1854,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  this  county,  in  December  of  that  year.  He  was 
first  employed  in  the  saw-mill  of  Webb  Bros.,  where  he  had  the  misfortune  to 
lose  his  left  hand.  He  was  married,  Feb.  19,  1854,  to  Miss  Hannah  Chamberlain,  who 
was  born  in  Monmouth  Co.,  N.  J.  Mr.  Valentine  owns  eighty  acres  of  farm  land  in 
Havana  Township,  and  120  acres  of  timber  in  Fulton  Co.  111.  Aside  from  farming,  he 
is  also  engaged  in  hedge-growing,  having  on  hand  from  four  to  five  million  hedge  plants. 

MILLROY  VANLANINGHAM,  livery  and  feed-stable,  Havana.  The  above- 
named  gentleman  was  born  in  Marion  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  9,  1834,  but  removed  to 
Illinois,  with  his  father's  family,  when  about  7  years  of  age,  first  locating  in 
Havana  Township,  where  his  father  engaged  in  farming.  In  1866,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  removed  to  his  present  home  in  Havana,  and  engaged  in  the  livery  business, 
together  with  farming.  He  owns  212  acres  of  land  in  Mason  Co.  In  I860  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Maria  Moslander,  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  They  had  two  children — William  E. 
and  Alonzo,  who  died  in  1867.  His  wife  died  April  19,  1871.  He  was  married  Aug. 
9,  1871,  to  Jennie  Miller,  who  was  born  in  Missouri.  This  marriage  resulted  in  four 
children — Rosa,  Emma,  Charles  and  George.  He  is  a  member  of  A.  0.  U.  W.  and 
I.  0.  M.  A. 

CHRISTIAN  WEBER,  farmer,  Sec.  32;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  Feb.  5,  1818.  He  came  to  America  in  1848;  he  came  by  way  of  New 
Orleans,  and  settled  in  Mason  Plains,  now  Forest  City  Township,  this  county.  Ho 
came  to  Havana  Township  in  1858.  Married  March  16,  1850,  to  Miss  Margaret 
Tegedes,  who  was  born  in  the  same  country  as  her  husband,  and  came  to  this  country 
the  same  year.  He  owns  280  acres  of  land  in  Havana,  and  Forest  City  Townships, 
Mason  Co. 

RUDOLPH  WISSM AN,  farmer,  Sec.  11;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  Aug.  20,  1840.  He  came  to  America  in  1866,  landing  at  Baltimore,  Md., 
and,  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Havana  Township,  this 
county.  He  was  married,  in  1871,  to  Miss  Catharine  Stegenig,  who  was  born  in  Sher- 
man Township,  this  county.  They  have  four  children — Henry,  Mary,  Hannah  and 
Louis.  Mr.  Wissman  owns  1 60  acres  of  land  in  this  township. 

WILLIAM  WALLACE,  farmer.  Sec.  13 ;  P.  0.  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Highland 
Co.,  Ohio,  May  18,  1820.  In  1843,  he  came  West  with  his  mother  and  other  members 
of  the  family  (his  father  died  when  Mr.  Wallace  was  about  8  years  old).  They  located 
in  Mason  Co.,  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1853  (February  16),  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  Kelley,  who  was  born  in  Knox  Co..  Ky.,  Sept.  6,  1832.  Five  children  by  this 
union,  four  of  whom  are  living — Calvin  W.,  born  May  8,  1856  ;  Martha  E.,  Sept.  16, 
1857  ;  Allen,  Dec.  29,  1859,  and  Rempy  A.,  Sept.  1,  1862.  Albert  was  born  March 
27,  1855,  and  died  April  10,  1855.  Mr.  Wallace  owns  320  acres  of  land  in  Havana 
Township.  Mrs.  Wallace  had  two  brothers  in  the  Black  Hawk  war — Jeremiah  and 
William  Kelley,  who  went  from  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  and  served  through  the  campaign. 
^.ORLANDO  H.  WRIGHT,  of  the  firm  of  6.  H.  &  H  A.  Wright,  attorneys, 
Havana;  was  born  in  Lockport,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y..  April  22,  1828,  and  is  the  eldest 
son  of  George  and  Theresa  (Hibbard)  Wright,  the  former  a  native  of  Deerfield,  Mass., 
and  the  latter  of  Montreal.  Canada.  His  father's  family  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled 
in  Fulton  Co.,  in  1845.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  West  some  four  years  later, 
and,  after  a  short  stay  in  Havana,  returned  to  his  native  State,  but  returned  to  this  city 
in  the  spring  of  1850,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  commencel  the  study  of  law  in 
the  office  of  William  Walker,  the  same  year,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1852.  He 
commenced  the  practice  of  law  that  year,  continuing  until  1855,  when  he  engaged  in  the 
banking  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Rupert,  Haines  &  Co.  In  1860,  he  was 
elected  Circuit  Clerk  of  Mason  Co.,  and  served  one  term,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he 
resumed  the  practice  of  law.  He  represented  the  counties  of  Mason  and  Menard  at  the 


782  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

Constitutional  Convention,  held  during  the  winter  of  1869  and  1870.  He  served  as 
City  Attorney  for  several  years,  County  Superintendent  of  schools,  one  term,  and  has 
also  held  other  minor  offices.  He  was  married,  Nov.  6,  1849,  to  Miss  Harriet  M.  Par- 
melee,  who  was  born  in  Wyoming,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.  Four  children  by  this  union, 
two  of  whom  are  living — Frances  and  Douglass. 

EDGAR  A.  WALLACE,  of  the  firm  of  Fullerton  &  Wallace,  attorneys,  Havana; 
was  born  at  Antrim,  Hillsboro  Co.,  N.  H.,  June  7,  1843.  He  received  his  early  edu- 
cation at  the  Henniker  Academy,  graduating  at  that  institution  in  1864.  He  also  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College,  Cambridge,  Mass.  (Law  Department),  in  July,  1867,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Boston,  Mass.,  in  June,  1867.  In  November  following,  he  came 
West,  and  located  at  Havana,  where  he  became  a  law  partner  of  Hon.  Lyman  Lacey. 
In  January,  1868,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Illinois  bar,  and  to  practice  in  the  United 
States  Courts  soon  after.  The  present  law  firm  of  Fullerton  &  Wallace  was  established 
in  November,  1875.  Mr.  Wallace  has  served  two  years  as  City  Attorney.  In  1869, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Gertie  E.  Lightcap,  who  was  born  in  Republic,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Wallace  is  a  member  of  the  following  Masonic  bodies :  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  Havana 
Chapter,  No.  86,  and  Damascus  Commandery,  No.  42.  In  the  latter  body,  he  holds  the 
office  of  Captain  General,  and  in  the  Chapter,  that  of  Principal  Sojourner.  He  also 
served  two  years  as  Eminent  Commander  of  No.  42. 

HORACE  A.  WRIGHT,  of  the  firm  of  0.  H.  &  H.  A.  Wright,  attorneys  at  law, 
Havana ;  was  born  in  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  14,  1839,  but  removed  when  about  7 
years  of  age,  with  his  father's  family,  to  Illinois,  locating  at  Bernadotte,  Fulton  Co.,  and 
about  one  year  later,  the  family  removed  to  Point  Isabel,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  from  the  present  city  of  Havana.  During  the  spring  of  1849,  the  high  water 
compelled  the  family  to  seek  higher  ground,  and  they  therefore  came  to  the  east  side, 
and  made  Havana  their  permanent  home.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  employed  in 
1855  carrying  mails  to  Delavan,  Tazewell  Co.,  making  a  trip  once  each  week,  and  the 
following  year  served  as  Deputy  Postmaster  at  Havana.  In  1857,  he  became  cashier 
in  the  banking-house  of  Rupert,  Haines  &  Co.,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  1860, 
when  the  business  of  the  bank  was  closed.  He  then  entered  the  Circuit  Clerk's  office 
as  Deputy,  where  he  remained  until  1865,  and  again,  in  1869;  took  that  position,  and 
served  until  January,  1879.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  1860,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1870.  Since  January,  1879,  Mr.  Wright  has  given  his  lull  attention  to 
the  practice  of  law.  In  July,  1860,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Josephine,  daughter 
of  Winslow  Parkhurst.  She  was  born  in  Tom's  River,  N.  J.  Three  children  by  this 
union,  two  of  whom  are  living — Edgar  B.  and  Don  W. 

WILLIAM  WOLL,  groceries  and  provisions,  Havana ;  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Ger- 
many, Dec.  10,  1845;  came  to  this  country  in  1853,  and,  after  a  stay  of  a  few 
months  in  New  Jersey,  located  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1855  came  West  and  was 
first  employed  at  Chicago,  by  the  I.  C.  R.  R.  He  soon  after  went  to  Peoria,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1856,  located  at  Havana,  where  he  was  employed  in  manufacturing  brick.  In 
1864,  he  embarked  in  the  butcher's  trade,  and,  in  1871,  engaged  in  the  diiry  business ; 
four  years  late^  he  commenced  in  his  present  line  of  trade.  He  was  married,  in  1867,  to 
to  Miss  Minnie  Backenhorst,  who  was  born  in  Holland.  She  died  Dec.  1,  1874.  One 
child  by  this  union — John  W.  Mr.  W.  is  a  member  of  Havana  Grove,  No.  40,  U.  A. 
0.  D.  Also  a  member  of  the  Mutual  Aid  Society.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  2d  I.  V.  C., 
in  July,  1861,  and  served  until  October,  1864. 

SAMUEL  WHITAKER,  books,  stationery,  etc.,  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Coshocton 
Co.,  Ohio,  October  4,  1836,  where  he  resided  until  23  years  of  age.  He  then  moved 
to  Illinois,  settled  in  Forest  City,  and  engaged  in  farming.  June  23,  1861,  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  C,  2d  I.  V.  C. ;  in  1862,  was  commissioned  Captain  by  Gov.  Yates,  on  the 
petition  of  his  company ;  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  November,  1865.  He 
came  to  Havana  in  the  fall  of  1866,  and  followed  clerking,  until  1871,  when  he  en- 
gaged in  his  present  business  of  books  and  stationery.  He  was  married,  in  1869,  to 
Miss  Kate,  daughter  of  Stephen  Hole,  Esq.,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county. 
She  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Ind.,  and  died  in  1870.  He  was  a  second  time  married 


HAVANA   TOWNSHIP.  783 

in  1873,  to  Hattie  R.,  a  daughter  of  James  H.  Hole,  and  born  in  Havana,  111.  They 
have  two  children — Nellie  May  and  John  H.  Mr.  W.  is  a  member  of  Mason  Lodge, 
Jo.  143,1.  O.  0.  F. 

ALLEN  E.  WIENER,  dealer  in  dry  goods  and  clothing,  Havana ;  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Penn.,  March  6,  1844,  where  he  resided  until  about  1858.  When  about  14 
years  of  age,  he  came  to  Havana,  his  present  home.  He  was  first  employed  here  by 
Steiner,  Stearns  &  Co.,  and  when  the  firm  was  changed  to  G.  Wiener  &  Co.,  in!861,  he 
from  that  date  had  an  interest  in  the  profits.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1872,  he  com- 
menced business  on  his  own  account.  He  was  married,  March  29,  1876,  to  Miss  Ger- 
trude Spatz,  who  was  born  in  Philadelphia.  They  have  two  children — Minnie  and 
Lulu. 

JOHN  T.  WARK,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Logan  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  13, 
1862,  and  came  to  Mason  Co.,  in  September,  1877.  His  father,  James  Wark,  resides 
in  Logan  Co.,  and  his  mother,  Martha  (  Snyder  )  was  born  near  Pekin,  Tazewell  Co., 
111.  Her  father,  William  Snyder,  now  a  resident  of  Havana,  located  in  Fulton  Co., 
in  the  fall  of  1839. 

JOHN  WALKER,  farmer,  Sec.  27  ;  P.  0.  Havana  ;  was  born  in  Dearborn  Co., 
Ind.,  April  10,  1818,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Nichols)  Walker,  the 
former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  In  1837,  the  family 
removed  from  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  to  Illinois,  locating  at  Walker's  Grove,  this  county,  in 
the  fall  of  that  year.  In  1843,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mercy  Coon,  who  was  born  in 
New  Jersey.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Anna  (  Drake  )  Coon,  both  natives  of 
New  Jersey;  they  settled  in  Mason  Co.  in  1842.  The  following  are  the  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker — Anna  M.,  wife  of  John  Cunningham  ;  Julia,  wife  of  William 
O.  Shea;  George  and  Lizzie.  Anna  died  in  1842,  John,  in  1865,  and  Marietta,  in 
August,  1865. 

"  HENRY  WEDEKIND,  farmer,  Sec  15;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  July  28,  1826.  He  came  to  America  in  1851,  and  located  in  CassCo.,  111. 
In  the  spring  of  1852,  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  where  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  has  served  as  Commissioner  of  Highways, 
three  years ;  was  married,  in  1848,  to  Miss  Dora  T.  Elend,  who  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  Feb.  11,  1819,  and  died  March  4,  1879.  They  have  four  children  by  this 
union — Henry  L..  Mary,  wife  of  Louis  Baumbach,  Margaret  and  Lucy.  Mr.  Wedekind 
owns  IfiO  acres  of  land  in  Havana  Township. 

HENRY  WOLF,  Constable,  Havana;  was  born  in  Prussia  March  9,  1828,  and 
came  to  America  in  1855 ;  after  a  short  stay  at  New  Orleans,  La  ,  he  located  at  Quincy, 
111.,  where  he  resided  until  1857,  when  he  came  to  Havana,  his  present  home ;  here  he 
worked  at  blacksmithing  (having  learned  his  trade  in  his  native  country)  until  1870, 
when  he  was  elected  Constable,  and  has  since  served  in  that  capacity.  In  1856,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Hackman,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  July  1, 
1830 ;  they  have  had  nine  children,  four  of  whom  are  living — Mary,  Lizzie,  Tilly  and 
Frank  ;  Adolph  died  March  7,  1870 ;  Louis,  Aug.  28,  1870 ;  the  others  died  in  infancy. 

CHARLES  YETTER,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Sec.  8;  P.  O.  Havana;  was  born 
in  Northampton  Co.,  Penn.,  Sept.  20,  1821,  where  he  resided  till  his  removal  to  the 
West  in  1851,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  this  county,  on  Sept.  11  of  that  year,  where 
he  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising.  On  Feb.  24,  1848,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Keller,  who  was  born  in  the  same  county  and  State  as  her 
husband ;  her  death  occurred  Jan.  10, 1852  ;  they  had  two  children,  one  living — Joseph 
H.,  now  resides  in  Pennsylvania;  Robert  J.  died  in  1852.  Mr.  Yetter  was  married  to 
Rachel  Jane  Davis  Sept.  13,  1853;  she  was  born  in  Greene,  111.,  July  19,  1827;  her 
parents.  John  and  Sally  Davis,  were  early  settlers  of  Greene  Co.,  111. ;  eight  children  by 
this  union,  four  of  whom  are  living — Jacob,  Sally  A.,  Joshua  and  Charles;  the  four 
deceased  are  George,  Joel,  Rachel  J.  and  John  W.  Mr.  Yetter  owns  400  acres  of  land 
in  Havana  Township. 

JACOB  YETTER,  farmer,  Sec.  4;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Havana  Town- 
ship, this  county,  Dec.  5,  1854.  He  was  married,  Oct.  10,  1877,  to  Miss  Sarah  C. 


784  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

Crater,  who  was  also  born  in  this  township  Jan.  30,  1858 ;  they  have  one  child — Oscar 
H.     Mr.  Yetter's  father,  Charles  Yetter,  settled  in  the  county  in  1851. 

G.  H.  CARL  ZELLE,  farmer,  Sec.  17;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  Dec.  1,  1851  ;  came  to  America  with  his  father's  family  in  1857,  and  to 
Havana  Township,  this  county,  March  11,  1858.  He  was  married,  Oct.  24,  1876,  to 
Miss  Anna  Wirth,  who  was  born  in  New  Orleans,  La.,  June  29,  1856;  they  have  one 
child — George  Adolph.  Mr.  Zelle  owns  100  acres  of  land  in  Havana  Township.  His 
father,  Frederick  Zelle,  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  July  9,  1811,  and  was  married, 
July  15,  1849,  to  Miss  Henrietta  Utermoehlen,  who  was  born  in  the  same  country  as 
her  husband,  Nov.  9,  1817. 


MASON   CITY   TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM  ALLEN,  retired  merchant  and  farmer;  Pr  0.  Mason  City;  one  of 
the  early  settlers;  born  in  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  March  31,  1807,  where  he  attended 
school  until  20  years  of  age ;  he  was  engaged  in  the  merchandise  trade  several  years  in 
Indiana,  and,  in  1840,  was  elected  Sheriff  of  La  Porte  Co.,  serving  two  years,  and 
again  elected  to  the  same  office  in  1852 ;  in  1843-44,  he  represented  the  La  Porte 
District  in  the  State  Legislature;  in  1854,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Havana, 
and,  until  1870,  was  engaged  in  farming  near  the  latter  place  ;  in  1870,  he  disposed  of 
a  part  of  his  property  in  Havana ;  re-invested  in  Mason  City  and  Township,  where  he 
has  lived  since  1877.  He  was  married  to  Sarah  E.  Shotwell  in  1837  ;  she  was  a  native 
of  New  Jersey ;  they  are  the  parents  of  five  children — Jacob  R.,  William  S.,  Louisa, 
Kate  and  Henry  S.  Mr.  Allen  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  religion,  and 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  for  a  period  of  upward  of  forty  years ; 
his  whole  family  are  also  Church  members,  the  oldest  son  now  preaching  in  La 
Salle,  111. 

JOHN  J.  AINSWORTH,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Mason  City ;  is  a  son  of  Richard  Ains- 
worth,  whose  biography  also  appears  in  this  work  ;  he  was  born  in  Mason  Co.,  111.,  July 
24,  1852 ;  he  was  raised  to  farming,  and  obtained  a  common-school  education,  complet- 
ing the  same  by  a  course  at  the  Commercial  College  at  Jacksonville,  Morgan  Co.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Ainsworth  upon  March  22,  1877  ;  she  was 
born  in  Mason  Co.,  111.,  April  2,  1854.  and  was  a  daughter  of  William  Ainsworth,  a 
settler  of  1842.  In  March,  1878,  he  located  upon  his  present  place,  which  contains 
240  acres  just  outside  of  the  city  limits  of  Mason  City,  which  he  intends  making  his 
permanent  home. 

RICHARD  AINSWORTH,  retired  farmer,  Sec.  6;  P.  0.  Mason  City  ;  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Mason  Co. ;  born  in  Lancashire,  England,  Dec.  5,  1817  ;  after  receiving  a 
common-school  education,  he  was  engaged  in  the  cotton  factories  of  Blackburn  until  25 
years  of  age,  when  he,  with  two  brothers,  emigrated  to  America,  landing  in  New  Orleans  ; 
they  then  came  up  the  river  to  Cincinnati,  thence  to  Cass  Co.,  111.,  where,  after  a  short 
residence,  they  came  to  Mason  Co.  and  located  near  Bath  in  the  fall  of  1842 ;  here 
he  entered  eighty  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  afterward  added  until  he  had  accumu- 
lated between  600  and  700  acres,  upon  which  he  resided  until  1877,  when  he  disposed 
of  the  same  and,  after  a  residence  of  one  year  at  Natrona,  removed  to  Mason  City 
Township  and  erected  his  present  residence,  removing  into  the  same  in  October,  1878. 
Mr.  Ainsworth  is  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  Mason  Co. ;  arriving  in  the  county  with- 
out means ;  he  borrowed  the  money  to  enter  his  first  eighty  acres  of  land  ;  he  has  always 
confined  his  business  to  farming,  and  has,  by  his  hard  labor,  perseverance  and  correct 
business  habits,  placed  himself  among  the  large  landholders  and  successful  farmers  of 
Mason  Co.,  owning,  as  he  now  does,  1,450  acres  in  Mason  Co.  and  1,520  acres  in  Iro- 
quois  Co.,  his  real  estate  being  valued  at  upward  of  $100,000,  aside  from  personal 
property ;  he  has  not  accumulated  the  above  by  a  miserly  manner  of  living ;  he  is 
known  as  being  very  liberal ;  contributes  liberally  to  the  cause  of  religion  and  educa- 
tion, and  is  very  kind  to  the  poor,  and  especially  to  his  own  tenants,  with  whom,  upon 


MASON   CITY   TOWNSHIP.  785 

a  failure  of  crops,  he  assumes  the  largest  share  of  the  losses  ;  he  has  devoted  much  time 
to  literature,  being  particularly  interested  in  ancient  and  modern  history,  and  has,  by 
years  of  reading  and  study,  become  familiar  with  all  the  topics  of  the  day.  His  mar- 
riage with  Mary  J.  Talbott  was  celebrated  in  1840,  in  Blackburn,  Lancashire ;  she  was 
born  in  the  above  place  in  November,  1817;  she  died  in  Mason  Co.  Feb.  24,  1874; 
they  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  two  sons  and  two  daughters  now  sur- 
vive, viz.:  Mary  J.,  wife  of  John  B.  Abbott,  of  Natrona;  John  J.,  farming  near  Mason 
City  ;  Sarah  A.  and  William  T.,  the  last  two  living  at  home. 

J.  C.  AMBROSE,  hardware,  firm  of  Ambrose  &  Sands,  hardware  stores,  etc.,  etc., 
Mason  City ;  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Mason  Co.;  born  in  Morgan  Co.,  Va.,  May 
1,  1818;  in  1831,  he  emigrated  to  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio,  and  followed  farming  until 
1837,  when  he  went  to  Quincy,  Logan  Co.,  and  followed  the  carpenter  and  wagon- 
maker  trade  until  1853,  at  which  date  he  engaged  in  hotel-keeping  and  the  merchan- 
dise trade  until  1861,  when  he  sold  out,  and,  emigrating  to  Illinois,  located  in  Mason 
City  Township  in  April,  1861  ;  he  then  purchased  forty  acres  of  land,  and,  the  follow- 
ing August,  removed  his  family  upon  the  farm  ;  he  then  put  in  a  crop  of  corn  and 
wheat,  the  latter  proving  a  failure,  and  the  corn  was  hauled  to  Pekin  and  sold- for  10 
cents  per  bushel.  Mr.  Ambrose  mentions  some  facts  representing  the  hardships  and 
privations  of  the  settlers  of  Mason  Co.  at  that  time  ;  in  the  fall  of  1861,  for  three  weeks, 
his  provisions  for  his  family  of  six  persons  consisted  of  grated  corn,  rye  coffeei  salt  and 
potatoes;  in  November,  1864,  he  came  to  Ma?on  City  and  opened  the  first  restaurant 
of  the  place,  continuing  the  same  some  three  years,  when  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in 
the  hardware  trade  in  1870,  and,  in  July,  1874,  commenced  the  hardware  trade  for 
himself,  under  the  above  firm  name,  which  they  have  since  successfully  followed.  His 
marriage  with  Rosanna  Yost  was  celebrated  Oct.  19,  1842 ;  she  was  born  in  Morgan 
Co.,  Va.,  Feb.  14,  1826  ;  they  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  three  are 
now  living — Mary  E.,  Lycurgus  E.  and  John  F.,  the  two  sons  being  associated  in  busi- 
ness with  their  father. 

JOHN  J.  BURNHAM,  farmer;  P.  0.  Mason  City  ;  Mr.  Burnham  is  another 
of  the  old  residents  of  Mason  Co.  ;  born  in  Windham  Co.,  Conn..  Dec.  26,  1808;  at 
21  years  of  age,  he  started  in  life  for  himself  and  soon  after  started  a  peddler's  wagon, 
and,  after  several  years,  engaged  in  the  grocery  business ;  in  1857,  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  located  upon  his  present  place,  where  he  bought  100  acres  of  land,  which  he  has 
brought  to  its  present  high  state  of  cultivation,  located  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Mason 
City.  Upon  Sept.  9,  1832,  he  was  married  to  Clarissa  R.  Sharp  ;  she  was  born  in  1809 
and  died  Feb.  19,  1870;  his  second  wife  was  Persis  Rickard,  married  in  1870;  his 
third  wife  was  Tirzah  Rickard,  married  September,  1876.  Mr.  Burnham  has  held  the 
office  of  School  Trustee  and  School  Director  several  terms  during  his  residence  here. 

DAVID  BONN,  farmer;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Mason 
Co.;  he  was  born  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  March  21,  1823,  and  emigrated  to  Mason  Co. 
and  located  in  what  is  now  Quiver  Township,  in  1848 ;  at  that  date,  there  were  only  a 
few  settlers,  some  houses  being  ten  miles  apart ;  he  had  no  means  at  that  time,  save 
his  team,  and  labored  for  such  wages  as  he  could  get,  taking  his  pay  in  corn,  etc.;  about 
the  year  1850,  he  purchased  some  school  land,  which  he  sold  the  following  year ;  in 
the  spring  of  1869,  he  came  to  Mason  City  Township  and  purchased  410  acres  of  his 
present  place,  where  he  has  since  lived;  he  also  owns  134  acres  in  Logan  Co.  and  has 
good  farm  buildings  upon  both  places.  His  marriage  with  C.  E.  Appleman  was  cele- 
brated in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  Dec.  18,  1847  ;  she  was  born  Jan.  27,  1826  ;  three  chil- 
dren were  the  fruit  of  this  union — Martha  A.,  John  M.  and  William  C. 

JOSEPH  S.  BANER,  Postmaster,  Mason  City.  The  subject  of  this  memoir  is 
an  old,  and,  because  of  his  hospitable  and  affable  nature,  together  with  superior 
intellectual  culture  and  ability,  a  very  prominent  resident  of  Mason  Co.;  he  was  born 
in  Warren  Co.,  Ohio,  June  24,  1824.  where  he  spent  his  childhood,  youth  and  early 
manhood;  there  he  attended  the  public  schools  until  19  years  of  age,  and  was  then 
engaged  as  Principal,  for  one  year,  in  the  Bellefontaine  Academy  ;  in  1849,  he  moved 
to  Cincinnati,  and,  for  several  years,  held  the  position  of  confidential  clerk  in  an  exteusive 


786  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

commercial  house,  and  was  then  admitted  a  partner,  which  relation  continued  until 
1857,  when  he  emigrated  West  and  located  in  Allen's  Grove  Township,  Mason  Co.,  111.; 
he  here  engaged  in  farming  until  1863,  when  he  returned  to  Cincinnati  and  engaged  in 
the  commission  business  until  1866  ;  he  then  returned  to  the  West  and  located  in  Mason 
City,  and  for  the  three  succeeding  years  was  engaged  in  the  dry  goods,  drug  and  grocery 
trade,  under  the  firm  name  of  Warnock  &  Co.;  he  then  engaged  in  the  grain  trade,  in 
connection  with  farming,  until  1874,  when  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Mason  City, 
under  the  administration  of  President  Grant,  which  office  he  now  holds,  having  been 
re-appointed  in  1878,  by  President  Hayes;  he  has  also  been  frequently  elected  to  town- 
ship and  school  offices  and  is  a  public-school  advocate  in  heart  and  practice ;  being  a  fine 
scholar,  a  fluent  speaker  and  public  spirited,  he  has  from  his  youth  been  more  or  less 
identified  with  the  political  questions  and  interests  of  the  nation,  receiving  his  first 
impetus  in  that  direction  from  the  illustrious  and  brilliant  Gov.  Corwin,  of  Ohio,  with 
whom  he  was  on  intimate  terms  of  acquaintance  and  personal  association,  and  whom  he 
took  as  his  model  political  orator  and  patriotic  statesman  ;  in  1866,  Mr.  Baner  was  ten- 
dered the  nomination  for  Representative  in  the  Legislature,  on  the  Republican  ticket  for 
this  county,  but  he  had  not  the  five  successive  years  previous  residence  necessary  to 
eligibility;  at  the  first  election  of  the  Legislature  under  the  Constitution  of  1870,  he 
received  the  nomination  for  State  Senator  on  the  Republican  ticket  of  this,  the  Thirty- 
Sixth  Senatorial  District,  and  canvassed  the  district  against  the  Hon.  A.  A.  Glenn,  the 
Democratic  candidate ;  the  district  was  largely  Democratic,  but  Mr.  Baner  carried  the 
full  vote  of  his  party  and  much  more  in  his  home  county;  in  1876,  he  was  before  the 
Republican  Congressional  Convention  for  the  nomination  for  Congress  in  this  the  Thir- 
teenth District,  and  stood  among  the  highest  until  repeated  balloting  settled  into  a  dead-lock 
when  he  voluntarily  withdrew  his  name  that  harmony  and  unity  might  prevail,  which 
gave  Judge  Tipton,  of  Bloomington,  the  nomination  and  election.  He  and  Miss  Cath- 
arine Mullen  were  married  in  1846  ;  she  was  born  in  Warren  Co.,  Ohio,  and  died  at 
their  beautiful  home  and  residence  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town,  in  1874 ;  eight 
children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  only  three  are  now  living — Sallie,  Assistant  Po&t- 
niaster ;  Lydia  (wife  of  N.  S.  Forsyth),  and  Frank,  who  is  now  attending  the  State 
University  at  Champaign. 

SOLOMON  M.  BADGER,  County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  Mason  City ;  born  in 
Perry  Co.,  Ind.,  Nov.  2,  1840  ;  at  19  years  of  age,  he  engaged  in  school-teaching  dur- 
ing fall  and  winter  and  attending  the  higher  grades  of  school  during  the  spring  and 
summer  terms  for  a  period  of  five  years;  in  the  fall  of  1864,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
located  in  Crane  Creek  Township,  Mason  Co.,  where  he  taught  school  six  months. 
Upon  the  13th  of  August,  1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  S.  Morgan  ;  she 
was  born  in  Sangamon  Co.  and  raised  in  Mason  Co.  ;  they  have  four  children  by  this 
union — William  S.,  Claude  L.,  Henry  A.  and  Marine  R.  Upon  the  marriage  of.  Mr. 
Badger,  he  returned  to  Indiana,  and,  after  teaching  several  months,  returned  to  Mason 
City  in  1866,  and  for  three  years  was  Principal  of  the  schools  of  this  place;  he  con- 
tinued teaching  in  different  schools  in  the  county  until  1872,  when  he  was  appointed  by 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  as  County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  and,  in  November  fol- 
lowing, was  elected  to  the  above  office  for  a  term  of  four  years,  and  re-elected  again  in 
1877  for  the  same  length  of  time ;  he  has  also  held  the  office  of  City  Clerk  of  Mason 
City  some  five  years,  and  Township  Collector  two  years. 

S.  B.  CROSS,  farmer ;  P.  O.  Mason  City  ;  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Mason 
Co.;  born  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  Oct.  31,  1824;  he  emigrated  with  his  father,  Robert 
Cross,  and  located  in  Greene  Co.,  111.,  in  1839;  in  1843,  they  came  to  Mason  Co.  and 
located  in  Quiver  Township,  and  upon  this  place  Robert  died  in  August,  1852;  the 
son  continued  to  live  upon  the  old  homestead  until  1873,  when  he  purchased  his  present 
place,  where  he  has  since  lived  ;  he  still  owns  the  old  homestead  in  Quiver  Township, 
containing  320  acres  (and  upon  which  his  oldest  son  is  now  living),  and  195  acres  in 
Mason  City  Township,  and  240  acres  in  other  parts  of  the  county.  His  marriage  with 
Margaret  McReynolds  was  celebrated  in  December,  1852;  she  died  Aug.  19,  1856, 
leaving  two  childnya  now  living — Robert  I,,  born  Sept.  2,  1854;  Stephen  Albert,  Aug. 


MASON   CITY   TOWNSHIP.  787 

11,  1856;  upon  Dec.  24,  1857,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  L.  Appleman ; 
she  was  born  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  May  19,  1828 ;  they  have  two  children  living  by 
this  union — Luther  W.,  born  Feb.  16,  1861,  and  John  A.,  Jan.  25,  1867. 

F.  H.  COOK,  merchant;  dealer  in  groceries  and  provisions,  glass  and  queensware, 
etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  Mason  City;  born  in  Logan  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  18,  1851  ;  when  quite  young, 
he  removed  with  his  mother  to  Mason  City  and  attended  the  common  schools  until 
1865  ;  he  then  entered  the  general  merchandise  store  of  R.  W.  Porter,  and  continued 
in  the  same  store  under  different  firms  until  December,  1878,  when  he  gave  up  his 
position,  and,  in  January,  1879,  started  in  business  for  himself,  carrying  a  large  and  com- 
plete stock  of  everything  in  the  above  lines,  giving  his  personal  attention  to  every 
detail,  and  by  his  honorable  and  fair  dealing  is  rapidly  paving  his  way  to  the  front  ranks  as 
one  of  the  leading  merchants  of  his  line  in  Mason  City.  His  marriage  with  Harriet 
E.  Sikes  was  celebrated  in  March,  1876;  she  was  born  in  Mason  Co.  in  1855;  they 
have  one  child — George  Frederick. 

A.  G.  H.  CONOVER,  M.  D.,  deceased,  Mason  City;  born  in  Morgan  Co.,  Ill.,in  1834 ; 
he  devoted  all  his"  spare  time  in  early  life  to  study,  and  completed  his  education  at  the 
Medical  University  at  Anu  Arbor,  Mich. ;  after  two  years  of  practice  at  Manito,  he 
located  in  Mason  City  and  followed  his  profession  with  great  success  until  his  decease, 
which  occurred  at  his  residence  March  13,  1874.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause 
of  religion,  and  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church ;  he  was  also  an 
honored  member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  having  reached  the  degree  of  Knight  Templar, 
and  had  officiated  as  Master  of  Anchor  Lodge,  No.  615 ;  the  Knights  Templar  came 
out  by  special  train  to  assist  in  performing  the  last  rites  over  their  beloved  brother,  the 
Masonic  ceremonies  being  performed  by  L.  M.  Hillyer,  of  Havana,  and  J.  S.  Tuwnsend, 
W.  M.  of  Anchor  Lodge,  No.  615,  J.  S.  Baner  acting  as  Chaplain,  in  presence  of  and 
assisted  by  a  large  circle  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity.  At  a  meeting  of  Damascus  Com- 
inandery,  No.  42,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  draft  resolutions  expressive  of  the  high 
regard  of  the  above  Order  for  the  memory  of  their  deceased  brother  comrade  and  Sir 
Knight,  A.  G.  H.  Conover,  a  copy  of  which  was  printed  in  the  Mason  City  Indepen- 
dent of  March  20,  1874.  His  marriage  with  Mary  E.  Ambrose  was  celebrated  June 
27,  1865  ;  two  children  were  the  fruit  of  this  union; — Anna  Mason  and  John  Alfred  ; 
Mrs.  Conover  was  a  daughter  of  J.  C.  Ambrose,  one  of  our  prominent  merchants,  and 
whose  biography  also  appears  in  this  work. 

W.    J.     CHAMBLIN,    deceased ;    physician   and    surgeon,    Mason    City ;    was 

born  in  Loudoun  Co.,  Va.,  upon  the  16th  of  July,  1820;  his  general  education  was 

obtained  in   Virginia  and  at  Zanesville,   Ohio,  after  which  he  entered  the  Jefferson 

Medical  College  at  Philadelphia,  from  which  he  graduated,  after  a  course  of  several  years' 

>  study.     He  then  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine,  at  Newark,  Ohio,  after  which  he 

practiced  in  Peru,  Ind.,  and  then  removed  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  and  after  a  residence  of 

several  years  in  Ilhnpis,  California  and  Texas,  came  to  Mason  City,  where  he  located  in 

'  ^861  ,and  followed  his  profession  up  to  the  date  of  his  decease,  which  occurred  April 

159,  1872.     His  marriage  with  Talitha  C.  Cheney,  was  celebrated  in  1857  ;  she  was  born 

/in  Springfield,  111.     Three  children  are  now  living  by  this  union — Ida  T.,  William  J. 

and  Charles  E.     Mr.  Chamblin  was  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Springfield, 

111.,  and  of  the  Masonic  Order  of  the  same  place.     Mrs.  -Cnamblin  has  taken  a  deep 

interest  in  the  cause  of  education  and  is  now  serving  her  second  year  as  one  of  the  Board 

of  Directors  of  the  schools  of  Mason  City. 

EDWARD  CRAIG,  deceased,  farmer  and  stock-dealer  ;  born  in  Champaign  Co., 
Ohio,  March  13,  1835  ;  at  8  years  of  age  he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and 
located  in  Morgan  Co.,  where  he  followed  farming  and  stock-raising,  until  the  breaking- 
out  of  the  rebellion,  when  he  went  to  Missouri  and  engaged  in  stock-dealing  until  1866, 
when  he  located  and  followed  farming  and  stock-raising  until  his  decease,  which  occurred 
Feb.  9,  1873,  while  upon  a  trip  to  Missouri  to  purchase  cattle.  His  remains  now  He 
buried  in  the  Allen  Grove  Cemetery  ;  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  religion, 
and  lived  and  died  a  consistant  Christian.  His  marriage  with  Euphemia  C.  Legg  was 
celebrated  Sept.  12,  1866  ;  four  children  were  the  fruit  of  this  union,  of  whom  Clyde  L  , 


788  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

Grace  and  Blanche  now  survive.     Mrs.  Craig  is  a  daughter  of  James  Legg.  whose  biog- 
raphy also  appears  in  this  work. 

A.  A.  CARGILL,  merchant,  Mason  City ;  firm  of  Cargill  &  Swing,  general 
merchants  ;  Mr.  Cargill  is  probably  the  oldest  continuous  resident  and  merchant  of 
Mason  City.  He  was  born  in  Norfolk  Co.,  Mass.,  Dec.  9,  1827  ;  at  21  years  of  age 
he  came  to  Chicago,  where  he  located  in  1849,  at  which  time  the  above  city  contained 
a  population  of  about  29,000.  Here  he  was  engaged  in  the  millinery  jobbing  trade  for 
three  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1853,  he  went  to  Australia,  returning  in  1856.  In 
the  spring  of  1857,  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  locating  at  Cherry  Grove,  and  in  June,  1858, 
he  located  in  Mason  City,  and  engaged  in  the  merchandise  trade,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Woodward  &  Cargill,  opening  the  first  stock  of  goods  brought  to  Mason  City,  and 
continuing  under  the  above  style  some  eighteen  months  ;  in  1864.  Mr.  Cargill  associated 
with  David  Powell,  in  the  above  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  D.  Powell  &  Co., 
this  firm  existed  some  seven  years,  during  which  time  they  purchased  the  corner  and  erected 
the  building  upon  the  corner  now  occupied  by  Cargill  &  Swing,  which  firm  was  formed 
in  1871,  by  the  admission  of  F.  M.  Swing,  in  the  firm  under  the  above  name.  They 
carry  a  full  and  complete  stock  of  dry  goods,  hats  and  caps,  gents'  furnishing  goods,  gro- 
ceries, notions,  etc.  His  marriage  with  Mary  A.  Phipps  was  celebrated  in  January, 
1859.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  children  by  this  union,  of  whom  two  now  sur- 
vive— Chauncy  W.  and  Harry  C. 

ROBERT  DONOVAN,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  born  in 
Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  21,  1822  ;  he  was  raised  in  Champaign  Co.,  and  came  to 
Illinois  and  located  in  Mason  Co.,  in  1848,  at  which  time  there  were  not  upward  of  fifteen 
families  in  this  township.  In  1852,  he  with  his  brothers  purchased  1,000  acres  of  land, 
to  which  they  afterward  added,  until  they  owned  in  partnership  2,800  acres,  and 
after  continuing  in  partnership  twenty-eight  years,  made  a  division  of  the  land,  and  Robert 
now  owns  for  his  share  480  acres,  and  lives  upon  the  place  where  he  has  lived  since  1859. 
In  1856  he  married  Caroline  Laughery  ;  her  parents  located  in  Logan  Co.,  about  the  year 
1821 ;  she  died  in  1873.  In  1877,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Colon,  a  native 
of  New  York.  Mr.  Donovan  was  the  father  of  four  children  by  his  first  wife  and  one 
by  his  present. 

JOHN  DIETRICH,  firm  of  Rissinger  &  Dietrich,  butchers,  brick  and  ice 
dealers,  Mason  City ;  born  in  Snyder  Co.,  Penn,  April  29,  1834,  where  he  worked 
at  brick-making  and  carpentering  until  23  years  of  age,  when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  in 
April,  1857  ;  located  half  a  mile  east  of  where  Mason  City  now  stands.  In  1858,  he 
commenced  the  manufacture  of  brick,  supplying  the  wants  of  Mason  City  some  four  years. 
He  then  followed  carpentering  and  the  undertaker's  business  until  1867,  when  he  asso- 
ciated with  his  present  partner,  and  again  engaged  in  making  brick  ;  in  1872,  they  added 
the  ice  business,  and  in  September,  1878,  again  extended  their  business  by  adding  the 
butcher  business.  Mr.  D.  is  the  oldest  continuous  business  man  in  Mason  City,  coming 
here  when  there  was  not  a  single  house  upon  the  spot  where  Mason  City  now  stands. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  Alderman  of  the  Third  Ward  for  three  years.  His  marriage 
with  Caroline  Harmon  was  celebrated  in  Pennsylvania.  Eleven  children  were  the 
fruit  of  this  union,  of  whom  four  are  now  living — George  L.,  Caroline,  Harry  LM 
and  Evelina.  Mr.  D.  is  a  son  of  George  Dietrich,  who  was  born  in  Snyder  Co.,  Penn., 
in  1803;  came  to  Mason  City  in  1858,  and  followed  shoemaking  until  1873.  Married, 
in  January,  1831,  Sarah  Houseworth  ;  she  died  in  Mason  City  Aug.  17,  1875.  Five 
of  their  children  now  survive ;  Jeremiah  and  a  son-in-law  lost  their  lives  at  the  battle 
of  Lookout  Mountain. 

J.  V.  ELLMORE,  farmer  and  stock-buyer ;  P.  0.  Mason  City ;  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Mason  Co.;  born  in  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  19,  1828;  he  emigrated  to  Illinois 
and  located  in  Mason  Co.  in  1855,  at  which  time  there  was  no  house  nearer  than  Salt 
Creek;  no  house  where  Mason  City  now  stands.  In  1867,  he  purchased  55  acres  of 
his  present  place,  and  now  owns  202  acres  with  good  farm  buildings,  which  he  has 
accumulated  by  his  own  exertions.  Upon  the  18th  of  February,  1858,  he  was  united 
4n  marriage  with  Sarah  A.  Hill,  a  native  of  Manchester,  Scott  Co.,  111.  Ten  children 


MASON   CITY   TOWNSHIP.  789 

were  the  fruit  of  this  union,  of  whom  eight  now  survive — Henry  C.,  Charles  N.,  Lillie 
B.,  Hattie  C.,  Nellie  M.,  Fannie  M.,  Eddie  M.  and  an  infant. 

E.  EVERIST,  farmer,  Sec.  20 ;  P.  0.  Mason  City ;  born  in  Clinton  Co.,  Ohio, 
Jan.  27,  1839,  where  he  was  raised  to  farm  labor  until  1859,  when  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  followed  teaming  and  farming,  at  and  near  Havana,  Mason  Co.,  until  1865,  when  he 
located  upon  his  present  farm  of  eighty  acres,  where  he  has  since  lived.  His  marriage 
with  Mary  E.  Hole  was  celebrated  in  Mason  City.  May  31,  1866  ;  she  was  born  in 
Mason  Co.,  July  15,  1847.  They  have  four  children  by  this  union — Zilla,  born  Feb. 
2,  1868 ;  Ralph,  April  10,  1870  ;  Louie,  Nov.  20,  1875,  and  Cecil,  Oct.  16,  1877,  and 
Joseph,  who  died  when  2  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Everist  is  the  daughter  of  Joseph  E. 
Hole,  who  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Ind.,  about  1821.  He  was  married,  in  1846, 
to  Miss  Clotilda  Green;  immediately  after  his  marriage,  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  III., 
and  for  more  than  a  year  lived  upon  a  farm  owned  by  Daniel  Clark.  He  soon  acquired 
320  acres  of  land  about  two  miles  south  of  Mason  City,  and  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace;  he  was  noted  for  his  correct  decisions,  and  was  highly  respected  in  the  com- 
munity whore  he  lived  until  his  decease,  which  occurred  in  1855.  Mrs.  Hole  is  now 
living  in  Mason  City. 

DAVID  ELLMORE,  farmer;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Mason 
Co.,  born  in  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  Jan.  19,  1838.  In  thespringof  1858,  became  to  Illinois, 
and,  in  the  fall  of  I860,  located  in  Salt  Creek  Township,  Mason  Co.  In  1864,  he 
purchased  forty  acres  of  his  present  place,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  now  owns  240 
acres  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  with  good  farm  buildings,  nearly  all  of  which  he 
has  made  by  his  own  exertions.  His  marriage  with  Margaret  J.  Hill  was  celebrated  in 
1859  ;  she  died  in  April,  1877,  leaving  seven  children — John  E.,  David  0.,  Edward  P., 
Wiley  W.,  Dora  M.,  George  C.  and  Walter  S.  He  married,  for  his  second  wife,  Bettie 
A.  Scaggs,  in  April,  1879. 

JAMES  F.  EARL,  dealer  in  dry  goods,  carpets,  boots  and  shoes,  etc.,  etc..  Mason 
City.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  1839  and  was  raised  in  the  State  of  New 
York  until  1851  ;  he  then  came  to  Illinois  and  located  at  Metamora,  the  county  seat  of 
Woodford  Co..  where  he  attended  the  common  schools  until  1856,  when  he  entered 
the  Abingdon  and  pursued  his  studies  nearly  three  years:  in  1859,  he  entered  the 
Bethany  College,  at  Brooks  Co.,  Va.,  and,  in  1861,  he  opened  the  first  exclusively  gro- 
cery store  at  Metamora ;  sold  out  in  1864  and  engaged  in  the  dry-goods,  clothing  and 
boot  and  shoe  trade.  In  1869,  he  engaged  in  general  banking  and  opened  the  first 
bank  at  Metamora,  under  his  own  name,  receiving  the  funds  of  the  county  among  his 
deposits;  it  was  afterward  changed  in  name  to  the  Metamora  Bank.  In  1872,  he 
added  hardware  to  his  extensive  business,  which  at  that  time  occupied  three  entire 
buildings.  In  1875,  he  sold  out  his  bank,  hardware  and  grocery  stores  and  removed 
his  stock  of  dry  goods  to  Forest,  Livingston  Co.,  and,  after  a  short  time,  to  Fairbury, 
dosing  them  out  in  1876.  In  1877,  he  came  to  Mason  City  and  purchased  a  stock  of 
about  $10,000  worth  of  goods  of  G.  M.  La  Forge  and  has  since  carried  a  full  and  com- 
plete stock  of  dry  goods,  carpets,  boots  and  shoes,  etc.,  second  to  none  in  the  town,  and 
has  a  heavy  and  rapidly  increasing  trade,  his  sales  of  1878  exceeding  the  sales  of  the 
previous  year  by  100  per  cent.  In  1861,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Rosalie  P. 
Charles  ;  she  was  born  in  Knoxville,  111. ;  they  have  two  children — Flora  M.  and  Freddie. 

N.  S.  FORSYTH,  grocer,  Mason  City  ;  born  in  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  16, 
1845.  He  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  when  11  years  of  age  and  located  in 
Lincoln,  Logan  Co.,  in  December,  1856;  here  he  attended  the  common  and  graded 
schools,  completing  his  education  at 'the  Lincoln  University.  He  then  clerked  in  the 
drug  trade  for  seven  years  in  Lincoln,  and,  in  1868,  went  to  Minnesota,  residing  two 
years,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1870,  returned  to  the  employ  of  his  old  firm  in  Lincoln, 
with  whom  he  continued  until  the  fall  of  1874,  since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged 
with  C.  E.  Randolph,  in  Mason  City,  in  the  grocery  and  provision  business.  Kis  mar- 
riage with  Lydia  A.  Baner  was  celebrated  in  Mason  City  Oct.  17,  1876;  she  was 
born  in  Logan  Co.,  III.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  J.  S.  Baner,  whose  biography  also  appears 
in  this  work. 


790  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

WILLIAM  GINTHER,  farmer ;  P.  0.  New  Holland ;  born  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, Sept.  15,  1827  ;  emigrated  to  America  and  landed  in  Baltimore  July  7,  1842  ; 
he  then  located  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  and  followed  farming  until  1866,  when  he  located 
upon  his  present  place  in  Mason  Co.,  and  purchased  160  acres  of  land  ;  he  now  owns 
280  of  good  improved  land,  with  two  good  sets  of  farm  buildings.  He  arrived  in 
America  without  means,  and  has,  by  his  own  hard  labor  and  correct  business  habits, 
accumulated  all  of  the  above  property,  and  now  stands  among  the  large  landholders 
and  successful  farmers  of  the  county.  He  has  been  twice  married  ;  his  first  wife  was 
Christina  Ginther;  married  in  Ohio  Feb.  2,  1851  ;  she  died  Oct.  31,  1874,  leaving 
five  children — Christina,  Richard,  Matilda,  Reinhart  and  Josie.  His  marriage  with 
Caroline  Stouder  was  celebrated  Nov.  7,  1875 ;  she  was  born  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  April 
4,  1850;  they  have  two  children  by  this  union — Katie  and  <»eorge.  Mr.  Ginther  is 
School  Director  in  the  district  in  which  he  lives. 

L.  R.  HASTINGS,  Mason  City.  Among  the  settlers  who  came  to  Mason  Co.  in 
1851,  we  find  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Franklin 
Co.,  Mass.,  March  3,  1806,  where  he  obtained  his  general  education.  In  1825,  he 
removed  to  New  York  and  followed  farming  and  preaching  until  1845,  when  he  came 
to  Indiana  and  followed  farming  and  preaching  until  the  fall  of  1851,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  entered  160  acres  of  land  in  Mason  City  Township,  with  land  warrants,  at 
an  expense  of  81  J-  cents  per  acre;  here  he  resided  until  1876,  when  he  sold  at  $60 
per  acre,  and  removed  to  Mason  City,  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  ordained  as  a 
Baptist  minister  in  St.  Lawrence  C.).,  N.  Y.,  in  1845,  and  has  followed  the  ministry 
for  a  period  of  thirty-four  years.  About  the  year  1854,  he  organized  the  Big  Grove 
Baptist  Church,  a  branch  of  the  Crane  Creek  Church,  and,  a  few  years  later,  organized 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Mason  City,  which  at  that  time  was  known  as  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Prairie  Creek.  His  marriage  with  Jane  Eddy  was  celebrated  in 
New  York  Nov.  11,  1830;  she  died  in  Mason  City  Township  in  1856;  there  are  now 
two  children  living  by  this  union — James  L.  and  Jane.  He  married  for  his  second 
wife  Mrs.  Olive  Peck  in  1858;  her  maiden  name  was  Olive  Halstead ;  she  has  three 
children  by  her  previous  husband. 

OLIVER  HOLLAND,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Mas  m  City ;  he  was  born  in  what  is  now 
Menard  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  23,  1823.  His  father,  Henry  Holland,  emigrated  from  North 
Carolina  to  the  above  place  about  the  year  1819.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  lived  with 
his  father  until  30  years  of  age,  when  he  commenced  farming  upon  rented  land,  follow- 
ing the  same  two  years;  he  then  purchased  in  Logan  Co.;  and  in  1861,  purchased  160 
acres  of  his  present  place,  to  which  he  has  since  added,  until  he  now  owns  nearly 
seven  hundred  acres,  which  he  has  accumulated  by  his  own  exertions.  His  marriage  with 
Amanda  Huffman  was  celebrated  Dec.  12,  1858 ;  she  was  born  in  Page  Co.,  Va.,  April 
12,  1842.  They  have  six  children — Annie  E.,  born  Sept.  7,  1863;  Mary  L.,  May  4, 
1866  ;  John  W.,  Feb.  29,  1868;  Araminda  J.,  May  13,  1870  ;  Oliver  E.,  July  6,  1874, 
and  William  G.,  Feb.  12,  1878.  The  town  of  New  Holland  is  located  upon  land  owned 
by  Mr.  Holland,  and  named  in  honor  of  him. 

E.  HUFFMAN,  farmer;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  born  in  Virginia  April  23,  1844; 
emigrated  to  Illinois,  with  his  parents,  when  2  years  of  age ;  located  in  Logan  Co., 
where  he  was  raised  to  farm  labor,  until  1865,  when  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  and  located 
upon  his  present  place,  where  he  has  since  lived.  His  marriage  with  Sarah  Shugart 
was  celebrated  Sept.  22,  1864  ;  she  was  born  in  Iowa  June  1,  1848.  Seven  children 
was  the  fruit  of  this  union — Albert  M.,  born  Feb.  21,  1866  ;  Oliver  E.,  Dec.  28,  1867  ; 
George  W.,  March  3,  1871  ;  Rosanna,  Aug.  3,  1873 ;  Harry  H.,  Sept.  26,  1875,  and 
Charles  D.,  July  20,  1877,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huffman  are 
both  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  In  politics,  Mr.  Huffman  is 
Republican,  having  always  voted  that  ticket. 

JOHN  HULSHIZER,  dealer  in  wines,  liquors  and  cigars,  and  proprietor  of  Huls- 
hizer's  billiard  hall,  entrance  upon  Chestnut  and  Tonica  streets,  Mason  City.  Among  the 
early  settlers  of  Mason  Co.,  we  mention  the  name  of  John  Hulshizer;  he  was  born  in 
the  State  of  New  Jersey  Aug.  31,  1836  ;  he  removed  to  Ohio  in  1844,  and,  in  1853, 


MASON    PITY    TOWNSHIP.  791 

came  to  Fulton  Co..  111.  In  1854,  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  and,  until  1857,  was  engaged 
in  milling,  at  Havana.  In  1857,  he  went  overland  with  ox  teams  to  Pike's  Peak,  and 
assisted  in  building  the  first  log  building  at  Denver  City  ;  he  remained  here  a  short 
time,  then  returned  to  Leaven  worth,  and  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Government  as 
wagon  master,  freighting  from  the  latter  place  to  Camp  Floyd.  In  1860,  his  train  of 
eighty  wagons  was  burnt  by  the  Mormons  and  Indians,  and  the  following  winter  he 
resided  in  Salt  Lake  City.  In  the  spring  of  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  17th  Regt.  I.  V. 
I.,  and  served  three  years,  when  he  re-enlisted  in  Hancock  Veteran  Corps,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  his  discharge  after  a  service  of  nearly  five  years. 
He  then  followed  milling  one  year,  in  Havana,  and,  in  1867,  with  his  father,  came  to 
Mason  City,  and  started  the  first  mill  at  this  place,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hulshizer  & 
Co.,  which  mill  continued  running  by  the  Hulshizers  until  its  destruction  by  fire,  in 
1874  or  1875.  About  the  year  1870,  he  purchased  his  present  business  site,  and 
engaged  in  the  present  business,  which  he  has  since  successfully  followed.  He  keeps 
the  finer  grades  of  liquors  and  cigars,  and  is  always  found  in  readiness  to  attend  to  the 
demand  of  his  numerous  patrons.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Minerva  Bowsock 
in  1867  ;  she  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  no  children,  but  an  adopted  daughter 
3  years  of  age,  which  they  have  raised  from  infancy,  and  treated  as  their  own  child, 
their  intention  being  to  provide  for  her  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education.  Godfrey 
Hulshizer,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born,  in  New  Jersey  in  1802  ; 
here  he  learned  milling,  which  business  he  followed  in  connection  with  distilling,  until 
he  came  West.  In  1854,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  for  six  years  followed  milling  in  Ful- 
ton Co.  In  I860,  he  located  in  Havana,  and  followed  milling  until  1867,  when  he 
came  to  Mason  City  and  erected  the  first  mill,  which  he  ran  until  about  1875,  when  the 
mill  was  destroyed  by  fire.  He  then  followed  milling  in  Nebraska  two  years,  and 
returned  to  Mason  Co.  and  followed  "his  business  in  Quiver  Township,  and  now  has  one 
of  the  largest  and  finest  water  mills  in  Nebraska,  located  at  West  Mills,  Seward  Co. 
He  has  been  twice  married ;  his  first  wife  was  Phoebe  Young ;  she  died  about  the  year 
1856,  leaving  seven  children,  having  lost  one  by  death.  He  married  Rosanna  Dewitt 
about  the  year  1859,  and  has  by  the  last  union  five  children.  He  was  the  father  of 
thirteen  children,  of  whom  twelve  are  now  living. 

J.  P.  HUDSON,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Mason  City;  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  Mason  Co.;  born  in  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  Dec.  30,  1805;  at  16  years  of  age,  he 
engaged  in  the  cotton  mills  at  Newton,  Upper  Falls,  where,  after  a  time  of  experience 
in  the  machinery  department,  his  skill  as  a  mechanic  and  workman  in  the  machinery  of 
cotton  mills  became  known,  and  for  several  years  previous  to  1833,  he  was  constantly 
employed  in  placing  in  the  machinery  in  different  mills,  located  in  the  Eastern  States ; 
in  1833,  he  went  to  Newport,  Campbell  Co.,  Ky.,  where  lor  two  years  he  was  Super- 
intendent of  the  cotton,  hemp  and  flax  mills  of  the  place ;  in  1835,  he  leased  a  mill 
at  Maysville,  Ky.,  which  he  ran  three  years,  and  in  1838,  removed  to  Macoupin  Co., 
where  he  followed  the  merchandise  trade  seven  years;  in  1845,  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  . 
and  located  near  Bath,  and  engaged  in  farming  for  awhile,  when  he  leased  his  farm  and 
removed  to  Havana,  where  he  was  engaged  in  business  until  1867,  when  he  removed  to 
Mason  City  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  and  contracting  and  building  until  187(5, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  sons.  Mr.  Hudson  brought  the  first  McCormick  reaper 
to  his  place  that  came  to  Mason  Co.;  he  located  in  Havana  when  there  were  only  two 
houses  in  the  place;  his  first  home  was  built  of  birch  poles,  fished  out  of  the  river, 
which  was  erected  at  Matanzas,  which  now  exists  only  in  name  ;  he  has  now  retired 
from  active  business,  attending  only  to  such  matters  as  his.  office  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
requires,  which  office  he  has  held  for  the  past  three  years;  in  1846.  he  was  appointed 
by  Gov.  Ford  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  resigning  the  same  upon  his  removal  upon  his  farm. 
In  1832,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Abigail  Harrington,  who  was  a  native  of  Paxton, 
Mass.;  children — Martha,  wife  of  R.  J.  Onstott ;  J.  Davis,  engaged  in  business  at 
home;  Preston  C.,  lawyer,  of  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  and  Olive  A.,  teacher  in  the  Mason 
City  school  ;  of  his  sons,  J.  D.  served  in  the  2d  I.  V.  C.,  and  Preston  C.  enlisted  at 
17  years  of  age,  in  the  85th  I.  V.  I.,  and  served  three  years ;  he  was  a  graduate  of  the 


792  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

Class  of  1872,  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  When  Mr.  Hudson  located  in  Mason  Co.,  his 
milling  was  done  in  what  is  now  Quiver  Township ;  he  put  up  an  ox-mill,  of  the 
capacity  of  ten  bushels  pr-r  hour,  and  was  patronized  by  parties  from  different  counties, 
for  a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles. 

B.  H.  IRONMONGER,  miller,  Mason  City;  firm  of  Ironmonger  &  Tibbets, 
proprietors -Mason  City  Mills;  born  in  Staffordshire,  Eng.,  Oct.  1,  1832;  at  12  years 
of  age,  he  came  to  America,  arriving  at  New  Orleans,  then  to  St.  Louis,  and  followed 
milling  until  1856,  then  to  Jacksonville,  milling  until  1860,  when  he  removed  to  Pekin, 
and  followed  milling  until  1869,  when  he,  with  A.  Stubbs,  erected  the  Young  America 
Mills,  at  Delavan,  which  they  run  until  1872.  when  he  located  at  Mason  City,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Ironmonger,  Johnson  &  Tibbets,  erecting  their  mill,  which  they  com- 
pleted in  the  spring  of  1873.  Mr.  Ironmonger  &  Tibbets  have  been  associated  with 
different  parties,  but  are  now  running  together,  having  purchased  the  interest  of  the 
other  partner ;  they  have  two  runs  for  wheat  and  one  for  corn,  being  the  only  mill  in 
Mason  City,  and  has  a  capacity  of  forty  barrels  per  day,  their  supply  being  mostly 
produced  near  home,  but  have  some  years  received  wheat  from  Kansas  City,  and  other 
cities  north  and  west.  He  was  married,  iu  1855,  to  Elizabeth  Stubbs ;  she  was  born  in 
Yorkshire,  Eng.,  in  1835;  they  have  seven  children  now  living — Olive  E.,  Hattie, 
Laura,  Minnie,  Benjamin  F.,  Arthur  J.  and  Joseph  D. 

MARCUS  KAHN,  Mason  City.  The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  in  Wur- 
temberg,  Germany,  March  24,  1848;  at  2  years  of  age,  he  with  his  parents,  emi- 
grated to  America,  and  located  at  Mt.  Pulaski,  Logan  Co.,  111.,  in  1850 ;  here  his 
father,  Moritz  Kahn,  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  until  1856,  when  he  removed  his 
goods  to  Lincoln,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  until  1866,  at  which 
time  he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  several  years,  and  about  the 
year  1870,  returned  to  Lincoln,  where  his  decease  occurred  Aug.  24,  1876  ;  his  widow 
died  Oct.  26,  1878.  Marcus  Kahn  attended  the  common  and  graded  schools  at  Lin- 
coln, and  completed  his  education  by  a  term  at  the  Commercial  College,  at  Cincinnati ; 
his  mercantile  education  was  obtained  in  the  store  of  his  father,  after  which,  in  1868, 
he  opened  in  the  clothing  trade  at  Harvard,  McHenry  Co.,  111.,  continuing  the  same 
until  July,  1870,  when  he  removed  his  stock  to  Mason  City,  and  continued  the  same 
business  until  July,  1879,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  well-known  banking-house  of  F. 
N.  Smith  &  Co.  His  marriage  with  Anna  Rothschild  was  celebrated  in  Petersburg, 
Menard  Co.,  in  October,  1876,  at  which  place  her  birth  occurred  in  1857  ;  they  have 
one  child  by  this  union — Julius  M.  Mrs.  Kahn  was  a  daughter  of  Moses  Rothschild, 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Menard  Co. 

OTHO  S.  KING,  Cashier  First  National  Bank,  Mason  City ;  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Johnstown,  Cambria  Co.,  Penn.,  June  23,  1846,  where  he  obtained 
his  academical  and  commercial  education,  graduating  from  the  Duff'  Commercial  Col- 
lege at  Pittsburgh,  at  20  years  of  age ;  in  the  fall  of  1866  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  banking  business  in  Fulton  Co.  until  Aug.  15,  1871,  at  which  date  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Mason  City  was  organized,  and  Mr.  King  accepted  the  office  of 
cashier,  which  office  he  has  since  held.  His  marriage  with  Alice  B.  Bliss  was  cel- 
ebrated Jan.  3,  1872;  she  was  a  native  of  Lewistowo,  Fulton  Co.,  111.;  they  have  one 
child  by  this  union — Royal  Elliott. 

H.  T.  LEWIN,  merchant,  dealer  in  groceries,  provisions,  glass  and  queensware, 
etc.,  etc.,  Mason  City.  The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  was  born  in  Rut- 
land, Vt.,  upon  the  29th  of  October,  1848  ;  when  7  years  of  age.  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Stockbridge,  and  at  8  years  of  age,  entered  in  the  merchandise  store  of  Amos 
Brown  with  whom  he  remained  two  years.  To  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Brown,  Mr.  Lewin 
expresses  much  gratitude  for  his  interest  manifested  in  his  education,  devoting  all  his 
spare  time  (as  he  did)  instructing  and  educating  his  young  clerk ;  and,  from  this  gentle- 
man, Mr.  Lewin  received  his  first  lessons  toward  his  education.  At  10  years  of  age, 
he  removed  with  his  father  to  Rutland,  Vt.,  and,  having  made  sufficient  advancement, 
he  entered  the  high  school,  which  he  attended  for  three  years.  He  then  clerked  three 
years  in  the  dry-goods  trade,  after  which,  he  was  in  business  for  himself  three  years  in 


MASON   CITY   TOWNSHIP.  793 

Whitehall  and  Fort  Edward,  N.  Y.,  and  upon  the  3d  of  November,  1866,  landed  in 
Mason  City,  and,  the  following  six  months,  was  engaged  in  school-teaching.  He  then 
made  a  visit  to  his  old  home,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1867,  returned  to  Mason  City,  and,  for 
one  year,  engaged  in  clerking,  etc.  The  following  year,  he  was  engaged  as  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Griswold  Opera  House  Restaurant  and  Billiard  Hall,  being  the  largest 
in  the  city  of  Troy,  N.  Y.  ;  he  then  went  to  Rutland,  Vt.,  and,  until  1873,  was  engaged 
in  business  for  himself,  at  which  date,  he  again  came  to  Mason  City,  and,  until  May, 
1879,  was  engaged  in  the  billiard  business  and  sale  of  wines,  liquors,  cigars,  etc.;  and,  in 
the  summer  of  1879,  refitted  his  store  and  placed  in  a  new,  full  and  complete  stock  of 
groceries,  provisions,  etc.  Upon  June  16,  1871,  he  was  commissioned,  by  Gov.  Stewart, 
Captain  of  Co.  H,  of  the  2d  Regiment  of  the  Vermont  State  Militia ;  he  held  the  above 
commission  until  Sept.  20, 1872,  when  he  was  commissioned  Major  of  the  3d  Regiment 
Vermont  State  Militia,  holding  the  same  until  he  came  u>  Mason  City,  when  he  resigned. 
In  September,  1878,  he  organized  the  Modoc  Tribe,  No.  14  Improved  Order  of  Red 
Men,  and  received  a  charter  from  the  Great  Council  of  the  U.  S.  in  1879.  He  was 
the  first  Sachem  of  the  same,  and,  in  June,  1879,  was  elected  by  the  Great  Council  of 
the  State  as  representative  to  the  Great  Council  of  the  U.  S.,  to  be  held  in  New  York, 
Sept.  9,  1879  ;  he  also  holds  the  office  of  Deputy  Sachem  (of  the  State)  of  this  Order. 
His  marriage  with  Frances  A.  Weatherly  was  celebrated  Aug.  28,  1867;  she  was  born 
at  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y.,  April  25,  1849;  they  were  the  parents  of  two  children,  of 
whom  one  died  in  infancy;  the  living  Libbie  was  born  in  1870. 

JAMES  LEGG,  retired  farmer,  Mason  City ;  one  of  the  old  settlers  ;  born  in 
Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  in  the  year  1816.  He  followed  agricultural  pursuits  in  Indiana  until 
1855,  when  he  located  in  Allen's  Grove  Township,  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  purchased  280 
acres  of  land  to  which  he  afterward  added  until  he  had  upward  of  500  acres,  and  upon 
which  he  lived  until  Sept.  16,  1873,  when  he  located  in  his  present  residence  in  Mason 
City,  where  he  has  since  lived,  retired  from  active  labor,  but  personally  superintends  the 
management  of  his  farms.  In  1845,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Vilura  Corwin, 
also  a  native  of  Indiana ;  they  have  one  child  by  this  union — Euphemia,  widow  of 
Edward  Craig,  whose  biography  also  appears  in  this  work.  Mr.  Legg  was  Supervisor 
of  Allen's  Grove  Township  five  years,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  twelve  years  in  succession. 

THOMAS  N.  MEHAN,  attorney  at  law,  State's  Attorney,  Mason  City.  The 
subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York  April  1,  1844 ;  he  emigrated 
West  when  12  years  of  age,  and  located  near  Delavan,  Tazewell  Co.,  and  followed  farm- 
ing until  he  attained  his  majority,  receiving  for  his  nine  years'  services  $  100.  He  then 
entered  the  Lombard  University  at  Galesburg,  and  attended  one  term.  The  following 
six  years,  he  engaged  in  school-teaching  and  improving  every  spare  hour  for  his  own 
btudy  ;  he  commenced  the  study  of  his  profession  with  Roberts  &  Green,  at  Pekin,  in 
1866,  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  bar  in  July,  1868.  After  following  his  profession 
in  Delavan  a  short  time,  he  removed  to  Pekin,  where  he  practiced  until  1875  ;  was  City 
Attorney  one  year,  received  the  nomination  for  the  second,  but  would  not  accept.  In 
the  spring  of  1875,  he  came  to  Mason  City,  and  has  a  large  practice  with  a  constantly 
increasing  business  from  year  to  year.  In  the  fall  of  1875,  he  was  elected  District 
State's  Attorney  for  four  years.  Mr.  Mehan  is  one  of  our  self-educated  and  self-made 
men  in  every  respect,  and  has,  by  his  continued  energy  and  perseverance,  placed  him- 
self among  the  first  of  his  profession  in  Mason  Co.,  and  we  expect  for  him  a  bright 
future.  His  marriage  with  Emily  E.  Stranbridge  was  celebrated  Jan.  2,  1872  ;  she 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania;  they  have  three  children — Sarah  Etta,  Willie  M.  and 
Benjamin  A. 

J.  B.  McDOWELL,  physican  and  surgeon,  Mason  City  ;  born  in  Bedford  Co.,  Penn., 
Feb.  22,  1818;  his  literary  education  was  completed  at  the  Bedford  Academy.  He 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  at  19  years  of  age,  and  graduated  from  the  State  Med- 
ical School  at  St.  Louis  in  1844.  He  then  located  in  Lewistown,  Fulton  Co.,  where  he 
successfully  followed  his  profession  for  a  period  of  twenty-eight  years.  In  1871,  he 
located  at  Mason  City,  where  he  has  since  successfully  followed  his  profession.  In 
1850,  he  entered  160  acres  of  land  one-half  mile  west  of  where  Mason  City  now 


794  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

stands.  He  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  religion,  having  been  a  member  of 
the  Church  for  many  years.  In  1849,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  W.  Rice. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Dr.  E.  D.  Rice,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Fulton  Co.,  and  a 
practicing  physician  of  Lewistown  for  nearly  fifty  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDowell  were 
the  parents  of  two  children,  of  whom  one  died  in  infancy;  the  other  is  now  farming  in 
Mason  Co.  Mrs.  McDowell  died  April  30,  1879. 

L.  NAYLOR,  grocer,  firm  of  Naylor  Bros.,  groceries,  provisions,  etc.,  Mason  City; 
born  in  Adair  Co.,  Ky.,  April  21,  1834;  at  1  year  of  age  he  emigrated  to  Illinois 
with  his  parents,  and  located  in  Morgan  Co.,  and,  after  a  residence  of  five  years,  he 
went  to  Virginia  City,  where  he  attended  the  graded  schools  until  he  obtained  his 
majority.  He  then  followed  farming  two  years  in  Minnesota,  and  returned  to  Cass  Co., 
and  was  engaged  in  business  until  1862,  when  he  engaged  as  steward  and  teacher  at  the 
Institution  for  the  Blind,  at  Jacksonville,  until  1867,  at  which  date  he,  with  his  brother, 
came  to  Mason  City  and  engaged  in  the  above  business,  which  they  have  since  success- 
fully followed  for  a  period  of  twelve  years,  and  are  the  oldest  continuous  firm  in  their 
line  in  Mason  City.  His  marriage  with  Lydia  C.  White  was  in  1862.  They  have 
four  children — Minnie  E.,  Mattie  E.,  Frederick  L.  and  an  infant.  Mr.  Naylor  has 
filled  the  office  of  Alderman  for  the  Third  Ward  one  term,  and  Mayor  of  Mason  City 
two  terms. 

R.  J.  ONSTOTT,  books  and  stationery,  Mason  City;  proprietor  of  the  Masoo 
City  Book  Store,  and  dealer  in  pianos,  organs,  sewing  machines,  etc. ;  born  in  Menard 
Co.,  111.,  in  December,  1830.  When  9  years  of  age  he  removed  from  Salem  to  Peters- 
burg, where  h'e  lived  until  1845.  He  then  followed  farming  in  Mason  Co.  five  years, 
when  he  removed  to  Havana,  where  he  followed  clerking  until  the  breaking-out  of  the 
rebellion  in  1861,  when  he  assisted  in  raising  a  company  for  the  27th  I.  V.  I.  He 
was  then  appointed  mail-route  agent  upon  the  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.,  holding  this  position 
two  years.  He  was  then  engaged  as  clerk  in  Peoria  and  Pekin  until  1871,  and  the  two 
years  following,  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  was  unable  to  attend  to  business.  In  1874, 
he  came  to  Mason  City,  and,  in  1875,  purchased  of  John  Danby  his  business,  which 
he  has  since  successfully  followed.  His  business  card  appears  in  the  Directory  of  Mason 
City,  in  this  work.  The  father  of  R.  J.  Onstott  was  Henry  Onstott,  who  emigrated  from 
Kentucky  and  located  in  Menard  Co.  in  1824.  Mr.  Onstott  was  married  to  Martha  H. 
Hudson  in  January,  1864.  She  is  a  daughter  of  J.  P.  Hudson,  one  of  our  early  pio- 
neers, whose  sketch  appears  in  this  work.  They  have  one  child  by  this  union.  Mr. 
Onstott  is  a  strong  Republican,  and  assisted  in  organizing  the  first  Union  League  in  the 
United  States,  at  Pekin,  and  from  this  sprang  all  the  Union  Leagues  of  the  loyal  States. 

JOHN  POWERS,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Mason  City  ;  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
Mason  Co. ;  born  in  city  of  Waterford,  Ireland,  June  18,  1829.  At  2  years  of  age  he 
came,  with  his  parents,  to  St.  John,  N.  B.,  living  there  three  years;  then  five  years  in 
New  York  City ;  then  to  the  West  Indies  for  four  years,  from  which  place  he  shipped 
with  his  uncle  as  sailor,  and  followed  the  sea  nearly  six  years.  In  the  spring  of  1849, 
he  came  to  Chicago,  and  the  following  January  came  to  Mason  Co.,  and,  in  the  spring 
of  1851,  purchased  forty-seven  acres  of  his  present  farm,  upon  which  he  located  in 
1855,  and  where  he  has  lived  for  a  fourth  of  a  century.  He  now  owns  235  acres  with 
good  farm  buildings,  which  he  has  made  by  his  own  hard  labor.  His  marriage  with 
Rebecca  E.  Sheples  was  celebrated  in  Lincoln,  111.,  May  30,  1855.  She  was  born  in 
Scott  Co.,  Penn.,  Dec.  27,  1836.  Three  children  by  this  union — Joan  of  Arc,  born 
April  9,  1856;  Mary  C.,  born  Oct.  8,  1857,  died  Jan.  19,  1860,  and  Mary  E.,  born 
Jan.  8,  1860.  The  oldest  daughter  is  married,  and  lives  three  miles  east  of  Mason 
City,  the  younger  daughter  living  at  home. 

ROYAL  W.  PORTER  (deceased),  merchant  and  banker,  Mason  City;  one  of 
the  old  settlers;  born  in  Gallia  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1833;  he  obtained  a  fair  common-school 
education,  and,  in  1853,  came  to  Illinois,  and,  in  1855,  to  Crane  Creek  Township, 
Mason  Co.,  and  settled  upon  eighty  acres  of  land,  and,  in  1859,  came  to  Mason  City 
and  engaged  in  the  merchandise  trade,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hurst  &  Porter.  In 
1861,  he  raised  Co.  C,  27th  Regt.  I.  V.  I.  ;  was  elected  Second  Lieutenant,  and,  with 


MASON    CITY   TOWNSHIP.  795 

his  regiment,  went  forward  to  battle  for  the  Union,  leaving  his  partner  managing  the 
merchandise  trade  at  home;  in  August,  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant, 
from  which  time  he  acted  as  Captain  a  large  part  of  the  time  ;  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  while  acting  as  Captain,  he  so  distinguished  himself  that  his  company  unani- 
mously resolved  to  present  him  an  elegant  sword  and  belt,  appropriately  inscribed,  which 
he  held  in  grateful  remembrance  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  In  April,  1864,  he  was 
mustered  out  of  the  service  and  returned 'to  Mason  City,  and  bought  out  his  partner; 
in  1867,  he  associated  with  G.  H.  Campbell,  under  the  firm  name  of  Campbell  &  Porter, 
and  did  an  extensive  banking  and  exchange  business,  in  connection  with  their  merchan- 
dise trade  ;  in  1871,  they  organized  the  First  National  Bank  of  Mason  City,  with  R.  W. 
Porter  as  Vice  President;  he  soon  after  organized  the  firm  of  R.  W.  Porter  &  Co.,  of 
which  he  was  the  head  for  many  years.  The  success  and  prosperity  of  Mason  City 
owes  as  much  to  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Porter  as  to  that  of  any  man  in  the  county.  In 
1855,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Martha  H.  Baker ;  she  was  born  in  1836 ;  four 
children  were  the  fruits  of  this  union — Laura  L.,  Walter  R.,  Jessie  and  Otho  B.  Mr. 
Porter  was  H  member  of  the  Mason  City  Lodge,  No.  403,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Chapter 
86,  R.  A.  M.,  and  a  Knight  Templar.  His  death  occurred  May  16,  1879.  While 
training  a  colt,  he  became  entangled  in  the  carriage ;  the  colt  ran  away,  and  Mr.  Porter 
was  dragged  a  mile,  and,  when  reached,  life  was  extinct. 

DAVID  POWELL,  banker  (firm  of  F.  N.  Smith  &  Co.),  Mason  City  ;  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  Mason  City;  was  b  irn  in  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1830 ;  at 
5  years  of  age  he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Menard  Co.  two 
years.  They  then  located  in  Fulton  Co.,  where  he  was  raised  to  farm  labor,  until  17 
years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  commenced  the  blacksmith  trade,  following  the  same 
four  years.  In  1852,  he  went  by  ox  teams  overland  to  California,  where  he  arrived, 
after  a  tedious  journey  of  four  months ;  after  following  his  trade,  in  connection  with 
mining,  for  upward  of  three  years,  he  returned  to  Mason  Co.,  and  the  following  three 
years  engaged  in  farming  and  working  at  his  trade.  In  1859,  he  came  to  Mason  City 
and  was  engaged  in  blacksmithing  until  1864,  when  he  associated  in  the  general  mer- 
chandise trade  with  A.  A.  Cargill,  and  continued  the  same  until  1871,  during  which 
time  they  purchased  the  lot  and  erected  the  building  now  occupied  by  Cargill  &  Swing ; 
from  1872  to  1874,  he  was  associated  with  E.  M.  Sharp  in  the  general  merchandise 
trade,  and,  at  the  latter  date,  on  account  of  ill  health,  severed  his  connection  with  the 
mercantile  trade,  and,  after  spending  the  summer  at  Delaware  Bay,  returned  to  Mason 
City,  and,  upon  Dec.  20,  1874,  associated  with  F.  N.  Smith,  in  the  banking  business, 
which  they  have  since  successfully  followed,  their  business  card  appearing  among  the 
business  cards  of  Mason  City,  in  another  part  of  this  work.  His  marriage  with  Mary 
A.  Cox  was  celebrated  in  1860;  she  died  March  16,  1877,  leaving  four  children — 
Clara,  Arthur.  Laura  and  Flora. 

J.  REISINGER,  brick  manufacturer,  butcher  and  ice  dealer,  firm  of  Reisinger  & 
Dietrich,  Mason  City ;  born  in  Perry  Co.,  Penn.,  July  15, 1833 ;  raised  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  20  years  of  age;  he  then  followed  farming,  carpentering  and  running  a  saw-mill 
until  1858,  when  he  came  to  Mason  Co.  and  located  where  Mason  City  now  stands, 
when  there  were  but  two  houses  here  ;  he  is  consequently  one  of  the  oldest  settlers ;  he 
engaged  in  carpentering  and  contracting  until  1867,  the  last  three  years  of  which  he  was 
associated  with  his  present  partner.  In  1867,  they  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  ; 
in  1870,  they  engaged  in  the  ice  business,  and  in  September,  1878,  they  also  engaged 
in  the  butcher  business,  and  are  conducting  all  of  the  above  branches  of  trade.  His 
marriage  with  Emily  Leighner  was  celebrated  Feb.  20,  1876  ;  she  was  born  in  Snyder 
Co.,  Penn.,  in  1841. 

B.  A.  ROSEBROUGH,  farmer;  P.  0.  Mason  City  ;  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Mason  Co.;  born  in  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio,  April  16,  1832  ;  when  17  years  of  age,  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Mason  Co.  in  June,  1849  ;  in  1850,  he  commenced  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  until  elected  County  Treasurer,  when  he  removed 
to  Havana  and  resided  during  his  term  of  office,  and  until  1871,  at  which  date  he  located 
upon  his  present  place  in  Mason  City  Township,  where  he  has  "since  lived.  He  was  the 


796  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 

second  Supervisor  of  this  township,  was  re-elected  again  in  1875,  and  has  since  held  the 
above  office  for  four  years ;  has  also  held  the  offices  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  other 
petty  offices,  and  is  the  present  Democratic  candidate  for  the  office  of  County  Treasurer. 
He  was  united  in  marriage,  Nov.  20,  1856,  with  Maria  L.  Tomlin ;  she  died  March  6, 
1873,  leaving  five  children — Rebecca  E.,  Cora  E.,  Benajah  A.,  Frank  and  Maria  B. 
He  married,  for  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Anna  A.  Sites,  daughter  of  Abram  Swing, 
upon  the  28th  of  September,  1876;  one  child  by  this  union — Frederick  S.  Mr. 
Kosebrough  settled  in  Mason  City  in  1858,  where  he  followed  his  trade  until  1865,  and 
purchased  building  lots  at  the  first  sale,  held  in  1858. 

S.  ROBERTSON,  retired  farmer,  Mason  City.  Among  the  settlers  of  Mason 
Co.,  of  1851,  we  find  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  ;  he  was  born  April 
7,  1818,  in  Kentucky;  in  the  fall  of  1836,  he  located  in  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  until  1851,  when  he  sold  his  farm,  and  followed  teaming  and  farming, 
near  Havana,  until  1854,  when  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  his  present  place,  and, 
in  1858,  located  upon  the  spot  where  he  now  lives,  just  outside  the  limits  of  the  corpor- 
ation of  Mason  City,  which  he  has  watched  spring  from  the  prairie,  until  it  is  now  a 
city  of  upward  of  2,000  inhabitants,  and  reaches  the  boundary  of  his  farm ;  he  now 
owns  upward  of  400  acres,  in  Mason  and  Tazewell  Cos.,  and,  by  his  hard  labor  and 
correct  business  habits,  has  become  one  of  the  large  landholders  and  successful  farmers 
of  Mason  Co.  His  marriage  with  Martha  L.  Jones  was  celebrated  Dec.  10,  1848  ;  she 
was  born  iu  Virginia  March  5,  1831.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  of  whom 
three  are  now  living — George  S.,  born  Oct.  28,  1852  ;  William,  Dec.  26,  1864,  and 
Nancy  A.,  Oct.  17,  1866  ;  of  the  deceased,  one  died  in  infancy,  the  other,  Eliza  B., 
was  born  Aug.  1,  1857,  and  died  Oct.  25,  1863. 

F.  N.  SMITH,  banker,  firm  of  F.  N.  Smith  &  Co.,  Mason  City.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  memoir  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  upon  the  29th  of  August, 
1841.  At  18  months  of  age,  he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  America,  and  located  in 
Holmes  Co.,  Ohio ;  here  he  was  raised  to  farm  labor,  obtaining  a  good  academical  edu- 
cation, until  18  years  of  age;  he  then  followed  school-teaching  two  winters,  and  upon 
Sept.  9,  1862,-  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  128th  Ohio  V.  I.,  and  went  forward  to  battle  for  the 
Union  ;  after  serving  in  the  Union  army  two  years  and  nine  months,  he  was  mustered 
out  of  service,  and  returning  home,  engaged  as  clerk  in  the  drug  business  for  eighteen 
months.  In  1867,  he  opened  a  drug  store  at  Bluffton,  Ohio,  selling  out  in  1868  and 
coming  to  Illinois  ;  located  at  Minier,  Tazewell  Co.,  where  he  associated  in  the  drug 
trade  with  J.  J.  Strome,  continuing  the  same  for  two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1870,  he 
with  his  partner,  located  in  Mason  City,  under  the  firm  name  of  Smith  &  Strome,  and 
for  three  years  continued  doing  the  largest  drug  trade  of  Mason  Co.  In  1873,  they 
sold  out  to  Dr.  Dunn,  and  Mr.  Smith  opened  a  drug  store  at  Lincoln,  which  he  disposed 
of  after  six  months  and  returned  to  Mason  City,  and  upon  Dec.  20,  1874,  associated 
with  David  Powell  in  the  general  banking  business,  which  they  have  since  successfully 
followed.  A  card  of  their  business  will  be  found  in  the  Directory  of  Mason  City,  in 
another  part  of  this  work. 

HAMILTON  TIBBETS,  firm  of  Ironmonger  &  Tibbets,  millers,  Mason  City  ; 
born  in  Shenandoah  Co.,  Va.,  Dec.  11,  1818;  he  was  raised  upon  a  farm  until  28 
years  of  age,  during  which  time  he  learned  and  worked  at  the  refinery  trade  seven 
years;  in  1846,  he  removed  to  Maryland  and  followed  refining  and  coal  mining  some 
nine  years,  when  he  returned  to  Virginia  and  followed  different  branches  of  business 
until  1859,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  at  Lincoln,  Logan  Co.,  where  his  fam- 
ily now  resides;  in  1872,  he  associated  with  his  present  partner  and  Mr.  Johnson  in 
the  milling  business  in  Mason  City,  and  has  since  continued  the  same  business  under 
different  firm  names,  the  present  firm,  however,  having  been  together  since  1872.  He 
was  married,  in  1844.  to  Lydia  A.  Wierman ;  she  was  born  in  Page  Co.,  Va. ;  they  have 
one  son  now  living — Benjamin,  engineer  of  the  mill. 

W.  F.  THOMPSON,  furniture  dealer  and  undertaker,  Mason  City;  born  in  Rich- 
mond Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  18,  1833;  came  to  Illinois  in  1859  and  located  in  Logan  Co. ; 
engaged  in  farming  until  1871,  when  he  removed  to  Mason  City;  in  June,  1873,  he 


MASON   CITY   TOWNSHIP.  797 

purchased  an  interest  in  the  above  business  of  T.  J.  Watkins,  and  carried  on  the  same 
under  the  firm  name  of  Watkins  &  Thompson  until  1878,  when  he  purchased  the 
interest  of  his  partner,  since  which  time  he  has  conducted  the  business  under  his  own 
name  ;  in  1874,  he  erected  his  three-story  brick  building,  the  whole  of  which  is  occu- 
pied by  his  business,  and  which  is  one  of  the  finest  in  town. 

JOSEPH  TAYLOR,  retired  farmer,  Mason  City ;  was  born  in  Barren  Co.,  Ky., 
Aug.  20,  1819 ;  he  went  to  Pike  Co.,  Ind.,  in  October,  1836 ;  at  the  age  of  10,  he  was 
left  an  orphan  with  no  friends  that  could  be  of  any  pecuniary  advantage  to  him,  there- 
fore he  had  to  look  out  for  himself  in  procuring  a  livelihood ;  early  in  life,  he  became 
an  expert  rider  of  running  horses,  and  did  a  great  deal  of  it,  always  to  win ;  has  ridden 
but  few  races  since  he  came  to  Mason  Co. ;  he  came  here  in  April,  1851.  He  married 
Lucinda  Houchin  May  16,  1838;  she  was  born  in  Edtnonson  Co.,  Ky.,  Oct.  2,  1821  ; 
when  they  married  they  were  not  worth  a  dollar,  but  they  were  young  and  vigorous 
and  together  they  determined  to  win  or  die,  and  bent  their  united  energies  to  good 
purpose,  and  now  are  among  the  most  prosperous  in  worldly  goods  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Mason  Co.  ;  -they  have  had  ten  children,  viz.,  Benjamin  W.,  born  Oct.  20,  1840; 
John  J.,  Jan.  29,  1842;  William  D.,  March  15,  1843,  died  March  28  following; 
Malinda  E.,  born  April  23,  1844;  Lucy  A.,  Feb.  1,1846;  Joseph  A.,  March  21, 
1848,  died  Sept.  10,  1851;  Georgia  A.,  born  July  4,  1850  ;  Melissa  J.,  June  19, 
1853;  Reason  A.,  Dec.  16.  1854,  died  July  20,  1869,  and  Charles  E.,  born  Feb.  14, 
1861,  died  Jan.  17  following.  Mr.  Taylor  moved  to  Mason  City  in  1860,  and  kept  a 
livery  stable  a  year  or  two,  and  was  Assessor  some  eight  years ;  virtually  he  has  retired 
from  business;  a  few  years  since,  he  owned  1,250  acres  of  land  in  this  county,  but  has 
given  here  and  there  to  children,  so  that  now  he  has  only  486  acres,  a  good  home  and 
eighteen  lots  in  Mason  City.  Since  they  married  have  never  broken  housekeeping,  and 
he  has  never  belonged  to  any  order  or  organization. 

D.  W.  VICKERY,  farmer,* Sec.  9  ;  P.  0.  Mason  City  ;  the  subject  of  this  memoir 
was  born  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  upon  the  28th  of  February,  1838 ;  he  was  raised  to 
agricultural  pursuits  until  the  breaking-out  of  the  rebellion,  when  he  was  one  of  the 
first  to  respond  to  the  call  for  soldiers  to  suppress  the  same,  enlisting  April  23,  1861,  in 
the  12th  N.  Y.  V.  I.,  and  went  forward  to  battle  for  the  Union  ;  he  was  in  many 
severe  battles,  among  which  we  mention  both  battles  of  Bull  Run,  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg,  the  Peninsular  campaign  ;  at  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill  he  was  wounded  in  the 
chin,  but  continued  on  duty  until  the- expiration  of  his  service,  receiving  his  discharge 
in  May,  1863;  in  December,  following;  he  re-enlisted  in  the  15th  N.  Y.  V.  C.,  and 
si-rvod  until  the  close  of  the  war,  serving  under  Gens.  Custer  and  Sheridan;  upon  the 
night  previous  to  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee,  he  received  a  wound  in  the  right  shoulder 
by  a  minie  ball,  from  which  he  has  and  still  continues  to  suffer  severely,  and  for  which 
he  draws  a  pension;  he  received  his  discharge  July  1,  1865,  having  served  in  the 
Union  army  nearly  four  years.  He  is  one  of  our  strong  Republicans  in  politics,  having 
never  been  made  to  see  why  he  should  not  vote  as  he  fought.  After  receiving  his  dis- 
charge, he  returned  to  New  York  and  followed  farming  until  1868,  when  he  came  to 
Mason  Co.  and  located  one  mile  northeast  of  Mason  City,  where  he  has  a  pleasant 
'home  of  forty  acres,  with  good  buildings,  and  which  was  obtained  at  an  expense, 
including  buildings  and  improvements,  of  upward  of  $100  per  acre.  Upon  Jan.  30, 
1866,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  N.  Ellen  Garrett;  she  was  born  in  Onondaga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  27,  1843;  they  have  two  children  by  this  union — Hattie  B.,  born 
April  1,  1867,  and  Una  A.,  June  16,  1871. 

J.  H.  WANDELL,  Mason  City;  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Mason  Co.;  pro- 
prietor of  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel  and  Livery  Stable,  Mason  City.  We  live  to  eat  and 
eat  to  live ;  therefore,  to  point  out  a  good  hotel,  is  an  act  of  kindness  to  be  appreciated 
by  the  hungry  traveler.  Of  the  St.  Nicholas  it  can  be  said  with  truth,  that  in  quality 
and  variety  of  fare  it  is  not  excelled  by  any  house  on  the  Jacksonville  Division  of  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad,  south  of  Bloomington.  J.  H.  Wandell,  the  gentlemanly 
proprieior,  was  born  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Penn.,  April  13,  1820  ;  in  early  life,  he  learned 
the  molder's  trade,  which  he  followed,  in  connection  with  farming,  boating,  etc.,  etc., 


798  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

until  1849,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Mason  Co.;  he  first  engaged  in  running 
a  saw-mill  in  Quiver  Township,  and,  in  1850,  entered  160  acres  of  land  in  Pennsylvania 
Township,  in  Mason  Co.;  in  1851 ,  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  the  following  year,  cauie 
back,  and  probably  through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Wandell,  came  a  large  part  of  the  settlers  of 
Pennsylvania  Township  ;  in  1853.  he  had  charge  of  a  set  of  men  and  assisted  in  building 
the  C.  &  A.  R.  R ,  and.  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  erected  a  house  upon  his  land  into 
which  he  removed  and  commenced  improving  his  place ;  upon  the  2d  of  July,  1854, 
his  house  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  he  again  rebuilt  and  lived  upon  his  place  uutil  the 
decease  of  his  wife,  after  which  he  engaged  in  breaking  prairie  and  selling  patent  rights 
until  1864,  when  he  came  to  Mason  City,  and  exchanged  eighty  acres  of  his  farm  for  the 
Sherman  House  corner  ;  he  then  engaged  in  the  butcher  business  until  the  fall  of  1866  ; 
he  then  took  charge  of  a  gang  of  men  and  assisted  in  grading  this  division  of  the  C.  & 
A.  R.  R.  until  the  fall  of  1867;  in  August  of  the  year  1867,  he  purchased  his  present 
hotel,  and,  after  running  the  same  one  year,  rented  it  until  April  20,  1877,  when  he 
again  took  possession  of  the  hotel,  which  he  has  since  successfully  run  in  connection 
with  his  stable ;  he  has  since  erected  a  large,  commodious  brick  sample-room  for  the  use 
of  commercial  travelers,  from  whom  he  has  his  full  share  of  patronage.  Upon  Jan.  8, 
1852,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  E.  De  Pugh ;  she  died  Dec.  30,  1860; 
they  had  one -child,  which  died  in  infancy;  on  Dec.  30,  1865,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Christiana  A.  Benscote/  ;  she  was  born  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Penn.,  March  28. 1846. 

WILLIAM  WALKER,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Mason  City ;  born  in  County  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  in  April,  1829  or  1830;  he  was  a  son  of  Robert  Walker,  who  emigrated  to 
America  about  1836  and  located  in  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio ;  in  1862,  he  located  in  Mason 
Co.,  where  he  died  in  December,  1869 ;  his  wife  died  in  Ohio,  in  April,  1858.  Will- 
iam Walker  lived  with  different  parties  from  7  years  of  age  until  Oct.  16,  1856,  when 
he  wasjmited  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Jarvis,  in  Lincoln,  Logan  Co.,  111. ;  she  was 
born  in  Greenbrier  Co.-,  W.  Va.,  Oct.  31, 1839,  and  came  to  Ohio  with  her  parents  when  7 
years  of  age  ;  they  were  the  parents  of  nine  children  of  whom  two  are  now  living — 
Mary  I.  and  Anniah  B.;  the  deceased  were  Eliza  P.,  born  July  23,  1859.  died  May  12, 
1866 ;  Charles  F.,  born  June  8,  1861,  died  Feb.  22, 1862  ;  Thomas  J.,born  July  14, 
1865,  died  March  30,  1867  ;  William  V.,  born  Nov.  16,  1867,  died  Aug.  26,  1869  ; 
Robert  M.  died  in  infancy;  George  B.  F.,  born  Jan.  23,  1871,  died  Nov.  20,  1877  ; 
Elizabeth  L.,  born  April  23,  1876,  died  Nov.  18,  1877,  the  latter  two  dying  within 
forty-eight  hours  of  each  other.  Mr.  Walker  located  in  Mason  Co.  in  1861  ;  in '1864, 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  and  now  owns  165  acres  and  is  out  of  debt,  having 
accumulated  all  of  the  above  by  his  own  hard  labor  and  good  business  management,  in 
which  he  has  been  nobly  assisted  by  his  amiable  wife.  Mr.  Walker  has  shown  a  degree 
of  energy  and  perseverance  in  accomplishing  what  he  has,  under  the  trying  afflictions 
of  sickness  and  death,  which  have  been  visited  upon  his  family,  which  is  well  worthy  of 
imitation  by  the  young  men  of  the  present  day. 

J.  T.  W  ATKINS,  deceased;  born  in  Ross  Co..  Ohio,  March  5,  1834;  in  early 
life,  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  for  several  years  followed  contracting  and  build- 
ing; in  1856,  he  removed  to  New  Holland,  and,  in  1862,  raised  a  company  for  the  90th 
Ohio  V.  I.  and  served  as  Captain  two  years ;  received  his  discharge  on  account  of  dis- 
ability ;  he  afterward  served  as  Adjutant  of  the  155th  Regt.  Ohio  National  Guards;  in 
1864,  he  located  in  Champaign  Co..  111.;  in  July,  1866,  came  to  Mason  City  and 
engaged  in  the  furniture  business,  conducting  the  same  with  different  partners  until  1878, 
when  he  disposed  of  his  business  and  retired  from  active  labor  ;  he  was  the  first  Mayor 
of  New  Holland,  Ohio,  and  also  the  first  Mayor  of  Mason  City,  which  office  he  held  ac 
the  time  of  his  decease,  being  the  sixth  year.  He  died  April  25,  1878  ;  the  funeral 
was  held  at  the  Presbyterian  Church,  at  which  a  large  concourse  of  friends  and  citizens 
assembled ;  the  procession  was  formed  as  follows  :  Mason  City  Light  Guard  Band, 
Mason  City  and  Havana  Military  Companies,  hearse,  pall-bearers  and  relatives,  City 
Council,  etc.,  etc.,  the  last  sad  rites  being  performed  by  the  Mason  City  Lodge,  No.  403,  A., 
F.  &  A.  M.  He  was  married,  in  1855,  to  Sarah  Marot,  of  Ohio;  two  children  now 
living — Elmer  E.  and  Grace. 


MASON   CITY   TOWNSHIP.  799 

J.  S.  WILBURN,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Mason  City ;  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
Illinois  and  Mason  Co.;  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  Ky.,  Aug.  25,  1805;  in  1820,  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  located  twelve  miles  west  of  Springfield,  in  what  is  now  Sangamon 
Co.,  where  he  lived. several  years ;  he  then  followed  lead  mining  in  Galena  several  years  ; 
in  1830,  he  went  to  Chicago  and  purchased  the  corner  where  the  Tremont  House  now 
stands,  for  $61,  and,  two  years  later,  sold  the  same  for  $600;  in  1831,  he  located  at 
Beardstown  and  engaged  in  merchandising,  milling,  pork -pack  ing,  running  flat-boats  to 
New  Orleans,  freighting  his  own  goods  down  and  back,  having  branch  stores  both  in 
New  Orleans  and  at  Galena ;  he  continued  in  this  business  eleven  years ;  he  then  fol- 
lowed the  merchandise  trade  at  Springfield  and  Pekin,  and  erected  and  ran  a  flour-mill 
in  Peoria  Co..  and,  in  1846,  came  to  Mason  Co.  and  engaged  in  hotel-keeping  and  mer- 
chandise trading  in  the  town  of  Bath;  in  1848,  he  was  elected  Clark  of  the  Circuit 
Court  of  Mason  Co.,  which  office  he  held  for  eight  years ;  he  was  then  Master  of  Chan- 
cery several  years,  and,  in  1861,  removed  upon  his  present  place,  where  he  has  since 
lived.  Mr.  Wilbourne  took  an  active  part  in  the  old  Black  Hawk  war  of  1831-32, 
and  erected  the  first  fort,  which  was  located  near  La  Salle,  and  was  named  in  honor  of 
its  builder,  Fort  Wilbourne ;  he  also  took  up  the  first  boat-load  of  provisions  up  the 
Illinois  River  from  St.  Louis  to  his  fort,  and  from  which  place  the  soldiers  received 
their  provisions,  etc. ;  he  was  commissioned,  by  Gov.  Reynolds,  as  Captain  of  Volun- 
teers, which  office  he  held  during  the  war ;  during  his  residence  in  Cass  Co.  he  was 
County  Judge  many  years,  aside  from  other  military  and  civil  offices.  Mr.  Wilbourne 
has  been  in  active  life  for  a  period  of  fifty  years ;  he  has  suffered  all  the  hardships  and 
privations  of  frontier  life,  and,  at  the  advanced  age  of  75  years,  is  in  possession  of  all 
of  his  faculties ;  he  has  suffered  greatly  the  last  few  years  on  account  of  the  loss  of  one 
of  his  limbs.  He  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1837,  with  Anna  Dale;  she  was  born  in 
Kentucky ;  they  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters  now  living,  viz.,  Belle,  Sarah  A., 
John  and  Edward. 

JOSEPH  C.  WARNOCK,  editor,  Mason  City  ;  was  born  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan. 
10,  1840,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1850,  emigrated,  with  his  parents,  to  Illinois,  and  settled 
in  Salt  Creek  Township,  Mason  Co.,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  ever  since ; 
he  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  pursued  that  avocation  till  about  nine  years  ago ;  he 
obtained  his  education  under  the  difficulties  and  unfavorable  circumstances  which  sur- 
rounded the  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  mostly  by  his  own  unaided  efforts,  pursuing 
his  studies  into  the  "  dead  of  night,"  after  the  day's  farm  work  was  done ;  he  com- 
menced teaching  school  at  the  age  of  19,  which  he  pursued — with  the  exception  of 
the  winter  following — for  five  consecutive  winter  terms.  Having  married,  he  settled,  in 
1861.  at  Big  Grove,  Salt  Creek  Township,  where  he  resided  until  1871,  during  which 
time  he  was  elected  to  and  served  as  Town  Clerk,  Tax  Collector  and  County  Surveyor ; 
the  latter  he  resigned  after  a  little  over  a  year's  service;  in  the  spring  of  1871,  he 
bought  a  half-interest  in  the  Mason  City  News,  which  was  then  changed  to  Indepen- 
dent, assumed  editorial  charge,  which  positi  m — with  the  exception  of  a  year  at  Havana, 
as  editor  of  the  Mason  County  Democrat,  he  has  held  ever  since!  and  now  holds.  At 
the  session  of  the  Legislature  in  1877,  Gov.  Cullom  appointed  him  one  of  the  three 
Trustees  of  the  Illinois  Asylum  for  Feeble-Minded  Children,  which  position  he  now 
holds.  During  his  residence  in  Mason  City,  he  has  held  the  office  of  City  Clerk  sev- 
eral termri,  and,  at  the  last  election,  was  elected  Mayor,  which  office  he  now  holds. 

J.  A.  WALKER,  physician  and  surgeon,  Mason  City.  Among  the  foremost  in 
his  profession  in  Mason  City  is  Dr.  J.  A.  Walker,  who  is  also  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  place ;  he  was  born  in  Cass  Co.,  111.,  in  1833 ;  he  commenced  the  study  of  his  pro- 
fession in  1856,  with  Dr.  J.  P.  Walker,  at  the  grove  which  bears  his  name ;  in  1857-58, 
he  attended  the  Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1858,  com- 
menced the  practice  of  medicine  at  Ma^on  City,  and  has  been  in  continued  practice  in 
this  place,  with  the  exception  of  one  year  since  the  above  date,  during  a  period  of 
twenty-one  years,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  practicing  physicians  of  Mason  City,  and  his 
large  and  lucrative  practice  is  conclusive  evidence  that  he  stands  in  the  front  ranks  of 
his  profession  in  Mason  Co.  During  the  period  from  1867  to  1870,  he  was  engaged 


800  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

in  the  drug  trade  in  connection  with  his  practice,  but  in  no  instance  did  he  allow  the 
mercantile  branch  to  interfere  with  his  professional  duties ;  he  is  a  member  of  the  State 
Medical  Society,  and  Secretary  of  the  Brainard  Medical  Society,  which  is  composed  of 
the  medical  profession  of  Mason  and  adjoining  counties.  His  marriage  with  Eliza  A. 
Harris  was  celebrated  in  1862 ;  she  was  born  in  McDonough  Co.,  111.,  in  1842.  When 
Dr.  Walker  located  here  in  the  spring  of  1858,  there  was  but  one  family  living  where 
Mason  City  now  stands ;  he  has  witnessed  the  remarkable  growth  of  a  city  of  upward 
of  2,000  inhabitants,  embracing  hundreds  of  acres  within  its  corporate  limits. 

WILLIAM  WARNOCK.  JR.,  Mason  City ;  was  born  Oct.  2,  1833,  near  Bain- 
bridge,  Ross  Co.,  Ohio.  The  Warnock  family  were  once  inhabitants  of  the  North  of 
Ireland,  but  have  been  in  this  country  since  the  beginning  of  the  present  century. 
They  were  a  long-lived  and  hardy  race,  and  it  is  narrated  that  the  grandfather  of  Will- 
iam, Jr.,  was  the  only  one  out  of  a  thousand  troops  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  in  1812,  that 
could  lift  the  breech  of  a  cannon.  William  Warnock,  Sr.,  was  born  on  the  same  farm 
where  his  son  William  first  saw  the  light.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Harriet 
Young,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  they  were  married  Jan.  1,  1833.  When  he  was 
21  years  of  age,  William,  Jr.,  left  the  farm  and  went  into  a  country  store  at  Walker's 
Grove  with  his  uncle ;  after  two  years,  he  removed  to  Hiawatha,  in  the  same  township ; 
after  one  year  here,  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Mason  City.  In  the  summer  of  1859,  he 
applied  himself  to  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  <  •.  Patterson,  and  attended  lec- 
tures in  1860-61  at  Rush  Medical  College.  At  this  point  in  his  life  he  determined  to 
leave  his  profession  and  devote  his  time  and  ability  to  business  ;  he  went  into  a  store 
with  Cortes  Humes,  on  the  corner  now  occupied  by  La  Forge's  block,  corner  of  Chest- 
nut and  Tonica  streets;  after  three  years,  he  was  admitted  into  partnership  and  con- 
tinued in  this  business  until  1868,  when  the  firm  sold  to  Andrews  &  Griffith,  and  dis- 
solved. In  addition  to  their  mercantile  business,  Humes  &  Warnock  carried  on  an 
extensive  exchange  and  banking  office,  and  were  the  first  bankers  in  Mason  City,  and 
did  the  largest  business  in  that  line  done  in  Mason  Co.  During  the  war,  this  firm 
never  refused  credit  to  the  families  of  soldiers,  and  when  they  could  not  get  trusted  for 
what  they  needed,  they  were  always  certain  of  accommodation  there.  When  the  town 
of  Salt  Creek  was  drafted,  Mr.  Warnock  was  among  the  number  to  furnish  money  to 
fill  up  the  quota.  During  some  of  these  years,  the  town  of  Mason  City  was  nearly 
deserted  by  physicians,  who  were  in  the  army ;  and  then  the  early  study  and  knowledge 
of  medicine  became  exceedingly  useful  to  Mr.  Warnock,  and  he  was  enabled  to  relieve 
many  suffering  persons  by  his  professional  assistance ;  he  practiced  in  many  families, 
and  among  then  some  of  the  most  eminent  in  the  place.  In  1862,  he  was  placed  on 
the  Democratic  ticket  as  candidate  for  County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  and  was  elected 
to  his  second  public  office — his  first  being  that  of  Postmaster  at  Walker's  Grove.  Many 
teachers  in  Mason  Co.  received  their  first  certificates  from  Mr.  Warnock.  among  them 
Mr.  S.  M.  Badger,  the  present  County  Superintendent.  He  was  naturally  inclined  to 
mathematical  studies  and  in  measuring  corn  by  cribs  was  the  first  to  introduce  the 
measurement  of  3,800  cubic  inches  to  the  bushel ;  he  proved  this  formula  by  weight 
and  measurement,  and  used  to  be  very  often  called  upon  to  measure  cribs  and  estimate 
their  contents.  So  far,  Mr.  Warnock  has  parsed  through  life  with  vigorous  health  of 
mind  and  body,  but  not  without  experiencing  some  of  the  vicissitudes  of  fortune ;  he 
has  handled  large  amounts  of  money  and  did  much  to  promote  the  pecuniary  interests  of 
Mason  City ;  he  has  expended  more  than  $20,000  in  making  permanent  improvements 
in  the  place.  In  whatever  state  of  circumstances,  financially,  Mr.  Warnock  has  been 
placed,  in  easy  times  or  trying  times,  he  has  always  maintained  the  reputation  of  an 
honorable,  honest  man. 


KILBOURNE   TOWNSHIP.  801 


KILBOURNE    TOWNSHIP. 

JOHN  C.  ADE,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  was  born  in  Norick,  WurtembergT 
Germany,  July  26,  1824;  son  of  Michael  Ade,  whose  wife's  name  prior  to  her  marriage 
was  Barbara  Ceh.  John  was  32  years  of  age  before  he  left  home,  at  which  time  he 
emigrated  to  this  country ;  he  came  first  to  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
three  years  employed  as  gardener ;  from  there  he  went  to  Middletown  and  stayed  one 
year,  and  from  there  to  Berlin,  Sangamon  Co.,  where  he  farmed  five  years.  May  6r 
1854,  he  married  Nancy  Chlichtes,  who  was  born  in  Keckarweimghen  Ludwigsburg, 
Wurtemberg,  March  22,  1833;  they  have  nine  children  living — Mollie,  Nannie,  Caro- 
line, Julia,  Charles,  Rosa,  Lizzie,  Harry  and  Willie.  In  September,  1859,  he  moved 
to  this  county  and  located  where  he  now  resides,  on  Section  34,  and  has  now  eighty-six 
acres  of  land,  which  he  has  cleared  and  earned  by  "  hard  knocks,"  economy  and  good 
management. 

E.  H.  BIGELOW,  grain-dealer,  Kilbourne.  Prominent  among  the  business  men 
of  this  township  is  Mr.  Bigelow,  who  came  to  this  township  the  day  previous  to  its  birth 
as  a  town,  and  has  since  been  a  resident  and  identified  with  its  interests  ;  he  was  born 
in  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  30,  1834  ;  son  of  Henry  Bigelow;  his  grandfather  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  the  Revolution ;  at  the  age  of  10,  E.  H.  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Indiana  and  remained  there  a  few  years,  afterward  moving  to  Wisconsin ;. 
then  he  spent  several  years  traveling;  was  all  through  the  Southwest  and  journeyed  the 
the  entire  length  of  Texas  astride  a  mule ;  in  1868,  he  came  to  this  State,  and,  in  1870, 
to  this  township,  the  day  previous  to  the  sale  of  the  town  lots.  March  31,  1876,  he 
married  Miss  Sarah  Marshall,  who  was  born  June  19, 1843  ;  she  is  a  native  of  Birming- 
ham,  England  ;  they  have  three  children — Emma,  Fannie  and  Charles.  Since  the 
railroad  has  been  built,  he  has  been  the  company's  agent  and  an  energetic  and  thorough 
business  man ;  he  is  a  member  of  Havana  Lodge  and  Chapter. 

WILLIAM  BRENT,  farmer ;  P.  O.  Havana ;  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
Aug.  31,  1842  ;  the  son  of  Robert  Brent,  who  came  to  this  country  in  October,  1864, 
and,  like  many  others,  lodged  in  Mason  Co.,  where  he  has  been  a  resident  ever  since. 
In  January,  1870,  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  Hanline  ;  two  children  have  been  born  from 
this  union — Harry,  Nov.  16,  1871;  Stella,  April  29,  1874.  He  is  engaged  in  farming 
and  always  has  been,  and  is  striving  to  make  an  honest  living  and  hopes  by  attention  to 
his  business  and  exercising  economy  to  attain  a  competency  for  his  declining  years. 

BARNEY  BOYLE,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne.  Among  the  representatives  of 
the  Emerald  Isle  who  have  located  in  this  county  and  have  attained  success  and  are 
self-made',  is  the  name  of  Barney  Boyle,  who  claims  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  as  his 
birthplace,  and  1828  as  the  year  of  his  birth ;  in  1849,  he  emigrated  to  America,  and, 
later,  made  his  way  to  Jersey  Co.,  and  then  to  Whitehall,  Greene  Co.,  where  he  worked 
as  a  farm  hand  for  several  years;  in  1850,  he  made  his  way  to  this  county  and  worked 
by  the  month  until  1854,  when  he  rented  land,  and,  in  April,  1859,  married  Frances 
Raymond ;  they  have  had  nine  children,  seven  now  living — Harry,  Katie,  Fannie, 
Barney,  Lizzie,  John  and  Frank.  In  1878,  he  bought  out  John  Lee,  who  had  a  well- 
improved  farm,  and  he  is  now  the  sole  possessor  of  576  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  he 
has  obtained  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow  and  by  the  exercise  of  frugality  and  rigid 
economy. 

BENJAMIN  BRENT,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  born  in  Yorkshire,  England; 
son  of  Robert  Brent;  they  emigrated  to  this  State  in  1866;  and,  in  his  20th  year,  set 
out  for  himself  and  began  work  on  a  farm  by  the  month.  Nov.  9,  1872,  he  was  united 
in  matrimony  with  Caroline  Pulling;  born  in  this  county  Feb.  19,  1850  ;  daughter  of 
Charles  Pulling,  a  native  of  England ;  one  child  has  been  born  to  them — Robert,  born 
Aug.  1,  1873.  Mr.  Brent  has  begun  life  with  a  determination  to  make  something  of 
himself,  is  hard-working  and  attentive  to  his  business. 


802  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  : 

JOHN  BLAKELY,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  born  in  this  county  and  town- 
ship Aug.  20,  1842  ;  son  of  James  Blakely  and  Hannah  Scott,  who  were  natives  of 
New  Jersey,  and  among  the  early  pioneers  in  this  county;  his  father  died.  John  was 
25 -years  of  age  when  he  left  home,  and  was  married  to  Rachel  Anderson  Dec.  10, 
1867;  they  had  two  children — Orley  C.  and  Harry  L.  His  wife  died  Jan.  24, 
1875.  He  was  married  to  Martha  Mowder,  daughter  of  Joseph  Mowder;  she 
was  born  Jan.  13,  1844;  their  marriage  took  place  Dec.  22,  1875  ;  they  have  had  two 
children — Alice  M.  and  Ettie.  After  his  marriage,  he  made  a  trip  to  Nebraska,  but 
not  being  suited,  he  returned  to  Mason  Co.,  and  has  since  remained  here.  March 
13,  1877,  he  bought  160  acres  of  land,  and  is  a  successful  farmer ;  his  father  died 
in  1870. 

HENRY  BECKWITH,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne  ;  born  in  Crawford  Co.,  Ind., 
April  25,  1841  ;  son  of  Elijah  Beckwith  and  Evaline  Ceny  ;  his  great-grandfather  par- 
ticipated in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  Beckwiths  are  a  long-lived  race  ;  his  grand- 
father lived  to  the  age  of  84,  and  then  met  his  death  by  accident — his  horse  running 
away.  Henry  moved  to  this  county  with  his  parents,  first  locating  near  Havana,  and 
remaining  there  until  1864,  when  they  moved  to  the  section  he  now  resides  upon. 
Nov.  30,  1866,  he  married  Sarah  Heston,  born  in  Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  April  29,  1845 ; 
they  have  four  children — Lizzie  E.,  Bertie  H.,  Howard  P.  and  Charles  F. 

DANIEL  COFFEY,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  was  born  in  Kerry  Co.,  Ireland, 
about  the  year  1837 ;  he  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents,  whose  names  were  Timothy 
Coffey  and  Mary  Sullivan  ;  they  dying  when  he  was  about  14  years  old,  he  was  left  to 
"  shirk  "  for  himself;  he  was  one  year  on  a  vessel  plying  along  the  coast;  then  worked 
among  the  farmers  until  1857,  when  he  embarked  for  America,  landing  at  New  York  ; 
he  worked  some  time  on  the  0.  &  M.  Railroad,  and  P.,  P.  &  J.  Railroad  ;  he  then  came 
up  the  river  to  Bath,  and  hired  out  to  Charles  Thompson,  working  for  him  four  years. 
Aug.  15,  1862,  he  married  Ann  Burke,  a  native  of  the  same  county  as  himself;  they 
have  four  children — John,  Eilen,  Catharine  and  Bridget.  After  his  marriage,  he  rented 
land  for  four  years  on  the  ground  now  owned  by  Messrs.  Cragg&  Boyle;  he  then  rented 
land  of  Stephen  Dolben  for  eight  years.  In  1877,  he  bought  ninety  acres,  and  is  now 
farming  successfully.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

WILLIAM  L.  COBB,  farmer,  ;  P.  O.  Kilbourne;  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair 
Co.;  born  May  11,  1833.  His  father,  William,  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
born  in  1804,  and  died  in  1877  ;  he  came  to  this  State  as  early  as  1830.  Jane  Reid,  his 
wife,  was  born  in  Missouri,  in  1807,  and  is  still  living  in  St.  Clair  Co.  William,  at  the 
age  of  18,  embarked  for  himself,  and  worked  by  the  month  as  farm  hand,  until  he 
attained  his  25th  year,  when  he  was  married  to  Nancy  Ware.  The  date  of  her  birth  is 
Sept.  8,  1841.  Nine  children  now  gather  around  the  festive  board — James,  Mary, 
John,  Flora,  Serilda,  Dora,  Ada,  George  and  Norman.  He  was  a  renter  up  to  the  year 
1872,, when  he  bought  eighty  acres  where  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Cobb  came  to  this  county 
in  1864,  and  lived  on  Crane  Creek  seven  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  New  Lebanon,  and  are  trying  to  honor  their  profession. 

MRS.  ANN  M.  CRANE,  farmer,  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  is  a  native  of  the 
Empire  State,  born  in  Orleans  Co.,  Oct.  17,  1829.  Her  father's  name  was  Ezra  San- 
ford,  and  her  mother's  was  Almira  Chamberlain,  both  natives  of  Vermont.  Mrs.  Crane 
moved  to  Michigan  at  an  early  age,  and  was  married  Jan.  7,  1846,  to  Amzi  G.  Crane,  a 
native  of  New  Jersey.  In  1849,  they  moved  to  Aurora,  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  remaining 
there  until  1865,  when  they  moved  to  Havana,  and  in  1869,  moved  to  Crane  Creek 
Township.  While  there,  he  associated  with  Mr.  Cobb,  under  the  firm  name  of  Crane 
&  Cobb,  which  partnership  continued  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Crane,  Sept.  6,  1871.  Mr. 
Crane,  during  his  life,  was  an  active  business  man,  and  an  enthusiastic  worker  in  the 
Church.  They  had  six  children,  but  two  now  living — Jennie  and  George.  Jennie  is 
an  efficient  teacher  in  Havana  Public  School.  Mrs.  Crane  now  resides  in  Kilbourne 
Precinct,  and,  in  conjunction  w^th  her  son,  is  engaged  in  farming. 

WILLIAM  CRAGGS,  farmer,  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  brother  of  Charles  Craggs,  of 
this  township,  was  born  March  22, 1823,  in  Yorkshire,  England,  and  during  his  6th  year, 


KILBOURNE   TOWNSHIP.  803 

came  across  the  briny  deep  in  company  with  his  parents,  to  cast  their  lot  in  the  land 
across  the  sea  ;  the  family  located  west  of  Jacksonville,  Morgan  Co.,  at  what  is  now 
known  as  Lynnville,  where  a  colony,  or  a  number  of  English,  from  Yorkshire,  had 
settled,  and  the  Craggs  were  among  the  number.  They  were  eight  weeks  on  the  ocean, 
and  the  crew  come  very  near  running  out  of  both  water  and  supplies,  and  were,  for  a 
time,  allowanced.  In  the  spring  of  1845,  the  family  moved  to  this  township,  and 
William's  first  purchase  was  eighty  acres  of  land,  at  $3  per  acre,  $12  down,  balance  at 
6  per  cent  interest.  'He  put  in  a  crop,  and  intended  to  marry  the  following  year,  and 
was  engaged  to  be  married ;  but  that  season  there  came  a  severe  hail-storm,  and 
almost  entirely  destroyed  his  crop,  and  the  prospects  for  assuming  his  matrimonial 
obligations  were  almost  disheartening,  but  he  finally  mustered  up  courage,  and  borrowed 
of  a  neighbor,  Frederick  Shirtliff,  money  to  buy  the  license  and  a  shirt  to  be  married  in. 
Mr.  (Drane  has  now  520  acres,  and  has  become  identified  with  the  interests  of  the 
county  as  one  of  its  valued  citizens.  He  was  first  married  to  Jane  Williamson,  a  native 
of  Kentucky ;  four  children,  Mary  A.,  Henry  B.,  William  A.  and  John,  were  the  off- 
spring; she  died  January  8,  1855.  Oct.  14,  1857,  he  married  Frances  Folley,  also  a 
native  of  Kentucky  ;  they  had  seven  children,  five  now  living — Isabel,  Charles  F., 
Amelia  J.,  Jessie,  Wesley  and  Caroline.  Oct.  7, 1878,  his  wife  died  ;  since  her  demise, 
his  daughters  have  been  keeping  house.  He  has  always  been  a  man  of  true  Christian 
principle  and  of  generous  impulse,  and  has  given  much  in  charity,  and  there  is  no  better 
man  in  Mason  Co. 

R.  A  CURRY,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  is  a  native  of  Albany  Co.,  in  the 
Empire  State,  where  he  was  born  April  26, 1845.  the  fourth  of  a  family  of  five  children 
by  his  father's  second  marriage.  His  father's  name  was  E.  R.  Curry,  and  his  mother's 
Harriet  Jones — both  of  them  natives  of  New  York.  At  the  age  of  9  he  moved  to  this 
county,  and  first  located  in  Bath,  in  company  with  his  parents,  in  the  year  1854.  When 
but  16,  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country,  in  Co.  M,  2d  I.  V.  C.,  and  served 
three  years  and  four  m  onths.  Upon  his  return  to  peaceful  pursuits  he  began  farming 
and  finally  bought  160  acres  of  land  which  he  farmed  until  the  spring  of  1879,  when 
he  was  compelled  to  abandon  it  on  account  of  poor  health,  occasioned  by  chronic 
diarrhoea  contracted  during  his  term  of  service.  Jan.  1,  1866,  he  married  Mary  E. 
Conklin,  born  in  Bath  Township  April  10,  1848,  a  daughter  of  John  Conklin.  They 
have  three  children— John  T.,  born  Nov.  30, 1867  ;  Ollie  May,  Aug.  15,  1872  ;  Leona 
F.,  Feb.  20,  1875. 

J.  B.  CONO  VER,  farmer  j  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  is  one  of  Mason  Co.'s  enterprising  young 
business  men,  and  was  born  in  Cass  Co.,  Sept.  28,  1844 ;  son  of  William  Conover ;  his 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Rebecca  Hopkins ;  his  parents  died  when  Joseph  was  quite 
young  and  he  was  left  to  fight  life's  battles  alone.  July  13,  1862,  at  the  age  of  18,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  D,  85th  I.  V.  I.,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Perryville,  Stone 
River,  Cbickainauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Buzzard's  Roost,  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  lastly  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ala.,  where  he  lost  his  right  arm ;  at  this  battle,  he  was  taken  pris- 
oner, and,  while  suffering  extreme  pain  from  the  amputation  of  his  arm,  was  confined 
several  months  in  Andersonville  Prison,  where  he  suffered  untold  misery  at  the  hands 
of  those  in  charge  ;  Nov.  20, 1864,  he  received  his  parole  at  Savannah,  and  in  February, 
1865,  obtained  his  discharge.  Upon  his  return  home,  he  attended  school  two  years  in 
Havana  and  one  year  at  the  Soldier's  College  at  Whiteside  Co.  Upon  his  return  home 
he  engaged  in  stock-trading.  Dec.  26,  1869,  he  married  Charlotte  Coggshall,  who  was 
born  Oct.  9,  1849;  daughter  of  William  H.  Coggshall;  they  have  had  three  boys — 
Marshall  0.,  born  Oct.  20,  1870;  Leonard,  Aug.  12,  1873;  and  an  infant,  Nov.  19, 
1878.  In  1869,  Mr.  Conover  was  elected  County  Treasurer,  which  office  he  filled  two 
years ;  he  then  moved  to  the  place  he  now  lives  on  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock-trading ;  he  has  800  acres  of  land,  and  though  deprived  of  the  use  of  his 
right  arm,  yet  he  accomplishes  more  manual  labor  than  most  men  with  two. 

GEORGE  VV.  COGGSHALL,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  14,  1830  ;  the  son  of  Job  Coggshall,  who  was  born  in  Mari- 
etta, Ohio ;  his  mother  was  a  Weatherby  and  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  John  left  the 


804  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

State  when  he  attained  the  age  of  manhood  and  came  to  this  county  and  began  work  by 
the  month;  he  worked  two  years  and  then  began  for  himself;  he  was  in  business  for 
a  time  at  Bath;  kept  a  livery  stable  for  a  time,  and  March  2,  1864,  married  Frances 
Edwards;  they  have  two  children — James  L.,  born  Oct.  22,  1865,  and  Myrtia,  born 
April  10,  1868.  Soon  after  his  marriage,  he  bought  land  and  located  in  the  suburbs  of 
Kilbourne,  and  has  a  snug  farm  gotten  by  his  own  labor  and  by  patient  industry. 

W.  H.  CALDWELL,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born  in  Washington  Co., 
Md.,  Sept.  29,  1828  ;  the  son  of  William  Caldwell.  William,  in  early  life,  had  a  desire 
to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  partly  learned  before  he  came  West ;  his 
father  was  a  potter  by  trade,  and  died  when  W.  H.  was  in  his  infancy.  In  1843,  in 
company  with  his  mother,  he  came  to  Ohio  and  there  remained  until  1855.  July  5, 
1852,  he  married  Ava  A.  Lathom ;  they  have  four  children — Adelia,  Henry  B.,  Will- 
iam and  Elmer  E  ;  his  wife  died  in  1862.  After  coming  to  this  State,  he  located  in 
Havana,  where  he  engaged  at  his  trade  and  built  several  of  the  best  buildings  now  in 
the  town.  He  was  elected  City  Marshal,  and  was  at  one  time  nominated  for  the  office 
of  Sheriff  on  the  Republican  side.  In  1865,  he  was  married  to  Harriet  L.  Russell ; 
they  have  had  four  children,  but  one  now  living.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  body  for  several  years. 

WILLIAM  A.  CRAGGS,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  son  of  William  Craggs,  an 
old  settler  in  this  county,  who  is  of  English  birth.  Was  born  in  Bath  Township  Jan. 
28,  1851.  At  the  age  of  19,  he  began  for  himself.  March  3,  1872,  he  married  Nancy 
Ketcham,  ^daughter  of  Lemon  Ketcham,  of  this  township.  She  was  born  in  1854. 
Names  of  their  children  are  Nellie  M.,  born  May  12,  1875;  John,  July  29, 1877,  and 
an  infant,  unnamed,  June  6,  1879.  He  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 

JOHN  CRAGGS,  farmer,  Sec.  18  ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  son  of  William  Craggs,  and 
was  born  in  Bath  Township  June  25,  1852.  Not  wishing  to  pattern  after  the  example 
set  by  the  many  bachelors  in  the  township,  he,  on  becoming  of  age,  took  a  wife  to  him- 
self, in  the  person  of  Miss  Orinda  Jackson,  daughter  of  Elias  Jackson,  who  was  born 
May  9,  1852.  They  were  united  in  wedlock  Sept.  28.  1873,  and  have  two  children — 
Mary  J.,  born  Dec.  19,  1875  ;  William  E.,  Oct.  31,  1878.  After  his  marriage,  he 
located  on  land  of  his  father's,  and  remained  two  years.  He  then  went  to  Iowa,  and 
remained  about  one  year,  and  the  country  not  meeting  his  expectations,  he  returned  to 
Mason  Co.,  where  he  has  since  remained. 

CHARLES  CRAGGS,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne.  Prominent  among  the  stanch 
and  self-made  men  of  this  county  is  Charles  Craggs,  who  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  Eng., 
Dec.  22,  1821  ;  son  of  William  Craggs  and  Isabel  (Making).  He  came  to  Morgan  Co. 
when  he  was  8  years  of  age,  in  company  with  his  parents.  They  were  among  the 
pioneers  of  that  county,  there  being  no  settlements  between  Lynnville  and  Jacksonville 
at  that  time.  During  his  24th  year,  he  moved  to  this  county,  located  on  Field's 
Prairie,  on  the  land  now  owned  by  James  M.  Hardin,  and  bought  eighty  acres,  at  83 
per  acre,  paying  $12  down,  and  the  balance  at  6  per  oent  interest.  He  married  Phoebe 
Pratt,  daughter  of  David  Pratt.  She  was  born  Dec.  12,  1829.  Eight  children  have 
crowned  this  union,  five  of  whom  are  now  living — William  H.,  George  T.,  Emily,  Sarah 
and  Bessie.  In  1855,  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Bath,  where  he,  in  company  with  his 
brother,  went  into  the  milling  business,  and  afterward  sold  or  traded  his  interest  for  a 
farm,  where  he  now  lives,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Notwithstanding  the  unfavorable  circum- 
stances in  which  he  began  life,  he  is  to-day  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  this  part  of  the 
county. 

JOHN  CONKLIN,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  was  born  in  Washington  Co., 
Ohio,  April  5,  1829  ;  son  of  Henry  Conklin,  a  native  of  Chemung  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
Eliza  (Nottj  Conklin,  a  native  of  Ohio.  At  the  age  of  7,  John  moved  with  his  par- 
ents to  this  State  and  located  in  Fulton  Co.,  remaining  there  about  seven  years ;  Mr. 
Conklin's  early  educational  advantages  were  very  limited  indeed  ;  in  the  spring  of  1843, 
the  family  moved  to  Section  5.  Bath  Township,  where  they  opened  up  a  farm  ;  John 


K1LBOURNE    TOWNSHIP.  805 

remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  he  attained  the  age  of  18  years,  when  he  married 
Catherine  Daniels;  she  was  born  March  15,  1830  ;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Washington 
Daniels;  their  marriage  occurred  Jan.  10,  1849;  they  have  had  fifteen  children,  eleven 
of  whom  are  now  living — Mary  E.,  Thomas  J.,  William  H.,  Sallie  Ann,  John  C.,  James 
S.,  Charles  E.,  George  M.,  Martha  J.,  Carrie  E.  and  Ella  C.;  Mr.  Conklin's  occupation 
has  been  farming,  and,  by  hiis  industry,  he  has  acquired  800  acres  of  land ;  politically, 
he  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party ;  a  man  of  quiet  demeanor, 
just  and  upright  and  a  goo4  citizen. 

CHARLES  E.  CONKLIN,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  a  native  of  Bath  Town- 
ship, Mason  Co.,  and  marks  the  date  of  his  advent  to  that  locality  Sept.  1,  1857  ;  with 
his  parents,  he  came  to  this  township  when  quite  young.  He  married,  March  5, 1877, 
Miss  Mary  J.  Clotfelter,  also  a  native  of  Bath  Township  and  a  daughter  of  Michael 
Clotfelter  ;  she  was  born  March  5,  1856 ;  a  child — Justice  V.,  was  born  to'  them  Feb. 
17,  1879.  Mr.  Conklin  and  wife  are  both  members  of  Mount  Zion  Baptist  Church. 
Since  his  marriage,  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  on  Section  6. 

WILLIAM  H.  CONKLIN,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  born  in  Bath  Township, 
June  6,  1851 ;  second  son  and  fourth  child  of  John  and  Catharine  Conklin,  well-known 
residents  of  this  township ;  William  remained  with  his  parents  till  his  22d  year, 
when  he  married  Jennie  E.  Gore,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Jane  Gore,  of  this  county ; 
their  marriage  took  place  March  11,  1874  ;  they  have  had  two  children — Nellie  G.  and 
Jessie.  After  his  marriage,  he  located  on  the  section  of  land  which  he  now  occupies 
and  is  engaged  in  farming. 

STEPHEN  DOLBIN,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  born  in  North  Wales  May  7, 
1812 ;  his  father's  name  was  John  and  his  mother's  name  was  Jane  Williams ;  in  early 
life  Mr.  Dolbin,  having  heard  glowing  accounts  of  this  country,  resolved  that  he  would 
visit  it,  and  if  satisfactory,  settle,  and,  during  the  fall  of  the  election  of  James 
Buchanan,  Mr.  D.  and  his  wife  arrived  in  this  country  ;  they  spent  four  years  in  Schuyl- 
kill  Co.,  Penn.;  at  the  solicitation  of  a  friend,  he  moved  to  this  State  and  located  on 
Sand  Prairie,  where  he  had  purchased  some  land ;  the  snow  covered  the  ground,  and,  it 
being  so  highly  recommended  by  his  friend,  he  bought  it — but  it  proved  to  be  a  bad 
bargain;  he  paid  $1,000,  but  was  glad  to  realize  $300  for  it;  then  he  bought  where  he 
now  lives  and  has  labored  hard  and  now  owns  493  acres,  attained  by  his  own  industry. 
May  18,  1838,  he  married  Mary  Huck,  born  Dec.  21, 1810 ;  but  two  children  are  living — 
Robert  and  William.  Mr.  D.  has  always  lived  in  peace  with  his  neighbors  and  never 
had  a  law-suit. 

FRENCH  DAVIS,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Havana ;  was  born  in  Mercer  Co.,  W.  Va., 
Sept.  13,  1830  ;  his  father's  name  was  Jeremiah  L.  Davis,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Bolin,  both  natives  of  Virginia,  but  of  German  descent ;  at  the  age  of  23,  he  came  to 
this  State,  and  Havana  was  his  first  stopping-place.  Oct.  7,  1854,  he  married  Cath- 
arine Pulling,  who  was  born  March  6,  1837;  she  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Pulling; 
they  have  five  children — Lavega,  born  May  4,  1859;  Frank,  Nov.  11,  1862;  James 
H.,  Nov.  9,  1864;  William,  Oct.  5,  1872;  Julia,  March  25,  1875;  since  his  marriage, 
he  has  been  engaged  in  farming ;  during  the  fall  months,  he  carries  on  a  molasses 
factory. 

ROBERT  EATON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Havana;  a  native  of  Kent,  Eng.;  was  born 
Dec.  12,  1841;  son  of  Thomas  Eaton  and  Elizabeth  Newman;  he  came  to  this  county 
in  company  with  his  parents  ;  his  father  died  in  1861,  and  his  mother  in  1852.  In 
July,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  2d  I.  V.  C.,  and  served  three  years;  he  then  went 
into  Co.  A,  10th  I.  V.  I.,  in  which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  an 
honorable  discharge;  upon  his  return  to  peaceful  pursuits,  he  began  farming.  Oct.  11, 
1865,  he  married  Anna  E.  Crater,  born  March  12,  1845,  a  daughter  of  Joshua  Cra- 
ter, of  Fulton  Co.  ;  they  had  six  children,  four  now  living — Katie  V.,  Ernest  E., 
Bertha  M.  and  Willard  F.;  same  year  he  bought  115  acres  of  improved'  land ;  he  has 
now  good  buildings  on  the  same,  and  the  land  under  excellent  state  of  cultivation  ;  he 
is  a  good  farmer,  and  a  man  of  enterprise,  and  is  attaining  what  might  be  termed  a  suc- 
cessful career.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  at  New  Lebanon. 


806  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

C.  C.  FAGER,  farmer;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Harrisburg,  Penn.,  Jan.  24, 
1837  :  he  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Fager,  who  died  when  Charles  was  quite  young;  in  the 
year  1848,  he  moved  West  with  his  mother,  and  first  landed  in  Havana ;  he  lived  in 
the  country  three  years,  and  then  worked  at  house  carpentry  for  two  years,  then  he 
returned  to  Havana,  where  he  worked  with  the  trowel  for  several  years,  and  assisted  in 
building  of  nearly  all  the  structures  in  the  town.  June  13,  1861,  he  was  married; 
his  _wife  was  born  in  April,  1840  ;  they  have  five  children — Emma,  Mary  F.,  May, 
Charles  H.  and  John  Bertram ;  in  the  spring  of  1877,  he  moved  to  the  country,  where 
he  bought  200  acres  of  land,  and  has  now  turned  his  attention  to  farming  exclusively. 
Emma  graduated  at  the  High  School  at  Havana,  and  is  preparing  to  teach.  Mr.  Fager 
is  a  member  of  Old  Time  Lodge,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  since  consolidated  with  No.  88 ;  also 
a  member  of  Havana  Chapter,  No.  86,  and  Damascus  Commandery,  No.  42. 

ALGERNON  E.  FEILD,  merchant,  Kilbourne.  Prominent  among  the  stanch 
and  upright  men  in  this  township,  whose  interests  have  long  been  identified  with  the 
county,  is  A.  E.  Feild,  who  was  born  in  Mobile,  Ala.,  March  6,  1823;  son  of  D.  S. 
Feild,  a  native  of  old  Virginia,  and  came  to  this  State  in  1836,  and  entered  land  south 
of  Kilbourne ;  during  his  life,  he  was  a  very  successful  practitioner  of  medicine,  and  died 
in  1838 ;  Algernon  was  14  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  this  county,  and  had  but 
limited  educational  advantages  ;  he  was  a  pupil,  for  a  short  time,  of  the  lamented 
Douglas ;  Mr.  Feild  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming  pursuits,  until  recently  ;  in 
1872,  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  in  the  town,  and  has  since  continued  it ; 
he  still  carries  on  his  farm  with  the  assistance  of  his  boys.  He  was  married,  Dec.  10, 
1845,  to  Bessie  Craggs,  who  was  born  in  Pontefract,  Eng.,  May  2,  1827  ;  seven  children 
have  blessed  this  union,  but  four  of  whom  are  living — Drury  T.,  Mary  Frances,  Charles 
A.  and  Henry.  Mr.  Feild  has  always  remained  true  to  the  principles  of  the  Democ- 
racy, and,  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  life,  advocated  the  same  upon  the  stump ;  he  was  a 
ready  and  fluent  speaker ;  he  also  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  several  years. 

MRS.  JANE  GORE,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne  ;  was  born  July  5, 1820,  in  County 
Antrim,  Ireland  ;  she  is  the  daughter  of  Alexander  Thompson,  and  her  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Jane  Stewart.  Mrs.  Gore,  in  her  14th  year,  came  to  this  country  with  her 
parents,  locating  near  Carrolton,  Greene  Co.,  this  State.  While  in  this  locality,  she  was 
married  to  Edwin  Gore,  who  was  born  Nov.  21,  1816.  They  were  married  Jan.  26, 
1843.  Nine  children  are  the  result  of  this  union — Frances  A.,  Charles  A.,  William  R., 
Thomas  E.,  John  W.,  Jennie,  Mollie,  James  H.  and  Mattie  M.  In  1845,  they  moved 
to  this  county  and  built  them  a  log  cabin,  near  the  place  she  now  lives  on.  They  cooked 
one  summer  out  of  doors,  and  the  cabin  they  lived  in  for  some  time  had  no  doors  or  win- 
dows to  close  the  openings.  She  has  been  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  since  1841. 
Mr.  Gore  died  April  16, 1866.  He  was  an  honest  and  upright  man,  and  died  lamented 
by  all  who  knew  him. 

MRS.  MELISSA  HUNLE  Y,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne  ;  is  a  native  of  Mason  Co., 
where  she  was  born  April  15,  1843;  diughter  of  William  Nevil,  of  Barren  Co.,  Ky., 
who  came  to  this  State  at  an  early  day,  and  located  in  this  county.  At  the  age  of  17, 
she  married  James  J.  Hunley,  born  in  Metcalf  Co.,  Ky.,  Nov.  ^7,  1834.  This  mar- 
riage took  place  Oct.  4,  1860.  They  then  located  on  the  land  occupied  by  Mrs.  Hun 
ley,  and  after  ten  years  of  great  happiness,  he  passed  away,  and  his  remains  now  rest  in 
the  quiet  retreat  of  New  Lebanon  burial  ground.  His  death  occurred  Nov.  23,  1870. 
He  was  an  active  and  zealous  worker  in  the  church  of  which  he  was  a  member.  Since 
his  death,  Mrs.  Hunley  has  remained  on  the  farm,  which  she  still  carries  on  with  the 
assistance  of  her  two  boys — George  W.,  born  Nov.  1,  1863;  James  R.,  born  March  7, 
1866. 

JAMES  M.  HARDIN,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne.  Prominent  among  the  old 
settlers  in  this  township,  and  whose  interests  have  long  been  identified  with  those  of  the 
county,  is  James  M.  Hardin,  who  was  born  in  Talbot  Co.,  Md.,  Dec.  12,  1817 ;  the  son 
of  Henry  and  Ann  (Chambers)  Hardin.  The  family  are  of  Scotch  and  Irish  descent. 
James'  parents  died  when  he  was  quite  young,  and  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own 
resources.  At  the  age  of  21,  he  started  for  the  great  West,  staging  it  to  Wheeling,  and 


KILBOURNE   TOWNSHIP.  807 

thence  by  river  to  Alton,  and  lived  near  Carrolton.  Greene  Co.,  where  he  worked  on  a 
farm  as  a  common  laborer.  March  13,  1842,  he  was  married  to  Martha  A.,  daughter 
of  John  Micklam ;  she  was  born  in  London.  After  their  marriage,  he  began  renting 
land.  In  1845,  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  and  located  on  the  same  section  he  now  lives 
on.  He  worked  for  and  with  his  father-in-law  three  years,  and  then  bought  forty  acres. 
He  subsequently  bought  out  Mr.  Charles  Cragg,  and  then  moved  one  mile  south,  where 
he  has  since  lived.  Mr.  Hardin  has  twelve  children,  all  living.  Seven  are  now  in 
Nebraska.  Mr.  Hardin  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  the  former 
since  1838.  He  has  for  many  years  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  and  in 
former  times  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.  Society.  No  man  in  the  county  has  a  better  record  than 
James  Hardin  for  honesty  and  uprightness. 

LEMON  A.  KETCH  AM,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  was  born  in  Oswego  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  came  with  his  parents  when  they  located  in  this  county.  His  father,  Hiram 
Ketcham,  in  1849,  was  struck  by  lightning,  and  lay  helpless  and  unconscious  for  the 
space  of  twenty-four  hours — finally  recovered,  but  died  subsequently,  Aug.  7,  1864. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ketcham  has  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  six  children,  three  of 
whom  are  married — Mary  E.,  to  James  Chancy  Sept.  5,  1871  ;  Nancy  M.,  to  Wiljiain 
A.  Craggs,  son  of  William  Craggs,  March  3,  1872;  John  B.  Ketcham,  to  Pollie  A. 
Tond  Sept.  26,  1873.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming,  and  he  has  a  snug  farm 
one  mile  northeast  of  Kilbourne. 

MRS.  ELIZABETH  KEMPER,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne  ;  was  born  in  Han- 
over, Germany,  Aug.  1,  1826;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Bernard  Nehman,  and  her 
mother's  family  name  was  Helman.  Mrs.  Kemper's  mother's  name  was  Mary,  and  like 
her  husband,  was  a  native  of  Hanover,  in  which  place  they  lived  and  died.  Nov.  2, 
1851,  she  was  married  to  Henry  Kemper.  The  year  following,  they  emigrated  to  this 
country,  and  were  seven  weeks  crossing  the  ocean  from  Bremen  to  New  Orleans,  their 
landing-place  ;  soon  after  their  arrival,  they  located  at  Havana,  in  this  county,  where 
they  rented  land  about  five  years,  and.  in  1867,  purchased  160  acres  cf  land,  on  which 
the  family  has  lived  to  the  present  time.  Since  Mr.  Kemper's  death  she  has  remained 
a  widow.  They  have  had  seven  children — Minnie,  Frederick,  Mary,  Lizzie,  Willie, 
Frank  and  Louie. 

HENRY  KNOLLENBERG,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne  ;  born  in  Prussia  July  27, 
1839  ;  son  of  Frederick  Knollenberg  and  Elizabeth  Yerdling ;  his  father  died  in  1862, 
and,  in  1866,  Henry  crossed  the  ocean  and  came  to  this  State,  going  first  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  some  months,  and  then  to  this  county.  March  3,  1876,  he 
married  Mary  Wehmhoff,  born  in  Hanover,  Prussia,  Aug.  23,  1848 ;  she  came  to  this 
State  in  1874  ;  her  father's  name  was  Harman  H.  Wehmhoff.  Since  Mr.  Knollenberg's 
marriage,  he  has  been  farming,  and  is  a  hard-working  and  industrious  man. 

WILLIAM  A.  LEE,  grain-dealer,  Kilbourne  ;  was  born  in  Cass  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  25, 
1855  ;  is  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  Gordly  Lee,  who  were  natives  of  Kentucky  and 
born  near  Lexington,  and  came  to  Cass  Co.  many  years  ago  ;  he  was  but  7  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  this  county ;  his  father  located  and  improved  the  land  now  owi  ed  by 
Barney  Boyle ;  his  father  died  March  18,  1874 ;  his  mother  Aug.  25,  two  years  later. 
He  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  often  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  living,  and  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Jacksonville  Business  College.  In  the  spring  of  1879,  he  came  to  this  town, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  the  grain  business,  and  will  soon  have  a  new  grain  elevator. 

MRS.  LOWRANCE,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne  ;  daughter  of  Richard  Lane  and 
sister  of  Isaac  D.  Lane,  of  this  township  ;  was  born  in  Schuyler  Co.,  Feb.  11,  1835  ; 
her  parents  moved  to  Menard  Co.  when  she  was  quite  young.  July  4,  1859,  she  was 
married  to  Jacob  A.  Lowrance.  They  had  two  children — Jacob  and  Isaac.  In  July, 
1862,  Mr.  Lowrance  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  85th  I.  V.  I.,  and  was  out  one  year,  when  he 
returned  home  on  account  of  ill  health ;  he  died  Feb.  3,  1877.  Mr.  L.  and  wife  were 
both  members  of  the  church  at  New  Lebanon. 

ISAAC  D.  LANE,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne  ;  is  an  old  settler  and  came  to  this 
State  in  1827  ;  he  lived  in  New  Salem,  Menard  Co.,  many  years,  and  came  to  this 
county  in  1844,  and  since  that  time  has  been  a  permanent  resident ;  his  early  education 


808  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES 

was  obtained  in  a  log  schoolhouse,  his  seat  a  rude  one,  made  of  a  rail,  with  pegs  for  its 
support,  and  doors  and  windows  then  almost  unknown.  Deer  and  game  of  all  kinds 
were  in  abundance,  and  Indians  were  then  seen  roaming  about.  Mr.  L.  is  a  son  ot 
Richard  Lane  and  Rachel  Drake;  his  mother  was  a  native  of  Baltimore  Co.,  Md.,  and 
his  father  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion.  Sept  28,  1819,  was  the  date  of  Isaac  D.'s 
advent  to  Warren  Co.,  Middle  Tennessee.  The  second  epoch  in  his  life  was  Jan.  14, 1845, 
when  he  took  to  wife  Sarah  Skipton  ;  she  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  had  seven 
children,  but  five  of  whom  are  living — Jordon  R.,  Louisa  J.,  Henry  C.,  Matilda  and 
Isaac  D.  Mr.  Lane's  father  was  an  Antislavery  man,  and  left  Tennessee  on  account  of 
the  prevalence  of  slavery  ;  his  son,  early  in  life,  imbibed  those  principles,  and  could 
never  look  upon  involuntary  servitude  with  any  degree  of  allowance.  It  may  be  said 
of  Mr.  Lane,  that  in  all  his  transactions  with  his  fellow-men,  litigation  has  been  a  thing 
unknown,  and  while  he  may  not  leave  after  him  much  of  this  world's  goods,  yet  he  does 
hope  to  transmit  to  them  a  good  name,  and  a  remembrance  that  their  paternal  ancestor 
was  an  honest  man. 

JOHN  P.  LANGE,  farmer  ;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  Oct.'  1,  1842  ; 
son  of  John  Lange  and  Kate  Fickan.  At  the  age  of  12,  he  began  for  himself, 
and  worked  out  until  he  was  25  years  old ;  Dec.  24,  1867,  he  came  to  this  coun- 
try ;  he  came  to  Havana  and  worked  one  year  or  more  for  George  Westin.  Jan. 
18,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  C.  Parker,  who  was  born  Feb.  14,  1844,  in  Grant 
Co.,  Ind.,  and  raised  in  Ohio  ;  they  have  one  child — Lucy  Anna,  born  Feb.  4,  1878. 
His  mother's  name  in  German  was  Cetharna  Margaretha  Fickan.  The  date  of  John's 
leavin  the  old  country  was  Oct.  8,  1867.  and  he  was  fifty-nine  days  on  the  ocean.  He 
was  naturalized  April  7,  1864,  and  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming. 

JOHN  A.  LINN,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  son  of  Phillip  Linn,  now  of  Clacka- 
mas  Co.,  Oregon  ;  his  mother's  name  (prior  to  her  marriage)  was  Mahala  McDaniel  ; 
they  are  natives  of  Bourbon  Co.,  Ky.,  and  were  among  the  early  pioneers  in  Brown  Co. 
In  the  summer  of  1865,  they  moved  to  their  present  place  of  abode  in  Oregon.  John 
has  since  made  a  trip  to  that  country  and  would  have  located  but  for  his  wife's  unwill- 
ingness to  leave  her  native  State.  He  was  born  Oct.  30, 1843,  and,  in  his  20th  year,  he 
married  Nancy  Briggs,  who  was  born  in  August,  1845;  daughter  of  William  Briggs ; 
they  have  five  children — William  E.,  Minnie,  Annie,  Eugene  and  Jennie.  Mr.  Linn 
is  a  man  of  energy,  and  a  hard  worker,  and  has  been  successful  so  far.  Mr.  Linn  is 
a  member  of  Kinder  Lodge,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Brown  Co. 

GEORGE  L.  McDANI'EL,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  was  born  in  this  town- 
ship Jan.  12,  1851  ;  his  father's  name  was  William  and  his  mother's  before  marriage 
Mary  Lewis,  both  of  them  natives  of  Kentucky;  they  came  to  this  State  during  its 
early  history  ;  his  father  died  when  he  was  a  small  boy  and  he  was  then  under  the  sole 
care  of  his  mother.  Jan.  2,  1875,  he  was  united  in  wedlock  to  Louisa  Hughs,  who 
was  born  in  Kentucky  April  24,  1857.  In  1879,  he  bought  forty  acres  of  land,  which 
he  now  owns.  H'e  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  New  Lebanon. 

JOHN  MICKLAM,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne.  "Uncle  Johnnie,"  as  he  is 
familiarly  called,  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  the  city  of  London  April  7,  1796,  and  is 
now  in  his  84th  year ;  he  has  seen  many  of  the  "  notable  "  and  crowned  heads  of 
Europe,  George  III  and  IV — the  Queen's  father,  Alexander  I  and  Old  Blucher,  and 
many  others,  and  can  relate  very  many  interesting  things,  of  which  he  was  an  eye- 
witness, that  are  now  matters  of  history.  John  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  eight 
children  born  to  John  Micklam  and  Ann  Goulds.  Feb.  17, 1819,  he  emigrated  to  this 
country,  landing  at  Norfolk,  Va. ;  thence  to  Petersburg,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a 
dealer  in  tobacco  and  lived  about  three  years  ;  he  has  now  in  his  possession  several  bills 
of  lading  and  invoices  of  goods  (seen  by  the  writer)  in  the  quaint  handwriting  of  that 
time,  showing  the  character  of  the  business  done.  Subsequently  to  this,  he  engaged  in 
growing  tobacco.  In  early  life,  he  learned  the  tobacco  business  with  his  father.  While 
in  Virginia,  he  saw  the  first  steamboat  that  ever  sailed  on  the  James  River,  a  rude 
affair,  with  a  hulk  like  a  canal  boat,  and  an  engine  with  upright  arms  working  vertically. 
In  1827,  he  emigrated  to  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and  remained  until  1836,  when  he 


KILBOURNE   TOWNSHIP.  809 

«arne  to  Bluffdale,  Greene  Co.,  this  State,  and  remained  there  until  1845  ;  he  then  came 
to  Mason  Co.,  and  has  since  lived  here.  June  13,  1821,  he  married  Maria  Pegram  in 
Dinwiddie  Co.,  Va.  ;  they  have  had  eight  children — John  W.,  Martha  A.,  Indiana  M., 
Mary  D.,  Charles  E.,  Stanfield  A.,  Sophia  and  Harriet  M.  Mr.  Micklam  has  always 
been  a  very  temperate  man,  and  was  never  drunk  in  his  life,  and  is  a  man  of  excellent 
information,  a  great  reader,  and  a  true  type  of  an  old  English  "  gentleman." 

CHARLES  MOWDER,  farmer,  Sec.  5  ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  is  a  native  of  Mas  >n 
€o.  and  was  born  in  Havana  Township  Oct.  21,  1847  ;  he  is  the  seventh  of  a  family  of 
ten  children  born  to  Joseph  and  Judith  (Stroup)  Mowder.  who  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  came  to  this  State  at  an  early  day,  locating  on  land  east  of  Havana,  which 
they  entered.  Charles  remained  at  home  until  he  married  Rebecca  Lehr,  who  was  born 
May  23,  1852,  in  Sherman  Township  ;  her  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
mother  born  in  Bucks  Co.  and  the  father  in  Lehigh  Co.  Charles  has  had  good  educa- 
tional advantages  in  addition  to  those  of  the  common  school  and  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Commercial  College  at  Jacksonville.  After  his  marriage,  which  occurred  Dec.  25, 1875, 
he  settled  on  the  land  he  now  occupies  and  has  since  been  a  tiller  of  the  soil ;  they  have 
one  child — Joseph,  born  June  8,  1878. 

HARVEY  ONEAL,  retired  physician,  Kilbourne ;  is  one  of  Mason  County's 
stanch  and  reliable  men,  and  has  been  closely  connected  with  its  interests  and  has  been 
as  much  service  to  the  country  in  the  line  of  his  profession  as  any  man  in  the  county ; 
he  was  born  in  Barren  Co.,  Ky.,  May  19,  1818 ;  seventh  child  of  a  family  of  eight 
children  of  Bennet  Oneal  and  Sallie  Emery,  who  were  native^  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
Harvey's  father  was  engaged  in  mechanical  pursuits,  which,  being  distasteful  to  his  son, 
led  him  to  follow  another  line  of  action  for  a  life  business ;  he  early  had  a  desire  to 
study  medicine ;  this  did  not  meet  with  his  parents'  approval,  but  he  cherished  his 
desire,  and,  after  he  attained  majority,  turned  his  steps  to  Illinois,  and,  the  same  year, 
began  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  Schooler ;  he  pursued  his  studies  until  graduation, 
receiving  his  honors  in  St.  Louis  Medical  College  in  1843 ;  he  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Virginia,  Cass  Co. ;  he  located  in  Bath.  In  November,  1844,  he 
married  Ann  Beesly,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Beesly ;  three  children  were  born,  none  of 
whom  are  now  living;  she  died  in  1850.  In  September,  1851,  he  was  married  to 
Charlotte  West,  daughter  of  Amos  S.  West,  a  native  of  Kentucky ;  they  had  five  chil- 
dren, four  now  living — James  C.,  Helen  J.,  Richard  M.  and  Harry  W.  The  Doctor 
continued  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Bath  for  twenty  years,  when,  it  becoming  too 
severe  upon  him,  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  it  on  account  of  his  health,  and,  in  the 
year  1864.  moved  to  this  township  and  bought  a  farm  and  has  since  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  agricultural  pursuits ;  he  has  been  long  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity. 
He  was  raised  a  Whig  and  is  a  man  of  sound  information  and  well  read  on  the  topics 
of  the  day ;  he  is  a  zealous  advocate  of  the  Greenback  doctrine  and  is  firm  in  the  belief 
of  the  final  triumph  of  that  party. 

GEORGE  W.  RANSON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  is  a  son  of  John  B.  Ran- 
son,  who  was  an  old  pioneer  in  this  county,  and  one  who  was  a  zealous  and  enthusiastic 
worker  in  the  ministry,  and  was  identified  with  the  society  called  Christians,  sometimes 
termed  "  Campbellites ;"  his  mother's  name  was  Ann  Audas  ;  both  of  them  were  natives 
of  England,  and  came  here  at  an  early  day.  George  was  born  on  the  same  place  where 
he  now  resides  Dec.  17,  1848,  and  was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age,  and  was  then 
under  the  care  of  his  elder  brother;  after  his  13th  year,  he  earned  his  own  living,  and, 
in  1870,  began  farming  on  his  own  account,  and  subsequently  united  in  marriage  with 
Sarah  E.  Ainsworth,  born  Sept.  26,  1851  ;  she  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Ainsworth,  of 
Chandlerville ;  they  have  two  children — Alonzo,  born  June  23,  1876;  Clara,  Sept.  10, 
1878 ;  he  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

JOHN  ROUTT,  blacksmith,  Kilbourne;  was  born  in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  June 
24,  1838  ;  son  of  Byrauib  Routt ;  his  parents  were  natives  of  Kentucky  ;  his  father  died 
when  he  was  but  about  8  years  old,  and  when  at  the  age  of  16,  he  moved  to  Mon- 
roe Co.,  Mo.,  with  his  mother,  where  he  lived  seven  years;  having  a  mechanical  turn, 
learned  the  blacksmith  trade  and  came  to  this  county,  wjiere  he  followed  his  trade  at 


810  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

Havana  and  also  at  Peterville,  and  finally  located  at  Kilbourne,  where  he  and  his 
brother  are  associated  together  in  running  a  blacksmith  and  wagon-making  business ; 
they  are  good  workmen,  and  are  having  a  large  run  of  business ;  they  are  men  who 
attend  to  their  business  strictly,  and  thus  merit  the  patronage  of  the  people.  Aug.  19, 
1861,  he  married  Jonana  Pulling;  they  have  had  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living — Byramb  B.,  Eleanor  B.,  Florence,  Daisy  and  an  infant  not  named ;  his  wife  is  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Pulling,  and  was  born  April  16,  1844. 

JAMES  ROUTT,  wagon-maker,  Kilbourne  ;  was  born  in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  March 
15,  1845  ;  son  of  Byramb  Routt,  whose  wife's  maiden  name  was  Eleanor  C.  Riggs,  and 
also  a  native  of  Kentucky ;  the  family  came  to  this  State  in  1852  ;  from  Kentucky  they 
first  went  to  Mercer  Co.,  Mo. ;  lived  for  a  time  in  Monroe,  and  finally  the  boys  came  to 
Mason  Co.  and  have  since  remained.  James  was  a  loyal  soldier,  and  enlisted  in  Co.  A, 
28th  I.  V.  I.,  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Dec.  25,  1868,  he  married  Mary  A. 
Sayre,  daughter  of  Rachel  and  Jonathan  Sayre  ;  she  was  born  in  Virginia  Dec.  8r 
1847;  they  have  four  children  living — Charlotte  E.,  Emma  J.,  James  H.  and  Anna 
M.  After  his  term  of  service  expired,  he  went  to  Morgan  Co.,  and  to  Mason  Co.  in 
1875 ;  he  worked  at  Peterville  and  worked  at  his  trade,  then  went  to  farming,  and,  July 
15,  1879,  came  to  Kilbourne. 

J.  W.  ROOT,  physician,  Kilbourne;  was  born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Penn.,  Aug.  18, 
1845,  and  emigrated  to  this  State,  locating  in  Schuyler  Co. ;  having  a  desire  to  study 
medicine,  he  ran  away  from  home  and  entered  the  army,  where  he  remained  until  the 
close  of  the  war ;  in  the  mean  time,  he  applied  himself  closely  to  the  study  of  medicine 
and  surgery ;  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  St.  Louis,  and, 
upon  his  return  to  Schuyler  Co.,  began  the  practice  of  medicine  and  continued  at  it  for 
nine  years  successfully.  Oct.  14,  1868,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Malinda  Scott,  a 
native  of  that  county ;  three  children  have  graced  their  fireside,  but  two  only  are  living 
— Prudence  and  Elizabeth ;  Clarence,  the  younger,  died  from  being  scalded.  In  the 
spring  of  1876,  he  moved  to  Kilbourne  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  his  profession, 
and  his  efforts  in  this  direction  have  been  crowned  with  marked  success ;  he  makes  a 
specialty  of  the  treatment  of  bleeding  piles,  without  the  aid  of  caustic,  knife  or  liga- 
ture ;  it  matters  not  how  long  or  unsuccessfully  the  patient  has  been  treated,  cure  guar- 
anteed or  no  pay ;  consultation  free,  and  all  letters  of  inquiry  answered  promptly ;  he 
has  been  very  successful  in  the  treatment  of  acute  and  chronic  diseases,  as  his  patient* 
can  fully  attest.  He  is  Republican  in  sentiment;  in  the  fall  of  1877,  he  was  brought 
out  as  a  candidate  for  Superintendent  of  Schools  in  this  county,  and  had  flattering  pros- 
pects of  being  elected,  when  he  withdrew,  as  the  duties  of  the  office  required  him  to 
visit  schools,  which  the  practice  of  his  profession  would  not  admit  of;  he  is  a  member 
of  Browning  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  Schuyler  Co.,  and  an  honorable  and  upright  gentleman. 

HENRY  C.  RUGGLES,  druggist,  Kilbourne ;  was  born  in  Winchester,  Scott 
Co.,  March  29,  1845  ;  son  of  J.  M.  Ruggles,  of  this  county,  who  is  one  of  its  promi- 
nent citizens ;  at  the  age  of  17,  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country  ;  was  enrolled 
as  drummer  boy  in  Co.  F,  51st  I.  V.  I., -and  afterward  was  mustered  in  as  private,  and 
served  as  such  until  the  close  of  the  war ;  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Stone  River 
and  Chickamauga,  at  which  place  was  taken  prisoner  and  served  about  eighteen  months 
in  rebel  prisons,  at  Anderson ville,  Richmond,  Danville  and  other  prisons  ;  was  paroled 
at  Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  Feb.  28,  1865  ;  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he  received  an  honorable 
discharge;  in  1867,  he  embarked  in  the  drug  business,  and  he  has  continued  in  the 
same  to  the  present  time ;  first  set  up  at  Bath,  then  Ashland,  Cass  Co.,  and,  on  Oct.  6r 
1875,  was  married  to  Mary  Webb,  of  Havana ;  they  have  one  child — Emma,  born  April 
11,  1877.  April  29,  1875,  located  in  Kilbourne,  where  he  is  now  doing  an  excellent 
business ;  he  keeps  a  full  line  of  general  stock,  and  is  making  a  success  ;  is  a  member  of 
Bath  Lodge  494,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. 

HENRY  STAGING,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  was  born  Sept.  2,  1832,  and 
was  a  namesake  of  his  father  ;  his  mother's  name,  previous  to  her  marriage,  was  Mar- 
garet Pomp.  In  the  year  1852,  in  order  to  better  his  fortune,  Henry  turned  his  steps 
toward  Australia,  and,  in  company  with  several  of  his  companions,  took  a  mining  claim r 


KILBOURNE   TOWNSHIP.  811 

which  they  worked  quite  successfully  for  a  time,  and  amassed  a  quantity  of  the  yellow 
dust,  but  finally  lost  the  entire  amount  by  an  unprofitable  investment,  buying  an  engine, 
teams  and  other  effects ;  upon  the  failure  of  the  mine  to  produce  the  rich  dirt,  they 
sold  their  machinery,  after  running  it  two  years ;  Henry  remained  in  the  mines  eight 
years  in  all — after  this  he  went  to  England,  and  then  to  America;  he  worked  near 
Peoria  one  year,  as  a  farm  hand,  then  in  Logan  Co.,  where  he  worked  two  years.  He 
was  married,  Aug.  3,  1872,  to  Mary  Kemper,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Kemper; 
they  have  three  children — Henry,  Lizzie  and  Mary. 

JOHN  SEARS,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  son  of  Henry  Sears,  one  of  the 
oldest  settlers  in  the  county,  who  was  born  in  Wake  Co.,  near  Raleigh,  N.  C.  in 
November,  1805,  and  came  to  this  State  in  1822,  finally  locating  in  Crane  Creek  Town- 
ship in  1828,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Feb.  16,  1835.  He  remained 
with  his  father  until  his  marriage  with  Mary  A.  Turner,  who  was  born  Aug.  29,  1838, 
in  Buckingham  Co.,  Va.  Their  marriage  took  place  Nov.  5,  1863 ;  two  children  are 
the  only  ones  living  out  of  six  born  to  them — Ewin  and  Miles ;  since  their  marriage, 
they  have  remained  at  their  present  place  of  abode.  Mr.  Sears  is  a  man  of  few  words, 
quiet  and  unassuming,  and  attends  to  his  own  business,  paying  no  attention  to  the  affairs 
of  others. 

F.  E.  SHIRTCLIFF,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne  ;  is  a  native  of  Pontefract,  York- 
shire, Eng.;  born  April  21,  1829;  son  of  Edward  Shirtcliff  and  Anna  Makin ;  he  emi- 
grated to  this  State,  with  his  parents,  during  his  3d  year,  locating  in  Lynnville,  Morgan 
Co.,  where  his  father  built  the  first  store  building  and  sold  goods  at  that  place  ;  at  the 
age  of  15,  Fred  left  home  and  came  to  this  county  and  lived  with  A.  Feild,  a  rel- 
ative, remaining  with  him  until  Sept.  30,  1848,  when  he  married  Sarah  J.  Redwine, 
daughter  of  James  Redwine,  a  native  of  Kentucky ;  six  children  were  born,  five  living 
— Edward  J.,  Fred  F.,  John  W.,  Hannah  E.  and  Alice;  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  S. 
helped  build  the  first  frame  house  that  was  erected  in  this  part  of  the  county — now  in 
Kilbourne ;  Mr.  C.  has  remained,  the  greater  portion  of  his  life,  in  this  county,  and  has 
made  several  trips  to  the  North  and  West  to  better  his  condition,  but  has  invariably 
returned  to  old  Mason  Co.,  and  though  he  may  not  have  much  of  this  world's  goods 
to  bequeath  to  his  successors,  will  yet  have  a  name  and  character  for  honesty  and  up- 
rightness, of  which  they  need  not  be  ashamed.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order, 
Bath  Lodge,  No.  494. 

MARGARET  WALTERS, farmer;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Prus- 
sia, Jan.  2,  1832 ;  daughter  of  Frederick  Renaiker,  and  in  the  year  1860,  came  to  this 
country  in  company  with  her  parents,  and  located  in  Havana  Township.  In  April, 
1856,  she  was  married  to  Rudol  Brooksmidt ;  two  children  were  born — Caroline  and 
Lizzie.  Mr.  Brooksmidt  died  in  1858.  In  1862,  she  married  Frederick  Walters,  a 
native  of  Prussia  ;  they  had  three  children — Henry,  Lucy  and  Frank.  Oct.  1,  1872, 
Mr.  Walters  died  of  consumption.  She  has  1 20  acres  of  land,  which  she  farms. 

JOHNS.  WILLIAMSON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  one  of  the  old  settlers. 
He  came  to  the  State  in  1830,  and  located,  with  his  parents,  in  Morgan  Co.,  where  they 
remained  about  fourteen  years,  and  in  1844  moved  to  this  township.  Mr.  W.  was 
born  in  Fleming  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  15,  1826;  son  of  Abraham  Williamson.  His  mother's 
name,  before  marriage,  was  Keziah  Smith,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  the  father  from 
New  Jersey.  Sept.  5,  1850,  John  was  married  to  Matilda  Lane,  daughter  of  Richard 
Lane,  of  Virginia.  Seven  children  have  blessed  this  union,  five  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing— Richard  W.,  Isaac  N.,  Rachel,  Martha  and  Anna.  After  their  marriage  they 
located  on  the  place  they  now  occupy. 

PETER  WILLIAMS,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  was  born  in  Prussia  Feb.  1, 
1818 ;  son  of  Peter  Williams  and  Joanna  Maundell.  At  an  early  age  he  was  bereft  of 
his  parents.  Upon  arriving  at  maturity  he  married  Anna  Sholts,  daughter  of  Carl 
Frederick  Sholts.  In  1841,  he  emigrated  to  this  country,  and  worked  at  various  points 
,  — St.  Louis,  New  Orleans,  Cincinnati,  and  other  places,  upon  some  of  our  public  works, 
and  also  as  deck  hand  and  roustabout  on  the  river.  He  is  a  man  of  great  strength  and 
remarkable  powers  of  endurance.  Sept.  29,  1869,  he  came  to  this  township  and  located 


812  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES 

on  the  land  he  now  owns,  which  was  all  timber,  and  has  made  therefrom  a  good  farm, 
well  improved.  He  has  had  twelve  children,  but  three  of  whom  are  living — Mary,  born 
Nov.  20,  1859 ;  Charles,  born  Oct.  6,  1862 ;  Peter,  born  Feb.  21,  1866.  He  has  320 
acres  of  land,  and  has  acquired  it  by  honest  labor  and  rigid  economy. 


BATH    TOWNSHIP. 

ALFRED  ADKINS,  farmer,  Sec.  19  ;  P.  0.  Saidora  ;  was  born  in  Campbell  Co., 
Term.,  May  10,  1831,  but  removed  to  Illinois  with  his  father's  family  in  1833  ;  they 
first  settled  in  Morgan  Co.,  and  about  four  years  later  removed  to  what  is  now  Bath 
Township,  this  county.  His  father,  Joseph  Adkins,  was  born  in  East  Tennessee  in 
1812  ;  his  death  occured  Oct.  30,  1878  ;  his  mother,  Betsey  (Johnson)  Adkins  was 
also  a  native  of  Tennessee.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married,  March  11,  1853, 
to  Miss  Sarah  Schoonover,  who  was  born  in  Delaware;  they  have  six  children — Nancy 
J.,  Joseph  F.,  Clarissa  L.,  Herman  B.,  Richard  C.  and  Mary  B.  Mr.  Adkins  owns 
243  acres  of  land  in  Bath  Township. 

RANDALL  J.  ADKINS,  farmer,  Sec.  18 ;  P.  0.  Saidora ;  was  born  in  Bath 
Township,  Mason  Co.,  111.,  Nov.  6,  1846.  He  was  .married,  March  22,  1871,  to  Miss 
Josephine  Bishop,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Adkins  owns  350  acres  of 
land  in  Bath  Township,  Mason  Co.  Further  mention  of  Mr.  Adkins'  father  and  the 
family  will  be  made  in  the  history  of  Bath  Township  and  the  general  history  of  the 
county. 

JOHN  C.  ADKINS,  merchant,  Saidora ;  was  born  in  Bath  Township,  Mason 
Co.,  111.,  Feb.  7,  1846,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  married,  Feb.  7,  1870,  to 
Miss  Mary  M.  Hall,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania ;  they  have  one  child — Joseph  C. 
Mr.  Adkins  owns  ninety-seven  acres  of  land  in  Bath  Township.  He  is  now  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  and  grain  trade  at  Saidora.  See  card  in  the  Business  Directory  of  this 
work. 

JAMES  S.  ALLEN,  groceries  and  restaurant,  Bath ;  was  born  in  New  York 
State  July  26,  1833.  When  about  4  years  of  age,  his  father's  family  removed  to 
Illinois,  locating  first  in  Fulton  Co.,  and  about  one  year  later  removed  to  Bath  Town- 
ship, this  county,  in  1837  ;  in  1844  they  returned  to  Fulton  Co.,  where  they  resided 
till  1853;  then  came  to  Mason  Co.,  which  has  since,  been  the  home  of  the  subject  of 
these  lines.  His  father,  James  H.  Allen,  was  at  Chicago  as  early  as  1833,  and  at  that 
time  traveled  over  a  part  of  the  State;  he  died  in  November,  1869,  and  his  wife  a  few 
days  later;  both  were  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York.  James  S.  was  raised  a 
farmer,  which  occupation  he  followed  until  1874,  when  he  engaged  in  his  present  busi- 
ness in  July  of  that  year.  He  has  served  as  Collector  and  Assessor,  one  term  each. 
He  was  married,  March  21,  1858,  to  Miss  Lillie  A.  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Ohio; 
they  have  two  children — Elizabeth  M.  (wife  of  James  M.  Lacy)  and  Luella  M.  (wife 
of  James  E.  Lippert.  Mr.  Allen  is  a  member  of  Bath  Lodge  No.  494,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. 

JOHN  L.  ASHURST,  manufacturer  of  the  Blunt  Succor  Drill,  Sec.  36;  P.  0. 
Kilbourne ;  was  born  in  Bath  ToVnship,  Mason  Co.,  111.,  March  15,  1838,  and  is  a 
son  of  Nelson  R.  and  Jemima  Ashurst.  The  family  removed  from  Tennessee  to  Illi- 
nois in  1832,  settling  first  in  Menard  Co.,  and  about  one  year  later  removed  to  Mason 
Co.,  locating  in  what  is  now  Bath  Township.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married 
Feb.  12,  1858,  to  Miss  Amanda  C.,  daughter  of  Laban  and  Klizabeth  K.  Blunt,  who 
were  early  settlers  of  Mason  Co.  Mr.  Ashurst  followed  farming  for  some  years,  but, 
in  about  1857,  gave  his  attention  to  mechanical  pursuits,  purchasing  a  few  tools  and 
embarking  in  the  blacksmithing  business  in  a  small  way,  mainly  for  the  purpose  of 
doing  his  own  repairing  ;  he  soon  gave  up  farming  and  devoted  himself  to  his  trade  ; 
he  assisted  Bobert  Blunt,  patentee  of  the  Succor  Diill,  in  the  construction  of  the  first 
machine,  and  the  second  was  built  wholly  by  Mr.  Ashurst;  since  the  death  of  Mr. 


BATH    TOWNSHIP.  813 

Blunt,  his  son  George,  together  with  Mr.  Ashurst.  have  made  some  improvements 
•which  place  this  drill  on  a  footing  with  any  manufactured,  and,  by  many,  believed  to 
be  superior  to  anything  of  the  kind  in  the  market.  Mr.  Ashurst  has  manufactured  an/1 
Bold  about  one  hundred  drills  this  season,  but  by  no  means  supplying  the  demand,  which 
has  been  some  four  to  five  hundred. 

DANIEL  W.  BARR,  proprietor  of  Central  House,  Bath  ;  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Md.,  July  29,  1828,  where  he  resided  until  1859,  then  removing  to  Ogle 
Co.,  111.,  and  about  one  year  later  to  the  State  of  Missouri ;  thence  to  Kansas,  where  he 
resided  from  1860  to  1862,  and  returned  to  Illinois  the  latter  year,  locating  in  Morgan 
Co.,  and,  in  1865,  came  to  Bath,  this  county,  which  has  since  been  his  home.  During 
the  year  1866,  he  was  engaged  in  butchering,  and  the  following  year  embarked  in  the 
horse  and  mule  trade.  He  lias  been  proprietor  of  the  Central  House  since  1871  ;  has 
served  one  year  as  Police  Constable.  He  was  married,  in  1851,  to  Miss  Catharine 
Foster,  who  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Md.  They  have  had  twelve  children,  nine  of 
whom  are  living — Elizabeth,  wife  of  Morris  Lester,  resides  in  Peoria,  III. ;  Laura ; 
Addie,  wife  of  George  D.  Mills,  train  baggage-man  on  C.  &  N.-W.  Ry. ;  Charles,  Sudie, 
Fannie,  Lona,  James  and  Edward ;  the  deceased  are  William  H.,  Frank,  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Barr  owns  160  acres  of  land  in  Bath  Township,  and,  in  addition 
to  farming  and  other  business,  makes  training  of  saddle  horses  a  specialty,  having  taken 
eleven  premiums  at  the  Mason  Co.  fairs,  also  several  premiums  at  other  fairs  in  Central 
Illinois. 

THOMAS  R.  BLUNT,  farmer,  Sec.  36 ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  was  born  in  what  is  now 
Bath  Township,  this  county,  June  22,  1838.  His  father,  Thomas  F.  Blunt,  who  was 
born  on  Kent  Island,  Md.,  July  14,  1800,  emigrated  to  the  West  as  early  as  1831, 
and  first  settled  in  the  State  of  Missouri.  The  family  came  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  in  1833, 
and  located  near  the  present  residence  of  Thomas  R.,  with  whom  his  father  now  resides. 
His  mother,  Sinai  F.  (Alderson)  Blunt,  was  born  in  Kentucky  Nov.  9,  1795  ;  her 
death  occurred  Oct.  2,  1864.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married,  Dec.  23,  1858,  to 
Miss  Jane  Parks,  who  was  born  in  Scott  Co.,  111.,  June  24,  1837.  Six  children  by  this 

union,  three  of  whom  are  living — Alice  M.  M.,  Lena  R.  and ;  Delta  M.  died 

Dec.  12,  1864 ;  Marshall  Y.,  Nov.  7,  1867  ;  Charles  J.,  March  28,  1866.  Mr.  Blunt 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Mount  Zion  Baptist  Church,  which  was  organized  in  April, 
1842,  since  1855,  and  has  served  as  Deacon  some  ten  years.  He  owns  260  acres  of 
laud  in  Bath  Township. 

ROBERT  E.  CAMERON,  of  the  firm  of  Cameron  &  Fletcher,  proprietors  of 
Bath  Mills,  Bath;  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Ark.,  March  8,  1841,  but  removed  in 
early  childhood,  with  his  father's  family,  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Fulton  Co.  in  1843. 
They  removed  to  Lynchburg  Township,  this  county,  in  1848.  The  subject  of  this 
has  resided  at  Bath  since  1867,  where  he  first  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  In 
1874,  he  purchased  the  flouring-mill,  which  was  burnt  about  seven  months  after,  and 
rebuilt  in  1875.  He  was  married,  Sept.  18, 1864,  to  Miss  Addie  Hunter,  who  was  born 
in  Oliio.  They  have  two  children  living — Jennie  and  George  E.  Mr.  Cameron  is  a 
member  of  Bath  Lodge,  No.  494,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. 

HERMAN  DIERKER,  farmer,  Sec.  27;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  July  25,  1834.  In  1838,  he  came  to  America  with  his  father's  family,  and 
located  in  Bath  Township,  this  county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  His  father,  John 
H.,  died  May  1,  1844,  and  his  mother,  Ellen  (Basselbecke)  Dierker,  died  in  September, 
1  ^.~>4  ;  both  were  natives  of  Hanover,  Germany.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married, 
April  30,  1857,  to  Miss  Margaret  Meyer,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany ;  her 
father  came  to  America  in  1848,  and  to  Mason  Co.  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  They  have 
had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living — August,  Charlotte,  Sophie,  Janie  and  Mar- 
garet ;  their  son,  Frank,  died  April  23,  1864.  Mr.  Dierker  owns  380  acres  of  land  in 
Bath  Township. 

JOHN  G.  D.  DEVERMANN,  farmer,  Sec.  9  ;  P.  0.  Bath  ;  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  Dec.  12,  1839.  When  about  10  years  of  age,  he  came  to  America  with  his 
father's  family,  leaving  their  native  country  the  1st  of  October,  1849,  arriving  at  New 


814  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

Orleans,  La.,  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  They  came  to  Mason  Co.  the  following  Jan- 
uary, reaching  Schulte's  Landing  at  11  o'clock  P.  M.,  of  the  llth  of  that  month.  They 
occupied  the  house  of  Frederick  Speckmann,  Sr.  (  now  deceased  )  for  about  one  year, 
ttten  located  near  where  Mr.  Devermann  now  resides.  His  father,  John  H.  Devermann, 
who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  Sept.  22,  1796,  died  Ocr.  20, 1861.  His  mother. 
Katrina  M.  (  Shiphorst )  Devermann,  who  was  a  native  of  the  same  place,  was  born 
May  12,  1803  ;  she  now  resides  with  her  son  (  J.  G.  D.).  On  the  15th  of  June,  1865, 
Mr.  Deveruian  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Woesten,  who  was  born  in  Havana  Township, 
this  county,  Nov.  14,  1849.  By  this  union  there  were  five  children,  four  o£  whom  are 
living— Serina  C.,  born  April  14,  1866;  Henry  J.,  born  Aug.  25,  1869  ;  died  Oct.  28, 
1869  ;  Gustav  H.  D.,  born  Dec.  16,  1870;  Adolph  G.  D.,  born  March  20,  1873 ;  Lissie 
M.,  born  Dec.  14,  1875.  Mr.  Devermann  has  served  as  School  Director  four  years, 
and  Commissioner  of  Highways  one  term.  He  owns  about  300  acres  of  land  in  Bath 
Township,  Mason  Co. 

JOHN  H.  H.  DEVERMANN,  farmer,  Sec.  9  ;  P.  O.  Bath  ;  was  born  in  Han- 
over, Germany,  Oct.  28,  1834,  and  came  to  America  with  his  father's  family  in  1849. 
For  further  mention  of  his  father's  family  and  their  settlement  here,  see  the  above  sketch 
of  his  brother.  Mr.  Devermann  was  married,  Feb.  11,  1864,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter 
of  G.  Dierker.  Her  grandfather,  John  H.  Dierker,  came  to  this  country  in  1838,  when 
her  father  was  about  9  years  of  age.  She  was  born  in  Bath  Township,  this  county, 
Oct.  2,  1841.  They  have  had  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living — Hannah  M., 
born  Dec.  10,  1864;  Harman  H.,  born  Oct.  10,  1866;  Katrina  M.  and  Frankie  D. 
(twins)  May  24,  1869,  (Frankie  D.  died  Nov.  20,  1872)  ;  Anna  M.,  born  Jan.  9, 1872  ; 
Ida  M.,  born  July  10,  1874;  Willie  G.  and  Henry  A.,  twins,  born  April  7,  1877.  Mr. 
Devermann  owns  360  acres  of  land  in  Bath  Township,  Mason  Co. 

JOHN  G.  H.  DIERKER,  farmer,  Sec.  25  ;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  Aug.  12,  1811.  He  came  to  America  in  1851.  They  located  in  Bath  Town- 
ship, Mason  Co.,  the  same  year.  He  was  married,  in  1837,  to  Miss  Katrina  M.  Budan, 
who  was  also  born  in  Hanover,  Germany.  They  had  three  children,  one  living — Cath- 
arine, wife  of  Frederick  Hahn.  Mr.  Dierker's  wife  died  in  1842.  and  in  1844  he  mar- 
ried Ann  M.  Vallenghorst,  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany.  They  have  one  child — Kat- 
rina, wife  of  Henry  Nehmilmann.  She  was  married  to  Mr.  Nehmilmann  in  1867. 
They  have  four  children  living — Harman,  August,  Mary  and  Henry/  They  have  lost 
one,  Lewis,  who  died  in  March,  1877. 

STOKES  EDWARDS,  farmer,  Sec.  36  ;  'P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  was  born  in  Orange 
Co.,  Ind.,  Feb.  7,  1819.  In  1832,  he  moved  with  his  father's  family  to  Morgan  Co., 
111.,  and  in  1838,  his  father,  Richard  Edwards,  moved  to  the  State  of  Iowa.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  located  in  Kilbourne  Township,  this  county,  in  September,  1846, 
where  he  engaged  in  blacksmithing,  which  trade  he  followed  for  some  twelve  years,  also 
improving  a  farm  at  the  same  time.  In  1858,  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Bath,  and  in 
February,  1863,  located  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  married,  Oct.  28,  1843,  to 
Miss  Emily  Ward,  who  was  born  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  28,  1824.  Her  father's 
family  removed  to  Morgan  Co.,  111.,  in  about  1837.  Elijah  Ward,  her  father,  built  the 
third  house  erected  in  Waverly,  Morgan  Co.  They  have  one  child  living — Mrs.  Neal 
Hasher,  resides  in  Kilbourne  Township.  Mr.  Edwards  owns  307  acres  of  land  in  Bath 
and  Kilbourne  Townships. 

JOHN  FLETCHER,  farmer;  Sec.  7  ;  P.  0.  Saidora;  was  born  in  Yorkshire, 
England,  Dec.  28,  1827  ;  he  came  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1855,  with  his  father's 
family  ;  they  settled  in  Lynchburg  Township,  this  county.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  married,  in  January,  1859,  to  Mrs.  Anna  B.  Carpenter  (Moffat),  who  was  born  in 
Yorkshire,  England  ;  she  came  to  America  in  childhood  ;  they  have  five  children,  four 
of  whom  are  living — Edward  S.,  Frederick  B.,  Francis  J.  and  Mary  J.  S.  Douglass 
died  May  29,  1863.  Mr.  Fletcher  has  served  as  Commissioner  of  Highways  three 
years  in  Lynchburg  Township,  and  two  years  in  this,  and  is  the  present  incumbent ;  he 
owns  297  acres  of  land  in  Bath  and  Lynchburg  Townships.  He  removed  to  his  present 
home  in  1863. 


BATH   TOWNSHIP.  815 

EZEKIEL  FRIEND,  retired  physician,  Saidora ;  was  born  in  Lebanon  Co., 
Penn.,  Dec.  30,  1815  ;  he  received  his  early  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Cum- 
berland and  Franklin  Cos.,  in  which  he  resided  some  time  prior  to  his  removal  to  the 
West.  In  1830,  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  A.  W.  Cooper,  of 
Chainbarsburg,  Franklin  Co.,  and  in  1839,  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  ; 
in  the  fall  of  1841,  he  removed  to  Illinois,  locatod  in  Cass  Co.,  near  Chandlersville, 
where,  for  many  years,  he  was  associated  with  Dr.  Chandler  in  the  practice  of  medicine. 
The  Doctor  removed  to  Mason  Co.,  in  the  fall  of  1854,  and  to  his  present  home  in 
August,  1855.  On  the  llth  of  August,  1846,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Ray, 
who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  April  24,  1826  ;  her  death  occurred  Feb.  3,  1849  ;  they 
had  one  child — John  C.,  born  July  16,  1847.  He  was  married  to  Sarah  Humphrey 
June  28,  1849;  she  was  born  in  Indiana  Feb.  1,  1824;  died  July  2,  1854;  two 
children  by  this  union — Mary  Jane  and  Thomas.  He  was  married  to  his  present  wife, 
Mary  E.  Curry,  Aug.  31,  1855  ;  she  was  born  in  New  York  July  1,  1838,  they  have 
nine  children — George  W.,  born  July  26,  1856  ;  Josephine,  January,  1858  ;  Ellen  V., 
Oct.  20,  1859  ;  Alice  P.,  Aug.  16,  1862;  Adaline,  Nov.  29, 1864  ;  Charlotte  E.,  June 
7,  1867  ;  Lucy  A.,  Nov.  30, 1869  ;  Charles  H.  F.,  Feb.  11,  1873  ;  Theodore  E.,  June 
10,  1875.  The  Doctor  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Oliver)  Friend  ;  his  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Nicholas  Bonner  Oliver,  who  came  from  England  and  settled  in  Philadel- 
phia, Penn.  Dr.  Friend  has  been  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  Cass, 
Mason  and  adjoining  counties,  since  1841  (until  within  the  past  seven  years),  a  period  of 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

DAVID  C.  HARM1SON,  physician  and  surgeon,  Bath;  was  born  in  Berkeley 
Co.,  W.  Va.,  Nov.  16, 1844,  and  is  a  son  of  John  S.  and  Hannah  (Butts)  Harmison,  both 
natives  of  Virginia.  In  1849,  the  family  removed  to  Champaign  Co.,  Ohio,  and,  in  the 
spring  of  1852,  came  West,  locating  in  Knox  Co.,  111.,  where  the  Doctor's  parents  still 
reside.  The  Doctor  followed  farming  until  1864,  and  in  October  of  that  year  enlisted  in 
Co.  A,  59th  I.  V.  I.,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war ;  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  at 
San  Antonio,  Tex.,  Oct.  16, 1865.  He  was  at  the  battles  of  Lynnville,  Spring  Hill,  Colum- 
bia, Franklin,  Duck  River,  Nashville,  Pulaski,  and  the  skirmishes,  and  was  twice  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Nashville.  On  Jan.  2,  1866,  he  entered  Hedding  College  at  Abingdon, 
111.,  completing  the  scientific  course  and  graduating  at  that  institution  in  1869.  He 
engaged  in  teaching,  devoting  his  spare  time  to  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  J. 
Lobaugh,  of  Elmwood,  Peoria  Co.,  111.  He  entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  in  1877,  and  graduated  in  June  of  the  following  year.  The 
Doctor  came  to  Bath  in  August,  1875,  and  for  two  years  had  charge  of  the  public 
schools.  Since  1878,  he  has  been  in  the  constant  practice  of  his  profession  at  this  place. 
He  was  married,  Dec.  29,  1870,  to  Miss  Isabelle  Rafferty,  who  was  born  in  Madison 
Co.,  Ohio.  Five  children  by  this  union,  four  of  whom  are  living — Junius  B.,  William 
V.,  Maud  U.  and  Luclara.  Laura  M.  E.  died  Jan.  31,  1876. 

GERHARD  H.  HAVIGHORST,  deceased;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
Nov.  28,  1823  ;  came  to  America  in  1846  and  located  in  Bath,  Mason  Co.,  111.,  the 
same  year ;  he  first  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  which  he  followed  for  many 
years,  and  subsequently  engaged  in  the  grain  trade ;  this  he  continued  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  April  11,  1876.  His  widow,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Catharine  J.  Horstman,  still  resides  at  Bath,  she  is  also  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany, 
and  was  born  Jan.  2,  1830 ;  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Havighorst  took  place  June  1,  1850  ; 
by  this  union  there  were  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living — Emma  J.,  born  Jan. 
1,  1857  (wife  of  William  Heberling);  Franklin,  Sept.  13,  1859;  Stephen  G.,  Feb.  6, 
1866;  the  two  deceased  are  Henry,  born  March  1,  1851,  died  July  23,  1857;  Catharine 
E.,  born  Jan.  4,  1854,  died  July  11,  1857.  Mrs.  Havighorst  came  to  America  with 
her  father's  family  in  earlv  childhood;  they  settled  at  Matanzas,  in  this  county,  about 
1838. 

WARREN  HEBERLING,  merchant,  Bath;  was  born  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb. 
3,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Hannah  (Lewis)  Heberling,  the  former  a  native  of 
Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  followed  merchandisini:  in 


816  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

Ohio  for  several  years,  and,  in  1864,  removed  to  Bath,  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  engaged  in  his 
present  business.  He  was  married,  July  31,  1860,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.,  only  daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Mary  (Fulton)  Vail,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  They  removed  to  Illi- 
nois in  1843.  and  first  settled  in  Fulton  Co.,  and  two  years  later  came  to  Mason  Co. 
The  names  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heberling's  children  are  as  follows — Mary  L.,  Laura  A.r 
Charles  W.  and  Annie  D.  Mr.  Heberling  is  Master  of  Bath  Lodge,  No.  494,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  has  served  in  that  capacity  four  separate  terms  since  the  organization  of  that  body. 
He  owns  about  2,000  acres  of  land,  160  acres  of  which  is  in  Kansas,  and  the  balance 
in  Mason  and  Fulton  Cos.,  111. 

J.  HERMAN  HEYE,  farmer,  Sec  10;  P.  O.  Bath  ;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, Sept.  15,  1836.  His  father,  John  H.  Heye,  died  in  1837.  In  1844,  Mrs.  Heye 
came  to  America  with  her  only  child  (J.  H.).  They  first  stopped  near  Havana,  Mason 
Co.,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1845,  located  in  Bath  Township,  which  has  since  been  their 
home.  His  mother,  Mary  (Hiuslaga)  Heye,  who  now  resides  with  her  son,  was  born 
in  Hanover,  Germany,  Sept  16.  1800.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married,  June 
15,  1865,  to  Miss  Anna  C.  Devermann,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  May  8, 
1843.  She  came,  with  her  father's  family,  to  America  in  the  fall  of  1849,  and  to  Mason 
Co.  the  following  spring.  (Further  mention  of  her  father's  family  will  be  found  in  the 
sketches  of  her  brothers,  Jno.  G.  D.  and  Jno.  H.  H.  Devermann.)  They  have  four  children 
living — Henry,  born  Oct.  15.  1869;  William,  born  Aug.  31,  1871;  Carl,  born  Dec  14, 
1873,  and  Margaret,  born  Feb.  6,  1876.  Mary  (deceased)  was  born  Aug.  27,  1867, 
and  died  Oct.  6,  1869.  Mr.  Heye  has  served  as  School  Director  several  years,  and 
School  Trustee  two  terms.  He  owns  360  acres  of  farm  land  and  ninety-one  acres  of 
timber  in  Bath  Township,  Mason  Co. 

JOHN  W.  HORSTMAN,  of  the  firm  of  Horstman  Bros.,  merchants,  Bath  ;  was 
born  at  Matanzas,  Bath  Township,  Mason  Co.,  111.,  April  20,  1842;  his  father,  John 
R.  Horstman,  came  to  America  in  1832,  locating  first  in  New  Orleans,  La;  in  the  fall 
of  1836,  he  settled  in  what  is  now  Bath  Township,  this  county;  he  was  born  in  Han- 
over, Germany,  in  1808,  and  died  Dec.  31.  1860  ;  his  wife,  Eliza  C.,  was  born  in  1818 
in  the  same  country  as  her  husband  ;  her  death  occurred  May  16,  1863.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  remained  on  his  father's  farm  until  30  years  old,  and  then  removed  to  a 
farm  near  the  village  of  Bath;  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Bath  Jan.  1, 
1875,  under  the  firm  name  of  Horstman  &  Schaaf ;  in  September,  1876,  he  sold  his 
interest  in  the  store  and  engaged  in  milling  with  R.  E.  Cameron ;  he  disposed  of  his 
interest  in  the  mill  the  following  May,  having  purchased  an  interest  in  the  store  of  his 
brother,  John  R.,  April  2,  1877,  since  which,  the  firm  has  remained  as  above.  He  has 
served  as  member  of  the  Town  Board  and  as  School  Trustee  each  one  term.  In  1871, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  C.  Missinan,  who  was  born  in  Bath  Township,  this  county ; 
they  have  one  child — John  F.  Mr^.  Horstman's  father,  Gerhard  Missman,  came  from 
Hanover,  Germany,  to  America  in  1849. 

JOHN  R.  HORSTMAN,  merchant,  Bath  ;  was  born  in  Bath  Township,  Mason 
Co.,  Feb.  5,  1849 ;  he  followed  farming  till  about  21  years  of  age,  and,  in  April,  1875, 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Bath  ;  he  sold  an  interest  in  the  store  to  his 
brother,  John  W..  April  2,  1877,  since  which,  the  business  has  been  conducted  under 
the  above  firm  name.  On  the  29th  of  April,  1875,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eva  L. 
McGehee,  who  was  born  in  Bath  Township,  this  county;  they  have  orfe  child  living — 
Hattie.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Town  Board  and  has  served  as  Collector  one  term. 

ROBERT  HOUSTON,  farmer,  Sec.  30 ;  P.  0.  Bath ;  was  born  in  Wheeling, 
Ohio  Co.,  W.  Va.,  Aug.  2,  1822  ;  when  about  12  years  of  age  his  father's  family  removed 
to  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  removed  to  Illinois,.in  the  spring  of 
1853,  locating  in  Havana  Township,  this  county,  where  he  was  employed  on  a  farm  till 
1856,  when  he  purchased  a  farm  of  115  acres  ia  Bath  Township,  and  now  owns  360 
acres  in  the  same  locality.  Mr.  Houston  has  served  one  term  as  Commissioner  of 
Highways.  He  was  married,  in  1842,  to  Miss  Sarah  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Belmont 
Co.,  Ohio;  they  have  had  nine  children  by  this  union,  seven  of  whom  are  living — Edward 
S.,  Ann  E.,  wife  of  H.  Allen  ,  Sabina,  wife  of  J.  Keefer  ;  Virginia,  wife  of  I.  Pirish  ; 


BATH   TOWNSHIP.  81 1 

Caroline,  wife  of  William  Matthews  ;  Julia,  wife  of  G.  W.  Taylor,  and  Mary  ;  West  and 
William  R.,  are  deceased.  In  March,  1862,  Mr.  Houston  enlisted  in  the  51st  T.  V.  I.r 
and  in  November  following  was  transferred  to  the  Engineer's  Department,  serving  under 
General  O.  P.  Morton.  In  March,  1863,  they  were  ordered  to  Nashville,  Tenn.;  here 
Mr.  Houston  assisted  in  building  two  gun-boats  and  was  placed  in  command  of  one. 
He  served  till  the  fall  of  1863,  and  then  resigned.  In  4ne  &U  °f  1862,  he  received 
his  commission  as  First  Lieutenant.  Mr.  Houston  first  came  West  as  early  as  1837, 
and  located  in  Iowa,  but  returned,  after  a  residence  there  of  about  two  years,  to  Ohio. 

HERMAN  MIDDELKAMP,  dealer  in  lumber,  furniture,  etc.,  Bath  ;  was  born 
in  Hanover,  Germany,  May  15,  1843  ;  his  father's  family  emigrated  to  America  when 
he  was  about  12  years  of  age;  they  came  via  New  Orleans,  and  settled  in  Bath  Town- 
ship, where  his  parents  still  reside,  in  the  fall  of  1855.  His  father,  John,  and  his 
mother,  Adelhit  (Hingstlage)  Middelkamp,  were  born  in  Hanover,  Germany.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  worked  on  his  father's  farm  till  22  years  of  age,  after  which  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  till  1878,  when  he  engaged  in  his  present  business  under 
the  firm  name  of  Middelkamp  &  Dierker.  He  was  married,  May  12,  1878,  to  Mis* 
Lena  Frank,  who  was  born  in  Mason  Co.,  111.  They  have  one  child,  Mary. 

ERNEST  A.  MEYER,  farmer,  Sec.  35  ;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  March  4,  1844,  but  cams  to  America  with  his- father's  family  in  early  child- 
hood. They  settled  in  Bath  Township,  Mason  Co.,  in  1848.  Mr.  Meyer  was 
married,  April  29,  1869,  to  Miss  Anna  C.,  daughter  of  George  Dierker  ;  her  father  came 
to  America  in  1835,  and  located  first  in  New  Orleans,  Li.;  his  brothers,  John  Henry 
and  John  Herman  Dierker,  cams  from  Germany  in  the  fall  of  1837,  and  the  following 
year  the  three  brothers  came  to  Mason  Co.  Mrs.  Meyer  was  born  in  Bath  Town- 
ship, this  county,  Au2.  13,  1846.  They  have  three  children,  Harman  H.,  born  Feb. 
18,  1870;  Emma  M.,  Oct.  2.  1871,  and  Mary  J.,  April  4,  1875.  Mr.  Meyer  owns 
484  acres  of  land  in  Bath,  and  176  acre^  in  Kilbourne  Township. 

WILLIAM  RIGGINS,  farmer,  Sec.  33 ;  P.  0.  Bath ;  was  born  in  Union  Co.v 
Ind.,  March  14, 1827  ;  in  1840,  he  removed  to  Illinois  with  his  father's  family,  locating 
at  Beardstown  Feb.  22,  of  that  year;  he  followed  farming  in  Cass  Co.  till  1852,  when 
he  went  to  California,  overland,  via  Salt  Lake  City ;  in  1854,  he  returned  from  Cal- 
ifornia by  way  of  the  Isthmus,  and  the  following  year  located  in  Mason  Co.,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  was  married,  in  1857,  to  Miss  Henrietta  McGehee,  who  was  born  in 
Fulton  Co.,  III.;  her  father  settled  in  Fulton  Co.  at  an  early  date,  and  was  also  an  early 
settler  of  Mason  Co.;  they  have  four  children — Ada  (wife  of  B.  F.  Gatton),  Alva. 
Stephen  and  Nelson.  Mr.  R.  owns  160  acres  of  land  in  Bath  Township. 

BENJAMIN  F.  ROCHESTER,  clerk,  Bath;  was  born  in  Bath,  111.,  April  25, 
1846.  His  father,  Sidney  Rochester,  who  was  born  in  Knox  Co.,  Ky.,  May  8,  1814, 
came  to  Illinois  in  1835,  locating  in  Whitehall,  Greene  Co.,  and  was  there  married  to 
Miss  Sarah  Stevenson,  April  23,  1836,  she  was  born  in  Middlesex  Co.,  N.  J.,  March 
29,  1810  ;  they  removed  to  Mason  Co.  in  1842,  and  settled  near  Bath.  There  were 
nine  children  by  this  union,  only  two  of  whom  are  now  living — John  L.  and  Benjamin 
F.;  the  deceased  are  Nathaniel  S  ,  William  H.,  Charles  G.,  George  W.,  James  S.,  Mary 
M.  and  Cornelia  E.;  John  and  William  served  in  Co.  E,  27th  I.  V.  L,  and  Nathaniel 
and  James  in  Co.  D,  85th  I.  V.  I.;  all  served  till  the  rebellion  was  crushed.  William, 
when  mustered  'out,  was  in  command  of  his  company,  with  rank  of  First  Lieutenant. 
Charles  G.  died  in  1845  ;  Cornelia  E.,  Aug.  23,  1853  ;  Geo.  W.,  April  8,  1861  ;  Mary 
M  ,  Dec.  1,  1868 ;  James  S.,  Jan.  4,  1872,  leaving  a  wife  and  one  child;  Nathaniel  S., 
May  15,  1872  ;  Wm.  H.,  July  19,  1877,  leaving  three  children,  the  death  of  his  wife 
having  or-curred  some  time  previous.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rochester  still  reside  in  Bxth,  hav- 
ing attained  a  ripe  old  age.  John  L.  also  resides  in  Bath,  and  is  engaged  in  black- 
smithing.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  prior  to  1872,  followed  farming  for  sevejal  years, 
and  then  engaged  in  teaching,  which  vocation  he  followed  till  the  spring  of  1875,  when 
he  entered  the  employ  of  J.  R.  Horstman,  as  clerk,  and  remained  with  him  one  year. 
He  was  married,  Dec.  26, 1875,  to  Miss  Lois  A.,  daughter  of  Geo.  A.  and  Sarah  Bonney. 
Dec.  12,  1876,  he  was  commissioned  Postmaster  at  Bath,  and  on  the  first  of  January 


818  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

following,  took  charge  of  the  office.  He  resigned  his  office  April  23,  1879,  and  entered 
the  employ  of  A.  Schaaf,  as  clerk.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rochester  are  Ernest 
P.,  born  Aug.  21,  1878,  and  Arthur  N.,  June  9,  1879.  Mr.  R.  is  a  member  of  Bath 
Lodge,  No.  125,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  has  served  as  Secretary  of  same  since  July  1,  1875, 
with  the  exception  of  one  term,  when  he  was  chosen  Noble  Grand. 

HENRY  L.  SAMUELL,  farmer,  Sec.  36;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  was  born  near 
Hopkinsville,  Christian  Co.,  Ky.,  Dec.  15,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Sarah 
(Braddus)  Samuell,  both  natives  of  Virginia;  the  former  died  in  October,  1869,  and 
the  latter  in  January,  1865  ;  in  the  fall  of  1834,  the  family  removed  to  Morgan  Co., 
111.,  and  in  the  spring  of  1846,  located  in  Bath  Township,  Mason  Co.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  married,  Feb.  24,  1848,  to  Miss  Lydia  Blunt,  who  was  born  in  Barren 
Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  9,  1829  ;  her  father,  Thomas  F.  Blunt,  settled  in  Bath  Township,  as 
early  as  1833  ;  by  this  union  there  were  eleven  children — Brooking  A.,  born  Jan.  4, 
1849,  resides  in  Bath  Township  ;  Ella  C.,  Jan.  5,  1851  (wife  of  Perry  Sutton),  resides 
in  Cass  Co.,  111.;  Hickman  B.,  Aug.  26,  1853,  resides  in  Sherman  Township;  Lavinia 
J.,  May  22,  1855  (wife  of  W.  Sutton),  resides  in  Cass  Co.,  111.;  Henry  C.,  Aug.  30, 
1857,  died  in  September,  1858;  Cassius  M.,  Aug.  29.  1859,  died  in  September,  1862; 
Frances  L.,  Oct.  2,  1861,  died  in  1863;  Joseph,  born  Aug.  8,  1864;  Kittie  W.,  Dec. 
16,  1866;  Charles  A.,  April  25,  1869;  the  last  three  are  at  home;  one  child  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Samuell  owns  360  acres  of  land  in  Bath  Township,  and  120  acres  in 
Cass  Co.,  111.,  and  is  one  of  seven  sons,  who  all  (with  the  exception  of  one,  who 
did  not  attain  his  full  height,  on  account  of  hip  disease)  stood  6  feet  2  inches ;  his 
father  and  twin  brother  also  attained  the  same  height  as  above. 

ANl)REW  SCHAAF.  groceries,  queensware,  etc.,  Bath ;  was  born  in  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,  Germany,  Sepc.  7,  1834.  He  came  to  America  when  about  12  years  of 
age,  with  his  father's  family,  locating  first  in  Arenzville,  Cass  Co.,  111.,  where  they 
resided  about  three  years,  and  then  removed  to  what  is  now  Bath  Township,  this 
county.  Mr.  Schaaf  followed  farming  until  1875,  when  he  engaged  in  his  present 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Horstman  &  Schaaf,  which  continued  under  the 
above  firm  name  till  September,  1876,  when  he  bought  his  partner's  interest.  He 
served  as  Collector  in  1873;  was  a  member  of  the  Town  Board  about  six  years,  and 
School  Treasurer  since  1873.  Married,  Oct.  8,  1857,  Miss  Sarah  Welch,  who  was 
born  in  Ohio ;  they  have  two  children  living — George  S.  and  Warren  J. 

JOHN  H.  STRUBE,  SR.,  farmer,  Sec.  35  ;  P.  0.  Bath  ;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, in  August,  1819.  He  came  to  America  in  1839,  locating  at  New  Orleans,  La., 
where  he  resided  till  1844,  when  his  father's  family  came  to  this  country  and  with  their 
son  to  Bath  Township.  Mason  Co.,  the  same  year.  His  father  John  H.,  was  born  in 
Hanover,  Germany,  December,  1787  ;  died  Aug.  7, 1870  ;  his  mother,  Katrina  (  Kemper) 
Strube,  was  born  in  the  same  county  as  her  husband  in  1785 ;  she  died  in  September, 
1844.  Mr.  Strube  was  married,  July  8, 1849,  to  Miss  Helen  M.  Nullen,  who  was  born  in 
Hanover,  Germany,  Oct.  24,  1818  ;  they  have  had  five  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living — John  H.,  born  Aug.  11,  1852,  he  resides  in  Quiver  Township;  Henry,  born 
July- 29,  1854;  Mary,  wife  of  Henry  N.  Stagin,  resides  in  Bath  Township,  she  was 
born  Oct.  11,  1856  ;  Richard  F.,  Sept.  26,  1859.  Mr.  Strube  owns  389  acres  of  land 
in  Bath  and  229  acres  in  Quiver  Township. 

WILLIAM  W.  TURNER,  billiard  hall,  Bath  ;  was  born  in  Scott  Co.,  111.,  Nov. 
30,  1834  ;  when  10  years  of  age  his  father's  family  removed  to  Field's  Prairie,  Bath 
Township,  this  county.  Mr.  Turner  worked  on  his  father's  farm  till  22  years  of  age, 
then  became  a  tiller  of  the  soil  on  his  own  account.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  85th  I.  V. 
I.,  July  20,  1862  ;  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  Dec.  21,  of  the  same  year,  and 
resigned  in  1864.  During  his  term  of  service  he  was  in  the  following  engagements: 
battle  of  Perryville,  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge  and  Buzzards'  Roost.  Mr.  Tur- 
ner was  married,  in  1858,  to  Miss  Hannah  Van  Winkle,  who  was  born  in  Morgan  Co., 
111.;  they  have  five  children — Benjamin  P.,  Lucy,  Maggie,  Felix  H.  and  Bertha.  He 
is  a  member  of  Havana  Lodge,  No.  88,  A.,  F.  &  A.  5l.  Owns  160  acres  of  land  in 
Kansas.  Since  August,  1874,  he  has  resided  in  Bath,  his  present  home. 


QUIVER   TOWNSHIP.  819 

JAMES  C.  WHELPLEY,  groceries,  Bath  ;  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Nova 
Scotia,  Nov.  19,  1839,  but  removed  in  early  childhood  with  his  father's  family  to  Port- 
land, Me.,  where  he  resided  [about  seven  years  ;  then  removed  to  Peru,  111.;  he  came 
to  Mason  Co.  July  28,  1866,  and  first  worked  «at  the  harness  trade,  and  about  two 
years  ago  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  He  served  as  President  of  the  Town  Board 
in  1877-78,  and  as  School  Trustee  one  term.  In  1869,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Cotnyges,  who  was  born  in  Peoria,  111.;  they  have  one  child  living — William  E.  Mr. 
Whelpley  is  a  member  of  Bath  Lodge,  No.  125,  I.  0.  0.  F. 


* 
QUIVER    TOWNSHIP. 

LORING  AMES,  farmer;  P.  O.  Topeka;  son  of  Zephaniah  Ames,  whose  ances- 
tors came  over  in  the  Mayflower  during  the  reign  of  William  and  Mary.  They  were  of 
English  descent.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Case.  She  was  born  in  Connecticut, 
and  was  married  to  Mr.  Ames  in  Maryland.  In  1818,  they  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled 
on  a  farm  in  St.  Glair  Co.  for  a  few  years.  They  moved,  in  1823,  to  Adams  Co., 
where  they  both  died — he,  in  1835,  and  she,  in  1825.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  Sept.  13,  1806,  and,  when  1  year  old,  moved  with  his  parents  to  Hem- 
lock Forest,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  there  until  15  years  old,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois  with  his  parents.  In  1827,  he  went  to  the  lead  mines  in  the  West.  During 
the  time  he  was  there,  he  participated  in  a  war  with  the  Indians,  who  were  headed  by 
Red  Bud.  He  returned  in  1829,  and  shortly  afterward  took  a  flatboat,  starting  from 
Quincy,  111.,  and  running  to  New  Orleans.  This  was  the  first  flatboat  ever  run  down 
from  Quincy,  and  was  loaded  with  hogs,  corn,  potatoes,  onions  and  oak  staves.  _  He 
returned  in  1830,  and  worked  on  a  farm  for  Gov.  Wood,  for  two  years.  He  had  con- 
siderable management  of  Gov.  Wood's  business,  and  was  often  called  Governor  by  strangers. 
He  next  worked  on  a  steam  mill  for  Holmes;  afterward,  on  a  farm  until  1832,  when 
he  was  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  On  his  return,  he  began  farming:,  and  continued  it 
until  married,  which  was  in  1833,  to  Elmira  Jones,  daughter  of  Deacon  Jones,  who  laid 
out  Canton.  In  1836,  he  moved  to  Fulton  Co.,  and  made  brick  in  partnership  with  his 
father-in-law  for  one  year ;  he  then  farmed  in  Fulton  Co.  until  1856,  when  he  came  to 
Mason  Co.,  and  settled  the  present  farm  of  160  acres,  which  they  have  obtained  by  their 
own  labor.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Quincy,  111.,  in  1831, 
and  is  now  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  at  Topeka,  111.  His  wife  is  also  a 
member.  The  names  of  their  children  are  Ardelia,  Orpheus,  who  was  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  for  three  years  ;  Joel,  also  in  the  war ;  George,  Charles,  Diantha  and  Emily. 

L.  S.  ALLEN,  farmer  and  teacher ;  P.  0.  Topeka ;  son  of  Sylvanus  Allen,  who 
was  born  in  Mason  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  10,  1797,  and  moved  to  Ohio  in  1804 ;  was  married 
Nov.  29,  1821,  to  Miss  Bakehorn,  daughter  of  George  Bakehorn ;  she  was  born  April 
11,  1803,  in  New  Jersey,  and  died  Dec.  31,  1875.  In  the  spring  of  1830,  they  moved 
to  Miami  Co.,  Ohio,  where  they  afterward  resided.  Mr.  L.  S.  Allen  was  born  Jan.  24, 
1834,  on  a  farm  in  Miami  Co.,  Ohio  ;  at  the  age  of  17,  he  began  teaching,  and  made 
his  home  with  his  parents  until  he  was  married,  Aug.  27,  1865,  to  Mrs.  Ella  F.  Davis, 
a  daughter  of  Amos  Flowers ;  her  husband,  Mr.  Davis,  died  in  the  late  war.  In  1864, 
Mr.  Allen  began  merchandising  at  Lena,  Ohio,  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Brecount.  In 
1865,  Mr.  Brecount  drew  out,  and  Mr.  Allen  continued  the  business  until  1867,  when 
he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  soon  engaged  in  merchandising,  at  Topeka,  in  partner- 
ship with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Flowers,  and  continued  thus  until  about  1874,  when 
they  sold  the  business  to  Colviri  &  Hoagland.  He  then  began  teaching  during  the 
winters  and  farming  in  the  summers,  which  he  still  continues.  They  have,  by  their 
frugality,  secured  themselves  a  house  and  lot  in  Topeka,  and  eighty  acres  of  well- 
improved  land  near  by.  They  have  no  children  ;  he  has  held  the  office  of  Town  Clerk, 
and  is  at  present  a  Notary  Public  ;  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  K.  Church, 
at  Topeka,  in  which  ho  has  h^ld  the  offices  of  Steward  and  Trustee,  and  is  now 

KK 


820  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school  in  that  Church.  He  was  once  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  was  also  in  the  war,  enlisting  in  the  147th  Ohio  V.  I. 

A.  B.  APPLEMAN,  farmer;  P.  0.  Topeka;  is  the  son  of  John  and  Catharine 
Appleman,  both  of  New  Jersey,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  Oct.  7,  1800,  came  to 
Illinois  about  1848,  and  was  killed  by  a  team  running  away,  Sept.  28,  1866.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church.  His  wife  was  born  Oct.  26,  1800  ; 
her  maiden  name  being  Cross.  Her  confession  was  with  the  Reformed  Church,  but  she 
afterward  united  with  the  Presbyterian,  in  which  communion  she  died,  April  6,  1872, 
a  faithful  Christian,  sincerely  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  Church.  They  had  a  family 
of  eleven  children — William  C.,  born  Dec.  4,  1821  ;  Mary  A.,  Jan.  2,  1824;  Cornelia 
E.,  Jan.  27,  1826;  Sarah  L.,  May,  1828:  Margaret  A.  (deceased),  Nov.  18,1830; 
Alexander  C.,  Jan.  22,  1833  ;  Emeline,  Sept.  22,  1835 ;  Fannie  C.,  Feb.  14,  1837  ; 
Augustus  B.,  Nov.  1,  1838  ;  John,  March  14,  1841  ;  Josephus  M.,  Nov.  5,  1843.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  and  when  9  years  old  came  with 
the  family,  by  team,  as  was  customary  in  those  days,  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  settled  on  the 
farm  which  he  now  owns.  It  was  then  a  raw  prairie,  but  by  their  labors  has  become 
fine  arable  land.  At  21,  he  rented  of  Mr.  Anno  for  one  year,  afterward  working  on 
the  farm  of  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Cross.  He  then  bought  the  present  farm,  the  old 
homestead  of  his  father,  of  160  acres,  and  has  since  increased  it  to  280  acres.  His 
marriage  with  Hannah  C.  McReynolds  was  celebrated  Dec.  31,  1869,  by  Rev.  Henry 
E.  Decker,  of  the  Reformed  Church.  Her  father's  name  was  Robert  McReynolds,  who 
was  born  April  13,  1791,  in  Columbia  Co.,  Penn.  He  was  a  farmer,  Assessor  and  Judge. 
Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Moyier.  She  was  born  Nov.  14,  1801,  in  Pennsylvania. 
They  were  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  communion  they 
died.  Mr.  Appleman  has  been  blessed  with  the  following  children — Clara  F.,  born 
in  February,  1870  ;  Clarence  and  Clayton,  twins,  Aug.  30,  1872  ;  Frank  M.,  Dec.  11, 
1878.,  He  has  been  and  is  now  School  Director,  and  was  once  Road  Commissioner. 
His  farm,  which  lies  two  miles  northwest  of  Topeka,  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  country. 
One  could  not  be  otherwise  than  happy,  being  thus  surrounded  by  the  fields  and  groves 
that  lie  adjacent  to  this  residence.  Yet  Mr.  Appleman  has  reasons  for  desiring  to  change 
localities. 

CHARLES  BARTELS,  fanner  and  stock-dealer ;  P.  0.  Topeka ;  son  of  Henry 
Bartels,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  some  thirty  years  ago ,  was  a 
farmer  and  coal  miner,  and  now  makes  a  home  with  Mr.  Bartels,  whose  mother's  name 
was  Long,  daughter  of  a  noted  farmer  of  Germany  ;  she  came  to  America  about  thirty- 
three  years  ago.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Sept.  15,  1849,  in  Pottsville, 
Penn.,  where  he  remained  until  21,  at  which  time  he  came,  with  his  parents,  to  Illinois, 
settling  on  the  present  farm  of  160  acres,  eighty  of  which  now  belong  to  him,  the  rest 
to  a  brother ;  this  is  the  old  homestead  of  his  father.  Mr.  Bartels  has  made  good 
improvements  and  possesses  a  fine  little  home.  His  marriage  with  Anna  Wills  was 
celebrated  Aug.  11,  1872  ;  she  is  a  daughter  of  William  Wills,  of  Topeka,  one  of  the 
noted  men  and  early  pioneers  of  the  township,  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Mason 
Co. ;  she  was  born  in  1854,  in  Mason  Co.,  III. ;  two  children  were  the  fruit  of  their 
marriage — George  H.,  born  May  30,  1873;  Lillie  A.,  Aug.  7,  1876.  Mr.  Bartels  has 
followed  threshing  and  carpentering;  he  has  been  no  ofEce  seeker,  and  has  spent  his 
past  years  in  rural  life. 

THEODORE  BELL,  druggist  and  hardware,  Topeka ;  son  of  William  Bell,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania ;  was  a  stonemason,  and  died  in  August,  1861;  his  wife's 
maiden  name  was  Hennigh,  daughter  of  Daniel' Hennigh,  a  noted  farmer;  she  survived 
her  husband  and,  two  years  after  his  death,  came  to  Illinois,  and  is  now  making  her 
home  in  Kansas,  with  her  son  Daniel.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  May  18, 
1846,  on  a  farm  in  Pennsylvania,  and  remained  there  engaged  in  going  to  school  most 
of  the  time  until  15  years  old,  when  he  left  the  scenes  of  his  childhood  soon  after  his 
last  farewell  to  his  father,  and  came,  with  his  two  sisters  and  one  brother,  to  Mason 
Co.,  111.;  two  years  afterward,  his  mother  came.  Mr.  Bell  engaged,  at  his  settlemem, 
in  farming  for  his  older  brother,  Mr.  Daniel  Bell,  with  whom  his  mother  makes  her 


QUIVER  TOWNSHIP.  821 

home  in  Kansas,  and  worked  for  him  one  season ;  when  nearly  18,  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
L,  llth  I.  V.  C.,  and  served  eighteen  months;  returning  from  war,  he  began  working 
for  his  brother,  on  a  farm,  for  one  summer,  and  then  engaged  in  clerking  in  a  drug 
store  for  Harper  &  Robinson,  of  Havana,  for  six  months;  he  then  taught  school  for 
some  time  in  Sherman  Township.  Mason  Co.,  and  afterward  attended  school  at  the 
Northwestern  University  at  Plainfield,  111.,  for  two  terms;  from  there  he  went  to  Penn- 
sylvania and  engaged  in  reading  law  for  a  year  with  the  firm  of  Longworth  &  Jenks ; 
afterward,  he  made  a  visit  to  Kansas  and  soon  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  three 
years,  and,  in  1875,  he,  like  others  who  have  left  the  beautiful  plains  of  Mason  Co., 
returned  and  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  three  years ;  he  then  bought  the  drug  store 
at  Topeka,  owned  by  C.  H.  Martz,  to  which  he  has  added  a  hardware  department,, 
and  in  which  business  he  still  continues ;  he  has  held  the  office  of  Town  Clerk. 

NATHAN  CLARK,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Petersburg  ;  is  a  native  of  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  was  born  May  9,  1818.  There  his  boyhood  and  early  life  were  spent,  and, 
being  of  a  musical  turn,  he  studied  music,  and  was  for  many  years  leader  of  a  string 
band  that  became  quite  noted.  He  remembers  furnishing  music  for  Gen.  Winfield 
Scott,  and  a  number  of  other  distinguished  guests.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1863,  locat- 
ing in  Mason  Co.  He  now  owns  a  fine  tract  of  land.  He  removed  to  Petersburg  in 
1877,  and  renovated  the  Elmo  House,  and  opened  it  as  the  Clark  House.  He  married 
Elvira,  daughter  of  Capt.  Benedict,  of  Maryland,  Sept.  2, 1845.  They  are  parents  of 
nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  living  and  well  educated,  five  being  already  teach- 
ers. Few  can  look  back  with  more  satisfaction  over  their  past  life  than  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clark.  Mr.  Clark  was  for  a  number  of  years  passenger  conductor  on  the  P.,  P.  &  J. 
R.  R.  In  1879,  Mr.  Clark  moved  upon  his  farm  in  Quiver,  where  he  now  resides. 

GEORGE  D.  COON,  farmer  and  stock-dealer ;  P.  0.  Topeka ;  son  of  Reuben 
and  Anna  Coon.  The  former  was  born  on  a  farm  in  New  Jersey,  in  1787,  and  came 
to  Illinois  in  1842.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Drake,  daughter  of  George  Drake,  of 
New  Jersey.  She  was  born  in  1793.  They  are  both  dead;  he  died  in  1862,  she  in 
1853.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  New  Jersey,  and  died  in 
that  faith.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  April  9,  1813,  in  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J.,  and  remained  there  until  1839,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  and  blacksmith- 
ing.  In  that  year  he  came,  by  team,  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Greene  Co.,  where  he 
remained  until  1842,  at  which  time  he  moved  to  Mason  Co.,  and  settled  on  a  farm  for 
some  time.  He  then  settled  on  the  present  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  he  had  entered 
from  the  Government  prior  to  his  settlement  on  the  same.  He  has  given  his  attention 
entirely  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  has  increased  his  land  to  820  acres,  and  has 
improved  the  same.  Seven  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  this  land  is  the  fruit  of  their 
own  labor  and  management.  He  celebrated  his  marriage,  in  1836.  with  Harriet  Brown, 
daughter  of  Stephen  Brown,  of  New  Jersey.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1849,  with  a 
family  of  seven  children.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Bishop.  Mrs.  Coon  was  born 
in  1815.  Six  children  were  the  fruit  of  this  happy  marriage — Mary  J.  (now  Apple- 
man),  who  has  taught  school,  Waller  L.,  Reuben  G.,  Sophia  B.,  George  D. ;  deceased, 
R.  R.  Mr.  Coon  retains  a  membership  in  the  Baptist  Church  in  New  Jersey.  At  (he 
time  of  Mr.  Coon's  settlement  the  county  was  but  little  settled,  and  there  yet  remained 
now  and  then  a  wild  animal  which  had  perhaps  narrowly  escaped  the  flint-lock  and 
spear  of  the  savage.  He  has  toiled  on  in  rural  life  in  the  same  channel  with  his  neigh- 
bors, and  has  improved  these  raw  prairies. 

•  ALBERT  CROSS,  farmer  and  stock-dealer;  P.  O.  Topeka;  son  of  S.  B.  Cross, 
of  Mason  City  Township  ;  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  McReynolds,  daughter  of  a 
noted  farmer  of  New  Jersey;  he  was  born  Aug.  11,  1856,  on  a  farm  in  Mason  'Co.; 
111.,  where  he  remained  until  16  years  old.  at  which  time  he  moved  with  his  parent*  to 
Mason  City  Township,  where  they  remained  engaged  in  farming  for  four  years. 
Mr.  Cross,  Sept.  20,  1876,  was  married  to  Fronia  Slade,  of  Ohio,  daughter  of  J.  W. 
Slade ;  her  mother's  name  was  Van  Gorden.  a  native  of  Ohio.  After  marriage  they 
settled  on  his  father's  farm  in  Mason  City  Township,  and  remained  there  some  time, 
when  they  moved  to  the  present  farm  of  160  acres,  owned  by  J.  W.  Slade,  which  Mr. 


822  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  : 

Cross  controls,  and  on  which  he  is  having  good  success,  having  this  season  raised,  wheat 
which  averaged  over  twenty  bushels  per  acre;  this  farm  is  finely  improved.  They 
have  been  blessed  with  one  child — Stephen  R.,  born  Nov.  23,  1878. 

SARAH  A.  CADVVALADER,  boarding,  Topeka;  is  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Wise- 
man, a  farmer  of  Ohio ;  he  was  born  in  1776  in  South  Carolina,  and  died  Dec. 
31,  1833,  in  Hamilton,  Ohio.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Harper,  daughter  of  a 
farmer  of  Virginia;  she  was  born  in  1789  in  Virginia,  and  died  in  1856  in 
Ohio.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  1819  in  Butler  Co.,  Ohio  ;  when  14 
years  old,  she  went  with  the  family  to  Hamilton,  Ohio,  where  the  family  had  gone  for 
the  benefit  of  part  of  them  who  were  suffering  with  consumption,  which  disease  ended 
the  life  of  her  father.  In  1837,  she  was  married  to  Hugh  Beaty,  a  bricklayer  and 
plasterer  ;  they  settled  at  Hollow  Springs  for  one  year ;  in  the  latter  part  of  1838,  Mr. 
Beaty  died,  leaving  her  with  an  infant,  which,  shortly  afterward,  died  also ;  she  then 
went  to  her  mother's  home  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  where  she  bore  this  sad  bereavement. 
In  1842,  she  came  with  her  mother  and  sister  to  Havana,  111.,  where  she  remained  seven 
years.  We  here  noto  a  matter  which  shows  a  kind  and  sympathizing  heart :  This 
lady  helped  to  make  the  shrouds  and  to  lay  out  the  bodies  of  eighty-five  persons 
during  a  period  of  seven  years.  In  1849,  she  was  married  to  Rees  Cadwalader,  a 
mechanic  of  Pennsylvania  ;  he  was  of  a  Quaker  family,  in  which  denomination  he  con- 
secrated his  all:  he  died  in  1867.  She,  sometime  afterward,  bought  and  improved 
some  property  in  Topeka,  111.,1  where  she  now  resides.  By  her  last  husband  she  had 
two  children,  both  of  whom  died  while  infants.  She  is  a  strict  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  at  Topeka,  111.,  in  which  communion  she  consecrated  herself  early  in  life. 

JOHN  G.  DEVERMANN,  farmer  and  stock-dealer,  P.  0.  Topeka;  son  of  John 
Deverman,  of  Hanover,  Germany,  who  died  about  1862.  Mr.  Deverman's  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Hurkamp  ;  she  was  born  in  1803  in  Germany,  and  died  May  8, 1879,  at 
Mr.  Deverman's  residence,  in  Quiver  Township,  where  she  had  been  living  for  some  time  ; 
she  came  to  Illinois  about  1863.  Mr.  Deverman  was  born  Nov.  19,  1835,  on  a  farm 
in  Germany,  and  remained  there  until  22  years  old,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  settling 
in  Havana  for  two  months,  and  working  for  his  brother-in  law,  at  butchering;  he  next 
went  to  Matanzas,  and  engaged  in  farming  for  R.  Havighorst,  for  one  year,  when  he 
began  farming,  renting  of  George  Beal  for  five  years.  He  then,  in  1864,  married 
Anna  Budke,  of  Germany,  born  in  1845  ;  she  came  to  Illinois,  with  her  parents,  in 
1848  ;  they  were  blessed  with  seven  children — Henry,  Mary,  Heoman,  Willie,  John, 
Lizzie  and  Katie  (deceased).  Mr,  Deverman  is  now  holding  the  office  of  School 
Director.  He  certainly  felt  decidedly  the  effects  of  poverty  in  his  younger  days  ;  on  his 
arrival  in  this  country  he  had  but  $15 ;  this  talent  he  improved,  until  now  he  has  a 
farm  of  225  acres,  finely  improved,  the  reward  of  his  energy. 

J.  W.  DOWNEY,  physician  and  surgeon,  Topeka;  son  of  W.  B.  Downey, 
who  was  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  is  a  farmer,  now  living  in  Allin  Township, 
McLean  Co.,  111.  His  parents  were  English  descent;  his  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Eaton,  a  daughter  of  John  Eaton,  of  Indiana  ;  his  father  was  also  a  farmer.  Dr. 
Downey  was  born  Nov.  4,  1851,  near  Martinsburg,  Keokuk  Co..  Iowa.  At  41  years. 
he  came  with  his  parents,  by  team,  as  was  customary  in  those  days,  to  McLean  Co.,  111., 
and  then  engaged  in  farming  and  attending  school.  When  17  years  of  age,  he  began 
learning  photography  with  Benjamin  Gray,  at  Bloomington,  111.  ;  he  continued  this  for 
one  ye'ar,  and  then  engaged  to  Gray  and  managed  a  gallery  for  him  at  Lincoln,  Bloom- 
ington, and  Fairbury ;  while  at  the  latter  place,  he  bought  this  gallery  from  Gray,  and 
moved  it  to  Chatsworth,  and  there  continued  the  business  for  six  months  In  1871,  he 
quit  photography,  and  returned  to  Allin  Township,  McLean  Co.,  111.,  where  he  attended 
school  in  the  country.  In  1872,  he  began  teaching,  which  he  continued,  in  connection 
with  reading  medicine,  for  over  three  years.  In  1872,  he  attended  one  term  at  the 
Normal  School,  in  McLean  Co.,  111. ;  during  the  period  he  was  teaching,  he  devoted 
every  spare  moment  to  the  study  of  Latin  and  other  branches  congenial  to  his  taste  ; 
so  earnest  was  he  in  the  pursuit  of  the  knowledge  requisite  to  his  future  profession,  that 
he  studied  on  his  way  to  and  from  school,  and  recited  at  night  to  John  Q.  Harris,  who 


QUIVER   TOWNSHIP.  823 

was  Principal  of  the  Stanford  Schools.  He  has  passed  through  many  of  the  higher 
studies.  In  1875-76,  he  attended  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Keokuk, 
Iowa,  in  which  he  graduated,  and  then  engaged  in  practice  with  Dr.  S.  B.  Wright,  at 
Stanford.  111.,  for  one  year.  In  1877,  he  came  to  Topeka,  111.,  where  he  has  since 
practiced.  He  is  an  active  and  enthusiastic  member  of  his  profession,  and  enjoys  an 
extensive  practice.  He  has  served  a  full  share  of  those  humble,  but  important  public 
offices.  He  has  twice  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Stanford,  111.,  and 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library  at  the  same  place, 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders.  He  is' now  Police  Magistrate  of  Topeka,  and 
also  Town  Treasurer. 

MOSES  ECKARD,  farmer ;  P.  O.  Topeka ;  son  of  Henry  Eckard,  of  Balti- 
more, Md.  ;  was  of  German  descent.  His  mother's  maiden  name  is  Glass.  She  was  from 
Maryland,  and  of  German  descent.  They  raised  a  family  of  four,  two  of  whom  survive — 
Mr.  Eckard  and  Elizabeth  Morton.  She  is  now  living  on  the  old  homestead  of  her 
father.  Mr.  Eckard  was  born  Oct.  8,  1812,  in  Fredericks  Co.,  Md.  He  worked  at 
farming.  In  1837,  he  left  the  scene  of  his  childhood  for  Ohio,  where  he  worked 
at  farming,  carpentering,  and  such  work  as  he  could  get  to  do.  He  afterward  went 
to  Kentucky,  and  there  worked  by  the  month  at  $12  until  1839,  when  he  settled  in 
Fulton  Co  ,  111.,  for  one  year,  and  then  worked  for  Jacob  Moss  for  one  year.  He 
then  came  to  Mason  Co.,  and  worked  by  the  month  for  a  long  time.  In  1844,  he 
began  farming  eighty  acres — a  part  of  the  present  farm  of  500  acres,  which  was  then 
raw  prairie,  but  now  has  become  fine  arable  land.  By  marriage  he  added  200  acres, 
making  700  acres.  He  was  married  to  Sarah  E.  Simmonds  Feb.  15, 1844.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Pollard  Simmonds,  who  was  born  May  2,  1799,  and  was  a  farmer  and  mil- 
ler. His  father  was  born  in  1773.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Ritter.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Richard  Ritter,  of  Maryland,  born  in  1763.  Their  marriage  occurred 
Aug.  7,  1821,  in  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Eckard  was  born  June  29,  1822,  in  Mason  Co., 
Ky.  She  was  the  oldest  of  nine  children,  of  whom  but  five  survive  Her  father 
and  mother  are  dead.  He  died  Feb.  14,  1864,  in  Illinois,  and  she  died  May 
10,  1855,  in  Illinois.  They  have  had  six  children;  the  living  are — Sarah,  W.  H., 
station  agent  at  Topeka,  James  P.  and  Johti-R. 

W.  H.  ECKARD,  express  and  station  agent  and  grain  merchant,  Topeka ;  son 
of  Moses  Eckard,  who  was  born  in  Maryland  and  a  mechanic  ;  his  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Simmons ;  daughter  of  P.  Simmons,  of  Kentucky;  she  was  born  in  1823,  in 
Kentucky.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  .May  1,  1846,  on  a  farm  in  Mason 
Co.,  111.,  and  remained  there  engaged  in  farming  until  1867,  when  he  engaged  in 
merchandising  at  Topeka  for  a  year,  after  which  he  engaged  as  statioa  and  express 
agent  at  Topeka ;  also  in  buying  grain  for  McFadden  &  Simmons,  at  this  place,  which 
he  still  continues.  He  was  married,  in  1868,  to  Amelia  J.  Bandean,  daughter  of 
John  and  Jane  Bandean  ;  her  father  was  drowned  in  a  lock  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  about 
the  year  1846;  her  mother  died  in  July,  1874.  Mr.  Eckard  has  held  the  office 
of  Township  Collector  and  Clerk,  and  is  now  School  Director.  He  has  frugally 
used  his  means,  and  has  secured  a  nice  house  and  lot  in  Topeka.  Has  three  chil- 
dren— Freddie  R.,  Elmer^M.  and  Harry  W. 

D.  W.  FLOWERS,  merchant,  Topeka  ;  son  of  Amos  and  Phoebe  Flowers  ;  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  ;  the  former  was  a  merchant,  physician  and  minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church  ; 
he  died  July  30,  1861,  in  Ohio  ;  the  maiden  name  of  the  latter  was  Longstreth,  daughter  of 
Miller  Lougstreth,  a  noted  farmer ;  she  died  Aug.  12,1874.  Theyliad  eleven  children,  all 
of  whom  died  in  infancy  except  four.  Mr.  Flowers  was  born  Juno  9,  1846,  in  Pal 
estine,  Darke  Co.,  Ohio,  and  remained  there  until  6  years  old,  when  the  family 
moved  to  Miami  Co.,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Flowers  remained  until  1866,  when  he  came 
alone  to  Mason  Co.,  and  settled,  teaching  school  at  the  Walker  district,  Mason  Co., 
for  one  term ;  he  then  came  to  Topeka  and  engaged  as  clerk  in  the  dry-goods 
store  of  Eckard  &  Nichols  for  two  years ;  he  then  went  into  partnership  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Mr.  L.  S.  Allen,  in  dry-goods,  under  firm  name  of  Allen  &  Flowers, 
and  was  thus  connected  six  years.  They  then  drew  out,  and  the  firm  became  Colvin 


824  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

&  Hoagland.  He  then  engaged  in  buying  grain  at  Topeka  for  tVo  years,  for  himself, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  clerking  for  the  firm  of  S.  V.  Brown  (now  Oliver  Brown), 
which  he  still  continues.  His  first  marriage  was  in  1869,  to  Cassie  Kelley,  daughter  of 
James  Kelley,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  she  died  July  5,  1873,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren—  Harry  W.  and  Ellis  C.  In  1875,  he  was  married  to  Mattie  Curtis,  daughter  of 
Alfred  Curtis,  of  Butler  Co.,  Ohio.  By  this  wife  he  also  had  two  children — Edna 
M.  and  Laura  B.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Town  Trustee  of  Topeka,  and  Director  of 
Schools,  which  he  still  holds,  and  has  also  been  Town  Clerk  and  Postmaster.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Topeka. 

J.  H.  HUGHES,  farmer  and  stock-dealer;  P.  0.  Topeka  ;  son  of  Harry  Hughes, 
of  Scotland,  who  was  awhile  in  Pennsylvania  a  physician  and  overseer  of  iron-works. 
His  wife  was  Hannah  Penchion,  daughter  of  John  Penchion,  of  Ireland.  She  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania.  He  died  about  1849,  and  his  wife  some  time  afterward  came  to 
Ohio,  where  she  died  in  1871.  They  were  both  strict  church  members.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  Oct.  5,  1841,  on  a  farm  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  and  there 
remained  till  21,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  21st  P.  V.  C.,  and  served  nearly  two  years; 
was  a  Corporal,  and  was  wounded  in  the  thigh  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  Va.  On 
his  return  from  the  war,  he  engaged  in  teaching  and  teaming,  in  Noble  Co.,  Ind.,  for 
about  two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1865,  he  left  Indiana,  with  but  little  means,  and 
came  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  having  on  his  arrival  at  Havana  only  $13.60 ;  he  engaged  at 
work  in  a  livery  stable  for  Joseph  Taylor,  of  Havana,  for  three  months,  when  having 
saved  his  means,  he  engaged  in  partnership  with  Taylor,  and  was  thus  connected  for 
three  years,  when  Mr.  Taylor  drew  out  and  the  firm  changed  to  Hughes  &  Banould, 
and  continued  such  until  :  869,  when  they  sold  to  Taylor,  and  Mr.  Hughes  engaged  in 
farming  on  40  acres  of  land,  near  Mason  City,  which  he  owned ;  he  was  also  renting  in 
addition  ;  he  continued  his  farming  at  said  place  for  two  years,  during  which  time  he 
added  80  acres,  and  then  traded  his  120  acres  for  the  present  farm  of  250  acres  to 
which  he  has  since  added,  until  he  now  has  450  acres,  which  have  been  obtained  entirely 
by  his  own  labor,  and  which  he  has  improved  and  made  of  fine  quality,  and  well 
adapted  to  cattle  raising,  which  he  makes  a  specialty.  Mr.  Hughes  was  married,  in 
1867,  to  Georgiana  Taylor,  daughter  of  Joseph  Taylor,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Mason  Co.,  and  once  Mr.  Hughes'  partner  in  the  livery  business;  Mr.  Taylor's  wife's 
name  was  Honchin  ;  she  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  is  still  living  ;  she  had  six  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Hughes  has  been  no  office-seeker,  but  has  been  connected  with  the  schools. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Ebenezer.  Their  marriage 
blessed  them  with  three  children,  all  living — Cleggitt,  born  April  28,  1869  ;  Ethiel  G., 
July  31,  1871  ;  Lulia  B.,  Nov.  7,  1875. 

CONRAD  HEINHORST,  farmer  and  stock-dealer ;  P.  0.  Bishop's  Station ;  son 
of  William  and  Louisa  Heinhorst  of  Germany  ;  the  former  was  born  in  1811  ;  the  lat- 
ter in  1811,  also  ;  her  name  before  marriage  was  Miller,  daughter  of  Fred  Miller ;  they 
came  to  this  country  in  1854.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  1837,  on  a  farm 
in  Germany,  and  remained  there  until  17  years  old,  when  he  came  with  the  family  to 
Illinois,  settling  near  Chicago  and  remaining  there  two  years ;  while  there,  three  of  the 
family  died  with  cholera.  They  next  moved  to  Mason  Co.,  and  settled  at  Long 
Point,  near  Bishop's  Station,  where  he  lived  until  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G, 
38th  I.  V.  I.,  and  was  four  and  a  half  years  in  the  war,  and  was  Corporal.  On  his 
return,  he  married  Mary  Himmel,  daughter  of  John  Himmel.  They  at  once  settled  <m 
the  present  farm  of  160  acres,  120  of  which  was  inherited  by  his  marriage,  and  40  he 
has  made  by  his  own  labor  and  management.  They  have  five  children — Emma,  Lula, 
Katie,  Clara,  and  an  infant  deceased.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  at  Bishop's  Station,  and  have  been  since  1866  ;  he  is  now  Trustee  in  the  Church 
and  Secretary  in  the  Sabbath  school ;  he  has  been  School  Director  six  years,  and  is  now  ; 
h6  also  held  the  office  of  Roadmaster. 

CONRAD  HIMMEL,  farmer  and  stock-dealer;  P.  0.  Topeka;  son  of  Adam 
Himmel,  whose  genealogy  is  given  in  the  sketch  of  his  son,  T.  F.  Himmel,  which 
appears  in  this  work  ;  was  born  May  28,  1843,  on  a  farm  in  Germany;  when  3  years 


QUIVER  TOWNSHIP.  825 

•old,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  his 
father  now  lives,  and  remained  there  until  1867,  at  which  time  he  made  his  home  on 
the  present  farm  of  300  acres,  about  one-half  of  which  he  has  made  by  his  own  labor 
and  management,  and  by  his  improvements,  has  transformed  into  a  farm  which  ranks 
among  the  very  best.  In  1867,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Bishop,  of  Illinois — 
daughter  of  Henry  Bishop,  of  Mason  Co.,  111.;  .she  was  born  in  1844;  they  began  life 
together,  on  their  new  farm,  which  was  but  little  improved,  and  by  frugality,  have  made 
a  happy  home  for  their  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living — Mary  M.,  Evaline,  Clara, 
Kmmit  B.  and  Lewis  W.;  one  deceased — Conrad.  Mr.  Himmel  united  with  the  Evan- 
gelical Church  at  the  age  of  14,  in  which  he  still  continues ;  his  wife  is  also  a  member. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  Church  Trustee,  and  is  now  Steward,  and  has  also  been 
Superintendent  of  Sabbath  school. 

T.  F.  HIMMEL,  farmer  and  stock-dealer;  P.  0.  Topeka;  son  of  Adam  Himmel,  who 
was  born  in  1803,  and  came  with,  his  family  to  Illinois  in  1848.  Being  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  this  county,  he  early  engaged  in  improving  the  raw  prairie,  and  by  the  assist- 
ance of  his  industrious  companion,  whose  maiden  name  was  Wise,  they  had  gathered  a 
portion  of  this  world's  goods  ere  their  allotted  threescore  years  had  passed.  This  accu- 
mulation has  been  handed  down  to  their  nine  children.  They  were  both  church  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Association,  in  which  communion  she  died  in  1866.  She  was 
born  in  1804,  and  of  course  did  not  reach  the  allotted  span  of  life,  as  has  her  companion 
who  is  now  76  years  old,  with  a  prospect  of  adding  yet  more  years  toa  ripe  old  age.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  April  17,  1851,  on  a  farm  in  Mason  Co.,  111.,  where  he 
remained  with  his  father,  until  married,  June  6,  1871,  to  Elmira  Yunker,  daughter  of 
Lawrence  Yunker,  of  Germany.  She  was  born  May  16, 1854,  and  came  with  her  people 
to  Illinois,  in  1860;  they  now  live  in  Peoria  Co.  After  marriage  they  settled  on  the 
old  homestead  of  their  father,  of  1 90  acres,  half  of  which  he  has  made  by  his  own  labor 
and  management,  and  the  rest  was  inherited ;  his  aged  father,  of  whom  we  have  spoken, 
makes  his  home  with  him.  Their  marriage  blessed  them  with  four  children — Annie, 
Frank,  Liddie  and  Elmira  ;  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church  at 
Bishop's  Station,  in  which  association's  Sabbath  school,  he  has  held  the  offices  of  Libra- 
rian and  Treasurer.  Mr.  Himmel  makes  a  specialty  of  shelling  corn  for  the  public. 
He  is  agent  for  Smith's  American  and  the  Mendota  Organ  Companies,  and  takes  quite 
an  interest  in  music,  an  enthusiasm  which  began  in  1870,  during  which  year,  he  attend- 
ed the  Northwestern  College,  at  Plainfield,  Will  Co.,  111. 

JOHN  W.  HIMMEL,  farmer  and  stock-dealer;  P.  0.  Topeka;  son  of  Adam 
Himmel,  of  Germany,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1846,  and  is  still  living  in  Quiver  Town- 
ship. Mr.  Himmel's  mother's  maiden  name  was  Weiss,  daughter  of  Henry  Weiss,  of  Ger- 
many^ teacher  and  musician.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Aug.  12, 1830,  in  Ger- 
many, and  remained  there  until  16,  occupied  with  going  to  school  at  Weinheim ;  in 
1846.  he  came  to  New  Orleans,  and  shortly  afterward  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  was 
engaged  in  the  Arsenal,  making  cartridges  for  the  Mexican  war,  continuing  for  five 
years,  when  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  engaged  in  working  on  a  farm  for  his  uncle 
George  Himmel  for  four  years;  he  then  went  to  makinjr  rails ;  in  1854,  he  began  farm- 
ing fur  himself,  on  a  farm  now  owned  by  J.  Shrine,  and  remained  there  four  years ;  in 
1858,  he  bought  the  present  farm  of  160  acres,  which  he  has  made  one  of  fine  quality ; 
he  has  added  largely  to  his  land,  owning  also  quite  an  amount  in  Iowa.  His  marriage 
with  Elizabeth  Pfeit,  daughter  of  John  Pfeit,  of  Germany,  was  celebrated  in  1 854 , 
nine  children  were  the  fruit  of  this  union.  .  In  1851,  Mr.  Himmel  experienced  relig- 
ion in  the  Evangelical  Association,  in  which  work  he  throws  his  whole  soul,  and  has 
been  a  local  minister  since  1858;  his  wife  and  part  of  the  children  are  members  of  the 
same  denomination  ;  he  has  held  offices  in  the  church,  and  was  Township  Collector  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  is,  at  present,  Township  Treasurer  and  Assessor,  and  has  been  for  ten 
years ;  he  is  also  Treasurer  of  the  Farmers'  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  Mason  Co.; 
he  prides  himself  on  securing  for  his  children  valuable  literature ;  to  record,  here, 
what  friends  and  neighbors  have  said  to  us  of  him  would  appear  too  much  of  flattery 
for  these  pages. 


826  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

J.  W.  KELLEY,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Topeka  ;  son  of  Samuel  and  Anna  Kelley  ;  the 
former  was  born  in  Delaware  in  1773,  and  was  a  farmer  and  millwright;  his  wife  was 
born  about  1788,  in  Delaware  ;  her  maiden  name  was  Needles.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  Jan.  8,  1819,  in  Delaware,  where  he  remained  until  1829,. when  the 
family  moved  by  team  to  Ohio,  settling  near  Dayton,  and  engaged  in  farming  (or 
rather,  the  subject  of  sketch,  some  time,  subsequently,  engaged  in  blacksmithing) ; 
during  the  time  they  were  there,  Mr.  Kelley's  father  died,  thus  leaving  his  son  in 
care  of  a  widowed  mother,  who  came  with  him  to  Illinois  in  1854,  and  settled  on 
the  farm  where  they  now  reside;  this  farm,  of  305  acres,  was,  at  that  time,  raw 
prairie,  but  now,  by  his  labor,  has  become  fine,  arable  land  ;  the  means  by  which  Mr. 
Kelley  acquired  and  improved  this  farm  were  entirely  the  fruits  of  his  own  labor.  His 
marriage  with  Clarissa  Benham,  daughter  of  R.  Benham,  of  Miami  Co.,  Ohio,  was 
celebrated  in  1843;  seven  children  were  the  fruit  of  this  union — three  are  deceased 
— Joseph,  Cassie  and  William  ;  four  living — Clarence  .(who  taught  school  and  gradu- 
ated at  Lincoln  University  in  1879,  and  is  now  reading  law  with  Dearborn  &  Camp- 
bell, at  Havana),  Mollie,  Frank  and  Charlie.  Mr.  Kelley  has  filled  a  full  ^hare  of 
those  humble,  but  important  and  useful  positions  in  the  schools,  and  as  Township 
Trustee,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  elected  in  1873,  and  has 
been  an  active  metrber  ever  since. 

DAVID  KEPFORD, 'farmer;  P.  0.  Topeka;  son  of  David  Kepford,  of  Penn- 
sylvania; born  in  1803,  and  was  a  farmer,  plasterer,  stone  and  brick  mason  and  car- 
penter. His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Bartel — daughter  of  Mr.  Bartel — who  died 
when  she  was  quite  young;  David  Kepford  was  born  Jan.  29,  1836,  on  a  farm  in  Ohio, 
and  remained  there  until  7  years  old,  when  the  family  moved  by  team  to  Indiana 
and  settled  in  Noble  Co.,  where  they  engaged  in  farming,  plastering,  brick  and  stone 
work  and  carpentering;  in  1857,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  the  present  farm  of 
120  acres,  earned  mostly  by  their  own  management.  He  married,  in  1858,  Hannah 
Colwcll,  daughter  of  William  Colwcll,  a  local  minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  died 
in  1861.  His  wife  still  survives,  and  makes  her  home  near  Bloomiugton,  111.,  with  her 
daughter;  they  have  six  children — Mary  A.,  Luella  G.,  Emma,  Charlotte,  Claretta, 
and  one  not  named ;  ,he  has  held  school  offices.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  of  Topeka,  in  which  he  has  held  office  as  Steward,  and  is,  at  present,  a 
Director  of  same. 

MRS.  JANE  LITTELL,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Topeka  ;  daughter  of  Stephen  Brown,  a 
farmer  of  New  Jersey ;  her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Bishop,  daughter  of  James 
Bishop.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Jan.  9,  1815,  on  a  farm  in  New  Jersey  ; 
remained  there  until  married,  in  1833,  to  Aaron  Littell,  of  New  Jersey.  They  settled 
in  New  Jersey  for  four  or  five  years,  and,  in  1840,  they  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Greene  Co.,  and  there  engaged  in  farming,  renting  for  three  years,  when  they  came  to 
Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  soon  entered  80  acres  of  land,  which  they  settled  on,  and  which 
lias  since  been  their  home.  They  have  increased  this  to  240  acres,  and  have  made  it  a 
tine  farm.  Mr.  Aaron  Littell  was  son  of  Nathaniel  Littell,  whose  wife's  maiden  name 
was  Cosner  ;  he  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  of  Quiver  Township,  and  was  pur- 
chasing agent  for  the  Grangers,  which  he  held  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1875. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Mt.  Bethel,  N.  Y.;  their  urikm 
blessed  them  with  ten  children,  three  now  dead — Sophy,  William,  Carrie,  wife  of  Ver 
Bryck ;  the  living  are  Stephen,  Harriet  M.,  George  W.  C.,  Nathaniel,  Kate,  Esther  and 
Libbie. 

C.  T.  LESOURD,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Topeka ;  son  of  Joseph  and  Rachel  Lesourd. 
The  former  was  born  in  1809,  in  Ohio,  and  was  a  farmer  of  that  State  ;  his  wife's  name 
was  Gossard,  daughter  of  Charles  Gossard,  of  Maryland  ;  she  is  still  living  with  her 
husband,  in  Topeka,  111.  C.  T.  Lesourd  was  born  Feb.  4,  1843,  on  a  farm  in  Butler 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  remained  there  until  24,  engaged  in  farming  and  horse-dealing.  He 
commenced  working  for  himself  when  about  19,  on  his  father's  farm,  in  partnership  with 
Wm.  G.  Lesourd.  In  1867,  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  settling  and  engaging  in  farm- 
ing ;  he  rented  of  Caleb  Slade,  two  years  ;  in  1867,  he  bought  the  present  farm,  but  did 


QUIVER   TOWNSHIP.  8?7 

not  settle  on  it  until  1869  ;  he  rented  the  farm  to  J.  C.  Newlin.  In  1870,  he  married 
Vallora  Curtis,  daughter  of  A.  W.  Curtis,  a  farmer  of  Butler  Co.,  Ohio  ;  she  was  born 
in  1844,  attended  school  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  and  has  taught  school  ten  years.  They  have 
two  children,  Elvyn  and  Alfred.  His  wife  is  i  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  atTopeka. 
He  has  held  offices  connected  with  the  schools  and  roads,  and  was  elected  Constable  in 
1876,  which  he  still  holds.  He  has  100  acres  of  land  under  fine  improvement. 

J.  C.  LEMASTERS,  wagon-maker  and  carpenter,  Topeka ;  son  of  P.  W. 
Lernaster,  of  Kentucky,  who  was  of  French  descent,  a  farmer,  and  an  early  settler  of 
Hancock  Co.,  111.;  he  came  to  Mason  Co.  in  1869,  and  is  now  in  Nebraska  ;  his  wife's 
maiden  name  was  Crabb,  daughter  of  Vincent  Crabb,  of  Ohio;  she  died  in  1865,  in 
Illinois.  J.  C.  Lemasters  was  born  April  4,  1846,  on  a  farm  in  Brown  Co.,  Ohio,  and 
remained  there  until  2  years  old,  wheu  he  came  with  the  family  to  Hancock  Co.,  111., 
and  there  remained  until  1863,  when  he  came  to  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  and  engaged  in  work- 
ing by  the  month  for  three  months,  afterward  returning  to  Ohio  and  working  on  a  farm 
for  his  uncle,  V.  M.  Crabb,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Fulton  Co.,  and  engaged  on  a 
farm  for  Miles  &  Warner  for  two  years.  In  1867,  he  came  to  Mason  County,  and 
engaged  in  teaching  at  Ebenezer,  afterward  teaching  at  the  Bishop  Schoolhouse,  and  in 
Topeka.  He  then  engaged  in  merchandising,  in  partnership  with  T.  J.  Metzler,  for  six 
months  ;  Mr.  Metzler  then  withdrew,  and  Lemaster  continued  the  business  for  six 
months,  and  then  moved  the  stock  to  Lone  Tree,  Neb.,  where  he  continued  in  mer- 
cantile business  for  six  months,  and  then  engaged  in  farming  for  four  years.  In  187.*, 
he  returned  to  Mason  Co.,  and  soon  engaged  in  carpentering  and  wagon-making  at 
Topeka,  in  which  he  still  continues.  He  was  married,  in  1870,  to  Libby  Todd,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Todd,  and  sister  of.  Thomas  and  George  Todd,  whose  sketches  appear 
elsewhere;  she  was  born  Aug.  15,  1845.  They  have  two  children — Lena  M.  and 
Clara  R.  Mr.  Lemaster  has  held  the  office  of  Town  Clerk,  and  is  at  present  Clerk  ;  he 
was  School  Director  in  Nebraska.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
at  Topeka,  of  which  he  is  Steward;  he  is  also  Vice  President  of  the  Sabbath  schools  of 
Quiver  Township,  and  is  also  a  Sunday-school  teacher  at  Topeka. 

J.  M.  McREYNOLDS,  farmer;  P.  0.  Topeka  ;  son  of  Robert  McReynolds,  who 
was  born  April  13,  1791,  and  was  a  turnpike  builder,  railroad  contractor,  canal  digger, 
distiller  and  farmer ;  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1838;  was  a  farmer  during  his  career  in 
Illinois,  except  while  in'the  office  of  County  Judge  and  Assessor.  He  married  Susanna 
Moyer,  daughter  of  John  Moyer,  of  German  descent;  she  was  born  Nov.  14,  loOl, 
in  Pennsylvania ;  they  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom  survive.  Robert  McReynolds 
died  Nov.  15,  1872.  J.  M.  McReynolds  was  born  Sept.  8,  1822,  in  Columbia  Co., 
Penn.  In  1838,  the  family  came  by  team  and  rail  to  Peoria,  111.;  shortly  afterward,  his 
father  bought  and  settled  on  some  land  in  what  is  now  Havana  Township,  where  J.  M. 
remained  until  1847.  January  22,  1846,  he  was  married  by  Rev.  T.  C.  Lapas,  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  to  Catharine  A.  Dentler;  their  children  were  Robert  H.,  Lemuel  W., 
Eliza  J.  (who  has  taught  school),  Eugene,  Ely,  Fannie  A.  and  Willis  D.  His  wife 
died  Dec.  18,  1855  ;  she  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  was  married,  Feb. 
2,  1860,  to  Mary  Cadwalader;  by  this  marriage  he  was  blessed  with  seven  children — 
Clara  C.,  Adelbert  C.,  Luella  M.,  Oscar  R.,  an  infant,  deceased,  John  C.  and  Ralph 
B.  Mr.  McReynolds  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  for  two  terms  and  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  schools  as  Trustee  and  Director ;  he  was  once  Assessor  of  what  was 
then  Masou  Plains  Township.  They  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Topeka, 
111.  Mr.  McReynolds  settled  on  his  present  farm  of  230  acres  in  1847,  obtained 
entirely  by  his  own  labor  and  management.  He  is  devoted  to  the  Church  and  to  his 
family,  who  cherish  him  as  a  faithful  and  loving  father. 

H.  C.  McINTIRE,  farmer  and  dealer  in  stock,  Havana  ;  son  of  William  Mcln- 
tire,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  when  quite  young,  and 
learned  street- paving ;  he  died  in  1854,  being  killed  by  horses  running  away.  Hi& 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Wilson,  daughter  of  William  Wilson,  of  Danish  and  Ger- 
man descent,  and  an  early  settler  of  New  Jersey.  H.  C.  Mclntire  was  born  May  12, 
1824,  in  Philadelphia,  and  remained  there  until  16,  when  they  moved  to  New  Jersey, 


828  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

and  were  there  until  1840,  at  which  time  they  moved  to  Illinois  by  team,  as  was  cus- 
tomary in  those  days,  and  settled  in  Jersey  Co.,  111.,  on  a  farm  which  they  bought,  and 
engaged  in  farming  and  running  a  threshing  machine.  Hip  wages  on  the  farm  during 
part  of  Uiis  time  were  $9  per  month.  In  the  winter  of  1845-46,  he  made  two  trips 
to  New  Orleans,  driving  cattle  for  Robbins  &  Hayes,  of  St.  Louis.  In  March,  1846,  he 
began  farming,  renting  of  Russell,  of  Jersey  Co.,  111.,  for  two  years ;  he  afterward  ran 
a  machine  in  connection  with  his  farming. .  Mr.  Mclntire  worked  with  the  first  thresh- 
ing machine  and  cleaner  that  ever  ran  in  Illinois,  which  was  in  1841;  in  1850,  he 
bought  a  machine  in  partnership  with  C.  S.  Thompson,  one  year  afterward  buying  him 
out.  In  1851,  he  moved  to  Mason  Co.,  settling  in  Havana  Township,  and,  in  the  fall 
of  1851,  he  bought  the  present  farm  of  80  acres,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1863,  they  set- 
tled on  the  same.  Nov.  28,  1852,  he  was  married  to  Lucy  T.  Wheeler,  daughter  of 
John  P.  Wheeler,  of  Maryland ;  he  was  a  farmer,  miller  and  tavern-keeper.  Her 
mother's  name  was  Payne,  a  cousin  of  Zachary  Taylor,  the  President ;  also  cousin  of 
Col.  Richard  M.  Johnson  ;  she  was  born  Dec.  12,  1833,  in  Kentucky,  and  came  to 
Illinois  when  quite  young.  Ten  children  were  the  fruit  of  this  marriage — William 
(deceased),  Fannie  M.,  Emma  (deceased),  Lizzie,  Mary  (deceased),  Susan  and  Johnny 
(twins,  both  deceased),  DebDrah,  Hudson,  Freddie  (deceased).  Mr.  Mclntire  makes  a 
specialty  of  fine  fruits,  and  is  at  present  breeding  fine  horses.  He  has  been  no  office- 
seeker,  but  was  Vice  President  of  the  first  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society  of 
Mason  Co.;  was  Corresponding  Secretary  and  Secretary  of  the  same. 

GEORGE  W.  TODD,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Topeka ;  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Todd,  and 
brother  of  Thomas  Todd,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  The  subject 
of  these  notes  was  born  in  December,  1848,  in  Ohio;  <when  quite  young,  he  came  with 
the  family  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  where  they  made  their  future  home ;  when  20  years  old, 
he  began  farming,  which  he  still  continues.  In  1870,  he  was  married  to  Kate  Atwater, 
a  daughter  of  William  Atwater;  she  was  born  April  7,  1849,  in  Mason  Co.,  111.  ;-they 
settled  on  a  part  of  the  old  homestead  of  his  father,  and  soon  afterward  sold  it  to  his 
sister  and  moved  to  Nebraska,  where  he  farmed  on  a  claim  of  160  acres  ;  they  were 
there  nearly  two  years,  and  then  returned  to  Illinois,  and  soon  afterward  bought  eighty 
acres  of  the  old  homestead,  which  is  his  present  abode ;  he  has  made  good  improve- 
ments. Mr.  Todd  has  been  no  office-seeker,  and  hence  has  confined  his  whole  attention 
to  farming  and  stock-raising ;  they  have  two  children — Lillie  and  Emma. 

THOMAS  H.  TODD,  farmer;  P.  0.  Topeka;  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Todd,  of  Mary- 
land, who  was  born  about  1800,  and  died  in  1870,  and  was  a  farmer,  and  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Mason  Co.,  111.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Nancy  DeWitt,  daughter 
of  Peter  DeWitt,  a  farmer  of  Pennsylvania;  she  was  born  Oct.  1,  1812,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  died  May  6,  1860.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Nov.  23,  1841, 
in  Ohio;  when  12  years  old,  he  came  with  the  family  to  Illinois,  and  settled  with  them 
on  Fisk's  farm  in  Mason  Co.,  for  one  year  ;  they  then  farmed  for  Coon  until  1854, 
when  they  moved  upon  the  present  farm  of  240  acres,  which  is  now  of  fine  quality  ; 
the  old  homestead  contains  400  acres  ;  their  father  remained  there  until  death,  at  which 
time  the  farm  was  divided  among  the  children,  and  Mr.  Todd  bought  out  some  of  the 
heirs,  and  has  now  240  acres.  In  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  28th  I.  V.  I.,  and  was 
there  until  the  close :  he  was  Sergeant.  On  his  return  from  the  war,  he  engaged  in 
farming,  which  he  still  continues.  In  1872,  he  was  married,  by  Rev.  Henry  E.  Decker, 
to  Martha  J.  Duncan,  daughter  of  John  Duncan,  of  Pennsylvania ;  her  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Greer.  Mrs.  Todd  was  born  Feb.  2,  1844,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  came 
to  Illinois  in  1862  ;  her  father  is  dead  ;  her  mother  is  still  living ;  thev  have  three  chil- 
dren—Joseph C.,  born  Nov.  12,  1874;  Annie  E.,  Nov.  20,  1876,  and  Johnny,  Feb. 
14,  1879.  He  has  held  offices  of  schools  and  roads,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry ;  he  and  wife  are  members  of  M.  E.  Church  at  Topeka. 

A.  W.  VER  BRYCK,  farmer  and  teacher;  P.  O.  Topeka ;  is  the  son  of  Richard 
VerBryck,  who  was  born  in  1873,  in  New  Jersey,  and  was,  in  his  younger  days,  a  cab- 
inet-maker, afterward  a  sailor  and  ship-carpenter  until  he  was  about  33,  when  he  began 
painting  portraits  and  general  miniature  piintings ;  this  he  continued  until  his  death, 


MAN1TO   TOWNSHIP.  829 

which  occurred  in  1867.  The  people  of  Indiana  well  remember  this  fine  artist,  and 
will  long  continue  to  praise  his  works.  His  companion  (Miss  Whitenack)  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  Whitenack,  of  New  Jersey;  she  was  born  in  180S  and  died  in  1861. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Nov.  25,  1846,  in  Warren  Co.,  Ohio,  near  Leb- 
anon, the  seat  of  the  National  Normal  School ;  at  the  age  of  10,  he  came,  with  the 
family,  to  Johnson  Co.,  Ind.,  whore  his  father  and  mother  departed  from  him ;  he  there 
attended  school  at  the  Hopewell  Academy,  preparatory  to  attending  the  State  Univer- 
sity at  Indianapolis,  Ind..  which  he  entered  in  1862,  and  failed  to  complete  the  course 
on  account  of  a  disease  of  the  eyes;  in  1865,  he  completed  a  course  in  the  Commercial 
Department  at  Indianapolis;  in  1871,  he  came  to  Champaign  Co.,  111.,  and  farmed  one 
year;  afterward  came  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  bought  and  settled  eighty  acres  of  land 
three  and  one-half  miles  from  Mason  City,  which  he  farms  during  the  summer;  in  the 
winter  of  1872,  he  began  teaching,  and  has  taught  every  winter  since  but  one ;  ho 
taught  two  terms  at  Topeka,  111. ;  he  is  engaged  for  the  winter  term  at  the  Walker  Dis- 
trict, Mason  Co.  He  was  married,  in  1871,  to  Caroline  Littell,  of  Mason  Co.,  daughter 
of  Aaron  Littell,  a  farmer,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Mason  Co.  This  marriage  of  Mr. 
Ver  Bryck  to  Miss  Littell  blessed  them  with  one  child — Walter  0.  He  has  held  the 
office  of  Town  Clerk. 


MANITO    TOWNSHIP. 

GEORGE  BLACK,  hotel,  Manito;  was  born  in  Blair  Co.,  Penn.,  Dec.  24,  1810, 
and  remained  there  until  1857,  engaged  in  farming  and  teaming;  his  first  efforts  in 
farming  were  in  1841,  at  which  time  he  rented  of  Hawkins  for  two  years,  and  next  of 
A.  R.  Bell  six  years ;  he  next  moved  to  Mr.  Bell's  brother's  farm  for  five  years,  moving 
next  to  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  remaining  there  two  years;  he  next  rented  a  farm  of  H. 
Alwood  for  two  years,  afterward  renting  of  Alexander  Trent  two  years,  and  then  of 
Mrs.  Whitehead  four  years,  after  which  he  bought  the  present  hotel  in  Manito,  111., 
moving  there  in  1865,  and  has  recently  improved  it  very  much  ;*it  is  the  only  hotel  in 
town,  and  has  a  very  good  patronage.  He  was  married,  in  1834,  to  Rebecca  Manley, 
a  daughter  of  a  worthy  tailor  by  trade :  she  was  born  in  Lancaster  Co.,  Penn. ;  they  had 
eleven  children.  Mr.  Black  is  now  69  years  old,  and  but  one  year  of  his  allotted  three- 
score and  ten  remains ;  yet  he  bids  fair  for  a  few  more  sunny  days  to  ripen  his  good  old 
age. 

JOSEPH  DAILY,  farmer ;  P.  O.  Manito ;  was  born  in  1829,  in  Ireland,*and 
remained  there  until  15  years  old,  when  he  went,  with  his  mother,  to  England,  and 
engaged  in  driving  stage-coaches;  in  1854,  he  came  to  New  York  and  worked  for  Pres- 
ident Fillmore  for  seven  months ;  he  then  mined  coal  in  Virginia  for  three  months ;  he 
then  came  to  St.  Louis  and  remained  some  time,  when  he  went  to  Kingston,  111.,  and 
engaged  in  mining ;  he  next  started  a  coal  mine  for  himself  near  Peoria,  in  1856,  and 
some  time  afterward,  started  another  at  or  near  Pekin,  where  he  succeeded  very  well ; 
he  hauled  his  coal  to  Mason  City  and  exchanged  it  for  corn,  which  he  hauled  back  and 
sold  at  Pekin  ;  in  1859,  he  started  another  mine  near  Lancaster  Landing,  in  partnership 
with  Joseph  Steward,  and  continued  one  winter ;  he  then  lived  in  Pekin  for  six  years, 
t  arning;  he  then  moved  to  Manito,  111.,  and  engaged  in  lumbering  and  buying  grain  ; 
in  1864,  he  bought  eighty  acres  in  Manito  Township;  in  1867,  he  settled  on  it  and  has 
increased  it  to  640  acres;  when  Mr.  Daily  began  business  at  Pekin,  he  had  just  five 
cents.  Was  married,  in  1860,  to  Mary  Fox,  of  Ireland ;  they  have  had  two  children — 
Joseph,  who  died  in  1865,  and  Joseph,  born  in  1866.  He  has  property  in  Manito 
worth  $1,000,  and  in  Pekin  $2,000,  also  160  acres  of  land  in  Tazewell  Co. ;  he  has  held 
the  office  of  Highway  Commissioner  and  Roadmaster. 

R.  S.  EAKIN,lumber-dealer,  Notary  Public,  collecting  agent,  Manito  ;  was  born 
Oct.  25,  1827,  in  Greene  Co.,  111.,  on  farm,  and  remained  there  until  10  years  old,  when 
he  moved,  with  his  father,  to  Whitehall,  where  he  engaged  in  merchandising  with  his 


830  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

father  for  two  years  ;  his  father  then  moved  to  Montezuma,  111.,  and  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising for  some  time,  when  his  father  built  a  stone  mill.  Mr.  Eakin  worked  for  his 
father  until  23,  at  masonry,  carpentering  and  farming.  In  1851,  Mr.  Eakin  went  to 
Fulton  Co.,  and  settled  at  Ellisville  and  engaged  in  carpentering  and  improving  a  farm. 
He  remained  until  August;  spring  of  1852,  he  began  teaming  with  A.  Roper,  of 
Montezuma,  and  remained  until  1853  ;  was  engaged  part  of  this  time  laying  track  on 
T.,  W.&  W.  R.R.  In  the  fall  of  1853,  he  returned  to  Fulton  Co.,  settling  at  Fairview, 
and  was  occupied  in  farming,  plastering  and  stone  work,  until  the  spring  of  1855.  when 
he  learned  daguerreotyping,  with  W.  H.  Seaving,  of  Canton,  111.  In  1855,  he  returned 
to  Montezuma  and  engaged  in  daguerreotpying  there,  and  in  Scoit  Co.,  until  the  fall, 
and  then  worked  at  plastering  and  brick-laying  until  Dec.  22.  when  he  was  taken  <?ick, 
and  was  confined  until  February ;  after  his  recovery,  he  went  to  Fulton  Co.  on  business, 
and,  on  return  worked  at  stonemasonry  until  1856,  when  he  left  for  Moroy,  and  engaged 
in  plastering  till  the  close  of  season,  returning  then  to  his  home  in  Pike  Co.,  where  he 
remained  until  March,  1857,  when  he  went  to  Spring  Lake,  Tazewell  Co.,  and  engaged 
in  plastering  and  improving  his  farm  until  spring  of  1858,  when  he  was  elected  Asses- 
sor, and  appointed  collector  of  taxes  for  Ezekiel  A.  Poe ;  he  was  also  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, but  was  unfortunate,  by  reason  of  crops  failing,  and,  in  1859,  he  came  to  Manito, 
111.,  and  stopped  at  0.  C.  Bartram's  during  the  winter ;  next  changing  his  home  to  J. 
K.  Cox's  ;  here  he  remained,  engaged  in  trading,  until  1860,  when  he  worked  at  Pekin, 
laying  brick  with  H.  Ribbet,  until  midsummer,  When  he  was  again  taken  sick.  In  the 
fall  of  1860,  Mr.  Eakin  began  boarding  with  B.  F.  Nash,  and  remained  there  until  he 
enlisted  in  July,  1861,  in  Co.  C,  2d  I.  V.  C.,  and  remained  until  Aug.  16,  1862,  when 
he  was  wouhded  at  the  battle  of  Merriweather's  Ferry,  Tenn.  ;  was  taken  to  hospital 
at  Union  City,  and  remained  until  Oct.  30,  when  he  was  discharged  by  Gen.  Grant ;  he 
returned  home  from  Cairo,  on  horseback,  and  became  administrator  of  his  father's 
estate,  who  had  died  in  1861  ;  also  settling  up  his  own  business,  and  making  his  home 
with  Nash  until  spring,  at  which  time  he  found  his  business  such  as  to  demand  a  settle- 
ment, which  he  made — by  paying  his  creditors  100  cents  on  the  dollar,  leaving  him  only 
his  clothes,  books,  and'  some  poor  notes.  Shortly  afterward,  he  purchased  his  present  resi- 
dence, and  rented  the'same  to  Dr.  J.  W.  Neal.  In  April,  1863,  he  went  to  Brown  Co., 
and  engaged  in  canvassing  for  "  Abbott's  History  "  until  June,  when  he  was  again  taken 
sick,  recovering  in  time  to  attend  the  celebration  at  Quincy,  111.  ;  he  then  went  to  Mor- 
gan Co.,  and  canvassed  for  "  Mitchell's  Atlas  "  until  August ;  not  succeeding  well,  he  re- 
turned to  Manito  Aug.  20,  and  engaged  at  plastering  and  bricklaying  until  1876,  when 
he  went  into  the  lumber  business  at  Manito,  which  he  still  continues.  Dec.  25,  he  was 
married,  in  schoolhouse  in  Manito,  to  Minnie  Ziegenbein,  born  in  Germany;  they  have 
three  children — Lillian,  Ernest  J.  and  Daisy  B.  His  wife  is  in  the  millinery  business, 
at  Manito,  and  is  doing  well.  Mr.  Eakin  has  held  offices  of  Police  Magistrate  (now  in 
second  term),  Notary  Public  at  present;  has  been  Trustee  of  Schools,  and  President  of 
Board  of  Trustees  ;  March  7,  1874,  he  was  appointed  School  Treasurer,  and  still  holds 
that  office  ;  was  Trustee  of  Manito,  and  was  once  candidate  for  County  Clerk,  but  was 
defeated  ;  is  insurance  agent  for  the  Hartford  Insurance  Co.  ;  is  a  charter  member  of 
Manito  Lodge,  No.  476,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  now  holds  the  office  of  W.  M.  in  same. 

JOB  NFURRER,  farmer;  P.O.  Manito;  was  born  June  9,  1838,  on  a  farm  in  Ger- 
many, where  he  remained  until  14  years  old,  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois, 
and  settled  in  Mason  Co.,  and  has  been  here  ever  since.  He  first  engaged  in  farming 
for  Mr.  Akers,  near  Topeka  ;  after  hurd  working  three  years,  for  $10  a  month,  he  worked 
for  himself,  on  what  is  the  Kidman  farm,  for  three  years.  In  1864,  he  was  married  to 
Lidda  Singley,  of  Pennsylvania ;  after  marriage  they  settled  on  Mr.  Starrett's  farm, 
and  remained  two  years,  after  which  he  moved  to  Mr.  Schrink's  farm,  and  has  been 
there  ever  since — a  period  of  twelve  years.  They  have  four  children — Sarah,  William, 
Lindy  and  Melia,  deceased.  They  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Furrer 
takes  quite  an  interest  in  educating  his  children,  furnishing  them  excellent  literature. 

REV.  W.  B.  GILMORE^clergyman,  Manito;  was  born  April  4,  1836,  in 
Mechanicsville,  N.  J.,  remained  there  until  li  years  old,  when  his  parents  moved  to 


MANITO   TOWNSHIP.  831 

Springfield,  111.,  and  remained  a  year  ;  they  then  moved  to  Fairview,  Fulton  Co.,  where 
his  father  now  lives ;  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Vanordstrand.  He  attended 
school  while  he  was  with  his  parents,  and  at  length  studied  Latin  and  Greek,  under  Rev. 
Mr.  Jerolmon  ;  during  1859  and  1860,  he  taught  school  at  Fairview.  .  In  September, 
1861,  he  went  to  Holland,  Mich.,  and  attended  the  Hope  College,  at  that  place,  where 
he  graduated  in  1866 ;  he  then  commenced  his  course  in  the  Faith  Seminary,  at  Fair- 
view,  in  which  he  graduated  in  1869.  He  then  went  to  Amelia  Court  House,  Va.,  and 
engaged  in  the  Amelia  Institute,  remaining  four  years.  During  this  time,  he  married 
Christine  C.  Van  Ralte,  daughter  of  Rev.  A.  C.  Van  Ralte,  founder  of  the  colony  of 
Holland,  Mich. ;  they  moved  to  Holland,  Mich.,  where  he  engaged  as  Principal  of  the 
Female  Academy  for  a  year.  Owing  to  ill  health,  he  abandoned  teaching,  and  came  to 
Spring  Lake,  Tazewell  Co.,  and  took  charge  of  the  Reform  Church  there.  In  1876,  he 
began  his  labors  at  Manito,  where  he  now  resides ;  has  held  almost  all  offices  connected 
with  the  Church.  All  through  life,  he  has  depended  upon  his  own  resources ;  he  gave 
instruction  in  music  while  in  the  Institute  at  Michigan.  He  has  had  four  children — A. 
C.  V.  R.,  Willie  B.  S.,  d.ed  June  25,  1871  ;  Margaret  A.,  died  Feb.  21,  1879  ;  Frank 
E.,  died  Feb.  13,  1879. 

GEORGE  HECK  MANN,  blacksmith  and  carriage-maker,  Manito  ;  was  born  Aug. 
24,  1831,  in  Baden,  Germany,  and  remained  there  until  August,  1853,  when  he  came 
to  iNew  York  and  engaged  in  his  trade,  blacksmithing  and  wagon-making,  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  came  to  Pekin,  111.,  and  worked  for  T.  &  H.  Smith  at  smithing  for 
eleven  years.  In  1866,  he  was  in  business  for  himself  in  Pekin  for  a  year.  In  Sep- 
tember, he  moved  to  Manito,  111.,  settling  in  partnership  with  N.  Weber  until  Dec.  13, 
1871,  when  the  firm  of  Heckmann  &  Weber  moved  to  Pekin  and  remained  there  in 
business  until  1874,  when  Mr.  Heckmann  sold  to  Fry  &  Weber,  and  returned  to  Manito, 
July  24,  and  engaged  in  the  present  business.  Mr.  Heckmann  has  accumulated  a  little 
fortune;  has  a  shop,  house  and  three  lots  in  Manito  and  106  acres  of  land  in  Tazewell 
Co.,  under  fine  improvement,  earned  entirely  by  his  careful  management.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  twenty-three  years ;  his  wife  and  two  children  are 
also  members.  He  was  married,  Jan.  24,  1856,  to  Mary  F.  Weber,  of  Pekin;  they 
have  had  ten  children — Lizzie  (dead),  George,  Freddie  (dead),  Philip,  Arthur,  Anna, 
Lewis,  Liddie,  Ida,  and  Frankie.  George  is  woiking  at  wagon-making  in  Kansas  City. 
Mr.  Heckmann  has  held  the  office  of  Town  Trustee. 

THOMAS  HILL,  farmer;  P.O.  Manito;  was  born  in  England  in  1825,  on  a 
farm,  and  remained  there  until  1851,  engaged  in  farming  with  his  father.  He  came  to 
New  York ;  remained  but  a  short  time ;  then  came  to  Illinois,  settling  at  Knoxville  for 
six  months,  making  brick ;  he  then  worked  on  a  farm  in  Knox  Co.  for  Bainbridge,  for 
one  winter,  when  he  hired  out  to  Squire  Marks  for  a  year,  and  afterward  went  to  Peoria 
and  engaged  in  working  in  a  tavern  for  Prince,  where  he  remained  some  four  years ;  he 
then  worked  at  farming  at  Princeville  for  thive  years  for  himself;  from  there  he  came 
to  Mason  Co.  and  engaged  in  farming  for  himself,  renting  of  B.  Prettyman  ;  he  then 
went  to  what  is  called  Egypt  and  engaged  on  E.  Alwood's  farm  for  two  years.  Nov. 
22.  1862,  he  was  married  to  Nancy  C.  Charltou,  of  Clark  Co.,  111.;  some  time  after 
marriage,  they  bought  land  and  settled  on  it  and  rented ;  he  sold  out  in  a  year  and 
rented  a  farm  of  George  Alfs  for  three  years ;  from  there  they  came  to  the  present  farm 
of  240  acres,  160  ot  which  they  inherited  and  the  rest  they  have  obtained  by  their  own 
labor ;  the  land  is  worth  probably  $50  per  acre.  His  wife  had  the  following  children 
before  marrying  Mr.  Hill — James  B.,  A.  Lincoln,  William  H.;  after  this  marriage — 
John  T.,  George  W.,  Annie,  Mary  (died  Oct.  14,  1864,  Sargent  M.,  Cornelius  E., 
Columbus,  Sarah  A.  (dead),  Charlie. 

MATTHEW  LANGSTON,  farmer;  P.  0.  Manito;  was  born  June  4,  1824,  in 
Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.,  on  a  farm,  and  remained  there  some  time  ;  when  quite  young, 
he  went  to  Missouri,  and  his  lather  there  engaged  in  farming  and  as  a  wheelwright  for 
some  two  years;  they  came,  in  the  fall  of  1828,  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Morgan  Co. 
^now  Scott),  on  a  farm  ;  Mr.  Langston  remained  at  home  until  1843,  at  which  time  ho 
went  into  partnership  wiih  his'  brother  and  bought  a  saw-mill  of  their  father,  owning 


832  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

and  running  it  until  the  spring  of  1850,  when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Mason  Co. 
and  improved  a  farm,  which  he  sold  in  1873  ;  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
at  Manito  from  1865  until  1873,  in  which  year  he  went  to  Kansas  and  farmed  a  year, 
returning  and  settling  in  Manito,  111.,  on  some  property  which  they  now  own  ;  he  is  now 
managing  and  farming  a  piece  of  land  owned  by  Peter  W.  Gay,  of  Manito  Township  ; 
he  was  engaged  one  year  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  and,  in  the  late  war,  was  Captain  of 
a  company  in  the  85th  I.  V.  I.;  he  has  held  various  offices  in  the  township  and 
district,  such  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Manito,  one  of  the  first  Commissioners  who 
laid  off  the  township.  Supervisor  of  Manito  Township  six  years,  School  Trustee  and 
Treasurer,  Road  Commissioner,  Collector  one  term ;  elected  County  Judge,  served  two 
years  and  then  resigned,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1870,  was  elected  Representative  from  the 
Sixty- First  District  of  Illinois,  which  position  he  filled  with  honor;  he  is  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  476,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Manito  ;  his  education  was  very  limited  ;  he  studied 
arithmetic  but  eleven  days ;  by  securing  all  kinds  of  valuable  literature,  he  has  made 
himself  both  useful  and  beneficial.  Mr.  Langston's  father  was  a  minister  and  early 
educated  his  son.  Was  married,  in  1848,  to  Elizabeth  Havens,  of  Illinois;  she  died 
in  February,  1850 ;  in  January,  1851,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  Havens,  a  sister  of  his 
first  wife ;  they  have  five  children — William  M.,  Elizabeth,  Rebecca,  Ellen,  Edward. 

J.  R.  McCLUGGAGE,  physician  and  surgeon,  Manito  ;  was  born  in  Holmes  Co. , 
Ohio,  June  13,  1844,  on  a  farm;  when  16  years  old,  he  went  to  Southern  Ohio, 
and  engaged  in  farming  with  his  father,  until  1865,  when  he  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Mason  Co.,  working  on  a  farm  by  the  month,  going  to  school  in 
winter ;  in  the  fall  of  1867,  he  commenced  teaching  school  at  the  Walker  district ;  he 
continued  teaching  in  Illinois  until  1871,  when  he  went  to  Nebraska  and  engaged  in 
teaching  and  laboring;  he  taught  there  in  the  summer  of  1871,  and  winter  of  1S72 
and  spring  of  1873,  after  which  he  returned  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  read  medicine  at 
Mason  City,  with  Dr.  I.  N.  Ellsbury,  until  the  fall  of  1875,  when  he  began  attending 
Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago,  graduating  in  1877,  when  he  returned  home  and 
began  practicing  medicine  at  Manito  and  has  met  with  good  success ;  during  the  win- 
ter of  1878,  his  office  burned  up  in  connection  with  Dr.  Walker's,  and  consumed  every 
medical  book  in  town  ;  he  is  at  present  Highway  Commissioner.  He  was  married,  in 
April,  1877,  to  Clara  Todd,  of  Topeka,  111.;  they  have  one  child— Thomas  T. 

BENJAMIN  RUTHENBURG,  merchant,  Manito;  was  born  in  1819  in  Prussia  : 
femained  there  until  21,  when  he  went  into  the  army  for  two  years;  in  1843,  he  came 
to  Baltimore  and  from  there  to  Philadelphia,  thence  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he 
began  merchandising,  afterward  moving  to  New  Orleans  and  engaging  in  selling  goods ; 
he  then  moved  to  St.  Louis,  in  1845,  and,  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  dealt  in  dry 
goods  for  six  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  next  engaged  as  clerk  in  merchandising  for  a 
firm  in  Agency  City,  Iowa,  which  he  afterward  bought  and  continued  in  until  1859,  in 
which  year  he  married  Mrs.  Dolinda  Sparks,  (Witherforth);  she  had  two  sons — Edgar 
and  Hubbard  Sparks  ;  Edgar  owns  a  farm  of  200  acres  which  he  and  his  brother  man- 
age. In  1861,  Mr.  Ruthenburg  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Spring  Lake  Town  until 
1863,  when  he  came  to  Manito  and  engaged  in  merchandising;  in  1877,  he  transferred 
his  business  to  his  step-son.  He  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  Spring  Lake  and  also 
member  of  the  first  Town  Board  of  Manito ;  he  owns  property  worth  $2,000,  earned 
entirely  by  his  own  labor  and  management. 

M.  W.  ROGERS,  farmer;  P.  0.  Manito;  was  born  Oct.  14,  1825,  in  Clark  Co., 
Ky.,  on  a  farm  and  remained  there  until  6  years  old,  when  he  went  with  John  C.  Rogers 
to  Old  Virginia ;  Mr.  John  C.  Rogers  was  a  Baptist  minister,  who  married  W.  Boni- 
tield,  of  Virginia;  they  moved  to  Illinois  in  1831,  and  settled  in  Morgan  Co.,  on  a 
farm,  where  Mr.  Rogers  lived  until  1850.  In  1848,  he  was  married  to  Rebecca  Lang- 
ston,  of  Tennessee  ;  they  settled,  some  time  after,  .on  Hugh  Davis'  farm  for  a  year, 
afterward  renting  for  a  year ;  he  then  moved  to  a  farm  owned  by  Livingston,  in  Taze- 
well  Co..  for  a  year;  in  1851,  lie  settled  the  present  farm  of  160  acres,  then  a  raw 
prairie,  but  now.  by  improvement,  is  one  of  the  finest  forms  in  the  country  ;  Mr.  Rogers 
made  his  happy  home  by  his  own  labor  and  management;  he  takes  an  interest  in  all 


MANITO   TOWNSHIP.  833 

modern  improvements,  having  on  his  farm  utensils  worth  laboring  with  ;  in  an  early  day, 
he  took  quite  an  interest  in  starting  hedges ;  he  has  taken  much  care  in  selecting  and 
cultivating  fine  fruits  for  home  use ;  has  held  offices  of  Supervisor,  Road  Commissioner 
and  Pathmaster.  Has  five  children — Lucinda  S.,  John  W.~,  Mary  E.,  Rhoda  R.  and 
Nellie  E.  ;  John  has  taught  school  and  is  now  attending  the  institute  at  Mason  City. 
Mrs.  Rogers  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

W.  B.  ROBINSON,  builder  and  contractor,  Manito ;  was  born  Sept.  15, 
1836,  in  Union  Co.,  Penn.,  and  remained  there  until  14  years  old.  His  father 
was  a  tailor  by  trade  and  also  followed  piloting  on  the  Susquehanna  River.  When 
Mr.  Robinson  was  10  years  old  his  father  died,  leaving  him  an  entire  orphan,  his 
mother  having  died  when  he  was  6  months  old  ;  he  came  to  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  when 
about  10  years  old,  in  company  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Boone,  and  settled  at 
Pekin  for  some  three  years ;  when  about  17,  began  to  work  at  carpentering,  and  has 
been  at  it  ever  since ;  after  leaving  Pekin,  they  went  to  what  is  called  Egypt,  Tazewell 
Co.,  and  settled  on  a  farm  for  some  five  years;  Mr.  Robinson  then  came  to  Egypt  Sta- 
tion (now  Manito)  ;  in  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  28th  I.  V.  I.,  and  remained  in  the 
service  until  April  6,  1866  ;  he  went  out  as  a  drummer,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
two  years,  and  was  then  appointed  by  the  Colonel  Regimental  Postmaster  and  afterward 
Brigade  Postmaster;  on  his  return  from  the  war,  he  settled  in  Manito  and  soon  married. 
Aug.  3,  1866,  Mrs.  Martha  Boone,  daughter  of  G-eorge  Black;  she  had  one  child — 
Ella  A.  Boone  ;  by  their  marriage  they  had  two  children — Drusilla  R.  and  W.  W.  Mr. 
Robinson  has  held  the  office  of  President  of  Board  of  Trustees  three  years  and  is  such 
at  present ;  Village  Trustee  six  terms ;  Justice  of  the  Peace  three  years  and  still  holds 
the  Office ;  Town  Clerk,  Collector,  and  is  now  collector  and  insurance  agent  for  the  Phoe- 
.nix,  American  Central,  at  St.  Louis,  Rockford,  of  Rockford,  and  Home,  of  New  York ; 
he  also  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  476,  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Manito  ;  he  has  held  office  of  Secre- 
tary in  the  Lodge  seven  years  ;  is  now  S.  W. 

JOHN  0.  RANDOLPH,  farmer;  P.  0.  Manito;  was  born  Dec.  9,  1816,  in 
Virginia ;  son  of  Philip  Randolph,  who  died  before  J.  0.  Randolph  was  born ;  when 
Mr.  Randolph  was  6  weeks  old,  his  mother  moved  with  him  to  Tennessee,  where  she 
supported  herself  and  children  ;  when  Mr.  Randolph  was  12  years  old,  he  worked  out  for 
his  board ;  at  13,  he  hired  out  at  $3  per  month,  and  was  to  go  to  school  in  winter;  wrlen 
he  was  15,  he  was  bound  out  to  A.  Blackburn,  with  whom  he  went  from  Sullivan  Co., 
Ind.,  to  La  Porte  Co.,  Ind.,  and  engaged  working  on  a  farm  for  five  years,  when  he 
began  business  for  himself  on  a  farm  near  Terre  Haute,  where  his  mother  was  living. 
In  1837,  he  married  Elizabeth  Best,  of  Harrison  Co.,  Ind.;  they  lived  in  Vigo,  lad., 
six  years.  In  1843,  he  moved  to  Clark  Co.,  111.,  and  engaged  in  farming  and  keeping 
woodyard,  running  a  saw-mill  and  building  boats;  he  remained  until  1851,  when  he 
moved  to  Manito,  111.,  and  settled  on  a  farm,  renting  of  Thomas  Landrith ;  in  1853, 
they  bought  a  farm  of  100  acres  in  Manito  Township,  paying  for  it  by  their  own  labors ; 
in  1856,  he  went  into  mercantile  business  at  Spring  Lake,  111.,  and  continued  it  until 
1859,  when  he  returned  to  farming  until  1871  ;  in  that  year,  he  opened  a  grain  busi- 
ness in  Forest  City,  and  continued  it  until  1876,  when  he  moved  to  Manito ;  he  sold 
his  farm  in  1877  to  P.  W.  Thomas ;  he  has  a  house  and  two  lots  in  Forest  City  and  a 
house  and  three  lots  in  Manito.  Has  held  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Clark  Co.. 
111.;  Constable,  Vigo  Co.,  Ind.;  Assessor,  Manito  Township;  School  Treasurer  arid 
Director,  Clerk  of  Board  of  Trustees  and  has  taught  school.  Has  had  seven  children 
—Mary  L.,  Susan  E.,  Mary  P.  (dead),  John  E.  (dead),  William  C.  (dead),  Margaret 
A.  (dead),  Nancy  J.  (deadj. 

E.  A.  ROSHER,  Postmaster  and  dealer  in  dry  goods  and  notions,  Manito  ;  was 
born  April  27,  1827,  in  Germany,  and  remained  there  until  1849,  when  he  came  to 
New  York,  staying  there  a  short  time,  and  then  went  to  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for  three  years ;  afterward,  going  to  Peoria,  111.,  and 
engaged  in  dry  goods  for  eight  years ;  he  then  moved  to  Manito,  111.,  and  engaged  in 
his  present  business,  managing  it  ever  since.  In  1869,  he  was  made  Postmaster  at  this 
place  and  still  holds  that  position  ;  some  time  after  he  became  Postmaster,  he  took  it 


834  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

upon  himself  to  procure  the  establishment  here  of  a  money-order  office.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1850,  to  Caroline  Darris,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  children — Dora,  William, 
Gustus,  Eda,  Charlie,  Otto,  Mena,  Ida,  John,  Emma  (died  July  4,  1853),  Matilda 
(died  Dec.  20,  1859);  his  wife  died  in  1874.  In  1875,  he  married  a  second  time. 
Mr.  Rosher  is  doing  a  first-class  business  and  is  using  his  means  with  frugality ;  his 
home  is  under  fine  improvement. 

RICHARD  SAUTER,  boots  and  shoes,  Manito ;  was  born  in  Wittemburg  April 
3^1831,  and  remained  there  until  21,  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business;  in  May. 
1852,  he  emigrated  to  New  York,  and  soon  went  to  Reading,  Penn.,  and  was  engaged 
in  shoemaking  for  four  years  ;  he  next  went  to  Steubenville  and  worked  for  Kent  six 
years ;  from  there  he  moved  to  Pekin,  111.,  and  worked  at  shoemaking  for  John  Velde 
one  year ;  moving  from  there  to  McLean  Co.,  he  settled  at  Danvers  and  engaged  in  the 
boot  and  shoe  business  for  himself  for  two  years.  Nov.  25,  1857,  he  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Hotz,  of  Pekin.  They  shortly  afterward  moved  to  Havana,  where  he  opened 
in  the  same  business,  remaining  until  he  came  to  Manito  ;  he  now  has  a  happy  home 
with  two  lots  and  a  good  boot  and  shoe  shop.  Has  held  office  of  Trustee  of  Manito 
two  terms ;  is  a  Freemason  ;  he  was  Vice  President  of  the  German  Free  School  of 
Havana,  111.  Names  of  his  children — Philip,  Matilda  (deceased),  Emma  (deceased). 
Carl  (deceased),  Bertha,  Margaret,  Elizabeth,  Sabina.  Philip  makes  harness  in  connec- 
tion with  his  father's  business. 

REV.  A.  SIEVING,  minister,  Manito;  was  born  Sept.  9,  1847,  in  District  of 
Melle,  Hanover,  Germany ;  at  the  age  of  7,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
where  his  father  was  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  for  seven  years ;  here  he  attended 
school ;  in  his  15th  year,  he  began  attending  the  Gymnasium  College  at  Ft.  Wayne. 
Ind.,  and  remained  six  years;  after  graduating,  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  attended 
the  Concordia  College  for  four  years  ;  he  graduated  there  and  soon  after  engaged  in  the 
ministry  at  Lincoln,  Benton  Co.,  Mo.,  in  the  Lutheran  Church  ;  remained  there  about 
five  years ;  he  then  came  in  1876  to  the  Egypt  Lutheran  Church  in  Mason  Co.  and  is 
still  rendering  services  at  that  place  ;  he  has  another  appointment  at  Sand  Prairie, 
Tazewell  Co.,  which  he  founded  ;  he  has  taught  school ;  was  Secretary  of  the  Western 
District  of  the  Synod  of  Missouri,  Ohio  and  other  States.  Was  married  May  12, 1872, 
to"  Mary  Querl ;  has  three  children — Charlie,  Theodore.  Augustus,  besides  Annie,  an 
orphan  girl,  whom  they  are  raising.  Mr.  Sieving  devotes  his  entire  attention  to  the 
ministry. 

PETER  SINGLEY,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Manito  ;  was  born  in  1817,  in  Pennsylvania, 
on  a  farm,  and  remained  until  1861 ;  was  engaged  in  farming  until  21  ;  when  he  was 
25  years  old,  he  began  coal  mining  in  Pennsylvania,  and  followed  it  for  twenty-five 
years,  part  of  which  time  he  was  under  a  boss,  and  afterward  WHS  foreman,  the  boss 
having  been  killed;  in  1850,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  bought  160  acres,  which  he  paid 
for  by  his  own  labor ;  his  improvement  on  the  same  has  made  it  one  of  the  finest  farms 
in  the  county.  He  was  married,  first,  in  1844,  to  Catharine  Boyer,  by  whom  he  had 
three  childreu — Emma,  Elizabeth  A.  and  Henry;  his  wife  died  in  1849.  In  1850,  he 
was  married  again  to  Josephine  Huntzsinger,  of  Pennsylvania  ;  they  have  had  eleven  chil- 
dren ;  deceased — Margaret,  Josiah,  Eliza,  Christiana,  Walter  ;  living — Jeremiah,  Han- 
nah, George,  Ida.  Peter  and  Sarah  J.  He  has  been  no  office-seeker,  but  has  been 
connected  with  schools.  Mr.  Singley  settled  on  his  present  farm  in  1861,  and  has  been 
here  ever  since.  When  he  was  married  the  first  time,  he  was  $5  in  debt,  and  had  no 
resources. 

BENJAMIN  SINGLEY,  farmer;  P.  O.  Manito  ;  was  born  in  1832,  in  Schuyl 
kill  Co.,  Penn.,  on  a  farm,  and  remained  there  until  1863  ;  was  engaged  in  farming  and 
handling  timbers,  when,  in  1863,  he  came  to  Illinois,  settled  and  engaged  in  working 
for  farmers  by  the  day,  $1  to  $2,  cutting  hedge ;  in  1869,  he  began  farming  on  the 
present  farm  of  forty  acres  ;  he  has  improved  this  little  farm,  and  made  it  one  very 
desirable.  He  was  married,  in  June,  1860,  to  S.  Zimmerman  ;  they  were  blessed  with 
five  children — David  R.,  Rebecca  (deceased),  Annie,  Jacob  and  Lindy ;  he  has  been 
no  office-seeker,  but  has  held  office  of  Pathrnaster.  Mr.  Singley  and  wife  belong  to  the 


MANITO   TOWNSHIP.  835 

Egypt  Church,  Lutheran,  and  have  been  members  ever  since  the  organization  of  the 
same. 

J.  N.  SHANHOLTZER,  miller,  Manito;  was  born  in  Hampshire  Co.,  Va.,  in 
1841,  and  remained  there,  farming  for  his  father,  until  18  years  old,  when  he  moved  to 
Licking  Co.,  Ohio,  and  commenced  farming;  here  he  remained  five  years,  when  he  went 
West,  and  finally  settled  in  Tazewell  Co.,  111.;  he  farmed  for  two  years,  afterward  engaging 
in  milling,  at  Dillon,  111.,  for  four  years ;  he  then  moved  his  machinery  to  Manito,  111., 
in  1870,  and  has  been  here  ever  since.  This  is  the  first  and  only  mill  in  the  township. 
Mr.  Shanholtzer  manages  his  own  business,  and  is  doing  splendid  work  for  the  public ; 
he  is  an  active  worker  in  the  temperance  movement ;  has  held  office  of  Trustee  of 
Manito.  He  owns  a  beautiful  lot  and  house,  in  addition  to  his  mill.  In  1868,  he  was 
married  to  Marinda  Rector,  of  Dillon,  Tazewell  Co.,  111.;  she  died  April  29,  1873.  By 
herjie  had  two  children,  Minnie  Belle  (deceased),  and  Miranda  E.  He  was  married, 
Jan.  23,  1879,  to  Mrs.  S.  C.  Rector  (Dean).  She  had  one  child— Nellie  Rector. 

HENRY  A.  SWEET,  retired  farmer;  P.  0.  Manito;  was  born  July  12,  1818, 
on  a  farm  near  Mendon,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.;  when  about  a  year  old,  he  went  with  his 
parents  to  Connecticut,  and  livedvin  that  State  until  21 ;  when  old  enough,  he  began 
clerking  in  a  dry-goods  store  for  Joseph  W.  Turpin,  at  Warehouse  Point,  Conn.,  after 
which  he  went  to  New  York,  and  worked  at  carpentering  for  three  years.  In  1842, 
he  came  to  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  wagon-making  and  merchandising  until  1849.  In 
1852,  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Green  Valley,  111.,  and  farmed  until  1860,  then  engaging 
in  grain  business  in  Pekin,  111.,  for  two  years ;  he  then  moved  back  to  his  farm  in 
Tazewell  Co.,  and  stayed  there  until  the  spring  of  1867,  when  he  came  to  Manito,  and 
engaged  in  grain  and  lumber  for  one  year.  In  1868,  he  went  into  mercantile  business, 
and  was  burned  out;  was  also  express  agent  for  three  years.  In  1870,  he  moved  again 
to  his  farm  in  Tazewell  Co.,  and  remained  until  1875,  when  he  returned  to  Manito,  and 
became  station  agent  for  one  year.  In  .1876,  he  entirely  lost  his  eyesight,  which  has 
but  slightly  returned.  Was  married,  in  1840,  to  Mary  Weber,  of  Massachusetts,  and 
has  eight  children — Henry,  Mary,  George  W.,  Annette,  Rowena,  Fannie,  Carrie,  Eva, 
and  Leroy.  He  has  held  office  in  Ohio ;  was  Town  Clerk  and  Trustee  three  years 
in  Tazewell  Co.,  111.;  was  Supervisor,  Assessor,  Collector,  Commissioner  of  Highways, 
Poormaster  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  fourteen  years.  In  1864,  he  took  the  census  of 
Tazewell  Co.;  was  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Manito  one  year;  he  taught 
school  eleven  months ;  he  has  90  acres,  well  improved,  also  a  house  and  four  lots  in 
Manito. 

F.  SCHOENEMAN,  saddler  and  harness-maker,  Manito  ;  was  born  in  Germany  in 
1833  ;  he  remained  there,  engaged  in  harness-making,  until  24,  when  he  came  to  Peoria, 
111.,  and  engaged  in  business  until  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  'Co.  A,  2d  Artillery,  for 
three  year,;,  returning  in  1864  to  Peoria,  and  remaining  a  short  time,  and  then  moved 
to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  in  the  harness  business  for  a  year  and  a  half.  He  was 
married,  while  there,  to  Rosena  Ruth,  of  New  Orleans;  in  the  latter  part  of  1865,  they 
moved  to  Peoria,  and  shortly  afterward  to  Manito,  where  he  engaged  in  the  harness 
business,  which  he  still  continues.  He  owns  160  acres  in  Arkansas,  three  houses  and 
lots  in  Manito,  and  the  property  in  which  he  carries  on  his  business,  all  of  which 
they  have  earned  by  their  own  labor  and  management.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
.Town  Trustee  for  two  terms ;  has  been  no  office-seeker  ;  has  given  strict  attention  to 
business  by  doing  his  own  work,  thus  acquiring  the  confidence  of  the  people. 

FREDERICK  SCHNELLE,  farmer;  P.  0.  Manito;  was  born  in  1836  in  Ger- 
many; when  15  years  old,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  New  York,  and  worked  with 
them  on  a  farm  ;  in  1854,  he  moved  to  Havana,  111.,  and  worked  at  farming  for  H.  H. 
Marbold,  in  Menard  Co.,  afterward  working  for  Fred  Looks  in  Mason  Co.,  and  next  for 
John  and  James  Wilson,  of  Tazewell  Co.  In  I860,  he  began  working  on  his  present 
farm  of  240  acres,  attained  entirely  by  his  own  labor  and  management ;  he  has  made 
good  improvements.  Was  married,  in  1860,  to  Elizabsth  Bahrens,  of  Germany,  and 
by  her  he  had  nine  children — George,  Henry,  Ettie,  Fred,  Katie,  Willie  and  Catherine 
(deceased).  Mr.  Schnelle  makes  a  specialty  of  threshing  wheat.  He  is  Collector,  and 


836  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

has  held  the  office  three  years ;  he  has  been  School  Director  twelve  years,  and  Commis- 
sioner three  years. 

JOHN  THOMAS,  farmer;  P.  0.  Forest  City  ;  was  born  Sept.  19,  1815,  in  New 
York,  and  remained  there  until  his  parents  moved  to  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  settling  on  a 
farm,  where  he  remained  some  ten  years  farming,  on  his  grandfather's  farm ;  his  father 
died  when  he  was  very  young;  in  1832,  Mr.  Thomas  moved  to  Western  Ohio  and  set- 
tled in  Seneca  Co.,  remaining  there,  farming,  with  his  uncle;  from  Ohio  he  moved  to 
Monroe  Co.,  Mo.,  and  engaged  in  farming  for  himself  on  some  land  which  he  had 
bought.  In  1836,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Painter,  of  Mo. ;  by  her  he  had  four 
children — Eliza  E.,  Perry  W.,  Samuel  R.,  John  W. ;  Dec.  25,  1856,  some  time  after 
the  death  of  his  wife,  he  was  married  to  Parthena  F.  Cugdale,  of  Illinois ,  by  her  he 
bad  three  children — William,  Edgar,  Charles ;  his  second  wife -died  Aug.  7,  1876; 
April  15,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sutton.  Mr.  Thomas  settled  in  Mason 
Co.  in  1853,  on  what  is  now  the  Caldwell  farm ;  in  April,  1877,  he  bought  the 
present  farm  of  twenty-one  acres,  and  owns  in  all  140  acres ;  he  has  held  the  offices  of 
School  Trustee  and  Director ;  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  thirty-four 
years ;  his  wife  is  also  a  member  of  same  church. 

R.  A.  WHITEFORD,  farmer;  P.  0.  Manito;  was  born  in  1842,  in  Medina  Co., 
Ohio,  on  a  farm,  and  remained  there  until  he  was  14  years  old,  at  which  time  he  came, 
with  his  parents,  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Mason  Co.  on  a  farm  which  his  father 
bought ;  he  remained  there  with  his  father  until  he  began  working  in  a  machine  shop 
at  Wadsworth,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  and  remained  there  engaged  for  three  years.  He  mar- 
ried Julia  Blanchard,  of  Gifford,  Ohio,  whose  parents  were  from  Connecticut;  in  1871, 
they  settled  on  the  present- farm  of  160  acres,  half  of  which  they  inherited,  and  half 
they  have  obtained  by  their  own  management;  with  the  improvements  they  have  made 
this  farm  presents  a  fine  appearance.  They  have  one  child — Flutie. 

DR.  J.  S.  WALKEli,  physician  and  surgeon,  Manito;  was  born  on  a  farm  in 
Shelby  Co.,  Ind.,  Feb.  16,  1842,  and  remained  there  until  3  years  old ;  his  father  was 
a  farmer ;  in  1845,  the  family  moved  by  team,  as  was  customary  in  those  days,  to 
Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  settled  on  a  farm  which  they  bought ;  here  he  attended  school 
during  the  winter  until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  85th  I.  V.  I.,  and  remained 
in  the  service  nearly  two  years ;  he  was  promoted  to  Sergeant  and  afterward  Orderly. 
On  his  return  from  the  war,  he  read  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  F.  Atkinson,  of  Lexington,  Mo., 
for  two  years ;  he  at  once  began  attending  the  St.  Louis  (Pope's)  Medical  College, 
which  he  continued  for  two  years,  during  which  he  graduated,  and,  returning  home, 
began  practicing  medicine  at  Forest  City ;  this  he  continued  for  five  years ;  he  then 
came  to  Manito,  111.,  where  he  now  practices  quite  extensively,  and  with  good  suc- 
cess ;  in  the  winter  of  1878  he  met  with  quite  a  misfortune,  having  his  office,  in 
connection  with  his  drug  store,  burned,  not  even  saving  a  book  from  the  fire  ;  he 
contracted  quite  a  cold  in  his  efforts  to  save  his  dwelling,  which  has  almost  con- 
fined him ;  he  anticipates  going  South  to  improve  his  health ;  the  people  of  this  com- 
munity will  very  much  regret'the  loss  of  Dr.  Walker;  they  will  remember  him  as  one 
of  the  influential  men  of  their  community,  and,  as  a  physician,  skillful  and  attentive 
— especially  so  in  his  treatment  in  surgery,  which  has  been  a  good  part  of  his  large 
practice;  he  has  held  the  offices  of  School  Treasurer  and  Trustee.  He  was  married, 
in  1870,  to  S.  A.  Bradley,  of  Chicago ;  they  had  two  children — Alberto  .and  Eugene, 
'who  died  Sept.  20,  1878. 


ALLEN'S    GROVE    TOWNSHIP. 

JOHN  B.  ABBOTT,  grain-dealer,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Natrona  ;  was 
born  in  Mason  Co.,  111.,  June  10,  1846.  His  father,  Henry  Abbott,  and  mother,  Ann 
(Keen)  Abbott,  were  born  in  Lancashire,  England,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
a,  short  time  previous  to  the  birth  of  John  B.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was 
raised  to  the  occupation  of  farming,  for  the  last  three  years  has  given  much  attention  to 


ALLEN'S   GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  837 

the  buying  and  shipping  of  grain,  requiring  the  use  of  two  grain  elevators  in  Natrona. 
He  married  a  Daughter  of  Richard  Ainsworth,  of  Mason  City,  111.,  Oct.  14,  1869;  she 
was  born  in  Lynchburg  Township,  in  this  county,  July  8,  1849  ;  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, viz.,  Richard  Henry,  born  July  17,  1870  ;  Albert  Edward,  March  30,  1872;  Ira, 
April  28,  1874,  and  AHce  Myrtle,  Dec.  11,' 1878.  Mr.  Abbott  is  Treasurer  of  the 
school  fund  in  this  township,  and  owns  480  acres  land  in  this  and  Mason  City  Townships. 

SAMUEL  BIGGS,  farmer  and  stock-raiser:  P.  0.  San  Jose;  was  born  in'Cler- 
mont  Co.,  Ohio,  June  13,  1834;  in  the  fall  of  1856,  moved  to  Delavan,  Tazewell  Co., 
111. ;  he  worked  at  farming  by  the  month ;  went  to  Pike's  Peak  in  1859 ;  there  he  made 
no  money.  July  7,  1860,  he  married  Elizabeth  Brown  ;  she  was  born  in  England  Oct. 
1,  1838,  and  came  to  the  United  States  with  her  parents,  an  infant ;  they  have  had 
four  children,  viz.,  Oliver  S.,  born  May  6,  1861  ;  Matilda  A.,  March  6,  1864;  Agnes 
E.,  Dec.  3,  1866,  and  Jennetta,  Jan.  14,  1873;  she  died  Aug.  20  following.  Mr. 
Biggs  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  under  Capt.  William  M.  Duffy;  assigned  to  108th  I.  V.  I. 
Aug.  12,  1862;  engaged  in  the  various  battles  and  marches  up  to  March  29,  1863, 
when  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  disability  (he  had  the  measles) ;  he  held  the  post 
of  Orderly  Sergeant  from  the  organization  of  the  company ;  he  arrived  home  in  April ; 
engaged  again  working  for  wages  and  renting  land  ;  when  he  returned  from  Pike's  Peak, 
had  spent  his  last  dollar;  to-day  he  owns  a  fine  home  and  farm  of  350  acres,  free  and 
clear  from  debt ;  after  his  return  from  the  army,  he  was  not  able  to  do  any  manual  labor 
for  a  year. 

JOB  BRATT,  farmer ;  P.  0.  San  Jose ;  was  born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  April 
22,  1822 ;  came,  with  his  father,  to  New  York  May  23,  1834,  and  to  Vigo  Co.,  Ind., 
in  June  following ;  there  his  father  bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  they  followed 
farming ;  January,  1853,  he  went  to  Christian  Co.,  111.  ;  the  November  following,  to 
Mason  Co.  ;  bought  land  and  settled.  Married,  Sept.  14,  1852,  Sarah  Wilkinson;  she 
was  born  in  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  1,  1830 ;  her  father,  Gary  Wilkinson,  was  born  in 
Scott  Co.,  Ky.,  and  married  Nancy  Moon  ;  she  also  was  born  and  raised  in  Scott  Co.  ; 
he  died  March  17,  1834,  and  she  Oct.  19,  1875;  they  are  buried  in  Sangamon  Co.,  111. 
George  Bratt,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Staffordshire  June  12, 
1781,  and  married  Esther  Bratt  in  1825 ;  she  was  born  in  London,  July  25,  1779 ;  on 
account  of  unsettled  business,  she  did  not  join  her  family  until  1839  ;  she  died  May  9. 
1841,  he  June  7,  1861.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  Bratt  have  had  nine  children,  viz.,  Ella  Gr.| 
born  Aug.  12,  1854;  George  R.,  April  13,  1856  (died  June  1,  1872,  by  a  stroke  of 
lightning,  which  killed  him  and  his  horse,  also  the  horse  under  his  brother,  Jonah  W., 
who  escaped  comparatively  uninjured),  Mary  H.,  born  Aug.  24,  1857  ;  Jonah  W.,  July 
16,  1859;  Esther  M.,  May  29,  1861 ;  Josiah  C.,  Oct.  19,  1864;  Reuben  W.,  March 
25,  1866;  Clarence,  Nov.  12,  1869,  and  Sophia  C.,  Sept.  28,  1872;  she  died  Feb.  24, 
1873.  They  own  440  acres  and  very  fine  house,  where  they  reside,  in  Allen's  Grove 
Township,  also  232  acres  in  Nebraska ;  in  politics,  is  a  Republican. 

EDWARD  P.  CRISPELL,  M.  D.,  physician,  San  Jose;  was  born  in  Ulster  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  23,  1823  ;  ho  moved  to  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1840  ;  at  an  early  age,  he 
engaged  in  teaching  district  schools,  and  reading  medicine  ;  in  1857,  he  commenced  prac- 
ticing medicine  thereabouts;  in  1858,  moved  to  Sangamon  Co.,  111.  Altogether,  he 
taught  school  ten  terms.  He  attended  medical  lectures,  and  graduated  in  the  Eclectic 
Medical  College,  of  Cincinnati,  and  received  his  diploma  in  February,  1865.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  E.  Craft  Nov.  2,  1848;  she  was  born  in  Sullivan  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  20, 
1826.  Since  he  graduated  his  practice  has  been  mainly  in  Mason  Co. ;  up  to  1871,  in 
Manito  ;  then,  on  account  of  ill  health,  traveled  nearly  two  years  farther  North ;  did  a 
city  practice  about  a  year  in  Pekin,  111.  ;  came  to  San  Jose,  where  he  now  resides,  in 
1874  ;  they  have  had  seven  children,  viz.,  one  infant  unnamed;  Charles  E.,  born  July 
25,  1851;  Mary  F.,  July  20,  1853;  Martha  E.,  March  23,  1857;  Lillie,  May  31, 
1861,  died  Aug.  13,  1862;  Ulysses  Grant,  born  July  20,  1863,  and  Wilbur  F.,  June 
30,  1867.  Dr.  Crispell  belongs  to  the  Order  of  A.,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  an  active  advocate  of 
and  worker  in  the  cause  of  temperance  ;  a  Republican,  and  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


838  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

JONATHAN  CORY,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  ;  P.  0.  San  Jose  ;  was  born  in 
Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  June  14,  1815  ;  his  schooling  he  got  in  the  district  school  before 
he  was  14  ;  at  the  age  of  20,  he  commenced  reading  law  with  Cornelius  Boice,  Esq.,  a 
celebrated  lawyer  in  Plainfield,  but  finished  with  Lewis  C.  Grover,  Esq.,  who  is  now 
President  of  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company,  of  Newark,  N.  J.  He  commenced 
practice  in  1836,  in  Plainfield,  and  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature  in  1846.  In 
1848,  he  moved  to  Newark,  and  was  elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court  in  1852  ;  held 
the  office  three  years.  In  1841,  he  aided  in  organizing,  and  was  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  Lodge,  No.  44.  I.  0.  0.  F. ;  he  was  also  a  charter  member  of  Jefferson 
Encampment,  and  has  held  all  the  ordinate  and  subordinate  offices  in  the  subor- 
dinate and  State  offices  in  the  Order  in  New  Jersey ;  moved  to  Delavan,  Taze- 
well,  Co.,  111.,  in  February,  1856  ;  in  1857,  moved  to  Allen's  Grove  Township,  in 
Mason  Co.,  where  he  now  resides,  and  is  a  charter  member  of  Lodge,  No.  380,  and  of 
Valley  Encampment,  No.  120  ;  in  San  Jose,  of  I.  0.  0.  F.  ;  but  he  gives  his  atten- 
tion mainly  to  farming.  He  has  never  discontinued  the  practice  of  the  profession  he 
was  wedded  to  in  his  early  manhood.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Titus  Dec.  24,  1836  ; 
she  was  born  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  Oct.  9,  1813.  Since  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  he 
has  taken  no  active  part  in  politics,  but  has  been  Supervisor,  also  Justice  of  the  Peace ; 
he  is  probably  the  only  man  living  in  the  county  whose  father  was  actively  engaged  in 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  born  in  the  U.  S.  of  America ;  his  father.  John  Cory,  was 
born  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  J.,  March  6,  1763,  and  lived  with  his  uncle,  William  Wines, 
who  was  a  General  under  Gen.  George  Washington  daring  the  whole  Revolutionary 
struggle  ;  he  also  was  a  Jerseyman,  and  lived  within  two  miles  of  the  ever  memorable 
Valley  Forge,  on  Suckasunny  Plains  in  New  Jersey.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cory  have  four 
children,  viz.,  Elizabeth,  born  Feb.  1,  1838;  Marietta,  Feb.  8,  1840;  Phebe  Ann, 
June  25,  1841,  and  Jane,  Jan.  20,  1843.  All  are  married  and  have  families,  and  live 
in  Mason  Co.  He  owns  a  good  home  and  fine  farm  of  210  acres  in  Allen's  Grove 
Township,  in  Sec.  1. 

WILLIAM  M.  DUFFY,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  San  Jose;  was  born  in 
Galway,  Ireland,  Jan.  30,  1835;  Jan.  30,  1849,  landed  in  New  York;  went  to  Rah- 
way,  N.  J.,  where  he  worked  at  the  harness-making  business.  In  March,  1853,  he 
went  to  Madison,  Ind.  ;  in  the  fall,  to  Terre  Haute,  and,  the  spring  of  1855,  to  Dela- 
van, Tazewell  Co.,  111.  He  married  Marietta  C.  Cory  Jan.  30,  1857 ;  she  was  born  in 
New  Jersey  Feb.  8,  1840,  and  came  to  Delavan  with  her  parents  in  February,  1856  ; 
they  have  had  nine  children,  viz.,  George,  born  Feb.  26,  1860  ;  Mary  A.,  April  16, 
1862  ;  William  S.,  Dec.  28,  1864  ;  Harry  C.,  March  12,  1866;  Elisha  R.,  March  21, 
1868,  died  Feb.  21,  1870;  Freddie,  born  July  8,  1871 ;  Gracie  G.,  Sept.  15,  1873  ; 
Katie,  Jan.  28,  1876,  and  Jennie,  Oct.  27,  1877.  From  Aug.  1  to  14,  1862,  he 
enlisted  a  full  company  (Co.  H),  which  was  mustered  into  108th  Regiment  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three  years ;  they  elected  him  Captain  of  the  company ;  he 
held  the  position  until  their  discharge ;  they  participated  in  many  engagements,  in  the 
13th  and  16th  Army  Corps,  at  Chickasaw  Bayou,  Arkansas  Post,  Milliken's  Bend, 
Magnolia  Hills,  Grand  Gulf  and  others,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  Mobile,  etc. ;  were 
mustered  out  at  Vicksburg,  discharged  and  paid  in  Chicago  Aug.  12,  1865.  He 
bought  his  farm  (160  acres),  where  he  now  resides  in  Allen's  Grove  Township,  in  1867, 
and  moved  on  to  it  in  the  spring  of  1868  ;  Oct.  18,  1871,  their  house  was  destroyed 
by  fire  ;  the  clothing  they  had  on  was  all  they  saved  out  of  it. 

JACKSOiN  HOUCHIN,  farmer,  stock-breeder  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Mason 
City;  was  born  in  Edmonston  Co.,  Ky.,  Nov.  12,  1819;  went  to  Pike' Co.,  Ind.,  with 
his  parents  in  October,  1836;  came  to  Mason  Co.,  April  17,  1849;  entered  254  acres 
of  land  in  Salt  Creek  Township,  where  he  stayed  about  a  year ;  came  to  Allen's  Grove 
in  March,  1850,  where  he  now  resides,  and  bought  at  that  time  640  acres  (Sec.  5)  ;  to 
considerable  extent  is  engaged  in  breeding  fine  Durham  cattle.  He  married  Nancy  Ann 
Greenway  Dec.  25,  1840,  in  Warrick  Co.,  Ind.  ;  she  died  Oct.  15,  1841.  He  then  mar- 
ried her  sister,  Susanna  Greenway,  March  15,  1842  ;  she  was  born  in  Wurrick  Co.,  Ind., 
June  8,  1826;  her  father,  John  Greenway,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  died  in 


ALLEN'S   GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  839 

August,  1850  ;  her  mother,  Sarah  (May),  was  born  in  Georgia,  died  in  October.  1846; 
they  are  buried  in  Warrick  Co.,  Ind.,  where  they  resided.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houchin  have 
had  eleven  children,  viz.,  Lucy  J.,  born  Oct.  3, 1844  ;  Benjamin  Ira.  born  Jan.  1, 1847; 
they  died  of  smallpox  in  February,  1848,  and  were  buried  in  one  coffin  ;  William 
Isaiah,  born  Oct.  7,  1852,. died  in  August,  1853;  Edna  died  in  early  infancy.  The 
living  are  John  A.,  born  Feb.  22,  1848  ;  Andrew  J.  Feb.  25,  1850 ;  George  W.,  July 
28,  1854;  Alonzo,  Dec.  15,  1856;  James,  Aug.  28,  1858:  Malinda,  Dec.  15,  1863, 
and  Laura  B.,  Dec.  7,  1867.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houchin  have  been  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  over  thirty  years.  In  politics,  is  a  Republican.  He  owns  a  fine  home  and  760 
acres  of  fine  land. 

ANDREW  JACOBS,  carriage  and  wagon  maker,  under  the  firm  name  of  A. 
Jacobs  &  Co.,  San  Jose ;  was  born  in  Belsdorf,  Kreis,  New  Haldensleben,  R.  B.  Mag- 
deburg, Prussia,  Germany,  Sept.  17, 1830 ;  he  learned  the  trade  and  worked  at  the  wagon- 
making  business  there  from  1850  to  1855 ;  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Prussian  army,  and 
worked  a  year  during  his  service  in  the  King's  shops  ;  a  year  at  his  trade  for  the  King. 
In  1855,  he  got  a  pass  to  Bremen  for  a  year,  but  left  for  the  United  States  and  arrived 
at  New  York  City  Aug.  20,  1856  ;  he  came  on  West  to  Pekin,  111.,  and  worked  eight 
years  there  for  one  firm ;  he  then  began  on  his  own  account,  but  sold  out  in  the  spring 
of  1867 ;  that  fall,  he  moved  to  San  Jose,  and  built  himself  a  manufactory.  He  mar- 
ried Catharine  Fry  Nov.  22.  1858  ;  she  was  born  in  Reilingen  Baden.  Germany,  July 
28,  1839,  and  came  to  the  U.  S.  with  her  parents  in  1851 ;  they  have  had  nine  children, 
viz.,  Rudolph,  born  Sept.  30,  1859;  Robert  C.,  Sept.  25,  1861  ;  Oscar  0.,  Nov.  24, 
1863  ;  Catharine,  Feb.  15,  1866,  died  April  2,  1866;  Sophia  A.,  born  March  9,  1867; 
Maria  A.,  Dec.  12,  1869,  died  March  11,  1870  ;  Emma  H.,  born  July  7,  1872 ;  Fred- 
rick W.,  Feb.  15,  1875 ;  Minnie  M.,  Oct.  22,  1877.  He  owns  a  farm  of  205  acres  in 
Logan  Co.,  and  twenty  building  lots  in  San  Jose,  fine  house  and  workshops;  he  belongs 
to  the  L  0.  0.  F.,  in  San  Jose. 

THOMAS  S.  KNAPP,  merchant,  under  the  firm  name  of  Newman  &  Knapp, 
San  Jose  ;  was  born  in  Ajidover,  Henry  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  24,  1843 ;  at  the  age  of  20,  he 
commenced  teaching  district  school,  taught  two  winters  ;  his  principal  business  was 
farming.  Served  three  years  as  Constable  in  his  native  town.  In  April,  1870,  he 
moved  to  San  Jose,  and  engaged  clerking  for  his  brother,  Dr.  C.  D.  Knapp,  in  his  drug 
store  about  a  year  and  a  half;  he  then  went  into  partnership  with  his  brother  and  Julius 
Newman,  under  the  name  of  Newman  &  Knapp,  in  general  merchandising,  the  same  he 
is  now  engaged  in,  though,  in  January,  1874,  Jacob  Newman  purchased  the  interest  of 
his  brother  Julius,  and  succeeded  him  in  the  business.  Mr.  Knapp  has  held  the  office 
of  Village  Clerk  four  years,  Justice  of  the  Peace  the  same  time,  President  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  School  Director,  Assistant  Postmaster  about  four  years,  and  was 
elected  Township  Collector  last  April.  His  father,  Salmon  W.  Knapp,  and  mother, 
Anna  (Platt)  Knapp,  were  born  near  Danbury,  Conn.,  in  1810,  one  in  August,  the 
other  in  September,  and  were  married  in  1832,  and  moved  to  Henry  Co.  in  184J ;  his 
mother  died  June  9,  1869;  his  father  resides  in  Henry  Co.  now.  Thomas  S.  Knapp, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  married  Sadie  L.  Worthington  June  21,  1874;  she  was 
born  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  Dec.  7,  1843,  and,  with  her  parents,  went  to  Henry  Co.,  111., 
in  March,  1865,  where  they  now  reside.  Thomas  J.  Worthington,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Knapp,  was  born  in  Bucks  Co.,  Penn..  Nov.  29,  1810,  and  married  Eliza  A.  Freeman, 
the  mother  of  Mrs.  Knapp,  at  Columbus.  Ohio,  in  February,  1843 ;  this  was  Mr. 
Worthington's  third  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knapp  have  buried  their  only  two  chil- 
dren, viz.,  Dennie  W.,  born  April  29,  1875,  died  Dec.  22,  1878  ;  Katie  L.,  born  Jan. 
17,  1878,  died  Dec.  27,  the  same  year;  both  of  diphtheritic  or  membranous  croup. 
Mr.  Knapp  belongs  to  Lodge,  No.  380,  of  I.  0.  O.  F.,  and  is  Representative  to  the 
Grand  Lodge.  Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  he  is  Clerk 
of  the  same. 

JOSEPH  B.  KEHL,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  was  born  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  June  29,  1851  ;  his  father,  Jacob  Kehl.  was  born  in  Germany 
May  29,  1830,  and  married  Mary  Gatz  in  1850 ;  they  came  that  year  to  the  United 


840  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

States  and  settled  in  Cincinnati,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  boots  and 
shoes;  in  1854,  moved  to  Connersville,  Ind.,  where  he  died  Dec.  18.  1874,  and  is 
buried  there ;  she  still  resides  in  Connersville.  Joseph  B.  Kehl  married  Hannah  Alfa- 
rata  Miller  Jan.  1,  1874;  she  was  born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  5,  1853;  her  father 
and  mother  were  born  in  Indiana.  Mr.  Kehl  owns  a  nice  home  and  farm  of  160  acres 
in  Allen's  Grove  Township. 

GEORGE  LEONI,  farmer;  P.  0.  San  Jose;  was  born  in  Canton  Tessin,  Swit- 
zerland, Lacarno,  Feb.  18,  1801  ;  -at  the  age  of  14,  he  entered  the  "army  (instead  of  an 
older  brother  who  was  drafted  from  Switzerland,  in  the  interest  of  Napoleon  the  First, 
who,  at  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  surrendered  his  entire  army  to  Wellington ;  he  was 
made  a  prisoner  of  war,  and  assigned  to  the  prison  of  Perth,  Scotland,  where  he  was 
kept  a  year  and  a  half;  he  then  went  to  London,  and  learned  to  manufacture  optical 
and  mathematical  instruments ;  afterward  traveled,  working  at  his  trade  and  selling 
his  wares  through  all  the-  principal  cities  of  Europe;  in  1830,  he  returned  to  his 
home  in  Switzerland,  but  remained  only  six  months ;  he  returned  to  Liverpool  and 
took  passage  to  New  York  City,  where  he  arrived  in  September,  1831 ;  there  he 
engaged  in  manufacturing  optical  and  mathematical  instruments,  and  fancy  cabinet  ware 
(at  one  time  on  a  very  large  scale),  on  John  street,  occupying  three  large  four-story 
buildings ;  he  remained  in  New  York,  experiencing  the  not  uncommon  great  suc- 
cess, and  the  reverse,  of  enterprising  and  adventurous  business  men  until  September, 
1848,  when  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  about  a  year ;  he  then  quit  that 
business  altogether,  and  went  to  Tremont,  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  where  they  kept  a  small  fancy 
goods  store;  early  in  1851,  they  moved  to  the  place  where  they  now  reside  (Sec. 
35),  in  Allen's  Grove  Township,  then  called  Delavan's  Grove,  and  built  the  first  frame 
house  in  the  grove,  in  March,  1851.  He  married  Louisi  Monti,  in  New  York  City, 
Sept.  9,  1837  ;  she  was  born  m  Switzerland  Feb.  18,  1818,  and  came  with  her  parents 
to  New  York,  in  February,  1831  ;  they  have  had  nine  children — Josephine,  born  Sept. 
7,  1838,  died  in  January,  1839  ;  George  N.,  born  Jan.  25,  1840,  died  July  8,  1875; 
Leonena,  born  Oct.  17,  1842,  died  at  the  age  of  2  years;  Louisa,  born  Sept.  7,  1844, 
died  at  the  age  of  1  week;  Leonena,  born  Feb.  8,  1846;  Louisa  M.,  born  March  11, 
1848  ;  Veronica  E.,  born  March  2,  1851 ;  Josephine  A.,  born  May  15, 1853,  and  Rose 
C.,  born  Aug.  26,  1856  ;  Leonena  married  Win.  Caldwell  April  16,  1871  ;  he  died 
Dec.  24,1874;  Louisa  M.  married  A.  R.  Chestnut  Jan.  27,1874;  Josephine  A. 
married  John  Cra.bb  Nov.  25,  1874.  Mr.  Leoniowns  a  handsome  home  and  320  acres 
of  fine  land ;  in  religion  he  is  Roman  Catholic ;  in  politics  a  Democrat. 

WILLIAM  M.  MILLER,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Natrona  ;  was  born  in 
Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  June  16,  1830;  followed  farming;  came  to  Allen's  Grove  Township, 
where  he  now  resides,  in  September,  1858,  and  has  made  most  of  his  money  in  raising 
hogs  for  market ;  for  the  last  six  years,  he  has  made  a  specialty  of  breeding  Poland- 
China  swine;  his  father,  John  Miller,  was  born  in  Ohio,  A.  D.  1800,  and  -married  Cyn- 
thia Manlove,  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.',  she  was  born  Aug.  10,  1809,  and  died  March  21, 
1854  ;  he  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  hale  and  vigorous.  Wm. 
M.  Miller  married  Nancy  Jane  Childers  Sept.  5,  1852;  she  was  born  in  Madison  Co., 
Ind.,  July  9,  1833  ;  they  have  five  children — Hannah  A.,  born  Dec.  5,  1853  ;  Cynthia 
A.,  born  May  29,  1858;  Euphemia  May,  born  May  1,  1865;  Vilura,  born  Sept.  29, 
1866,  and  Josephine  L.,  bora  Aug.  27,  1871.  He  owns  a  beautiful  home  and  farm  of 
315  acres ;  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  of  Allen's  Grove  Township  ;  in  poli- 
tics, he  is  a  Democrat. 

JOHN  W.  MORRISON,  dealer  in  hardware,  stoves  and  tinware,  agricultural  im- 
plements, shelf  hardware,  iron  and  wood  pumps,  mechanics'  tools,  etc.,  San  Jose;  was 
born  in  Florid,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  April  7,  1844,  and  got  all  his  school  education  before 
he  was  14  years  old ;  followed  farming  some,  and  learned  the  tinner's  trade  in  Henry, 
Marshall  Co.;  at  the  age  of  20  commenced  working  as  a  journeyman;  io  1866,  went 
in  partnership  with  his  old  boss,  Richard  Dikes;  in  the  fall  of  1868,  he  came  to 
San  Joss,  and  went  into  partnership  with  a  Mr.  Hull,  the  firm  being  Hull  &  Morri- 
son;  in  1870,  he  commenced  alone,  and  has  so  continued  the  business;  he  belongs  to 


ALLEN'S   GROVE  TOWNSHIP.  841 

the  Order  of  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  also  I.  0.  0.  F.,  in  San  Jpse.  Feb.  23,  1875,  he  married 
Mary  E.  Booth ;  she  was  born  in  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  23,  1855 ;  they  have  one  little 
daughter — Sarah  F.,  born  Dec.  17,  1876;  he  owns  two  houses  and  five  building  lots 
in  San  Jose. 

JOHN  H.  MATHERS,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  was  born  April  23,  1827, 
in  Miami  Co.,  Ohio;  his  opportunities  for  obtaining  an  education  were  fair;  he  has  fol- 
lowed farming  chiefly,  though  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  ;  he  moved  to  Mason 
Co.  in  March,  1853;  he  bought  land  in  Pennsylvania  Township  in  1851,  whither  he 
moved  at  that  time.  He  married  'Elizabeth  Caven,  in  Miami  Co.,  Dec.  22,  1852,  where 
she  was  born  Jan.  18,  1826;  they  had  seven  children — Eugene,  born  Dec.  11,  1853  ; 
Artensa,  born  Aug.  23,  1855  ;  John  C.,  born  May  31,  1857  ;  Lucy  S.,  born  Oct.  10, 
1859;  George  B.,  born  Oct.  26,  1861;  B.  Franklin",  born  Jan.  28,  1864,  died  Sept. 
23.  1866 ;  James,  born  June  23,  1865,  died  Sept.  16/1865.  He  married,  fur  his  sec- 
ond wife,  Martha  J.  Wilson,  March  15,  1866,  who  was  also  born  in  Miami  Co.,  Ohio, 
July  31,  1835;  by  this  marriage  he  has  had  two  children — Erne  A.,  born  Feb.  8, 
1867,  and  Clarence,  born  Dec.  24,  1868,  died  Jan.  26,  1869 ;  he  owns  a  fine  home  in 
Allen's  Grove  Township,  and  1,260  acres  in  Mason  County,  besides  320  acres  in 
Kansas. 

FREDERICK  WILLIAM  PA  AS,  harness-maker,  and  all  kinds  of  horse- furnish- 
ing goods,  San  Jose;  was  born  in  Leichlingen,  Kreis,  Solingen,  Reg.  Dusseldorf,  Rhenish 
Prussia,  Sept.  15,  1831.  In  Prussia,  he  learned  the  weaver's  trade;  also  the  barber's 
trade.  Came  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  New  York  April  29,  and  in  St.  Louis 
May  8, 1856  ;  there  he  learned  to  make  horse-collars.  In  November  following,  he  went 
to  Quincy,  111.  ;  there  he  learned  harness-making ;  the  next  fall  he  went  to  Beardstown, 
111.,  and  worked  at  whatever  he  could  get  to  do.  July  20,  1852,  he  married  Catharine 
Strothmann  ;  she  was  born  in  Eperburgen,  Osnebrucek,  Prussia,  April  10,  1837,  and 
came  to  this  country  in  the  spring  of  1852  ;  Aug.  13,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  114th 
I.  V.  I.,  for  three  years;  they  were  assigned  to  the  15th  Army  Corps,  under  Gen. 
Sherman  ;  was  in  the  engagement  with  the  rebels  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg,  in  the  retaking  of  Jackson,  then  at  the  destruction  of  Brandon,  Miss.  ;  at 
Memphis,  in  1864,  his  brigade  was  transferred  to  the  16th  Army  Corps,  commanded  by 
Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  ;  was  in  the  defeat  of  Guntown,  Miss.  ;  for  a  long  time  skirmish- 
ing after  the  rebel  Gen.  Price's  army ;  went  to  Nashville  to  assist  Gen.  Thomas  in 
holding  it  against  Hood's  army  ;  was  in  the  battle  of  Mobile,  and  mustered  out  at 
Vieksburg,  reached  Springfield,  111.,  in  July,  and  was  discharged  Aug.  16,  1865. 
During  all  his  campaigning,  he  was  never  in  hospital.  Returned  to  Beardstown,  and 
remained  until  1 869  ;  he  then  moved  to  San  Jose,  where  he  now  resides.  They  have 
had  seven  children— Henry  W.,  born  April  7,  1860  (died  Aug.  4,  1860)  :  Elizabeth 
M.,  Sept.  10,  1861;  Albert  T.,  March  10,  1867  (he  died  at  the  age  of  3  weeks)  ; 
Lydia  C.,  April  29,  1870;  Frederick  W.,  Feb.  18,  1873;  George  E.,  July  6, 
1875,  and  Sophia  A.,  Jan.  6,  1879.  He  owns  a  good  house  and  store,  and  nine  lots  in 
San  Jose. 

LEONARD  REED,  farmer;  P.  0.  Natrona ;  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  April 
28,  1847 ;  its  the  only  son  living  of  Isaac  Reed,  of  Allen's  Grove  Township,  and  came 
here  with  his  parents  in  1854  ;  his  father,  Isaac  Reec",  was  born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn., 
Nov.  15,  1826  ;  was  raised  a  farmer,  but  learned  the  milling  business,  which  he  followed 
up  to  about  1868,  in  various  places.  In  1854,  he  bought  land  in  Allen's  Grove  Town- 
ship, and  moved  on  to  it  in  the  spring  of  1858,  where  he  now  resides  and  owns  620 
acres.  He  married  Catharine  Hanegan,  in  October,  1846 ;  she  was  born  in  Franklin 
Co.,  Ohio,  12, 1812  ;  they  had  two  children — Leonard  (the  subject  of  this  sketch)  and 
Jacob  Andrew,  born  June  28.  1849,  and  died  June  20,  1852.  Leonard  Reed  married 
Henrietta  McCollough  Dec.  25,  1872;  she  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  8, 
1S52  ;  her  father,  John  T.  McCollough,  was  born  Oct.  28,  1821,  and  married  Margaret 
G.  Mahaffy  Sept.  12,  1844  ;  she  was  born  Jan.  26,  1824.  He  died  Oct.  24,  1862  ; 
she  died  Feb.  2.">,  1 879,  in  Allen's  Grove  Township;  they  are  buried  in  Circleville, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leonard  Reed  have  three  children — John  Isaac,  born 


842  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

Feb.   19,   1874;    Frederick,   May   14,   1876,    and   Charles  E.,  born    Feb.   18,    1879.. 
Leonard  Reed  is  a  member  of  Lodge,  No.  645,  of  A.,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  San  Jose. 

CHRISTIAN  F.  SCHLINGER,  merchant,  dry  goods,  groceries,  notions,  queens- 
ware,  etc.  (country  produce  bought  and  sold),  San  Jose ;  was  born  in  North  Prussia 
June  23,  1832;  until  he  was  18  years  of  age,  he  remained  home  with  his  parents, 
attending  school  and  farm  work.  He  arrived  at  New  Orleans  in  June,  1850;  from 
there  he  went  up  to  St.  Louis :  on  account  of  the  prevalence  of  cholera,  they  were 
quarantined  five  days,  but  reached  St.  Charles,  Mo.,  his  place  of  destination,  in  July 
following;  there  he  remained,  engaged  variously  in  mercantile  business,  until  1865; 
that  year,  he  became  a  member  of  the  German  Southwestern  Methodist  Episcopal 
Conference;  was  ordained  Deacon  in  1867,  and  an  Elder  in  1869;  up  to  1875,  preached 
regularly  ;  then,  on  account  of  impaired  health,  he  took  a  superannuated  position, 
which  he  now  holds.  He  married  Catharine  A.  Westenkuehler  July  18,  1855  ;  she 
was  born  in  Germany  in  August,  1826  ;  they  have  had  five  children — Paulina  S.,. 
born  Jan.  1,  1859  ;  Julia  W.,  April  17,  1861  (died  May  30,  1864)  ;  Sophia  H.  H., 
April  12, 1863  ;  Mary  C.  E.,  May  2,  1865,  and  Annie  R.,  Feb.  17,  1870.  He  owns 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Tazewell  Co.,  and  a  store  and  three  lots  in  San  Jose. 

ISAAC  F.  STONE,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Mason  City  ;  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Mason 
Co.  ;  born  in  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  until  14  years  of  age,  at  which  time 
he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  and  located  in  Menard  Co.,  and  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  until  he  attained  his  majority.  In  1852,  he  went  by  ox  teams  overland 
to  California,  crossing  the  Rocky  Mountains  at  South  Pass  ;  he  followed  mining  in  Califor- 
nia, until  1858.  when  he  returned  and  purchased  80  acres  upon  Sec.  32,  Town  21, 
Mason  Co.,  to  which  he  has  since  added  until  he  now  owns  635  acres,  with  good 
farm  buildings,  where  he  has  resided  for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  He  married  Maria  P. 
Freeman  in  1858;  eight  children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  Lettie  M..  John  F.  and 
Walter  now  survive. 

WILLIAM  STEFFAN,  merchant  tailor,  San  Jose  ;  was  born  in  Babenhausen, 
Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  Sept.  6,  1834;  he  learned  and  worked  at  the  tailor  trade 
in  Germany.  He  landed  in  New  York  City  June  14,  1853;  arrived  at  Chicago  the 
next  week  ;  settled  at  his  trade  at  Blue  Island,  Cook  Co.,  111. ;  came  to  San  Jose,  where 
he  resides,  in  October,  1875.  He  married  Catharine  Elizabeth  Bauer,  at  Crown  Point, 
Ind.,  Mareh  27,  1859  ;  she  was  born  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  Nov.  27,  1837  ;  her  father  and 
mother  were  born  in  Germany,  and  married  in  Jersey  City,  N.  J.  ;  her  father,  George 
Bauer,  died  in  Sandwich,  111.,  Nov.  6,  1875  ;  her  mother,  Catharine  E.  Bauer,  resides 
in  Blue  Island,  111.  Mr.  jnd  Mrs.  Steffan  have  had  four  children — Catharine  E.,  born 
March  22,  1860,  died  Jan.  6,  1873;  George  W.,  born  April  13,  1862;  Frederick 
Adam,  Oct.  31,  1876,  and  Samuel  Christian,  Dec.  16, 1878.  He  owns  a  house  and  lot 
in  San  Jose. 

BENJAMIN  W.  TAYLOR,  Supervisor,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Mason 
City;  was  born  in  Pike  Co.,  Ind.,  Oct.  20,  1840;  came  to  Allen's  Grove,  with  his 
parents  in  April,  1851.  He  has  followed  farming  and  stock-raising,  mainly,  fine  horses 
and  swine.  In  April,  1865,  he  went  into  the  mercantile  business  in/  Mason  City,  but 
not  finding  it  altogether  to  his  liking,  and  too  confining  for  his  health,  he  sold  out  in  the 
fall  following;  he  married  Harriet  E.  Hill  Sept.  13,  1865:  she  was  born  in  Scott  Co., 
111.,  Aug.  6,  1850,  and  came  to  Mason  Co.,  with  her  parents  (who  now  reside  in  Mason 
City)  in  1860.  They  have  five  children— Harry  W.,  born  Sept.  18, 1866  ;  Reason  A., 
Sept,  18,  1869  ;  Charles  L.,  July  11,  1871  ;  Benjamin  W.,  Jan.  25,  1873,  and  Bessie, 
Dec.  25,  1875.  Mr.  Taylor  was  elected  Supervisor  in  April,  1879  ;  has  filled  the  office 
of  School  Director  for  six  years,  Clerk  of  the  Board  three  years;  also  Commissioner  of 
Highways  six  years,  and  Clerk  of  that  Board,  also  Treasurer.  As  a  gentleman  he  com- 
mands the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him.  He  owns  460  acres  of  land, 
and  a  fine  home  in  Allen's  Grove  Township,  where  he  resides. 


SALT   CREEK   TOWNSHIP.  84 3 


SALT  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM  F.  AUXIER,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  O.  Mason  City ;  was  born 
in  Floyd  Co.,  Ky.,  Jan.  26,  1834  ;  from  the  age  of  14  to  18  years,  he  followed  boating 
on  the  Big  Sandy  and  Ohio  Rivers  ;  all  the  schooling  he  received,  he  got  in  about  three 
months,  under  immeasurable  difficulties,  though  he  is  now  a  well-informed,  self-edu- 
cated man,  having  an  excellent  faculty  of  expressing  and  elucidating  any  subject,  on 
any  and  all  occasions  ;  in  business,  he  has  always  been  successful ;  in  1852,  he  came  to 
Mason  Co.,  and  worked  here  and  there  farming  and  herding  cattle  for  wages,  until 
1855  ;  he  then  commenced  on  his  own  account,  and  in  1856,  he  took  his  first  lot  of  fat 
cattle  to  New  Yor-k  City,  being  the  first  ever  shipped  by  cars  from  Salt  Creek  Town- 
ship. Oct.  25,  1859,  he  married  Mary  A.  Denham  ;  she  was  born  in  Hamilton  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1839  ;  they  have  three  children — Emma,  born  March  20,  1861 ;  Clark,  Dec. 
27,  1863;  Cora,  Dec.  15,  1865.  He  owns  400  acres  of  good  land  in  Salt  Creek  Town- 
ship. 

ISAAC  BELLAS,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Mason  City ;  was  born  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Penn., 
March  2,  1820 ;  his  advantages  for  a  common-school  education  were  fair  for  those 
days ;  several  winters  he  engaged  in  teaching  district  schools,  and  in  the  summer  worked 
at  farming.  Before  he  moved  West,  Nov.  21,  1846,  he  married  Miss  Dorcas  Bens- 
coter ;  she  was  born  in  the  same  county  March  17,  1827  ;  they  moved  to  Mason  Co., 
111.,  in  April.  1854;  he  worked  by  the  day,  farming,  until  fall,  when  he  put  in  a  crop 
of  wheat  for  himself;  the  next  spring,  he  bought  the  place  where  he  now  resides,  in 
Salt  Creek  Township  ;  he  has  never  taken  any  active  part,  politically,  but  has  held  some 
township  offices — twice  Assessor,  Collector  six  years,  and  School  Director  ten  years  ; 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  once,  but  declined  the  office ;  they  have  had  eight 
children — James,  born  Oct.  4,  1847,  died  Sept.  15,  1849;  Monemia  C.,  born  Sept.  6, 
1849,  died  Oct.  8,  1852;  Dyson  B.,  born  Jan.  17,  1853,  died  April  1,  1862;  Susanna 
E.,  born  May  5,  1857;  Sarah  A.,  Dec.  28,  1860,  died  April  8,  1869;  Mary  J.,  born 
Aug.  7,  1863;  Ross,  Feb.  25,  1866;  Rosa  A.,  Nov.  19,  1868.  He  owns  a  nice  farm 
of  120  acres;  is  a  Republican,  and  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Red  Men,  in  Mason  City. 

AARON  A.  BLUNT,  President  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Mason  City,  farmer 
and  stock- ra iser ;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  was  born  in  Hart  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  21,  1831,  and 
moved  to  Field's  Prairie,  in  what  is  now  Bath  Township,  Mason  Co.,  with  his  parents, 
Dec.  6,  1833 ;  since  his  early  youth,  he  has  given  his  attention  mainly  to  farming  and 
stock-raising;  has  been  a  Director  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Mason  City  since  its 
organization,  and  was  elected  its  President  in  February,  1879.  He  married  Martha 
Ann  Trailer  Feb.  26,1852;  she  was  born  in  Springfield,  111.,  June  23,  1831;  they 
have  had  nine  children — Laura,  born  Dec.  12,  1852,  died  Sept.  18,  1853;  Hiram  M., 
born  March  2,  1854,  died  June  20,  1855 ;  Stephen  L.,  born  Sept.  25,  1856;  Sinai  E.r 
Jan.  3,  1859;  Franklin  D.,  Feb.  23,  1861,  died  Sept.  30,  1863;  Lydia  A.,  born  May 
9,  1863;  Mary  I.,  Nov.  6,  1865;  Juliette  A.,  Sept.  21,  1868,  died  Aug.  10,  1870; 
Alonzo  A.,  born  March  23,  1872.  Mr.  Blunt  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  Dec. 
16,  1849;  was  ordained  to  the  ministry,  and  has  held  the  pastorate  of  several  churches. 
His  father,  Thomas  F.  Blunt,  was  born  in  Kent  Co.,  Md.,  July  24,  1800,  and  moved 
to  Kentucky  in  his  boyhood.  Feb.  26,  1822,  he  married  Sinai  F.  Alderson,  of  Hart 
Co.,  Ky.;  they  had  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living — Aaron  A.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  Lydia  F.,  Hiram  and  Thomas  R.  In  the  fall  of  1831,  he  moved  to  Cal- 
away  Co.,  Mo.,  and  in  1832,  to  what  is  now  'Mason  Co.;  Dec.  6,  1833,  he  was  an 
organic  or  charter  member  of  the  Mt.  Zion  Baptist  Church,  and  is  the  only  male  char- 
ter member  now  living  in  the  county;  in  1849,  unaided  and  alone,  he  built  a  house  for 
school  and  church  purposes,  and  at  his  own  expense  provided  a  teacher  for  the  ensuing 
winter;  he  bought  and  used  the  first  power  threshing  machine,  also  the  first  reaper  ever 
used  in  Mason  Co.;  the  17th  of  August,  1872,  had  an  attack  of  palsy  of  his  right 


844  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

side,  from  which  he  has  never  recovered.  Though  infirm  and  aged,  he  is  living  happy 
and  contented  with  his  youngest  son,  Thomas  R.,  at  Field's  Prairie,  in  Bath  Township, 
Mason  Co. 

HENRY  C.  BURNH AM,  farmer;  P.  0.  Mason  City  ;  was  born  in  Hampton, 
Conn.,  Jan.  30,  1826.  He  was  educated  at  home,  and  also  furnished  the  advantages  of 
high  schools  and  academies  abroad.  At  the  age  of  19,  he  moved  to  Champaign  Co., 
Ohio,  and  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  awhile,  and  finally  entered  the  mercantile  bus- 
iness, which  being  too  confining,  he  sold  out  and  returned  to  Connecticut.  He  there 
married  Miss  Angeline  Currier  Dec.  1(5,  1847.  She  was  born  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  16,  1825..  Her  father,  Elisha  Currier,  married  Mary  Blaisdell  Oct.  9,  1817,  in 
New  Hampshire,  and,  in  1823,  they  moved  to  Naples,  N.  Y.  Her  mother  died  (in 
Woodstock,  Ohio,  May  15,  1868,  aged  73  years ;  her  father  still  resides  in  Woodstock, 
in  the  87th  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Burnhani  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1852,  and 
settled  in  Salt  Creek  Township ;  he  is  a  member  of  and  Master  of  Mason  City  Lodge, 
No.  403,  A.,  F.  &  A.  Masons  ;  he  has  been  Associate  Justice  of  the  County  Court ; 
Treasurer  of  the  school  fund  many  years  ;  is  Supervisor ;  though  in  no  sense  has  he  ever 
been  an  office-seeker.  They  have  seven  children — Lora  M.,born  Oct.  16,  1848  ;  Alonzo 
F.,  June  29,  1853  ;  Rose  A.,  Oct.  8,  1855  ;  James  E.,  January  9,  1857  ;  George  T., 
Aug.^20,  1860  ;  Henry  P.,  Dec.  7,  1862,  and  Caroline  A.,  July  4,  1866.  He  owns  a  fine 
farm  of  320  acres,  and  a  good  substantial  home  with  modern  improvements  and  com- 
forts. 

ABRAM  CEASE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  ;  P.  0.  Mason  City  ;  was  born  in  Luzerne 
Co.,  Penn.,  June  6,  1824;  he  followed  farming  and  lumbering.  Married  Ellen  Wandel 
Feb.  13,  1847  ;  she  was  born  in  the  same  county  Dec.  28,  1826.  Her  father,  James 
Wandel,  was  also  born  in  that  county  May  3,  1790,  and  married  Lucy  Tilbury,  who 
died  May  22,  1854,  aged  61  years  10  months  and  26  days.  She  was  buried  in  Penn- 
sylvania Township.  James  Wandel  died  in  Luzerne  Co.  while  on  a  visit  to  his  old  home, 
Feb.  18,  1874.  During  his  lifetime  in  the  Eastern  wilds,  and  on  the  Western  prairies, 
he  was  a  great  hunter ;  many  a  noble  buck,  bear,  wolf,  catamount  and  fox,  and  smaller  game 
have  succumbed  to  his  unerring  aim.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cease  moved  to  Mason  Co.  in  May, 
1849  (her  parents  came  a  year  later),  and  entered  land  in  what  is  now  Pennsylvania 
Township.  In  the  spring  of  1851,  they  moved  a  granary  building  (thirteen  miles), 
which  was  10x12  feet,  on  to  their  farm  on  Pennsylvania  Lane,  in  which  they  (family  of  five 
persons)  lived  while  they  erected  a  house,  which  was  the  first  built  on  Pennsylvania 
Lane.  They  moved  into  it  Sept.  15  following.  That  season  they  raised  corn  ;  in  the 
fall  sowed  wheat;  so  they  were  comfortably  fixed  in  their  pioneer  home.  In  1867,  sold 
their  farm  and  moved  to  Mason  City,  and,  in  1878,  moved  to  their  farm  where  they 
now  reside,  in  Salt  Creek  Township.  They  have  had  ten  children — Elvira,  born  March 
5,  1848,  she  married  Schuyler  J.  Ross  ;  Eliva,  Aug.  28,  1849,  she  married  William 
Stickler;  Emma  J.,  Nov.  16,  1850,  she  married  Simon  Stickler;  Henry  B.,  born  Sept. 
21,  1852.  died  Nov.  8,  following:  Mary  M.,  born  April  8,  1854,  died  Nov.  14,  1855  ; 
Charles  W.,  born  June  26,  1855 ;  Frances  L.,  Nov.  29,  1857,  she  married  Isaac  W. 
Hendry;  George  A.,  March  2,  1860;  James  P.,  born  Feb.  8,  1863,  died  Nov.  26,  fol- 
lowing; and  Oscar  J.,  born  June  16,  1865.  They  own  a  fine  farm  of  240  acres,  also 
two  houses  and  lots  in  Mason  City.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

GEORGE  W.  ELY,  farmer;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  was  born  in  Batavia,  Clermont 
Co..  Ohio,  Feb.  11,  1820,  where  he  followed  market  gardening.  He  married  Lydia  C. 
Noble  July  27,  1846.  She  was  born  in  Bethel,  the  same  county,  Feb.  26,  1826.  They 
moved  to  Cass  Co.,  LI.,  in  the  spring  of  1854,  and  to  Mason  Co.,  where  he  now  resides, 
in  the  fall,  on  to  his  own  farm.  His  father,  George  Ely,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and 
married  Mary  Maunt  in  New  Jersey.  They  moved  to  Clermont  Co.,  Ohio,  at  an  early 
day  ;  lie  bought  land,  and  laid  out  Batavia  on  his  farm  ;  he  kept  a  hotel,  and  was  Sheriff 
of  the  county  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  G.  W.  Ely  commenced  farming  here  under  a 
cloud  of  unfavorable  circumstances,  largely  owing  to  the  breaking-out  of  the  rebellion, 
being  in  debt,  having  to  pay  exorbitant  interest  (18  per  cent),  his  corn  bringing  only  8 
to  10  cents  per  bushel,  but  energy  and  perseverance  have  enabled  him  to  overcome  and 


SALT   CREEK   TOWNSHIP.  845 

rise  above  all  these  troubles,  and  place  him  and  his  in  comfort  and  independence.  They 
have  five  children — Sarah  J.,  born  July  6,  1846;  Eugene  B.,  Dec.  4,  1848;  George 
C.,  Nov.  8,  1851  ;  John  H.,  Sept.  9,  1801  ;  James  N.,  May  24,  1863.  The  first  three 
were  born  in  Newtown,  Ohio,  aud  the  other  two  in  Salt  Creek  Township.  He  owns  a 
fine  farm  of  304  acres,  and  a  good  home.  In  politics,  is  a  Republican. 

WILLIAM  P.  FAULKNER,  farmer  and  stock-raiser ;  P.  O.  Mason  City ;  was 
born  in  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  23,  1825  ;  with  his  parents,  he  went  to  Fulton  Co., 
111.,  Nov.  30,  1838,  and,  in  February,  1839,  to  Mason  Co.  In  the  spring  of  1851,  he 
began  farming  on  his  own  account;  not  being  worth  a  dollar,  yet  his  credit  enabled  him 
to  buy  forty  acres  prairie  land  on  time,  and  live  in  a  shanty  until  they  could  do  better. 
He  married  Melissa  A.  Virgin  March  20,  the  same  year;  she  was  born  in  Ohio  Dec.  4, 
lS:n.  They  had  five  children— Thomas  J.,  born  Dec.  27,  1852,  and  died  March  8, 
1853 ;/  Eliza  J.,  born  Feb.  25,  1854,  died  Aug.  3,  1873;  Arabella  E.,  born  Feb.  28, 
1856,  died  April  15,  1857;  Belle  A.,  born  Nov.  6,  1860,  died  April  28,  1865,  and 
Francis  R.,  born  Dec.  16,  1863.  Mrs.  Faulkner  died  March  22,  1877.  His  second 
marriage  was  celebrated  Sept.  5,  1877,  with  Mrs.  Mahulda  Phillips,  of  Mason  Co.  ;  she 
was  born  May  ,24,  1855.  She  has,  in  her  union  with  John  M.  Phillips,  deceased,  two 
children— Walter  R.,  born  Sept.  4,  1873,  and  William  K.,  born  Jan.  13,  1875.  By 
this  second  marriage,  they  have  one  child — Ora  May,  born  Feb.  19,  1879.  Mr.  Faulkner 
now  owns  604  acres  of  as  good  land  as  there  is  in  Mason  Co. 

DAVID  W.  HILYARD,  farmer  and  stock-raiser ;  P.O.Teheran;  was  born  in 
Cumberland  Co.,  N.  J.,  April  1,  1827.  Married  Catharine  F.  Tomlinson,  of  the  same 
county,  Sept.  4,  1851  ;  her  birthday  occurred  March  9,  1833;  they  moved  to  Mason 
Co.,  111.,  in  March,  1855,  and  opened  a  general  country  store  in  Salt  Creek  Township, 
but  sold  it  out  in  the  fall  of  1856 ;  in  the  spring  of  1857,  moved  to  the  farm  where 
they  now  reside;  Feb.  17,  1867,  their  house  was  entirely  destroyed  by  fire,  and  so  sud- 
denly, though  at  midday,  they  found  it  impossible  to  save  anything  except  a  very  little 
bedding  and  personal  clotMng.  They  have  had  twelve  children,  viz.,  Mary  E.,  born 
Oct.  15,  1852  (she  married  Lorenzo  F.  Chester,  and  resides  in  Cass  Co.,  Iowa);  Han- 
nah H.,  born  Sept.  11,  1854 ;  Preston  J.  P.,  June  4,  1856  (lives  in  Cass  Co.,  Iowa)  ; 
Emer  E.,  Aug.  26,  1858,  died  Sept.  23,  1859  ;  Lincoln  Hamlin,  born  Aug.  26,  1860  ; 
Edmond  F.,  Aug.  15,  1862;  Robert  F.,  March  2,  1865;  Emer  E.,  Dec.  10,  1867; 
Charles  B.,  Sept.  9,  1869;  George  H.,  Nov.  2,  1871,  died  Aug.  14,  1872  ;  Walter  R., 
born  Feb.  16,  1874,  died  July  31,  1874,  and  Joseph  L.,  born  Sept.  30,  1876,  died 
Oct.  27,  1876.  In  New  Jersey,  Mr.  Hilyard  was  a  member  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and 
in  politics  is  a  Republican  ;  he  owns  a  good  farm  of  160  acres,  and  a  nice  home. 

MICHAEL  MALONEY,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  was  born 
in  Westinade  Co.,  Ireland;  in  the  fall  of  1854,  he  landed  in  New  York  City;  there  he 
worked  at  his  trade — stone-cutting — until  the  next  summer ;  he  then  went  to  Mason 
Co.,  111.,  where  he  worked  at  farming  about  a  year  and  a  half  for  wages,  then  he  rented 
farm  land ;  in  1867,  he  made  a  small  land  purchase  where  he  now  resides,  in  Salt  Creek 
Tuwnship.  He  married  Sarah  E.  Hadlock,  of  Mason  Co.,  in  1861  ;  they  had  two 
children,  viz.,  Mary  A.,  born  Aug.  4,  1862,  died  March  18.  1866  ;  Edward  F.,  born 
March  9,  1864,  died  Sept.  24,  1864;  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Maloney  died  Aug.  19,  1866. 
His  second  marriage  was  celebrated  March  26,  1867,  with  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Auxier ;  she 
was  born  near  Swing's  Grove,  in  Mason  Co..  Dec.  13,  1840;  she  had  four  children  by 
her  marriage  with  Samuel  W.  Auxier,  viz.,  George  W.,  born  July  19,  1855,  died  Oct. 
22,  1864;  'Mary  L.,  born  April  3,  1857,  died  Sept.  10,  1858  ;  John,  born  July  8,  1860, 
and  Samuel  L.,  born  March  26,  1862.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maloney  have  five  children,  viz., 
Anna  Virgin,  born  Jan.  31,  1868;  Elizabeth  E.,  Nov.  16,  1870;  Emma  D.,  March  31, 
1872;  Thomas  L.,  April  20,  1874,  and  Sarah  May,  June  8,  1876.  Mr.  Malony  is 
serving  his  second  term  as  School  Director,  and  second  year  as  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways;  he  belongs  to  the  "  Modoc  Tribe  of  Red  Men,"  No.  14;  he  owns  a  fine,  wull- 
improved  farm,  containing  305  acres. 

GEORGE  W.  MOSLANDER,  farmer;  P.  O.  Teheran;  was  born  in  Sangamon 
Co.,  111.,  May  13,  1844;  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Moslander ;  they  moved  to  Mason 


846  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

Co.  in  1845.  He  married  Frances  E.  Douglas,  of  Fulton  Co.,  Ill  ,  Nov.  11,  1869 ;  she 
was  born  in  Clark  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  12,  1848;  they  have  had  three  children,  viz.,  Law- 
rence, born  July  29,  1871,  died  July  31,  1872;  Ida  May,  born  Oct.  12,  1873;  Louis, 
June  28,  1875.  In  August,  1802,  Mr.  Moslander  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  of  the  85th  I.  V. 
I.,  for  three  years'  service;  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Peiryville,  Ky.,  Stone  Rive  r, 
Chickamauga,  Lookout  Mountain,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  at  the  siege  of  Atlanta, 
Ga. ;  July  27,  1864,  was  taken  prisoner  and  taken  to  Anderson ville ;  in  three  months, 
was  removed  to  the  prison  in  Millen,  Ga. ;  kept  about  three  months,  then  to  Savanna, 
Ga.,  about  six  weeks ;  he  was  then  taken  back  to  Andersonville,  where  he  was  kept  till 
April  29,  1865 ;  was  then  sent  to  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  and  exchanged ;  he  was  given 
transportation  from  there  to  Annapolis,  Md. ;  thence  to  St.  Louis,  Mo. ;  thence  to 
Springfield,  111.,  where  he  got  his  discharge,  in  June,  1865.  When  he  entered  Ander- 
sonville prison,  he  weighed  145  pounds;  when  he  left  it,  his  weight  was  reduced  to  65 
pounds.  Comment  is  unnecessary  here.  He  then  returned  to  his  farm  in  Salt  Creek 
Township,  where  he  now  resides,  and  owns  a  fine  home  and  farm  of  1 60  acres. 

WILLIAM  McCARTY,  farmer  and  breeder  of  blooded  Holstein  and  Jersey 
cattle  and  Yorkshire  swine;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  was 'born  in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  11, 
1845  ;  is  the  eldest  son  of  Thomas  McCarty,  of  Mason  City.  He  married  Sarah  J. 
Ely,  daughter  of  George  W.  Ely,  of  Salt  Creek  Township,  Dec.  16,  1866;  they  have 
four  children,  viz.,  William  E.,  born  Sept.  11,  1867;  George  T.,  March  14,  1870; 
Malinda  J.,  Sept.  25,  1873,  and  Francis  Otis,  Feb.  19,  1878.  He  is  working  one  of 
his  father's  farms  in  Salt  Creek  Township,  of  240  acres,  and  has  a  pleasant  home. 

JOHN  McCARTY,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  ;  P.  0.  Mason  City ;  was  born  in 
Clark  Co.,  Ohio,  April  19,  1836 ;  came  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  with  his  parents  in  the  fall 
of  1838 ;  in  1839,  moved  to  Mason  Co.,  where  he  now  resides ;  has  always  followed 
farming  and  raising  stock;  his  father  and  mother  moved  from  North  Carolina  to  Ohio. 
Mr.  McCarty  married  Anna  Josephine  Beck  November  14,  1867  ;  she  was  born  in 
Shelby  Co.,  Ohio,  March  9,  1847.  Mr.  McCarty  began  life  with  nothing  and  never 
had  a  cent  given  him ;  he  now  owns  a  fine  home  and  1,066  acres  of  land  in  Salt  Creek 
Township  and  ten  acres  inside  the  corporation  of  Mason  City.  Is  a  Director  in  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Mason  City ;  was  Commissioner  of  Highways  nine  years,  but 
declined  the  honor  in  1878.  He  belongs  to  Modoc  Tribe  of  Red  Men,  No.  14,  of 
Mason  City.  They  have  two  children — Onie  Bell,  born  May  7,  1869,  and  Ida  Dell, 
born  Jan.  10, 1873. 

JACOB  F.  MULFORD,  farmer:  P.  0.  Mason  City  :  was  born  in  Dearborn  Co., 
Ind.,  Aug.  12,  1838;  came  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  in  November,  1847.  Aug.  1,  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  A,  28th  I.  V.  I.,  for  three  years'  service ;  previously,  he  enlisted  for 
the  ninety  days'  call,  but  was  not  ordered  out  unti]  after  he  re-enlisted,  as  above  stated  : 
he  received  a  bullet  in  his  leg  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  that  laid  him  up  about  two  months ; 
he  was  in  many  other  and  some  serious  engagements  ;  he  re-enlisted  Jan.  4.  1863,  for 
another  three  years  or  during  the  war,  and  remained  in  the  service  almost  a  year  after 
the  surrender  of  the  last  rebel ;  was  discharged  at  Brownsville,  Texas,  April  14,  1866 ; 
what  were  le't  of  their  regiment  disbanded  at  Springfield,  111.  He  married  Miss 
Clarinda  McCarty  May  27,  1866 ;  she  was  born  in  Salt  Creek  Township  Mar?h  18, 
1848  ;  they  have  had  nine  children— Thomas  E.,  born  April  28,  1867  ;  Carrie  I.,  Dec. 

5,  1868;  Norman  0.,  March  7,  1870;   Effie  M.,  Sept.  14,  1871  ;  Rosie  E.,  Jan.  29, 
1873;  Jacob  E.,  Aug.  22,  1874,  died  Dec.  26,  1877  ;  John  H.,  born  June  14,  1876; 
William  L.,  Nov.  4,   1877,  and  the  baby,  March  12,  1879.     Sept.  12,  1874,  they 
moved  to  Missouri  and  remained  three  years,  and  then  returned  to  the  farm  where  they 
now  reside  in  Salt  Creek  Township. 

ALPHEUS  P.  ROLL,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Teheran;  was  born  in 
Sangamon  Co.  111.,  Sept.  17,  1830;  moved  to  the  place  where  he  now  resides  in  Salt 
Creek  Township  in  1851.  His  father,  William  Roll,  was  born  in  Essex  Co.,  N.  J.,  June 
16,  1786,  and  married  Mary  Eddy,  of  the  same  place;  she  was  born  Feb.  18,  1793  ; 
they  moved  to  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  in  1830  ;  he  died  Aug.  11,  1849,  and  she  died  Dec. 

6,  1876.     Alpheus  P.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  married  Mary  E.  Moslander  April  6, 


SALT   CREEK   TOWNSHIP.  847 

1850,  at  Bath,  Mason  Co.,  111. ;  she  was  born  in  Cape  May  Co.,  N.  J.,  Jan.  12,  1828  ; 
her  father,  James  Moslander,  and  her  mother,  Elizabeth,  were  born  in  Cape  May  Co., 
N.  J.,  he  in  1795,  she  in  1806;  they  moved  to  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  in  1840,  and  to 
Mason  Co.  in  1845  ;  he  died  in  April,  1849  ;  she  died  Nov.  24,  1876.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Roll  have  had  seven  children— L.  G.,  born  Sept,  24,  1850,  died  Aug.  28,  1851  ; 
James  M.,  born  Oct.  7,  1851,  died  Aug.  24,  1853;  John  E.  and  Mary  E.^born  Sept. 
14,  1853;  Rosa  R.,  April  26,  1859,  died  Nov.  15,  1862;  Charles  H.,  born  Sept.  13, 
1863;  Sidney  R.,  March  19,  1866.  John  E.  married  Phoebe  D.  Roll;  they  reside 
near  his  father.  Mary  E.  married  William  Peterson  and  resides  in  Cass  Co.,  Iowa.  Mr. 
Roll  owns  360  acres  and  a  very  fine  home  and  surroundings  complete,  also  a  house  and 
lot  in  Mason  City. 

JOHN  Y.  SWAAR,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.O.  Mason  City;  was  born  in 
Scioto  Co.,  Ohio,  March  17,  1816  ;  from  1829  to  1836,  he  was  engaged  in  boating  on 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers;  moved  to  Illinois  in  1837;  although  he  has  ever 
since  lived  within  five  miles  of  his  present  residence  in  Salt  Creek  Township,  has  lived 
in  Sangamon,  Menard  and  Mason  Cos.  He  mawied  Sarah  R.  Powell,  of  Menard  Co., 
Aug.  20,  1840  ;  she  was  born  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  June  4,  1822  ;  her  father  and  mother 
moved  from  Kentucky  to  Ohio,  and  from  there  to  Indiana,  and  to  Menard  Co.  in  1825  ; 
they  have  had  twelve  children — Henry  M.,  born  Aug.  9,  1841  ;  Harriet  E.,  Aug.  27, 
1843  (married  Edward  S.  Hibbard  and  lives  in  Kansas);  William  M.,  Nov.  3,  1845; 
George  H.,  Oct.  6,  1847  (married  Mary  E.  Engel  (deceased  June  10,  1879,  aged  19 
years  4  months  and  3  days);  Sarah  K.,  born  April  6,  1850  (married  William  Mark- 
well);  Alcy  J.,  born  Feb.  20,  1852;  Samuel  P.,  Sept.  1,  1854,  died  Sept.  14,  same 
year;  Amanda  I.,  born  Nov.  26,  1855;  John  C.,  Dec.  21,  1857;  Oratia  N.  and 
Letitia  A.,  Sept.  12,  1859  ;  Abigail,  Oct.  4,  1863.  Mr.  Swaar  and  his  sons  own  640 
acres  of  fine  land  in  Salt  Creek  Township. 

PULASKI  SCOVIL,  farmer;  P.  0.  Teheran;  was  born  in  Litchfield  Co., 
Conn.,  January  28,  1808;  in  1826,  he  went  to  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  bought  a  saw- 
mill and  300  acres  of  timber,  which  he  soon  sold  at  an  advance,  and  went  to  Brockport, 
in  company  with  a  silversmith  and  jeweler ;  but  he  soon  had  the  business  alone, 
and  manufactured  silverware  and  sent  out  peddlers  of  his  wares  and  jewelry  until  1831, 
when  he  moved  to  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  continuing  in  the  same  business,  with  the  addition 
of  dry  goods  and  notions.  In  July,  1831,  he  married  Sarah  Jerome;  she  was  born  in 
Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1813,  and  deceased  in  1840.  In  the  fall  of  1832,  betook  his 
broken  stocks  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  opened  an  auction  store;  it  took  three  months  to 
dispose  of  all  the  goods ;  he  then  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  commenced  the  manu- 
facturing of  silverware  ana  the  jewelry  business  in  general,  which  he  continued  success- 
fully five  years ;  in  the  spring  of  1837,  he  moved  to  Havana,  in  this  county,  where  he 
owned  an  interest  in  a  steam  saw-mill,  bought  the  balance  of  the  mill,  and  went  to  lum- 
bering generally;  this  mill  burned  down  in  1841  ;  he  then  went  to  Waterford,  Fulton 
Co.,  111.,  and  bought  an  old  mill  and  fitted  it  up,  and,  in  1845,  he  built  another  ;  both  of 
these  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1850 — uninsured  ;  he  then  went  to  Salt  Creek  Township, 
where  he  now  resides,  and  has  since  followed  farming  ;  the  first  year,  with  the  help  of 
one  man,  he  broke  120  acres  of  prairie,  from  which  he  got  his  first  crop  of  fall  wheat — 
.'5,5(1(1  bushels,  which  may  be  considered  a  good  yield.  The  issue,  living,  of  his  union 
with  Sarah  Jerome  are  Louisa,  Ellen,  George  W.  and  Emily.  His  second  marriage  was 
with  Olive  Cross,  of  Havana,  III.,  in  the  fall  of  l842  ;  she  died  in  1845  ;  he  then 
married  for  his  third  wife  Anna  Bordwine,  of  Fulton  Co.,  111.,  in  1847  ;  by  this  union, 
they  have  one  son  living — Benjamin  F.  His  fourth  marriage  was  with  Caroline  N. 
Button,  of  Connecticut,  in  1855;  she  died  in  1860;  he  then  married  Mrs.  Hannah 
Jones  June  23,  1862;  she  was  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Ohio",  Dec.  29, 
1832;  they  have,  by  this  issue,  five  children  living — Katie  S.,  Pulaski  J., 
Oliver  H.,  Martha  L.  and  Arthur  A.  By  her  marriage  with  Greenberry  Jones, 
she  has  four  children  living — William  E.,  Abner,  Mary  K.  and  Cornelia  Jones.  Mr. 
Scovil  owns  565  acres  of  splendid  land  in  Salt  Creek  Township,  and  a  fine  home  and 
surroundings,  and  400  acres  in  Missouri. 


848  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


FOREST    CITY    TOWNSHIP. 

W.  F.  BJIUNING,  farmer;  P.  0.  Forest  City;  was  born  near  Bremen,  Germany, 
Feb.  5,  1822;  when  about  18  years  of  age,  he  shipped  on  board  the  German  whale- 
ship  Izaria,  bound  for  Greenland,  where  the  crew  engaged  in  catching  whales  and  seals ; 
the  Izaria  sailed  within  a  very  short  distance  of  the  most  northern  point  known  at  that 
time.  Mr.  Bruning  followed  the  sea  for  several  years,  visiting  many  different  parts  of 
the  world,  and  seeing  many  curious  sights.  In  1848,  be  came  to  Illinois,  and,  in  the 
following  year,  located  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  June  18,  1841,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Magdelain  Allebrand  in  New  York  City ;  they  have  seven  children,  six  of 
them  boys — Elizabeth  J.,  Fred  L.,  Harman  G.,  Ira  W.,  Henry  T.,  William  A.  and 
George  A.  Mr.  Bruning  assisted  in  organizing  the  first  Sunday  school  in  this  part  of 
the  country,  and  is  a  consistent  member,  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  160  acres  situated  near  Forest  City,  111. 

GEORGE  W.  DUNN,  physician,  Forest  City;  son  of  Richard  and  Ann  (Wil- 
kinson) Dunn.  His  father  was  born  at  Gales,  Yorkshire,  England,  in  1806  and  died 
in  1875  ;  he  was  a  shoemaker.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Letitia  Wil- 
kinson, of  England,  was  born  in  1809  and  is  still  living,  in  England.  They  had  four 
children,  all  of  whom  survive,  viz.,  James,  living  at  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  England,  who 
is  general  freight  agent  of  the  Trafalgar  Street  Station  ;  Jane,  living  in  Richmond, 
England ;  Ann,  married  and  living  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland ;  and  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  who  was  born  June  29,  1841,  in  Richmond,  Yorkshire,  England ;  he  early 
attended  school  at  the  national  and  corporation  schools  in  Richmond;  in  1854,  he  was 
appointed  as  pupil  teacher  in  the  national  school,  in  which  he  served  five  years.  He 
passed  a  yearly  examination  ;  in  1860,  he  came  to  Massachusetts  and  engaged  for  six 
months  in  a  woolen  mill  ;  leaving  there,  he  assisted  in  the  office  of  the  American  Tem- 
perance Union,  at  New  York,  for  some  time,  and  afterward  engaged  in  charge  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  at  Milburn,  N.  J.;  in  September,  1861,  he  was  received  into  the  North 
Ohio  Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and,  in  1863,  was  ordained  Deacon  and,  in  1865, 
Elder.  He  was  married,  Sept.  10,  1863,  to  Kate  Shaffner,  daughter  of  Martin  and 
Susannah  ShafFner,  of  Pennsylvania ;  her  father  was  born  in  1787  and  died  in  1870  ; 
her  mother  was  born  in  1809  and  died  in  1850;  both  were  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  he  for  sixty-five  years.  Mrs.  Dunn  was  born  April  4,1841.  In  1865,  the  Doctor 
moved  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Knox  Co.,  engaging  in  the  ministry  and  practicing 
medicine;  in  1869,  he  moved  to  Barton  Co.,  Mo.,  and  continued  in  the  ministry  and 
practicing,  afterward  moving  to  Jasper  Co.,  Mo.,  continuing  the  same  avocations ;  in 
1871-72,  he  attended  the  Eclectic  Medical  College,  at  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  was  valedic- 
torian of  the  class  and  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1872;  he  returned  and  continued 
his  practice  at  Georgia  City,  Jasper  Co.,  Mo.;  he  afterward  moved  to  Newton  Co.,  Mo.. 
practicing  there  some  time,  and  thence  to  Barton  Co.,  in  1876  ;  he  still  continued  his 
professions,  and,  while  there,  was  made  President  of  Barton  County  Sabbath  School 
Association  for  two  terms;  they  then  located  at  Forest  City,  111.,  July  12,  1877, 
where  they  have  been  ever  since ;  he  still  continues  his  practice  and  is  doing  a  lucra- 
tive business.  He  not  only  devotes  his  time  to  his  profession  but  throws  his  soul  into 
the  duties  of  the  Sabbath  school,  church  and  temperance  movement,  which  should  be 
the  effort  of  every  physician  who  expects  the  smile  of  Providence  on  his  labors.  He 
is  now  Vice  President  of  the  Sabbath  School  Association  of  Forest  City  Township 
and  was  chose"n  lay  delegate  to  the  Illinois  Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church  for  1879  ; 
he  and  his  wife  retain  their  membership  in  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Forest  City  ;  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Missouri  State  Eclectic  Medical  Society  and  is  at  present  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Illinois  Eclectic  Medical  Society ;  he  was  also  Corresponding  Secretary  of 
the  Missouri  Medical  Association.  They  have  five  children — Harry  W.,  A.  Lincoln, 
Kingsley  G  ,  Anna  K.,  and  Richard  Martin — deceased  in  February,  1879. 


FOREST   CITY    TOWNSHIP.  849 

GEORGE  HIMMEL,  farmer ;  P.  O.  Bishop's  Station  ;  is  a  brother  of  J.  W.  C. 
and  T.  F.  Himuiel,  whose  sketches  appear  elsewhere  in  this  work ;  he  was  born  Dec.  11, 
1835,  in  Germany,  and  in  1846  he  came  with  the  family  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  making 
their  first  settlement  in  Quiver  Township,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  T.  F.  Himmel ; 
he  remained  there  until  married  Sept.  14,  1859,  to  Elizabeth  Haas,  daughter  of  Carl 
Gumbel,  of  .Germany,  a  blacksmith.  They  soon  settled  on  her  farm  of  200  acres 
in  Spring  Lake  Township,  remaining  there  eleven  years,  and  then  moved  to  Forest  City 
Township,  and  settled  there  on  160  acres,  partly  inherited  by  his  father;  they  have  in 
all  520  acres,  probably  worth  §50  per  acre.  In  1864,  he  was  licensed  as  a  local 
preacher  of  the  Evangelical  Association  ;  he  has  had  nine  children — Elmira,  Katie  E., 
Charles  E.,  Annie,  George  A.,  Henry,  Mary,  Frank  and  an  infant  deceased  ;  all  belong 
to  Church.  Mr.  Himmel  has  been  connected  with  the  school  offices,  and  has  been  Super- 
intendent of  Sabbath  schools.  Though  his  sun  is  now  declining  in  the  western  horizon,  he 
enjoys  good  health,  and  is  quite  active  for  his  years.  Faithful  and  reliable  in  all  his 
relations  of  life,  he  bids  fair  for  more  extended  usefulness  in  the  country  where  he 
resides. 

MRS.  LOIS  A.  INGERSOLL,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Forest  City  ;  widow  of  the  lateSam- 
uel  Hinkley  Ingersoll,  who  was  born  in  Hinckley,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  20,  1828.  At 
the  age  of  21,  he  went  with  the  rush  of  emigration  that  swept  westward  to  California  in 
1849,  and  there  remained  until  1855 ;  upon  his  return,  he  went  into  the  commission 
business  in  Chicago,  111.,  where  he  remained  for  about  a  year.  In  1856,  he  moved  to 
a  farm  about  five  miles  south  of  Forest  City,  Mason  Co.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Lois  A.  Van  Orman,  Dec.  13,  1858  ;  Mrs.  Ingersoll  is  a  native  of  Medina  Co., 
Ohio.  They  had  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living,  three  boys  and  four  girls. 
When  Mason  Co.  was  first  organized,  under  township  organization,  Mr.  Ingersoll  was 
elected  the  first  Supervisor  of  what  was  then  Mason  Plains  Township,  now  Forest  City 
Township,  and  was  re-elected,  year  after  year,  with  a  few  exceptions,  during  the  remain- 
der of  his  life ;  he  died  in  the  prime  of  life,  deeply  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him,  Nuv. 
30,  1877.  The  estate  comprises  1,060  acres  of  as  fine  farming  land  as  can  be  found  in 
Mason  Co.  Mrs.  Ingersoll  has,  with  rare  business  tact,  succeeded  in  managing  her  large 
farms  admirably  well. 

JOSIAH  JACKSON,  carpenter  and  builder,  Forest  City ;  was  born  in  Seneca 
Co.,  Ohio,  May  8,  1834,  where  he  remained  until  he  arrived  at  manhood.  He  married 
Miss  Mary  A.  Beard  Jan.  6,  1856.  In  the  spring  of  1857,  they  left  their  home  i» 
Ohio  and  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Vandalia,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  as  carpen- 
ter for  four  years.  He  then  removed  to  the  place  where  Forest  City  now  stands,  and 
immediately  went  to  work  at  his  trade.  Mr.  Jackson  built  the  first  two  dwelling-houses 
in  Forest  City.  He. continued  to  work  at  his  trade  here  for  a  year  and  a  half,  when  he 
returned  with  his  family  to  his  old  home  in  Ohio,  and  resumed  his  accustomed  occupa- 
tion. May  2,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  169th  Ohio  V.  I.,  and  was  mustered  out  of 
the  service  in  the  following  September ;  he  then  returned  to  his  family  in  Ohio.  Again 
the  little  family  took  their  way  to  Illinois,  where  he  found  employment  as  a  school 
teacher,  immediately  after  his  arrival.  Mr.  Jackson  entered  into  the  mercantile  business, 
but  met  with  reverses  that  caused  him  to  abandon  it,  and  resume  his  old  occupation  of 
carpenter  and  builder,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  1866,  and  again  in  1874  ;  he  has  held  a  commission  as  Notary  Public  for  twelve 
years  in  Forest  City ;  for  the  last  ten  years,  he  has  devoted  all  his  spare  time  to  the 
study  of  the  law,  and  is  occasionally  engaged  in  the  pracrice  of  that  profession,  with  a 
fair  degree  of  success.  With  the  usual  amount  of  study  and  practice,  he  is  bound  to 
succeed  in  this  profession.  Mr.  Jackson  has  just  been  awarded  the  contract  for  building 
the  schoolhouse  at  Manito,  which  is  a  capital  indorsement  of  his  capacity  and  energy 
as  a  business  man.  They  have  been  blessed  with  four  children — Eva  D.,  born  May  28, 
1857;  B.  Fuller,  Aug.  28,  1860;  Sherman  G.,  Jan.  22,  1865;  Rutherford,  Oct.  3, 
1876. 

HELENE  KREILING,  farmer;  P.  0.  Bishop's  Station;  was  born  September 
25,  1821,  in  Germany;  her  father's  name  was  Harman  Wittc;  she  came  to  Illinoi>  in 


850  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

1849,  and,  in  1852,  was  married  to  B.  H.  Kreiling.  who  was  born  in  Germany  and 
came  to  Illinois  about  1 850  ;  they  settled  for  some  time  on  a  farm  near  Havana ;  in 
1854,  they  bought  and  settled  on  the  present  farm  of  180  acres,  which  they  have 
improved  and  made  of  fine  quality.  Mr.  Kreiling  held  offices  connected  with  the 
schools,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church;  he  died  April  1,  1879,  leaving  a 
wife  and  nine  children — Harman,  Anna,  Henry,  Maggie,  Mary,  Liddie,  John,  August 
and  George.  They  are  all  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

ZACHARIAH  MILLER,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Forest  City  ;  like  many  other  citizens 
of  Mason  Co.,  Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  the  adjoining  territory,  which  is  now  Menard 
Co.;  he  was  born  Aug.  24,  1823,  near  where  Athens  now  stands.  He  married  Miss 
Nancy  Cogdall,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  Sept.  5,  1845  ;  they  have  eight  boys  and  two 
girls,  all  living  except  the  eldest  son,  Nult,  who  died  in  1872 ;  their  births  were  as  fol- 
lows :  Minerva,  Aug.  3,  1846  ;  Nult,  Oct.  5,  1848  ;  Hardin,  March  13,  1851 ;  Sidney, 
Nov.  7,  1852;  Mahala,  Jan.  19,  1854;  Simeon,  Dec.  25,  1856;  Clinton,  Feb.  25, 
1859  ;  Austin,  Dec.  27,  1860  ;  Terry,  Aug.  14,  1863 ;  Holley,  Sept,  3,  1865.  When 
Mr.  Miller,  with  his  wife  and  one  baby,  came  to  Mason  Co.,  in  1846,  his  worldly  pos- 
sessions consisted  of  a  horse  and  cow.  Mr.  Miller  now  owns  200  acres  of  good  farm 
land  in  the  vicinity  of  Forest  City,  Mason  Co.,  111.;  he  now  resides  in  the  village  of 
Forest  City. 

ELI  T.  NIKIRK,  station  agent,  Forest  City;  born  in  Washington  Co.,  Md., 
Sept.  6,  1828  ;  moved  to  the  present  site  of  Forest  City  in  1853 ;  his  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Olivia  G.  Beard  ;  they  have  had  four  children — Clyde  G.  (who  is  now  sta- 
tion agent  on  the  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.,  at  Pekin,  111.),  Charles  Otho  (tplegraph  operator 
and  railroad  book-keeper,  at  Forest  City,  111.),  and  the  two  younger  children,  Laura  D. 
and  Don  Juan.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1857,  and  served  four  years. 
He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  K,  85th  I.  V.  I.,  and  was  commissioned  Second  Lieu- 
tenant by  Gov.  Yates  May  26,  1863  ;  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  many  severe  battles, 
and  closed  their  military  career  with  the  memorable  march  to  the  sea  under  Gen.  Sher- 
man ;  he  was  mustered  out  in  1865,  having  served  nearly  three  years.  On  his  return 
to  Forest  City,  he  opened  a  grocery  store  and  restaurant,  which  he  conducted  for  nine 
years ;  he  was  appointed  station  agent  on  the  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.,  at  Forest  City, 
which  position  he  now  holds ;  he  owns  240  acres  of  fine  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Forest 
City. 

T.  G.  ONSTOT,  merchant,-  Forest  City  ;  was  born  in  Sugar  Grove,  in  what  is  now 
Menard  Co.  His  father  settled  in  that  section  in  1824,  being  one  of  the  very  first  set- 
tlers of  Sangamon  Co.  The  Onstot  family  moved  to  New  Salem,  on  the  Sangamon 
lliver,  in  1831.  At  this  time,  the  timber-lands  along  the  Sangamon  and  Salt  Creek 
were  full  of  roving  Indians.  The  family  remained  at  New  Salem,  where  the  elder  Mr. 
Onstot  kept  the  village  tavern,  until  1840.  Abraham  Lincoln  boarded  at  this  house 
when  he  began  his  first  law  studies  with  Squire  Green,  and  made  his  home  with  the 
Onstot  family  for  two  years,  during  which  time  young  Lincoln  practiced  surveying  in 
the  surrounding  country.  Mr.  Lincoln  and  the  elder  Mr.  Onstot  were  warm  friends  as 
long  as  they  lived.  In  1840,  the  town  of  New  Salem  was  moved  bodily  two  miles 
north,  to  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Petersburg,  which  was  made  the  county  seat  of 
Menard  Co.  The  Onstot  family  moved  their  buildings  with  the  rest  to  the  new  town, 
where  they  resided  until  1847,  when  they  went  to  Havana,  where  they  remained  until 
1852.  Mr.  Onstot,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  L.  Ellsworth 
March  18,  1852.  Immediately  after  their  marriage,  they  moved  upon  a  piece  of  raw 
prairie,  three  miles  from  the  nearest  house,  where,  by  hard  work  and  frugal  habits,  they 
contrived  to  improve  their  farm  and  make  some  advance  in  prosperity.  Mr.  Onstot  lived 
on  this  farm  for  thirteen  years,  when  he  moved  to  Forest  City,  and  engaged  in  the  lum- 
ber business,  and  still  continues  in  this  line  of  trade.  In  the  spring  of  1879,  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  George  W.  Pemberton,  under  the  firm  name  of  Geo.  W.  Pemberton 
&  Co  ,  and  engaged  in  a  general  merchandise  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Onstot  have  had 
six  children,  three  of  whom  are  living — Ella  C.,  born  May  6, 1859,  died  Dec.  20, 1878; 
Mary  E.,  Susan  E.  and  Lulu  C.  They  also  have  an  adopted  son.  Mr.  Onstot  has 


PENNSYLVANIA    TOWNSHIP.  851 

• 

served  the  people  of  Forest  City  Township  as  Tax-Collector  for  four  years,  and  Justice 
of  the  Peace  four  years. 

,  SAMUEL  T.  WALKER ;  P.  0.  Forest  City ;  was  born  in  Adair  Co.,  Ky.,  Jan. 
30,  1830.  At  the  age  of  23,  he  left  his  native  State,  coming  directly  to  Mason  Co., 
where  he  worked  on  a  farm  one  year.  The  next  few  months  were  passed  in  a  cabinet 
shop  in  Havana.  In  1855,  Mr.  Walker  removed  to  Spring  Lake,  where  he  assisted  his 
brother  John,  who  was  engaged  in  a  general  merchandise  business,  for  about  three  years. 
In  1858,  Mr.  Walker,  in  company  with  his  brother  and  three  other  young  men,  made 
the  memorable  trip  to  Pike's  Peak,  with  the  usual  degree  of  success,  being  absent  about 
six  months.  Upon  his  return,  in  1860,  Mr.  Walker  went  into  partnership  with  Mr.  A. 
Cross,  in  the  grain,  lumber  and  general  merchandise  business,  at  Forest  City,  111.,  which 
business  was  continued  for  several  years.  Mr.  Walker  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Julia  A.  Fosket  April  13,  1863.  They  have  had  eight  children,  one  boy  and 
seven  girls,  three  of  whom  are  still  living,  as  follows :  Esther  E.,  born  Sept.  1'2,  1864  ;  Polly 
S.,  April  1,  1874;  Patsey  Y.,  April  7,  1878.  Mr.  Walker  owns  a  fine  residence  in 
Forest  City,  and  about  one  hundred  acres  of  good  farming  land  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
village.  He  has  been  Clerk  of  Forest  City  Township  for  twelve  years,  and  was  elected 
Supervisor  in  1878,  and  re-elected  in  1879. 

JAS.  S.  WALKER,  physician  and  surgeon.  Forest  City.  Dr.  Walker  was  born 
at  Walker's  Grove,  in  what  was  then  Sangatnon  County,  May  4,  1839,  being  one  of  the 
first  white  children  born  in  that  part  of  the  country.  At  the  aj;e  of  19,  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Dieffenbacher,  at  Havana,  and  in  the  fall  of  1860,  entered 
Lind  Medical  College,  now  the  Chicago  Medical  College,  and  graduated  in  1863;  he 
then  began  practice  in  the  same  neighborhood  where  he  was  born  and  raised — at 
Walker's  Grove ;  he  practiced  there  for  three  years,  with  very  flattering  success.  In 
1865,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  Hall,  and  engaged  in  practice  in  Mason  City. 
This  partnership  lasted  for  two  years,  when  he  became  a  partner  with  Dr.  J.  C. 
Patterson  ;  this  lasted  until  1869,  when  Dr.  W.  removed  to  Forest  City,  where  he  now 
resides.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Updike,  a  native  of  Trcniout,  Tazewell  Co.; 
111.,  Aug.  16,  1864.  They  have  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living — Alma, 
March  12,  1866;  Ella,  Jan.  4,  1868;  Frank  U.,  Dec.  22,  1869;  Artie,  March  16, 
1874,  died  when  a  little  more  than  a  year  old.  The  Doctor  enjoys  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice  in  Forest  City  and  the  surrounding  country. 

MRS.  L.  C.  WHITAKER,  farmer;  P.  0.  Forest  City;  was  born  in  Adair  Co., 
Ky.,  Feb.  22,  1836,  her  maiden  name  being  L.  C.  Cheek.  She  was  married  to  Mr. 
John  B.  Whitaker  Sept.  22,  1857.  Mr.  Whitaker  was  born  May  13,  1826,  in  Mus- 
kingum  Co.,  Ohio,  and  removed  to  Winchester,  111.,  in  1849  ;  he  removed  to  Mason  Co., 
upon  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  W.,  in  1852.  She  has  five  children  living — 
Henry,  born  Oct.  27,  1858;  Mary,  Oct.  15,  18'U  ;  James  and  William,  twins,  born 
July  16,  1864;  Reuben,  Aug.  23,  1871.  Mr.  Whitaker  died  in  1872.  Since  her 
husband's  death,  Mrs.  Whitaker  has  carried  on  her  farm,  with  the  help  of  her  children, 
with  good  success.  They  own  about  200  acres,  situated  one  and  a  half  miles  south  of 
Forest  City. 


PENNSYLVANIA  TOWNSHIP. 

DAVID  E.  CRUSE,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Teheran  ;  was  born  in  Hun- 
tingdon Co.,  Penn  ,  Nov.  1,  1833;  his  father,  Augustus,  was  born  in  Cumberland  Co. 
Penn.,  and  married  Elizabeth  Rench  ;  they  reside  in  Miami  Co.,  Ohio,  and  have  eight  chil- 
dren living — Joseph  R.,  Lena  M., 'David  E.,  Luther  C.,  Cinderella,  George  W.,  Demetrius 
A.  and  Roxanna  N.  In  1839,  the  family  moved  to  Ohio  ;  David  E.  Cruse  moved  to 
Mason  Co.,  where  they  now  reside,  in  September,  1855,  and  married  Hannah  Touilin 
Nov.  30,  1856;  she  was  born  in  Cumberland  Co.,  N.  J.,  Dec.  21,  1838,  and  came  to 
Mason  Co.  with  her  parents  in  1854.  Mr.  C.  has  been  School  Director  most  of  the 
time,  the  last  seventeen  years,  in  Pennsylvania  Township.  They  have  had  ton  children 

MM 


852  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 

• 

— Cinderella,  born  July  27,  1857,  died  Oct.  5,  following;  Caroline  W.,  born  Oct.  3, 
1858  ;  Matthew  A.,  Feb.  1 1 , 1860  ;  Hannah  E.,  June  29,  1863  ;  Margaret  M.,  May  1, 
1865;  lloxanna  B.,  July  4.  1867;  David  S.,  Feb.  1,  1869  ;  John  S.,  Jan.  7,  1871  ; 
Oraella,  Jan.  18,  1873,  and  George  I.,  Jan.  21,  1878.  Mrs.  Cruse's  father,  Matthew 
Tomlin,  was  boro  in  Cumberland  Co.,  N.  J.,  May  30,  1803,  and  married  Hannah 
Homer,  of  the  same  place ;  he  died  in  Mason  Co.  Feb.  22,  1873;  she  died  Dec;  1, 

1878,  in  the  same  place.     Mr.   Cruse  owns  a  well-improved  farm  of   160  acres.     ID 
politics,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

ANDREW  J.  GATES,  grain  merchant,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Teheran  ;  was  born 
near  Hillsboro,  Coffee  Co.,  Tcnn.,  Sept.  28,  1833 ;  came  to  Jefferson  Co.,  111.,  with  his 
parents,  in  1834  ;  they  moved  to  Greene  Co.,  Mo.,  the  same  year,  remaining  two  years, 
then  moved  Hamilton  Co.,  111.,  where  his  parents  remained;  his  father,  James  L.,  was. 
born  in  Alabama  Aug.  14,  1809,  and  married  Nancy  Shelton  Jan.  7,  1831  ;  she  was 
born  in  Virginia  Jan.  9,  1808.  He  died  Aug.  10,  1846  ;  she,  Oct.  3,  1876.  A.  J. 
Gates,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Mason  Co.  Oct.  16,  1854,  but  spent  the  next 
winter  in  Fulton  Co.;  the  next  fall,  commenced  farming,  and  has  followed  the  business 
ever  since;  he  bought  land  in  Pennsylvania  Township,  where  he  now  resides,  in  1858, 
near  Teheran.  In  1874,  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  ;  still  officiates. '  August  24, 
1855,  he  married  Emily  0.  Scovil,  daughter  of  Pulaski  Scovil,  of  Salt  Creek  Township  ; 
she  was  born  in  Havana,  Mason  Co.,  Nov.  26,  1838.  They  have  had  twelve  children — 
Clara  I.,  born  Sept.  9,  1856  ;  Anna  A.,  Nov.  6,  1858  ;  Mary  E.,  Nov.  24, 1860  ;  Lillie 
E.,  Nov.  14,  1862  ;  William  S.,  Feb.  10,  1865,  died  Nov.  21,  1866  ;  Joseph  A.,  born 
Feb.  8,  1867  ;  Charles  I.,  Feb.  17,  1869  ;  Walter  J.,  Feb.  13, 1871  ;  Effie  May,  April 
19,  1873;  Olive  A.,  April  3,  1875;  Ada  J..  May  3,  1877,  and  Jessie  M.,  Jan.  20, 

1879.  He  owns  249  acres  of  land,  and  a  fine  home  and  outbuildings  in  Teheran.     In 
politics,  he  is  a  Republican. 

MRS.  MARY  ANN  DOLCATER,  farming;  P.  0.  Easton ;  widow  of  Henry 
E.  Dolcater,  deceased ;  he  was  born  in  Bielsfield,  Germany,  Sept.  23,  1832,  and  came 
to  this  county  in  September,  1856,  and  settled  in  Mason  Co.,  and  followed  farming  and 
stock-raising  until  his  decease,  which  occurred  April  12,  1879.  He  married  Mrs.  Mary 
A.  Samuell  Aug.  23,  1859;  she  w.is  bom  in  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  Feb.  13,  1833;  her 
father,  William  Pelham,  was  born  in  Connecticut  Nov.  27,  1797,  and  married  Almira 
Phelps,  of  the  S;ime  State;  she  was  born  Sept.  3,  1803;  they  moved  to  Illinois  in 
1824;  she  died  Dec.  6,  18H4;  he  died  Nov.  13,  1863.  Mary  Ann,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  married  (first  husband)  Thomas  A.  Samuell  Aug.  23,  1856;  he  was  born  in 
Caroline  Co.,  Va.,  March  1,  1807,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1835,  from  Kentucky;  by 
this  marriage  was  one  boy — William  Thomas;  he  was  born  Oct.  1,  1857,  and  died 
Jan.  20,  1860.  Henry  E.  DJcater  was  elected  in  April,  1874,  Supervisor,  and  served 
two  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dolcater  have  five  boys — Henry  C.,  born  Aug.  23,  1861  ^ 
William  C.,  Dec.  6,  1863;  Franklin  J.,  Aug.  25,  1865  ;  Edward  H.,  Oct.  11,  1867; 
Charles  F.,  March  24,  1870.  che  owns  164  acres  of  fine  prairie,  and  a  beautiful  home 
in  Pennsylvania  Township,  where  she  resides. 

HULDAU  DORRELL,  farming;  P.  0.  Easton;  widow  of  Francis  Dorrell, 
deceased;  he  was  born  in  McKey.sport,  Penn.,  Feb.  1,  1808.  and  moved  to  Hamilton 
Co.,  Ohio,  with  his  parents,  in  1H^2,  and  married  Huldah  Dcnman  Feb.  23,  1832 ; 
she  was  born  in  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Sept.  30,  1806;  her  father,  Nathaniel  Denman, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey  Aug.  29,  1780,  and  married  Susanna  Crow  in  June,  1802; 
she  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1782,  and  died  Feb.  11,  1811  ;  he  died  March  16, 
1836,  in  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio.  Mr.  Dorrell  was  subject  to  heart  disease  and  consump- 
tion, but  was  called  to  the  sick-bed  of  his  son,  who  was  in  the  U.  S.  Army  Hospital,  at 
Bolivar,  Tenn.;  he  arrived  there  only  in  time  to  close  his  eyes  in  death  ;  attended  his 
funeral,  and  on  his  return,  himself  worn  by  excitement  and  overcome  by  grief,  suc- 
cumbed to  the  inevitable,  in  Havana,  even  before  he  reached  his  home ;  they  have  had 
ei-ht  children— Susanna  C.,  born  Nov.  20,1832;  Saiah  H.,  Aug.  18,  1835;  Mary  A., 
Aug.  26,  1837  ;  John  M.,  Sept.  22,  1835 — enlisted  in  the  Federal  army,  in  1861,  and 
died  of  camp  disease,  at  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  Dec.  6,  1862;  Charles  C.,  born  Oct.  30,  1841 ; 


PENNSYLVANIA    TOWNSHIP.  853 

David  D.,  Sept.  27,  1844  ;  Rebecca,  April  11,  1847.  died  April  5,  following;  Lauretta, 
born  March  24, 1848,  died  July  5,  following.  Susanna  C.  married  William  C.  Thomp- 
son in  December,  1860;  he  was  born  in  England  Aug.  10,  1821,  died  July  29,  1873, 
in  Wyoming  Territory;  they  had  four  children — Francis  D.,  born  Oct.  13,' 1861 ;  Car- 
oline, Jan.  16,  1865,  died  Aug.  4,  following;  Andrew,  born  Aug.  23,  1867,  died  at 
the  age  of  3  weeks  and  3  days;  and  Ric'mrd,  born  Aug.  15, 1872.  Mrs.  Dorrell  owns 
160  acres  of  excellent  prairie  land,  of  which  she  has  been  sole  and  successful  manager 
since  her  husband's  decease — now  at  the  age  of  73,  in  the  possession  of  good  health 
and  remarkable  vigor  and  wonderful  memory  of  every  event  in  her  eventful  life. 

JOSEPH  FJNK,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Teheran  ;  was  born  in  Luzerne 
Co.,  Penn.,  June  i3,  1832  ;  except  two  years  that  he  was  employed  clerking  in  a  store, 
has  followed  farming ;  he  came  to  Pennsylvania  Township,  where  he  now  resides,  in 
1856.  He  married  Angeline  Benscoter  Dec.  2,  1855,  in  Luzerne  Co.,  Penn.,  where 
she  was  born  Aug.  4,  1836;  her  father,  Jacob  Benscoter,  was  born  July  7,  1804,  and 
married  Jane  Moss,  in  March,  1826;  she  was  born  April  2,  1807,  and  died  July  1, 
1866,  in  Mason  City,  where  Mr.  B.  now  resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fink  have  had  nine 
children — Walker  B.,  born  Dec.  7,  1856,  and  married  Fannie  Johnson  Dec.  22,  1877, 
and  moved  to  Kansas  City  July  15  ,1879  ;  Emma  L.  J.,  born  Sept.  22,  1858  ;  Derie  It., 
March  18,  1860;  Porter  H.,  Sept.  19,  1861;  Lot,  Nov.  22,  1863,  died  March  23, 
1867;  Harvey  D.,  born  Sept.  15,  1865;  Jacob  B.,  April  6,  1873;  Arthur  S.,  March 
17,  1875,  and  Joseph  M.,  Sept.  29,  1876.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fink  are  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  and  the  four  eldest  children  of  the  Society  of  United  Brethren.  He 
owns  a  good  farm  of  125  acres — good  house  and  outbuildings. 

ANDKEAS  FUHHER,  farmer  and  stock -raiser;  P.  0.  Easton  ;  was  born  in 
Baden,  Germany,  Oct.  24,  1839;  he  landed  in  New  Oilcans  in  June,  and  in  Havana, 
Mason  Co.,  July  3,  1853,  with  his  parents ;  he  has  made  farming  his  business ;  in 
1863,  bought  eighty  acres  in  Pennsylvania  Township,  where  he  now  resides.  Dec.  30, 

1860,  he  married  Mary  Ann  Dorrell  ;  she  was  born  in  Sangamon   Co.,  111.,  Aug.  26, 
1837;  she  is  a   daughter  of  Francis  and  Iluldah   Dorrell   (see  biography  of  Huldah 
Dorrell,  widow).     In  June,  1876,  Mr.  Furrer  concluded  to  take  a  vacation,  by  a  grand 
excursion  to  the  Centennial  Exposition,,  in  Philadelphia,  and  a  visit  to  his  old  home  in 
Germany,  visiting  all  the  principal  cities  on  the  route,  including   Paris,  the  capital  of 
France.     On  his  return,  Mrs.  Funvr  meeting  him  at  Philadelphia,  they  visited  points 
of  interest  on  their  return  to  the  West ;  they  have  six  children — Huldah  D.,  born  Dec. 
11,  1861 ;  John  D.,  March  13,  1865;  Nathaniel  D.,  June  10,  1867;  Sarah  E.,  Dec. 
5,  1869;  Susanna  C.,  June  22,  1872,  and  Francis  D.,  Feb.  5,  1875.     He  owns  440 
acres  of  land,  and  a  fine  house,  barn  and  outbuildings. 

JAMES  I.  HURLEY,  firmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  O.Teheran;  was  born  in 
Ocean  Co.,  N.  J.,  June  11,  1836  ;  there  he  followed  the  business  of  burning  charcoal ; 
they  moved  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  1852  ;  his  father,  Aaron  Hurley,  died  on 
board  a  boat,  on  their  Way  West,  with  the  cholera,  and  was  buried  on  Liberty  Island, 
just  below  St.  Louis.  (See  biography  of  Christopher  Titus.)  After  they  came  to 
Mason  Co.,  Mr.  James  I.  Hurley  worked  at  farming  by  the  month  or  day,  until  March 

1861,  when   he  purchased  eighty   acres  of  improved  land,  where  he  now   resides,  in 
Pennsylvania  Township.     He  married  Emma  J.  Riggs  March  11,  1869  ;  she  was  born 
in  Orange  Co.,  N.  C.,  May  30,  1850,   and  came  to   Mason   Co.  Oct.   28,  1868;   they 
have  had  seven  children — Maggie  E.,  born  Feb.  17,  1870  ;  Sybil  P.,  March  18,  1871  ; 
Olive  M.,  May  29,  1872  (died  July  18  following)  ;  Petro  N.,  Oct.  25,  1873;  Lena  F., 
Sept.    12,  1874;  Bertha   V.,  Jan.  5,  1877;  Royal   E.,  June  8,  1878.     He  owns  140 
acres  of  land,  a  good  house  and  barn,  and  outbuildings,  which  he  has  erected  since  1867. 

JOHN  W.  PUGH,  Supervisor,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Mason  City  ;  was 
born  in  Plymouth,  Luzerne  Co.,  P.enn.,  Aug.  5,  1824.  His  father  owned  a 
large  farm,  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  which  gave  him  plenty  of  miscellaneous  and  general 
employment  while  at  home.  lie  moved  to  Mason  Co.  (Havana  Township)  in  1850  ; 
entered  eighty  acres  of  land  that  fall,  in  Section  27,  Township  22,  Range  7,  and  has 
since  followed  farming,  mainly,  though  during  the  year  of  1854,  was  captain  of  a  boat 


854  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  : 

running  between  Havana  and  Chicago,  on  the  Illinois  River.  June  8,  1854,  he  married 
Miss  Sarah  Apple,  daughter  of  Maj.  Henry  Apple,  of  Fulton  Co.,  111.  She  was  born  in 
Clermont  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  7,  1827.  Mr.  Pugh  was  elected  Supervisor  in  April,  1866, 
and  has  held  the  office  ever  since,  except  two  years  that  he  was  in  the  State  Legislature, 
to  which  he  was  elected  in  November,  1874.  They  have  had  six  children — Henry  A., 
born  Feb.  22,  1855  ;  Mary  E.,  Nov.  21,  1856  ;  Charles  W.,  Sept.  7,  1859  ;  George  B., 
Oct  22,  1861 ;  Clara  E.,  April  19,  1864;  John  F.,  born  July  29,  1867,  died  Aug.  26, 
1868.  He  owns  a  fine  home,  and  343  acres  of  land.  They  belong  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  politics,  Mr.  Pugh  is  a  Democrat. 

GEORGE  W.  SCOVILL,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Mas^i  City.  "Yankee" 
was  born  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  Oct.  31,  1837  ;  moved  to  Adams  Co.,  111.,  in  1857  ; 
worked  by  the  month  for  wages  about  four  years ;  he  then  returned  to  his  old  home, 
but  returned,  in  August,  to  Mason  Co.,  and  leased  200  acres  of  new  unbroken  prairie, 
of  Harvey  Scovill,  for  five  years.  In  1865,  he  bought  a  farm,  where  he  now  resides. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  Pulaski  Scovil,  of  Salt  Creek  Township — Mrs.  Maria  L. 
Paul,  April  17,  1867.  She  was  born  in  February,  1833,  and  married  Thomas  E.  Paul 
Sept.  6,  1854,  who  was  born  Feb.  13,  1830,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  (in  the  Fed- 
eral army),  of  typhoid  fever,  Dec.  8,  1861.  They  had  three  children — Sarah  E.,  born 
May  9,  1856,  died  April  2,  1862 ;  Fantley  R.,  born  April  6,  1858  ;  Stephen  A.,  born 
Dec.  25,  1860,  died  Dec.  25,  1862.  Mr.  George  W.  Scovill's  father,  John  W.,  was 
born  in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  and  married  Martha  Wilson,  of  the  same  county;  died 
March  4,  1863.  She  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  in  Connecticut.  After  his  father 
died,  Mr.  Scovill  rented  his  farm  out,  and  returned  to  farm  a  portion  of  the  old  home- 
stead, but  soon  tired  of  his  efforts  to  obtain  wealth  from  the  little  earth  distributed 
among  the  rocks  of  Connecticut,  and  gladly  returned  to  his  rural  Western  home.  They 
have  had  four  children — George  W.,  born  Feb.  3,  1867  ;  Mary  L.,  born  Feb.  14,  1869, 
died  Au2.  17,  1872 ;  Addie  L.,  born  Sept.  27,  1871 ;  Martha  C.,  born  Nov.  22,  1876, 
died  March  4,  1877.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  of  230  acres,  a  new  house,  cost  $2,000,  and 
tine  outbuildings,  also  a  house  and  two  lots  in  Mason  City,  and  began  life  in  the  West 
without  a  dollar  of  his  own. 

CHRISTOPHER  TITUS,  farmer ;  P.  O.  Mason  City;  was  born  in  Luzerne  Co., 
Penn.,  Aug.  25,  1832,  where  he  worked  at  farming,  carpentering,  boating,  etc.  ;  moved 
to  Mason  Co.  in  August,  1852.  The  next  spring,  he  bought  eighty  acres  in  Salt  Creek 
Township,  where  he  resided  a  year  ;  after  that,  lived  in  Havana  and  Quiver  Townships  ; 
moved  on  to  his  farm  where  he  now  resides,  in  Pennsylvania  Township,  in  February, 
1867.  He  married  Mary  Jane  Hurley  Nov.  23,  1858 ;  she  was  born  in  Ocean  Co.,  N. 
J.,  Aug.  15,  1830.  Her  father,  Aaron  Hurley,  married  Fannie  Dennis;  they  both  were 
born  in  New  Jersey;  he  died  Oct.  2,  1852,  with  cholera,  on  board  a  boat  while  on  their 
way  to  the  West,  and  was  buried  on  Liberty  Island,  just  below  St.  Louis  ;  he  was  born 
Nov.  21,  1803.  She  was  born  Feb.  18,  1804,  and  now  resides  near  Mr.  Titus.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Titus  have  had  six  children — James,  born  Oct.  12,  1859 ;  Halleck  S.,  Oct.  9, 
1862 ;  Margaret  and  Fannie,  April  24,  1865  ;  Sarah,  born  Jan.  26,  1868,  died  Dec.  1, 
1874,  and  Mary  A.,  born  Aug.  11,  1871.  Mr.  Titus  is  a  member  of  the  society  of 
United  Brethren  in  Christ.  He  owns  160  acres  of  land  in  Pennsylvania  Township. 

JOHN  VAN  HORN,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  was  born  in 
Bucks  Co.,  Penn.,  Sept.  16.  1816  ;  his  father,  David,  was  born  in  the  same  county 
March  27,  1781,  and  married  Sarah  Gillen ;  she  was  born  Aug.  11, 1786.  They  moved 
to  Warren  Co.,  Ohio,  and  then  to  Miami  Co.,  Ohio  ;  he  died  there  in  September,  1854  ; 
she  died  in  Wabash  Co.,  Ind.,  in  August,  1870.  John  Van  Horn,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  learned  the  business  of  stone-cutting  in  Miami  Co.,  Ohio,  and"  followed  the  bus- 
iness a  number  of  years.  He  married  Jane  Mathers  Dec.  24,  1840  ;  she  was  born  in 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio.  Sept.  8,  1822 ;  her  father,  David  L.,  was  born  in  the  same  county 
Nov.  15,  1797,  and  married  Margaret  Williams  March  22,  1821;  she  was  born  in 
New  Jersey  July  1,  1798;  he  died  ia  Miami  Co.  Sept.  11,  1850,  and  she  died  near 
Mason  City,  Mason  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  24,  1875.  John  Van  Horn,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  moved  to  Mason  Co.,  where  he  now  resides,  in  the  spring  of  1857,  has  been 


CRANE  CREEK  TOWNSHIP.  855 

Justice  of  the  Peace,  but,  after  serving  two  years  declined  a  renomination,  preferring 
to  give  his  whole  attention  to  his  farming  interests.  They  have  had  ten  children — 
David  P.,  born  Feb.  4,  1842  ;  Sarah  J.,  Oct.  16,  1844  ;  John  E.,  Nov.  11, 1846  ;  Mar- 
garet, March  16,  1849  ;  Joel,  May  20,  1851  ;  Martha  A.,  April  17,  1854;  Elizabeth, 
July  31,  1856  ;  Susan,  Jan.  6,  1859;  Job,  June  15,  1861,  died  April  3,  1867  ;  and 
Miles,  born  Oct.  17,  1863.  He  owns  723  acres  of  land,  a  fine  house  and  outbuildings — 
and  reads  and  writes  without  glasses. 

EDWARD  WILSON,  farmer  and  stock -raiser ;  P.  0.  Mason  City;  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  June  4,  1812;  moved  with  his  parents  to  Greene  Co.,  Ohio,  when  he  was 
about  a  year  old  ;  his  father,  George  Wilson,  married  Annis  Ashcraft ;  they  were  born 
in  Pennsylvania;  he  died  in  Greene  Co., Ohio,  in  1820  ;  Mrs.  Wilson,  with  her  children, 
Edward,  John  and  James,  in  1823,  moved  to  Madison  Co.,  Ohio,  and,  in  1836,  to 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  near  Pekin,  where  she  died  in  January,  1840.  Edward  Wilson,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  married  Rebecca  Woodrow  March  3,1846;  she  was  b,orn  in 
Licking  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  4,  1823.  Her  father,  Samuel  Woodrow,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania Jan.  6,  1789,  and  married  Catharine  Montanye ;  she  was  born  in  New  Jersey 
Sept.  7,  1798,  and  died  Nov.  10,  1863;  he  died  Dec.  12,  1874;  both  are  buried  in 
Cincinnati  Township,  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  where  they  lived  ;  they  were  among  the  first 
settlers  of  Ellison's  Prairie  in  Illinois,  in  1824  ;  they  moved  to  Tazewell  Co.  in  1825. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  have  had  ten  children — Samuel  W.,  born  Jan.  9,  1847,  died  Dec. 
20,  1851  ;  Amelia,  born  Sept.  17,  1848,  died  Nov.  3  following;  Malvina, born  March 
24,  1850;  Catharine,  March  2,  1853  ;  John  A.,  Sept.  24,  1854;  Charles  W.,  Jan  31, 
1856;  Mary  E.  and  Cornelius  R.,  Aug.  25,  1858;  Mary  E.  died  Jan.  25,1859; 
Annabel!,  born  Oct.  21,  1861 ;  and  a  little  girl  unnamed.  He  owns  a  fine  house  and 
outbuildings  and  446  acres  of  land. 


CRANE    CREEK   TOWNSHIP. 

JKSSE  BAKER  (deceased),  farmer ;  Mr.  Baker  was  one  of  the  first  white  set- 
tlers of  Mason  Co.;  he  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1799,  and  uame  to  Illinois  Territory 
in  1816  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Morgan  Co.,  and,  in  1833,  located  in  Mason  Co., 
where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  has  had  a  varied  experience ;  possessed 
of  an  unu>ually  vigorous  and  robust  frame,  he  endured  the  privations  and  hardships  of 
pioneer  life,  the  chase  of  the  deer  ajid  the  defense  against  the  noble  red  m^n,  which 
few  could  endure ;  he  has  fojught  the  Indians  from  tree  to  tree  ;  was  cotemporary  with 
Ross  and  Scovill,  of  Havana,  and  others ;  he  engaged  in  farming  upon  Crane  Creek; 
near  where  he  and  his  descendants  have  resided  for  nearly  half  a  century ;  he  raised 
ninety  bushels  of  corn  per  acre  and  sold  supplies  to  Mr.  Faulkner,  the  first  farmer 
of  Sherman  Township.  His  descendants  are  among  the  substantial  residents  of  the 
county.  -Upon  Aug.  20,  1879,  Jesse  Baker  passed  down  the  dark  valley  at  the  age  of 
80  years.  He  was  a  man  esteemed  very  highly  for  his  many  noble  traits  of  char- 
acter, and  one  of  whom  his  cotemporaries  will  admit  that  his  life  was  net  a  failure  and  he 
did  not  live  in  vain  ;  he  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  the  rafting  and 
old  Salem  days  of  the  latter.  He  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  R.  W.  Porter,  of  Mason  City, 
who  was  with  him  several  days  before  and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

GEORGE  W.  ESTEP,  farmer;  P.  0.  Kilbourne;  was  born  at  Baker's  Prairie, 
across  the  river  from  Petersburg,  Menard  Co.,  111.,  March  6,  1823  ;  his  father,  James 
Estep,  and  his  grandfather,  Elijah  Estep,  were  the  first  owners  of  the  land  Petersburg 
is  built  on.  George  W.  Estep  commenced  farming  on  his  own  account  in  Mason  Co., 
in  1848.  He  married  Cynthia  Norris  Aug.  2,  1849;  she  was  born  in  Greene  Co.,  111., 
May  8,  1828,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Mason  Co.  in  1835  ;  they  have  had  eight 
children — Finis  M.,  Rhoda  K.,  William  II.,  Celia  J.  and  Alvin  are  living;  Celestia 
died  aged  8  days ;  James  A.  died  in  his  13th  year ;  Mary  died  in  her  18th  year  ;  Finis 
and  Rhoda  are  married  ;  the  others  reside  at  home  with  their  parents.  He  owns  a  farm 


856  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

of  130  acres  in  this  and  Kilbmirne  Townships.  Himself,  wife  and  three  children,  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

WM.  J.  ESTEP;  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Easton  ;  was  born  in  Menard 
Co.,  111.,  Jan.  4, 1831  ;  went  with  his  parents  to  Ja>per  Co.,  M).,  in  the  spring  of  1839, 
and  in  1844,  to  Davis  Co.,  Iowa,  and  to McDonough  Co.,  111.,  in  1846,  and  to  Crane 
Creek  Township  in  1848,  where  he  has  since  resided ;  his  father,  James  Estep,  and  his 
grandfather,- Elijah  E^cp,  were  the  first  owners  of  the  land  on  which  Petersburg, 
Menard  Co.,  is  built;  they  went  there  in  the  spring  of  1820.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  married  Miss  Judith  Toiulin  July  26,  1855 ;  she  was  born  in  Cumberland  Co., 
N.  J.,  Jan.  23,  1835,  and  came  to  Mason  Co.  with  her  parents,  in  February,  1846. 
Mr.  Estep  has  never  taken  any  very  active  part  in  politics,  but  has  held  some  Township 
offices,  School  Trustee,  Commissioner  of  Highways  and  Supervisor  one  year,  etc.  ;  He 
owns  362  acres  of  land  and  a  fine  home. 

DAVID  C.  ESTEP,  farmer ;  P.  0.  Kilbourne ;  was  born  in  Menard  Co.,  111., 
Nov.  7,  1838;  went  to  Jasper  Co.,  Mo.,  with  his  parents  in  the  spring  of  1839;  in 
1844,  to  Davis  Co.,  Towa,  and  to  McDonough  Co  ,  111.,  in  1846,  and  to  Crane  Creek 
Town-hip  in  1848;  his  father,  James  Estep,  died  Feb.  5,  1857,  and  his  mother,  Feb. 
9,  1855  ;  his  father  and  his  grandfather  were  the  first  owners  of  land  that  Petersburg; 
Menard  Co.,  is  built  on.  In  1857,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  left  home  and  worked  here 
and  there  farming;  he  mar-ied  Mary  F.  Baker,  of  Menard  Co.,  Nov.  12,  18U3  ;  she 
was  born  May  10,  1846.  They  have  four  children  living — Etta  M.,  Miles  E  ,  Misty 
May,  David  F.  Mr.  E^tep  commenced  farming  his  own  land  in  the  .spring  of  1865, 
and  moved  on  to  the  farm  lie  now  owns  (160  acres)  in  the  spring  of  1868. 

JAM  US  M.  ESTEP,  farmer;  P.  0.  Havana;  was  bora  in  St.  Clair  Co.,  111.,  Dec. 
14,  1819 ;  in  the  spring  cf  1820,  his  father,  James  Estep,  moved  to  the  spot  now  occu- 
pied by  Petersburg,  Menard  Co.,  and  a  year  or  two  later,  his  grandfather,  Elijah  Estep, 
came  there,  and  both  made  the  necessary  improvements  to  hold  the  land  and  enter  claims 
when  it  should  be  put  on  the  market  by  the  Government,  and  effected  their  purchase  in 
1827  ;  so  that  the  father  and  grandfather  were  the  first  owners  of  nearly  all  the  land  on 
which  Petersburg  was  built.  Mr.  James  M.  Estep  holds  land  grants  over  the  signatures 
of  J.  Q.  Adams,  Andrew  Jackson,  Martin  Van  Buren,  James  K.  Polk  and  Z.  Taylor. 
James  Estep  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  Feb.  16,  1795,  and  died  Feb.  5,  1857,  in 
Crane  Creek  Township  ;  he  married  Abigail  Teter,  of  Virginia,  Dec.  31,  1816  ;  she  was 
bom  Dec.  5,  1794,  and  died  Feb.  9,  1855.  James  M.  Estep's  school  advantages  were 
little  beyond  what  he  taught  himself ;  he  has  always  followed  farming,  and  purchased 
here  in  1849;  he  married  Mrs  Maria  F.  Perkins,  (Short)  Feb.  14,  1858;  she  was  born 
in  Menard  Co.,  111.,  June  12,  1835,  and  had  two  children  by  her  first  marriage — Ed_car, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  10  years,  Jame-<  D.,  lives  in  Kilbourne  Township  ;  her  father  was 
burn  in  January,  1805,  in  Kentucky;  her  mother  in  St.  Clair  Co.,  111.,  Dec.  28,  1808; 
her  father  died  Nov.  27,  1846,  in  Govtrnment  service  in  the  Mexican  war.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Estep  have  had  six  children — Sarah  A.,  born  Jan.  24,  1859  ;  Dillard  M..  S<<pt  13, 
1862,  died  July  29,  1863;  Carrie  E.  and  Cordie  C.,  born  May  16,  1865;  Ella  J., 
Feb.  25,  1868,  and  Ida  L.,  Feb.  4,  1871  ;  Sarah  J.  married  H.  B.  Samuell  and  lives  in 
Crane  Creek  Township.  Mr.  Estep  owns  now  570  acres  of  land. 

JA  MES  L.  II A  WKS.  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Easton  ;  was  born  in  Green  Co.,  Ky.,  Nov.  25. 
1823,  and  moved  to  Mason  Co.  III.,  in  the  fall  of  1849.  At  the  age  of  16  years,  with 
his  father  went  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  River  to  market,  with  two  flatboats  loaded 
with  tobacco ;  on  their  return,  his  father  was  stricken  with  fever,  and  died  within  sixty 
miies  of  home.  At  the  age  of  19,  he  entered  his  uncle's  store  in  Adair  Co.,  Ky.,  as 
clerk,  and  remained  between  eight  and  nine  years  ;  he  then  invested  all  his  means  in 
company  with  a  horse  buyer,  and  bought  a  drove  of  horses  to  sell  in  Mississippi,  but  was 
left  by  his  partner  with  only  880  in  money  and  two  horses.  He  had  a  sister  living  in 
Mason  Co.,  III.,  where  he  decided  to  go  and  engage  in  firming,  and  has  since  remained. 
He  reached  Crane  Greek  Township  in  the  fall  of  1849.  Feb.  25,  1852,  he  married 
Abigail  Bale  ;  her  father,  Solomon  Bale,  was  one  among  the  first  settkrs  of  this  town- 
ship;  she  was  born  Nov.  29,  1832, .in  Green  Co.,  Ky.  They  have  ten  children — Mary 


CRANE  CREEK  TOWNSHIP.  857 

E.,  born  Dec.  3,  1852;  Nancy  R.,  Dec.  13,  1854;  William  EL,  Oct.  12.  1856  ;  James 
11.,  Nov.  18,  1858;  Sophia,  Feb.  3,  1861  ;  Fielding  T.,  Aug.  18,  1863;  Solomon  L., 
Jan.  21.  1866;  George  A.,  May  1,  1868;  John  C.,  Feb.  19.  1871  ;  Ella  M.,  May  7, 
1873.  The  two  oldest  daughters  and  the  oldest  son  arc  married  ;  the  rest  are  at  home 
with  their  parents.  Mr.  Hawks  has  been  School  Treasurer  over  twenty  years,  and  was 
the  first  Supervisor  elected  after  the  organization  of  Crane  Cre"ek  Township  ;  has  served 
twelve  years  off  and  on,  and  was  re-elected  last  April.  He  owns  710  acres  in  the 
township.  Is  a  m  'inner  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

ADAM  LIST,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Easton ;  was  born  in  Bedford  Co., 
Penn.,  Jan.  27,  1835,  and  the  following  spring  his  parents  moved  to  T,azewell  Co.,  111. 
Peoria,  at  that  time,  had  no  buildings  except  a  few  log  cabins.  He  moved  to  Mason 
Co.  in  the  spring  of  1861,  and  married  Elizabeth  Keil,  of  Taz<;well  Co.,  Oct.  24,  1861  ; 
she  was  born  Feb.  2,  1839.  Her  father,  Bultz>r,  and  her  mother,  Catherine  E.  Keil, 
were  born  in  Germany.  Her  father  died  Oct.  20,  1865;  and  her  mother  resides  in  Taze- 
wcll  Co.  Louis  List  and  Catharine  (Gable),  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  were 
al<o  burn  in  Germany;  his  father  died  in  October,  1847,  near  Peoria,  and  hi*  mother 
still  resides  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adam  List  have  six  children — Charles  F.,  born  Aug. 
15,  1862;  Julia  E.,  Oct.  2,  1864;  Louis  A.,  Jan.  1,  1867;  Ezra  J.,  Oct.  26,  1869  ; 
Catharine  M.,  Nov.  23,  1871 ;  Matilda  M.  M.,  Aug.  15,  1875.  He  owns  310  acres, 
and  a  building  lot  in  Mason  City. 

GEORGE  S.  McCLlNTICK,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Easton;  was  born 
in  Augusta  Co.,  Va.,  Sept.  12,  1835 ;  came  with  his  parents  to  Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  in  the 
gprinjj  of  183(5.  His  father,  Robert  McClintick,  and  his  mother,  Mary  (Arganbright), 
were  born  in  Virginia;  his  father  died  in  March,  1851.  Mr.  McClin  ick  married  Mrsr 
Sarah  Jane  (Somers)  Perdue,  of  Illinois,  Nov.  8,  1858.  They  have  two  boys  living — 
Cyrus  E.,  born  Oct.  4,  1859,  and  Milton  S.,  born  May  16,  1863.  He  owns  289  acre* 
of  land 

JAMES  TURNER,  farmer;  P.  0.  Easton;  was  born  in  Muhlenburg  Co.,  Ky., 
May  28,  1815,  and  came  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  1854.  He  married  Martha 
A.  Hall,  of  Mason  Co.,  111.,  Oct.  29,  1875;  her  father,  George  W.  Hall,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  and  her  mother,  Nancy  M.  (Short),  was  born  in  Menard  Co.  Berry  Turner, 
father  of  the  subject  of 'his  sketch,  was  born  in  Buckingham  Co.,  Va.,  and  his  mother, 
Susanna  (Strader),  in  North  Carolina,  Feb.  11,  1806,  and  resides  in  this  township; 
Berry  Turner  moved  with  his  family  to  Menard  Co.  in  1854  and  is  familiar  wiih  many 
of  the  earliest  sjttlers  of  Menard  and  Ma<on  Cos.,  and  now  in  their  ripe  old  age  reside 
in  Crane  Creek  Township,  surrounded  by  their  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Turner 
have  one  little  daughter — Silva  Belle,  born  Oct.  6,  1876.  They  own  141  acres  of  land 
in  Crane  Crock  Townsliip. 

WlLLIAM  C.  T  U  UN  P]R,  farmer  and  stock-raiser;  P.  0.  Easton;  was  born  in 
Muhlenburg  Co.,  Ky.,  Jan.  28,  1842  ;  moved  to  Menard  Co.,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  1854, 
and  to  Crane  Cr  *rk  Township,  in  Mason  Co.,  the  same  year.  He  married  Laura  Jane 
Hawthorn  Nov.  8,  1867  ;  she  was  born  in  Allen's  Grove  Township,  Mason  Co.,  May 
20,  1851  ;  her  father,  Bjnjanain  Hawthorn,  is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county  ; 
they  have  had  six  children — Hugh  A.,  Dora  A.,  born  Oct.  13,  1870,  and  died  Jan. 
G,  1871  ;  Benjamin  A.,  born  Dec.  17,  1871;  James  A.,  Dec.  25,  1873;  Marcus  D., 
Aug.  15,  1876,  and  died  March  19,  1878;  John  W.,  born  Sept.  20,  1878,  and  died 
Feb,  11,  1879.  They  own  90  acres,  and  he  is  a  Democrat. 


858  .   BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES: 


LYNCHBURC    TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM  AINSWORTH,  farmer,  Sec.  14;  P.  0.  Chandlerville;  was  born  in 
Blackburn,  England,  Jan.  23,  1824  ;  when  14  years  of  age,  he  was  apprenticed  to  the 
trade  of  silversmith  and  served  three  and  a  half  years  ;  Mr.  Ainsworth,  with  his 
brothers,  Thomas  and  Richard, came  to  America  in  1842,  reaching  New  Orleans  in  June 
of  that  year,  and,  early  in  July,  landed  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  they  remained  a 
few  weeks  ;  in  the  latter  part  of  August,  they  reached  Beardstown,  111.,  and,  in  Novem- 
ber following,  located  in  Lynchburg  Township,  this  county,  near  where  he  now  resides. 
He  was  married,  June  22,  1845,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Pemberton,  who  was  born  in 
London,  England,  Oct.  31,  1822  ;  her  death  occurred  Feb.  13,  1860  ;  ten  children  by 
this  union,  three  of  whom  are  living — John  T.,  Sarah  A.  and  Elizabeth  A.  (wife  of 
J.  J.  Ainsworth);  the  deceased  are  William  P.,  Henry  A.,  Eleanor,  Melinda,  Mary  E., 
Ellen  and  William  H.  He  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  Charlotte  L.  Moorffoot, 
Oct.  7,  1860  ;  she  was  born  in  Greene  Co.,  111.,  March  28,  1842  ;  they  have  seven 
children  living — Charlotte  L.,  Charles  W.,  Eleanor,  Bessie,  William  E.,  Victor  and 
Grace;  one  deceased,  Mary  E.  Mr.  Ainsworth  has  served  as  Superintendent  eight 
terms,  School  Treasurer  about  ten  years  and  School  Director  several  terms ;  he  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Fairview  M.  E.  Church  since  an  early  date  and  has  served  the  church 
and  Sabbath  school  in  an  official  capacity  more  than  twenty  years.  He  owns  880  acres 
of  land  in  Mason  Co.,-  720  acres  in  Champaign  Co.  and  215  acres  in  Kankakee 
Co.,  111. 

THOMAS  AINSWORTH,  retired  farmer  and  residence  Chandlerville,  Cass  Co. 
(formerly  resident  of  Lynchburg  Township) ;  was  born  in  Blackburn,  Lancashire, 
England,  in  January,  1814;  he  came  to  America  in  1842  and  located  in  Lynchburg, 
this  county,  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  mar- 
ried, Jan.  20,  1837,  to  Miss  Maria  Abbott,  who  was  born  in  Blackburn,  Lancashire, 
England  ;  ten  children  by  this  union,  seven  of  whom  are  living — Nancy  (wife  of  A. 
Wait;  resides  in  Decatur,  111.),  Alice  (wife  of  William  Casey,  resides  in  Centralia,  III.), 
Sarah  E.  (wife  of  George  Ranson,  resides  in  Kilbourne  Township,  this  county),  William 
H.  (resides  in  Carrolton,  111.),  Thomas  T.  (resides  in  Kilbourne  Township),  Joseph 
(resides  in  Lynchburg  Township),  Mary  A.  (lives  at  home),  Martha  J.  (deceased). 
Mr.  Ainsworth  owns  480  acres  of  farm  land  and  120  acres  of  timber  land  in  Lynch- 
burg Township,  this  county,  and  1,857  acres  in  Iroquois  Co.,  111.  His  father's  family 
came  to  America  in  1846  and  settled  in  Lynchburg  Township;  his  father,  Thomas 
Ainsworth,  died  in  1855,  and  his  mother,  Sarah  (Townley)  Ainsworth,  died  in  October 
of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Ainsworth  removed  a  lew  years  since  to  Chandlerville,  Cass 
Co.,  111.,  where  he  still  resides. 

JOHN  J.  FLETCHER,  farmer,  Sec.  36;  P.  0.  Bath;  was  born  in  Yorkshire, 
England,  April  28,  1820  ;  he  came  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1844,  and  first  located 
at  Winchester,  111.;  in  the  spring  of  1848,  he  removed  to  Mason  Co.,  and  located  in 
Lynchburg  Township,  which  has  since  been  his  home.  Mr.  Fletcher  has  served  as 
Supervisor  and  Commissioner  of  Navigation  two  terms  each,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace 
over  eight  years.  He  was  married,  Feb.  23,  1845,  to  Mrs.  Ann  Briggs  (Kay),  who 
was  born  in  Emily,  Yorkshire,  England,  Feb.  23,  1806 ;  she  came  to  America  in  1841, 
first  stopping  at  Illinois  Town;  they  have  one  child — James.  Mrs.  Fletcher,  by  her 
former  husband,  had  six  children — Thomas  K.  (resides  at  Newport,  Ore.),  Louisa  (wife 
of  U.  B.  Linsay,  of  Bath),  Swain  (resides  in  Champaign  Co.,  111.),  Joseph  (who  was 
killed  by  the  Indians  at  Snake  Creek,  Ore.),  Rockley  H.  and  Oliver;  all  except  the 
latter  were  born  in  England.  Mr.  Fletcher  owns  about  one  thousand  acres  of  land  in 
Lynchburg  and  Bath  Townships. 

WILLIAM  HOWARTH,  farmer,  Sec.  11  ;  P.  0.  Chandlerville;  was  born  in 
Lancashire,  England,  April  14,  1835 ;  he  came  to  America  with  his  father,  John  W. 


LYNCHBURG    TOWNSHIP.  859 

Howarth,  and  the  Ainsworth  family  in  1842;  his  father  made  a  claim  to  land,  and, 
about  one  year  after  their  arrival  in  Lynchburg  Township,  this  county,  they  returned  to 
England  for  the  purpose  of  removing  immediately  with  family  to  this  country,  but  did 
not  return  till  1847.  since  which  date  they  have  been  residents  of  this  township.  Will- 
iam Howarth  was  married  Aug.  4,  1855,  to  Mrs.  Mahala  Robbins  (Brott),  who  was 
born  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Howarth  returned  to  his  place  of  nativity  in  1867,  on  a  visit,  being 
absent  about  four  months.  He  owns  393  acres  of  land  in  Lynchburg  Township  ;  in 
January,  1 877,  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  Sangamon  Valley  Mills  at  Chandlerville,  which 
have  been  operated  since  the  absve  date  under  the  firm  name  of  Paddock,  Howarth  & 
Co.  His  father,  John  M.  Howarth,  was  married,  July  14, 1834,  to  Miss  Alice  Abbott; 
the  former  was  born  in  London,  England,  Dec.  9,  1812,  and  the  latter,  Sept.  29, 1811  ; 
they  had  nine  children,  three  of  whom  are  living — William,  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
McGhe  ;  the  deceased  are  Emanuel,  Jane,  Amelia,  John  J.,  Mary  J.  and  Nancy. 

JOHN  G.  KRAMER,  farmer,  Sec.  3;  P.  0.  Bath;  was  born  in  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, May  1,  1838 ;  his  father's  family  emigrated  to  America  in  1845,  and  located  in 
Mason  Co.,  111.,  in  the  early  spring  of  the  following  year.  He  was  married,  April  9, 
1863,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  C.  Pentermann,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  June 
11,  1843;  they  have  six  children — Herman  H.,  Herman  L.,  Lizzie,  Margaret  C., 
Henry  H.,  Louisa  M.  and  Mary  J.  Mr.  Kramer  owns  454  acres  of  land  in  Lynch- 
burg Township,  and  180  acres  in  Bath. 

JOHN  H.  H.  KRAMER,  farmer,  Sec.  14;  P.  0.  Saidora  ;  was  born  in  Han- 
over, Germany,  Dec.  25,  1841  ;  came  to  America  with  his  father's  family  in  1845  ; 
they  settled  in  Mason  County  in  the  spring  of  1846.  He  was  married,  March  12, 
1869,  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Pentermann,  who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  Sept.  16, 
1847.  They  have  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living — Elizabeth,  Margareta,  Janie, 
Harman  and  Mary;  Caroline  died  July  23,  1876.  Mr.  Kramer  owns  320  acres  of 
farm  land  and  100  acres  of  timber  in  Lynchburg  Township,  Mason  Co. 

JOHN  KERSHAW,  farmer,  Sec.  24;  P.  0.  Chandlerville;  was  born  in  Lanca- 
shire, England,  April  2,  1830  ;  his  father  and  elder  brother  came  to  America  in  1839 ; 
but  both  were  taken  sick  soon  after  their  arrival,  and  died  before  the  balance  of  the 
family — the  subject  of  this  sketch,  his  mother  and  one  sister — arrived,  in  1840.  They 
settled  in  Cass  Co.,  111.,  and,  about  four  years  later,  his  mother  died,  leaving  but  two  of 
the  family  remaining.  Mr.  Kershan  found  a  home  with  Thomas  Plaster  until  he 
reached  his  majority.  He  was  married,  April  4,  1851,  to  Miss  Loraine  Johnson,  who 
was  born  in  Tennessee  March  27,  1830 ;  her  father,  John  Johnson,  settled  in  Cass 
Co.,  111.,  about  1835,  and,  some  three  years  later,  removed  to  Bath  Township,  Mason 
Co.;  they  have  three  children — Calvin,  Cora  (wife  of  Robert  Hicks)  and  Samuel.  Mr. 
Kershan  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  four  years,  Assessor,  one  year,  and  Commis- 
sioner of  Highways  two  terms.  He  owns  280  acres  of  land  in  Lynchburg  Township. 

JOSEPH  H.  LAYMAN,  farmer,  Sec.  22;  P.  0.  Chandlerville;  was  born  in 
Union  Co.,  Ohio,  March  25,  1838;  in  1845,  he  came  to  Mason  Co.  with  his  father's 
family,  locating  in  Lynchburg  Township  in  October  of  that  year.  His  father,  David 
Layman,  was  born  in  Virginia ;  died  in  1854.  His  mother,  Barbara  Layman,  was  also 
a  native  of  that  State;  her  death  occurred  in  1876.  He  was  married,  May  17,  1865, 
to  Miss  Hannah  Butler,  who  was  born  in  Lynchburg  Township  April  24,  1846;  they 
have  five  children  living — William  L.,  Barbara  E.,  Isaac  N.,  Mahala  and  Phebe  L. ; 
Charity  died  Aug.  12,  1876.  Mr.  Layman  has  served  two  terms  as  Supervisor,  and  is 
the  present  incumbent ;  Commissioner  of  Highways  two  terms,  and  School  Director 
three  terms ;  he  owns  an  undivided  one-half  of  480  acres  of  land  in  Lynchburg  Town- 
ship. 

WILLIAM  L.  LAYMAN,  farmer,  Sec.  22 ;  P.  0.  Chandlerville ;  was  born  in 
Union  Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  1,  1840;  his  father's  family  removed  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of 
1845,  locating  in  Lynchburg  Township,  and  in  the  same  house  where  he  now  resides; 
this  dwelling,  although  only  of  the  ordinary  size,  was,  during  these  early  times,  fully 
occupied,  being  the  home  of  five  families  during  a  part  of  one  year.  Mr.  Layman  was 
married,  iu  1865,  to  Miss  Mary  Warrender,  who  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 


860  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES: 

July  31,  1850;  her  father,  Robert  Warrender,  came  to  America  in  the  fall  of  1851. 
They  have  the  fallowing  children  living:  Barbara  A.,  born  Sept.  12,  1866;  Joseph  R., 
Dec.  28,  1872,  and  Bessie  E.,  July  5,  1876;  Sarah  E.,  May  13,  1868,  died  May  4, 
1869.  Mr.  Layman  has  served  as  Collector  three  years  and  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways two  terms;  he,  with  his  brother  Joseph  H.,  owns  480  acres  of  land  in  Lynchburg 
Township,  this  county ;  the  former  village  of  Lynchburg  was  located  on  this  farm. 

MARK  A.  SMITH,  dealer  in  grain,  Snicarte;  was  born  in  Addison  Co.,  Vt., 
Aug.  11,  1811,  where  he  roided  till  his  removal  to  the  West;  Sept.  12,  1839,  he  left 
his  native  hills  for  the  far-off  West,  and  landed  at  Moscow,  Mason  Co.,  111.,  on  the  15th 
of  the  following  month ;  here  he  found  log  cabins,  but  no  occupants,  except  two  squir- 
rels sporting  on  the  roof  of  one  of  the  buildings.  Mr.  Smith  left  his  family  at  the 
landing  and  went  in  search  of  and  found  Mr.  Nelson  Abbey,  who  lived  in  what  is  now 
Lynchburg  Township,  some  distance  from  the  landing.  The  condition  of  the  country 
and  the  hardships  of  the  settlers  at  this  early  date,  will  be  fully  set  forth  in  the  general 
history  of  the  county  and  histories  of  the  townships.  Mr.  S.  has  been  a  resident  of 
this  township  for  a  period  of  forty  years,  and  is  now  the  only  one  remaining  in  Lynch- 
burg Township  of  those  who  settled  there  as  early  as  1839  or  before.  He  was  first 
married,  in  Vermont,  Oct.  15,  1837,  to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Wade,  who  was  born  in  Windham, 
that  State,  in  September,  1807;  her  death  occurred  in  March,  1870;  by  this  union 
there  were  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  living — Henry,  who  resides  in  Snicarte ; 
Mrs.  Sweney,  at  Jacksonville,  111. ;  Irving,  in  Lynchburg  Township,  and  Albert  F.,  in 
Lincoln,  111.;  Martha  J.  died  in  1839.  He  was  married,  Sept.  16,  1871,  to  Mrs. 
Rebecca  Warren  (Ingram),  who  was  born  in  Indiana;  she  died  Sept.  6,  1872.  He  was 
mnrricd  to  his  present  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Butler  (Richards),  July  10,  1873  ;  she  was 
born  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Smith  has  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  one  term ;  his  election 
took  place  about  1852 ;  he  has  filled  the  office  of  School  Treasurer  for  more  than  thirty 
years  and  is  the  present  incumbent.  Mr.  S.,  while  he  has  to  some  extent  been  engaged 
in  merchandising,  has  also  followed  farming,  and  now  owns  about  one  thousand  acres  of 
land  in  Lynchburg  Township. 


SHERMAN  TOWNSHIP. 

JOHN  G.  CONOVER,  farmer;  P.  0.  Biggs.  As  early  as  1790,  Peter  Cono- 
ver,  of  Monmouth  Co.,  moved  with  his  family  to  Woodford  Co.,  Ky.,  where,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1812,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  The  elder  Conover  was  the  youngest 
of  five  brothers,  and  the  four  oldest  were  all  soldiers  of  the  Revolution.  In  1822,  the 
Conover  family,  with  a  large  number  of  relatives  and  acquaintances,  desirous  of  locating 
beyond  the  influence  of  slavery,  moved  by  wagons  to  this  State,  the  journ  'y  occupying 
some  months,  and  attended  wiih  hardships  that  would  have  deterred  any  hut  the  stout- 
hearted. The  party  reached  Springfield  in  June,- and,  after  an  examination  of  the 
country,  chose  the  Jersey  Prairie,  in  what  is  now  Morgan  Co.,  as  the  site  of  their  future 
home.  Peter  Conover  and  his  wife  remained  in  this  locality  until  their  death,  which 
occurred  to  the  first  in  May,  1835,  and  to  the  latter  ia  October,  1846.  John  G.  Con- 
over  was  married,  in  1833,  to  Miss  Susan  Houghton  ;  she  died  in  1845,  and  he 
was  maVried,  in  1846,  to  Mrs.  Hannah  Mitchell.  He  moved  to  this  county  in 
1841,  and  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Bath.  In  1849,  he  crossed  the  plains  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  returned  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  in  1851.  In  the  early  days  of  Morgan 
and  Menard  Cos.,  he  enjoyed  the  acquaintance  of  Lincoln,  Yates  and  Col.  Hardin,  the 
latter  making  his  home,  in  his  youth,  with  the  Conover  family.  Mr.  Conover  settled 
upon  the  place  he  now  occupies,  on  Sec.  31,  in  1866,  consisting  of  160  acres,  well 
improved,  and  worth  about  $30  per  acre.  His  bu-iness  capacity  and  integrity  have  been 
recognized  by  the  people  of  Sherman  Township, 'and  on  various  occasions  they  have 
chosen  him  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and,  for  five  years  in  succession,  Assessor. 


SHERMAN    TOWNSHIP.  861 

J.  H.  CUNNINGHAM,  druggist,  Easton  ;  was  born  in  1844,  in  Louisiana;  in 
1854,  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  Ill/,  and  engaged  in  teaching  school  a  few  years  prior 
to  1874,  when  he  began  in  the  drug  business  at  Topeka,  111 ;  in  about  six  months 
he  sold  out  and  came  to  Easton,  111.,  where  he  eng.iged  in  the  same  business,  in  addi- 
tion to  which  he  has  added  hardware,  books  and  stationery; ;  he  is  having  a  good  trade, 
and  his  honesty  and  uprightness,  together  with  his  work  and  the  benevolent  enterprises 
of  his  county,  and  interest  in  literature,  which  he  prides  himself  in,  will  win  him 
friends  and  prosperity.  He  was  married,  in  1874,  to  Anna  Walker,  daughter  of  John 
Walker,  a  farmer  of  Havana  Township. 

ISAAC  W.  DEPUE,  farmer;  P.  0.  Easton  ;  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1847 ;  in 
early  life,  he  emigrated,  with  his  parents,  to  Pennsylvania,  and  from  that  St;ite  to  Illi- 
nois in  1853,  settling  on  Sec.  23  of  this  township.  He  was  married,  in  1866,  to  Rebecca 
Jones,  who  died  in  1878.  He  has  two  children  —a  son  n  iinod  Corydon,  born  in  1876, 
and  a  daughter  named  Lula,  born  in  1871.  He  is  now  serving  the  people  of  the  town- 
ship in  the  capacity  of  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  is  proprietor  of  the  Easton  House, 
in  the  village  of  Easton,  and  also  cultivates  his  farm  of  120  acres  on  Sec.  23,  which  is 
in  a  fair  state  of  cultivation,  and  worth  about  $30  per  acre. 

CHARLES  W.  HOUGHTON,  physician  and  surgeon,  Eiston  ;  was  born  in  Men- 
ard  Co.,  in  what  is  known  as  Rock  Creek  Precinct,  in  1836,  and  came  to  this  county  in 
1854,  and  finished  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  Mastick,  with  w.iom,  after  finishing  his 
medical  course,  he  entered  into  partnership  in  the  practice  of  medicine  near  where  the 
village  of  Kilbourne  is  located.  This  partnership  con'inued  until  1860,  when  it  was 
dissolved,  and  Dr.  Houghton  moved  to  the  town  of  Bath  in  this  counry.  In  August 
of  the  following  year,  he  relinquished  his  lucra'ive  and  extending  practice,  and  ruis  d  a 
company  for  the  war,  which  was  mustered  into  the  service  as  Company  D,  85th  I.  V.  I. 
He  continued  with  the  company  as  its  commander  through  all  the  campaigns  and  battles 
in  which  it  was  engaged,  until  1864,.  when  he  resigned  his  commission  and  rc'urncd  to 
Bath  and  to  his  practice,  which  he  continued  f -r  five  years ;  he  then  moved  to  Newman- 
ville,  Cass  Co.  On  the  completion  of  the  I.,  B.  &  W.  Railroad,  he  returned  to  Mason 
Co.,  in  1873,  and  took  up  his  residence  at  the  new  vi'Iage  of  Easton,  on  that  lino,  build- 
ing the  first  residence  in  the  place;  here  he  has  continued  until  the  present  time,  and 
enjo)S  an  extensive  practice.  The  Doctor  was  married,  in  1856,  to  Miss  Mary  F. 
Mitchell,  a  step  daughter  of  J.  G.  Conover,  one  of  the  early  and  prominent  pioneers  of 
Illinois  and  of  this  county.  They  have  had  two  children — a  sun  named  Corry  F.,  who 
died  in  1876,  aged  17,  and  a  daughter —Eva,  born  in  1865. 

AMOS  HEATER,  farmer;  P.  0.  Havana;  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Heater,  of  Penn- 
sylvania ;  born  in  1790,  and  died  in  1863;  was  a  farmer,  and  married  Elizabeth  Gulden; 
she  was  born  in  1793,  and  died  in  1866.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  1818, 
in  Berks  Co.,  Penn. ;  in  1842,  he  moved  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and  engaged  in  farming  for 
two  years,  and  then  worked  on  a  steamboat  on  the  Mississippi  River  for  one  year.  In 
1846,  he  was  married  to  Rebei-ca  Bailer,  diughter  of  Philip  Bailer;  she  was  born  in 
1S^7,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1845.  After  marriage,  they  rented  for 
four  years,  and,  by  frugally  saving  their  means,  together  with  the  little  talent  (50  cent>) 
which  they  began  with,  they  were  then  enabled  to  purchase  a  piece  of  land  which  now 
contains  200  acres;  it  was  then  raw  prairie,  but  now  has  become  one  of  fine  quality, 
and  of  good  improvement.  Mr.  Heater  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  hedge-plants,  and  has 
on  hand  thousands  of  fine  quality  ;  they  have  had  eleven  children,  the  living  are  Augus- 
tus, Jennie,  Ninnetta,  Catharine,  Jacob,  Fannie,  Perry,  Adelbnrt ;  three  are  dead.  Mr. 
Heater  has  held  offices  of  Constable  and  School  Director  and  Treasurer.  He  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  also  all  the  family  belong;  he  has  also  been  Super- 
intendent of  Sabbath  schools  and  taught  classes. 

JOHN  LANDWER,  farmer  ;  P.  O.  Biggs  Station  ;  is  a  son  of  Harinan  Landwer 
and  Mary  (Spode)  Landwer  ;  he  was  of  Germany,  and  died  1835  ;  she  was  a  daughter 
of  John  Spode  of  Hanover,  Germany  ;  she  died  about  1830;  they  had  ten  children, 
three  survive.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Jan.  9, 1829,  in  Hanover,  Germany. 
In  1849,  he  engaged  in  carpentering  in  connection  with  farming  ;  he  then  came  to 


862  BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES: 

Illinois,  and  engaged  in  farming  for  Henry  Cramer,  one  year;  he  then  rented  of  D.  Strube 
near  Matanzas,  for  four  years ;  he  then  joined  his  little  resource  thus  gained  with  the 
improved  talent  (45c.)  which  was  his  only  treasure  at  his  landing,  and  bought  80  acres, 
a  part  of  the  present  farm  of  700  acres,  and  has  made  it  one  of  beauty  and  fine  quality. 
He  was  married,  Aug.  18,  1854,  to  Catherine  Busch,  daughter  of  Henry  Busch,  of 
Hanover,  Germany.  She  was  one  of  five  children,  and  was  born  Dec.  3,  1872.  Their 
marriage  blessed  them  with  three  children,  all  living — Mary,  married  to  R.  Keest,  now 
living  in  Bath  Township,  Harmon,  living  at  home,  Anna,  living  at  home.  They  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

PETER  MORGENSTERN,  farmer;  P.  0.  Havana;  is  a  son  of  Peter  Morgen- 
stern  of  Europe,  who  came  to  Pennsylvania  in  1847,  and  in  1850,  to  Illinois;  he  died 
in  1878.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Sept.  15,  1828,  on  a  farm  in  Eurooe, 
and  c'ame  with  his  father,  as  stated  ;  he  remained  at  home  until  1851,  when  he  was 
married  to  Caroline  Louvine,  daughter  of  a  noted  shoemaker  of  Germany  ;  she  was  born 
in  1831,  and  caine  to  Illinois  in  1850.  They  settled  on  a  farm  of  140  acres,  in  Sher- 
man Township,  and  remained  there  until  1865,  when  they  moved  to  the  present  farm  of 
1 60  acres,  which  they  have  improved  and  made  one  of  value  ;  they  have  added  to 
this  until  now  they  own  1,175  acres  attained  mostly  by  their  own  management.  He 
has  held  offices  of  schools,  and  is  at  present  Director ;  he  and  wife  belong  to  the 
Albright  Church,  in  which  he  has  held  office  of  Class- Reader  and  Superintendent  of  Sab- 
bath schools,  and  is  now  teacher  of  a  Bible  class  in  the  same.  Nine  children  were  the 
fruits  of  this  happy  marriage,  living  are — Caroline,  Lucinda,  Lizzie,  Emma,  Anna, 
Sammy,  Charlie,  Henry,  (infant  dead). 

DANIEL 'MARTZ,  farmer  ;  P.  0.  Topeka  ;  is  the  oldest  son  of  Abraham  Martz. 
who  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  died  about  1856.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  1811,  in  Pennsylvania;  when  16,  he  began  mining,  and,  at  the  age  of  24,  he 
was  selected  as  "  boss"  of  the  company.  He  opened  several  important  mines  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  was  very  successful  in  his  management,  not  even  losing  a  single  man  under 
his  orders  ;  he  continued  this  business  until  1861,  when  he  came  to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  and 
settled  on  the  present  farm  of  120  acres,  attained  entirely  by  his  own  management.  It 
is  probably  worth  $35  per  acre.  He  was  married,  in  1833,  in  Columbia  Co.,  Penn.,  to 
Elizabeth  Henninger,  daughter  of  Frederick  Henninger,  of  Pennsylvania;  they  had 
eleven  children,  five  living,  six  dead  ;  the  living  are  Sarah,  Lavina  (has  taught  school 
and  married  John  Allen,  of  Fulton  Co.;  is  now  living  in  Ipava ;  is  a  druggist);  Emma 
E.  (married  R.  B.  Leonard,  of  Mason  Co.)  ;  Ellen,  Charles  (living  in  Topeka.) 

SUSAN  TROUT,  farmer;  P.  0.  Topeka;  is  a  daughter  of  Elias  Musselman,  of 
Pennsylvania;  he  was  a  farmer  and  came  to  Illinois  about  1847  and  died  in  1859  ;  her 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Messinger,  of  Pennsylvania ;  she  died  in  1864  ;  they  were 
both  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  of  Pennsylvania,  and  had  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  survive.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Jan.  2,  1820,  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1847.  In  1849,  was  married  to  William  Trout, 
son  of  George  Trout,  of  Pennsylvania;  after  marriage,  they  settled  near  Havana  until 
1861,  when  they  moved  to  Forest  City  Township  (then  Mason  Plains)  ;  one  year  after- 
ward moved  to  the  present  farm  of  280  acres,  attained  entirely  by  their  own  labor  and 
management ;  Mr.  Trout  died  Aug.  31,  1873  ;  he  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  of  Erie  Co.,  Penn ;  they  had  five  children — George  (he  married  Carrie  Mor- 
genstern,  of  Mason  Co.,  daughter  of  Peter  Morgenstern  whose  sketch  appears  else- 
where), Israel,  Aaron  ;  and  two  are  dead — William  and  an  infant. 


ERRATA. 

On  page  '203,  instead  of  Col.  Rogers  as  first  Postmaster  in  Salem,  should  be  John  McNamar, 
first  Postmaster,  who  was  succeeded  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  who  retained  the  office  until  he 
removed  to  Sprinjzfi.'ld. 

On  page  308,  instead  of  "  The  Mmard  County  Axis  was  established  with  C.  Clay  as  editor 
and  publisher,"  read,  was  established  by  H.  L.  Clay,  who  was  succeeded  by  C.  Clay. 


BUSINESS   DIRECTORY, 


IMI  IE  :N  .A.  IR,  ID     OOUISTTY. 


PETERSBURG. 

AlberS,  H.  B.,  Dealer  in  and  Manu- 
facturer of  Boots  and  Shoes.  A  fine 
assortment  of  Ladies'  and  Misses'  Shoes 
in  all  sizes  on  hand ;  also  Boots  and 
Shoes  of  his  own  Manufacture,  for  Men 
and  Boys.  The  only  exclusive  Boot 
and  Shoe  House  in  Menard  County. 

Anile,  F.  P.,  Dr.,  Physician  and  Sur- 
geon. 

Bale  &  Co.,  Manufacturers  and  Deal- 
ers in  Drain  Tiles  of  every  description. 
Office  at  Woolen  Factory. 

Bale,  F.  V.,  Proprietor  of  the  Salem 
Flouring-Mill,  which  is  now  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition. 

Bale,  Hardin  &  SOD,  Manufactur- 
ers and  Dealers  in  Cloths,  Cassimeres, 
Doeskins,  Satinets,  Jeans,  Tweeds, 
Flannels,  Blankets,  Fancy  and  Plain 
Stocking  Yarn,  etc.,  etc.,  West  street, 
one-half  mile  south  of  Court  House. 

Bishop,  Robert,  Manufacturer  and 
Importer  of  Guns,  Pistols,  Rifles, 
Bowie-Knives  and  Sporting  Apparatus 
in  all  its  branches.  All  kinds  of  repair- 
ing done  at  the  shortest  notice.  South 
side  Square. 

Blane,  S.  H.,  Attorney  at  Law  and 
Notary  Public.  Office  qn  north  side 
Square. 

Bone,  D.  M.,  Dealer  in  Furniture, 
Wall  Paper,  Coffins  and  Caskets. 


Bo  wen,  J.  H.,  Dealers  in  Staple  and 
Fancy  Groceries,  Glassware,  Queens- 
ware,  Wood  and  Willow  Ware,  Red 
Front,  west  side  Square. 

Brahm,   Lanning   &   Wright, 

Dry  Goods  Dealers. 

Brahm  &  Greene,  Bankers. 

Branson,  N.  W.}  HOD.,  Attorney  at 
Law. 

Cain  &  Parks,  Editors  of  the  Peters- 
burg Observer  and  Job  Printers. 

Clark,  N.  &  L.  B.,  Proprietors  of  the 
Clark  House,  formerly  the  Elmo,  north- 
east corner  Square.  First-class  accom- 
modations. 

Cook,  J.  W\,  Practicing  Physician  and 
Surgeon. 

Deerwester,  S.,  Wagon  and  Carriage 
Manufacturing,  Blacksmithing,  and  Gen- 
eral Job  Work. 

Elliott,  C.  E.,  Practicing  Physician. 

Frackelton,  D.  S.,  Banker.  Collec- 
tions made  and  promptly  remitted. 

Hatfield,  C.  L.,  Dealer  in  Lumber, 
Sash,  Doors,  Blinds,  Stucco,  Lime,  Hair, 
Cement,  etc.,  etc. 

Hofing,  J..  Proprietor  of  the  Menard 
Hotel.  First  -  class  accommodations. 
Fine  Sample  Room  on  ground  floor. 

Johnson,  Breese,  Attorney  at  Law. 
Office  on  north  side  Square. 
,  T.  S.,  Attorney. 


864 


BUSINESS   DIRECTORY. 


Masters,  Hardin  W.,  Attorney  at 

Law  and  Solicitor  in  Chancery  ;   State's 
Attorney  for  Menard  County. 

Mick  &  KnOles,  Proprietors  and 
Editors  of  the  Petersburg  Democrat. 
Job  Work  done  on  short  notice  and  at 
low  rates. 

Morris,  E.  M.,  Wagon  Manufacturer ; 
also  Blacksnnthing  and  General  Job 
Work.  North  Main  street. 

Masters  &  Rank  in,  Dealers  in  Lum- 
ber, Lime,  Lath,  Doors,  Sash,  Blinds, 
Hair,  Stucco,  Cement,  etc.,  etc.  Office 
and  Yard,  corner  Main  and  Cherry. 

Montgomery,  B.  F.,  Stock  Dealer. 
McNeely,  T.  W,,  Hon.,  Attorney 

at  Law. 

McDougall  &  Stitb,  Dealers  in 
Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries,  Glassware, 
Queensware,  Woodenware,  Teas,  Cof- 
fees, Spices,  Tobacco,  etc.,  etc. 

Morris,  D.  T.,  Manufacturer  of  and 
Dealer  in  Harness,  Saddles,  Collars, 
Bridles,  Whips,  Combs,  Brushes,  etc., 
etc.;  also  Wholesale  Dealer  in  Case 
Collars. 

NeWCOmer,  J.  W.,  Practicing  Phy- 
sician. 

Rainey,  P.,  Miller  and  Grain  Dealer. 

RlChter,  J.  P.,  Importer  and  Dealer 
?  in  Italian  and  American  Marble,  also 
Scotch  and  American  Granite  Monu- 
ments. Prepared  to  turn  out  as  fine 
work  as  any  in  Central  Illinois.  Shop 
and  Yard  near  northeast  corner  of 
Square. 

Stewart  &  Truckenmiller,  Deal- 
ers in  Pure  Drugs,  Medicines,  Perfum- 
ery, Toilet  and  Fancy  Articles,  Choice 
Wines  and  Liquors  for  medicinal  use, 
and  all  Druggists'  Sundries,  Fine 
Imported  and  Domestic  Cigars.  Phy- 
sicians' Prescriptions  carefully  prepared. 
West  side  Square. 


Stoker,  A.  W.,  Foundry,  General 
Machine  Shop  and  Job  Work. 

Shephard  &  Rutledge,  Livery  and 
Feed  Stable.  First-class  Rigs  at  reason- 
able rates. 

Stevens,  R.  N.,  Attorney  at  Law  and 
Master  in  Chancery. 

Whif  6,  William  M.,  Contractor  and 
Builder. 


,  W.  C.,  Dry  Goods,  Clothing, 
Hats,  Caps,  Boots,  Shoes,  Carpets,  Oil 
Cloths,  Trunks  and  Valises,  also  Gro- 
ceries, Glass  and  Queensware,  Wood 
and  Willow  Ware. 

Young,  Arthur,  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  Insurance  Agent,  Represent- 
ing the  Royal  Insurance  Company  of 
Liverpool,  England. 

TALLULA. 

Bell  Bros.,  Dealers  in  Dry  Goods, 
Boots  and  Shoes,  Groceries,  Provisions,. 
Queensware,  etc.,  etc. 

I  inkel,  J.  A.,  Manufacturers  and 
Dealer  in  Furniture  and  Undertaking, 
also  Wall  Paper. 

Metcalf,  E.  T.,  Dr.,  Practicing  Phy- 
sician. 

Robertson,  C.  M.,  Dr.,  Physician 
and  Surgeon. 

Spears,  J.  Q.,  Merchant  and  Grain 
Dealer. 

Sa  dford,  G.H.,  Dr.,  Physician  and 
Surgeon. 

Thrapp,  F.  S.,  Dealer  in  Drugs,  Med- 
icines and  Chemicals,  Perfumery,  Soaps,  . 
Combs  and  Brushes,  Trusses,  Support- 
ers, Braces  and  Toilet  Articles,  Books, 
Stationery,  etc.,  etc. 

Thacher,  C.  B.,  Capt.,  Justice  of 

the  Peace. 


BUSINESS   DIRECTORY. 


865 


Thrapp,  R..B.,  Proprietor  of  the  Tal- 
lula  Nursery.  Complete  assortment  of 
Fruit,  Shade  and  Ornamental  Trees, 
Evergreens,  Roses,  etc.,  etc.,  with  a  fine 
assortment  of  Small  Fruit. 

WathOD,  J.  F.,  Dealer  in  Dry  Goods, 
Clothing,  Boots,  Shoes,  Hats,  Caps  and 
Fancy  Goods,  also  Groceries,  Provisions, 
Queensware,  Glassware  and  Confection- 
eries. 

Wathen  Hotel,  J.  F.  Wathen,  Pro- 
prietor. New  house,  newly  furnished ; 
First-class  accommodations  expressly  for 
transient  trade. 

ATflENS. 

Clark,  C.,  Manufacturer  of  Brick  and 
Tiling.  Large  quantity  of  the  best 
quality  constantly  on  hand.  All  sizes 
of  Tile  from  3  to  7  inch. 

Hurt,  J.  A..  Capt.,  Proprietor  Hotel 
and  Boarding-house. 

Hargrave,  M.  T.,  M.  D.,  Dealer  in 

Drugs,  Medicines,  Chemicals,  Books, 
Stationery,  etc.,  etc.;  Pure  Liquors  for 
medical  use  ;  also  Paints,  Oils,  Perfum- 
eries, Toilet  Soaps,  Hair  Oils,  Combs, 
etc.,  etc. 

Hall,  C.,  General  Merchant. 

Kinhart,  J.,  Manufacturer  of  Wagons, 
Carriages  and  General  Job  Work  ;  also 
Blacksmithing  in  its  various  branches; 
also  Dealer  in  Agricultural  Implements. 

Primm,  T.  J.,  Dr.,  Physician  and 
Surgeon. 

Rob-rts,  William  P.,  Dr.,  Dealer 

in  Drugs,  Medicines,  Chemicals,  Paints, 
Oils,  Varnishes,  Window  Glass,  Putty, 
Books  and  Stationery,  Wail  Paper, 


Window  Curtains,  Pure  Wines  and 
Liquors  for  medical  uses. 

Thomas,  E.D.,  Dr.,  Practicing  Phy- 
sician. 

CREENVIEW. 

Alkire,  J.  D.,  Banker. 
Engle,  M.  M.,  Merchant. 
Foster,  J.  T  ,  Merchant. 

Hughes,  Daniel  T.,  Druggist  and 

Apothecary.  Prescriptions  carefully  pre- 
pared. Also  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Hurst,  Stith  J.,  Physician. 

Marbold,  H.  H.,  Banker  and  Dealer 
in  Live  Stock. 

Petrie,  John  A.,  Dealer  in  Hardware, 
Grain  and  Farm  Implements. 

Petrie  &  CO.,  Dealers  in  Stoves,  Tin- 
ware, Agricultural  Implements,  and 
Grain. 

Petrie,  David  A.,  Dealer  in  Lum- 
ber ;  also  Contractor  and  Builder. 

Paulson,  O.  P.,  Livery,  Feed  and  Sale 
Stable. 

Rule,  H.  K.,  Merchant,  and  Dealer  in 
Groceries,  Dry  Goods,  etc. 

SWEETWATER. 

Alkire,  D.  H.,  Merchant. 

Deal,    George    T.,   Dealer   in    Live 

Stock. 

Deal,  John  H.,  Miller. 

Lee,  John  D.,  Physician. 
Propst,  Levi,  Carpenter  and  Joiner. 

Sharp,  Adam,  Maker  of  and  Dealer 

in  Boots  and  Slices. 
Schofleld,  Joseph,  Merchant. 


MASON    COUNTY. 


HAVANA. 

Bivens,  Samuel,  Treasurer  of  Mason 
County. 

Conwell,  S.  C.,  Attorney  and  Coun- 
selor at  Law.  Particular  attention  to 
Foreign  Collections,  Paying  Taxes,  and 
Buying  and  Selling  Real  Estate.  Office 
second  story,  front  room,  over  Krebaum 
&  Middlekamp's  store. 

Coppel,  J.  P.,  Fire  Insurance  Agent, 
Attorney  and  Notary  Public.  Repre- 
sents the  following  reliable  Fire  Insurance 
Companies  :  Home,  New  York  ;  Hart- 
ford of  Hartford,  Conn. ;  ^Etna,  Hart- 
ford ;  Phoenix,  Hartford ;  North  Brit- 
ish and  Mercantile,  London,  England, 
and  American  Central,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Covington,  M.  E.,  No.  4T  Main  st., 

Dealer  in  Drugs,  Medicines,  Chemicals, 
Toilet  and  Fancy  Articles,  Fine  Soaps, 
Brushes,  Perfumery.  Patent  Medicines, 
Alcohol,  Pure  Wines  and  Liquors  for 
medicinal  use.  Physicians'  Prescriptions 
carefully  compounded. 

Craig,  G.  W.,  Manufacturer  of  and 
Dealer  in  Cigars  and  Tobacco,  Smokers' 
Articles,  etc.,  29  Main  street. 

Dehm,  J,,  &  Bro.,  Dealers  in  Grocer- 
ies, Provisions,  Queensware,  Glassware, 
Wooden  and  Willow.  Ware,  etc.,  corner 
Main  and  Orange  streets. 

Dearborn  &  Campbell,  Attorneys. 

Dehm  &  Mack,  Proprietors  of  the 
Havana  Brewery. 

Delbarre,  H.,  Rev.,  Pastor  of  St. 

Patrick's  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

Dieffenbacher,  P.  L.,  M.  D.,  U. 

S.  Pension  Surgeon  for  Mason   County 


Office  No.  15  South  Orange  street. 
Special  attention  given  to  Surgery. 
Office  hours  from  1  to  3  P.  M.  Calls 
for  visits  should  be  left  before  9  o'clock 
A.  M 

Dray,  Walter  S.,  Loans  and  Dis- 
counts. 

Easton,  O.  C.,  Postmaster. 

Emerson,  George  S.,  Freight  and 

Ticket  Agent  Peoria,  Pekin  &  Jackson- 
ville R.  R. 

England,  I.  W.,  Dealer  in  Choice 
Candies,  Tropical  and  Native  Fruits, 
Vegetable  Produce,  etc. 

Fuller  ton  &  Wallace,  Attorneys 

and  Counselors  at  Law,  and  Solicitors 
in  Chancery. 

Haack,  L.  R.,  Dealer  in  Wall  Paper, 
Window  Glass,  Window  Shades,  Cur- 
tains, Fixtures  and  Wood  Moldings. 
Painting  and  Papering  done  on  reason- 
able terms  and  in  a  workmanlike  man- 
ner. 

Har  sell,  Josiah,  Sheriff  of  Mason 
County. 

Harpham  &  Browning,  Dealers 

in  Drugs,  Medicines,  Chemicals,  Oils, 
"V  arnishes,  Glass,  Paints,  Putty,  and 
Patent  Medicines. 

Havighorst,    Henry,    Dealer    in 

Hardware  and  Cutlery.  Sole  Agent  for 
Simmons'  "  Keen  Kutter  "  Axes.  Main 
street. 

Heiniger,  Johannes,  Rev.,  Pas- 
tor of  the  St.  Paul's  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  ;  also  Teacher  of 
German  and  English. 


BUSINESS   DIRECTORY. 


867 


Heinr'ch,  J.  W.,  Manager  for  the 
Singer"  Manufacturing  Company  for  the 
Counties  of  Mason  and  Fulton.  All 
orders  promptly  attended  to.  Attach- 
ments furnished  on  short  notice,  and 
repairing  of  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine 
a  Specialty.  Office  at  Whittaker's  Book 
Store. 

Holzgrsefe,  G.  H.,  Billiard  and  Sam- 
ple Room,  Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealer 
in  Choice  Wines,  Liquors,  etc.,  etc.,  12 
Plum  street. 

Hurley,  John,  &  Sons,  Dealers  in 
all  kinds  of  river  Fish.  Market  at 
Havana  and  two  miles  northeast  of 
Havana.  All  orders  promptly  filled 
during  the  season,  from  October  to 
May. 

Joyce,  E.  M.,  &  CO.,  Dealers  in  Sta- 
ple and  Fancy  Groceries,  Crockery, 
Queensware,  Glassware,  Wood  and  Wil- 
low Ware,  Cigars  and  Tobacco,  Main 
street. 

Karl,  George,  Proprietor  of  the  Tay- 
lor House  Saloon,  25  Main  street. 

Kirk,  J.  S.,  Police  Magistrate  and 
General  Insurance  Agent. 

Krebaum,  C.  G.,  Dealer  in  Grain, 
Live  Stock,  Hides,  Furs  and  Rags, 
Buys  Grain  and  Live  Stock  at  all  Sta- 
tions on  P.,  P.  &  J.  R.  R.  between 
Chandlerville  and  Pekin,  and  on  L,  B. 
&  W.  road  at  all  Stations  west  of  Mason 
City.  Call  and  see  me  before  selling. 
.  Office  No.  8  South  Plum  street. 

Krebaum,  A.,  Dealer  in  Real  Estate. 

Lacey,  Lyman,  Hon.,  Circuit  and 

Appellate  Judge. 

Langford,  George  W.,  Salesman 

for 

Browning,  W.  C.,  &  Co.,  Manufac-  j 

turers  and  Jobbers  of  Men's,  Youths'  j 
and  Boys'  Clothing,  502  and  504  ! 
Broadway,  New  York. 


LOW,  T.  P.,  Teller  Havana  National 
Bank,  No.  2,242,  organized  Feb.  15, 
1875. 

LOW  &  Poster,  Shipping  and  Com- 
mission Merchants.  Mason  County  Corn 
a  specialty. 

McPadden  &  Co.,  (established 
1861)  Grain.  Mason  County  Corn  a 
specialty. 

Mallory,  J.   A.,  Hon.,  Judge  of 

Mason  County  Court. 

Mason  County  Bank.    Organized 

in  1865.  McFadden  &  Coppel,  Bank- 
ers. Transacts  a  General  Banking  Bus- 
iness. Special  attention  given  to  Col- 
lections in  this  and  adjoining  counties. 
Refer  to  Ninth  National  Bank,  New 
York;  Fifth  National  Bank,  Chicago; 
Lucas  Bank,  St.  Louis ;  Second  National 
Bank,  Peoria. 

Mason  County  Democrat.  Offi- 
cial paper  of  Mason  County.  Estab- 
lished in  1849.  Circulation  1,000.  Pub- 
lished weekly.  Subscription  $2,  or  $1.50 
if  paid  in  advance.  Mounts  &  Mur- 
dock.  Publishers. 

Mason   County   Republican. 

Published  Friday  of  each  week.  Terms, 
$1.50  per  annum,  in  advance.  F. 
Ketcham,  Editor ;  C.  B.  Ketcham,  Pro- 
prietor. 

Mitchell,  Isaac  N.,  General  Fire 
and  Life  Insurance.  Real  Estate,  Loan, 
Pension  and  Collection  Agency,  No.  51 
Main  street.  Represents  the  following 
reliable  Insurance  Companies:  Insur- 
ance Company  of  North  America,  Phil- 
adelphia ;  Underwriters',  New  York  ; 
Connecticut,  Hartford ;  Continental, 
New  York ;  Springfield  Fire  and 
Marine,  Massachusetts  ;  Phenix.  Brook- 
lyn ;  German,  Peoria,  111.  ;  German 
American,  New  York;  Manhattan,  New 
York ;  Royal  of  Liverpool,  England 
Western  Assurance  Company,  Toronto  ; 

N> 


BUSINESS   DIRECTORY. 


Lycoming,  Pennsylvania  ;  Imperial  and 
Northern,  London,  England,  and  Fire- 
man's Fund,  California.  Total  Assets 
of  the  above  Fire  Companies  over  $70,- 
000,000.  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany of  New  York,  Assets  over  $87,- 
000,000  ;  Travelers  Life  and  Accident 
Insurance  Company  of  Hartford,  Assets, 
$4,500,000.  Total  Assets  of  the  above 
Companies  over  $160,000,000. 

Morgan,  William  B.,  Proprietor  of 

the  Taylor  House. 

Morgan,  W.  B.,  Proprietor  of  the 
Taylor  House. 

Mlirdock,  S.  A.,  Attorney  and  Coun- 
selor at  Law. 

Newlin,  James  C.,  Constable. 

Nortrup,  H.  R.,  Attorney  at   Law. 

Parkins,  G.  W.,  Physician  and  Sur- 
geon, Main  street. 

Paul,  J.  B.,  Physician  and  Surgeon, 
101  Main  street. 

Pipkin  &  Cunningham,  Manu- 
facturers of  Farm  and  Spring  Wagons, 
and  General  Jobbing. 

Pitman,  John  W.,  Attorney  and 
Counselor  at  Law,  north  side  Main  st. 

Prottzmen,  J.,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Plum  street.  Deeds,  Mortgages  made 
and  acknowledged  and  Collections  made 
promptly,  and  strict  attention  paid  to  all 
business  appertaining  to  his  office.  Also 
Agent  for  Real  Estate. 

Rhodes,  John  W.,  Dealer  in  all 
kinds  of  Standard  Farm  Machinery. 

Sarff,  J.  W.,  Wholesale  Dealer  and 
Grower  of  Hedge  Plants. 

Schill,  A.  &  W.,  Butchers  and  Deal- 
ers in  Fresh,  Salted  and  Smoked  Meats. 
Cash  paid  for  Hides.  No.  43  Main  st. 

Schill,  Charles,  Dealer  in  Stoves. 
Tinware,  etc.,  No.  35  Main  street. 

Schwenk,  Leonard,  Circuit  Clerk 

of  Mason  County. 


Seibert,  George,  Rev.,  Pastor  of 

the  Reformed  Church  in  America. 

Shermeyer,  H.  H.,  77  Main  street. 

Manufacturer  of  and  Dealer  in  Harness. 
Saddles,  Collars,  Bridles,  Whips,  Halt- 
ers, Curry-combs,  etc.  Repairing  done 
neatly  and  cheaply.  All  work  war- 
ranted. Give  me  a  call.  Also  Dealer 
in  Uncle  Sam's  Harness  Oil. 

Siebenaler,  N.,  Manufacturer  of  Fine 
Cigars;  also  Wholesale  and  Retail 
Dealer  in  Tobacco  and  Snuff,  No.  58 
Main  street.  All  orders  promptly 
attended  to. 

Stephenson  &  Wahlfeld,  Dealers 

in  Groceries  and  Provisions,  Hardware 
and  Tinware,  Plum  street. 

Stevens,  C.,  Dr.,  Dentist. 

Strickle,  J.  P.,  Dealer  in  Staple  and' 
Fancy  Dry  Goods,  Hats,  Caps,  Boots 
and  Shoes,  etc. 

Smith,  James  P.,  Baggage  and  Trans- 
fer Express.  Prompt  attention  given 
to  the  transfer  of  passengers  and  bag- 
gage. 

Taylor,  J.  H.,  Dealer  in  Clothing  and 
Furnishing  Goods,  No.  23  Main  street. 

Thorp,  O.  B.,  Dealer  in  Hardware, 
Guns,  Pistols,  Ammunition,  Sporting 
Goods,  Fishing  Tackle,  etc.  Breech 
and  Muzzle  Loading  Guns  made  to 
order.  Repairing  done  at  reasonable 
rates,  and  all  work  Warranted. 

Vanlaningham,  M.,  Proprietor  Liv- 
ery, Feed  and  Exchange  Stable,  corner 
Plum  and  Bridge  street". 

Valentine,  H.,  Wholesale  Dealer  in 
and  Grower  of  Hedge  Plants. 

Whitaker,  S.,  Bookseller,  Stationer 
and  Dealer  in  Wall  Paper,  Latest  News- 
papers and  Periodicals,  Toys,  Fancy 
Goods  and  Children's  Carriages.  All 
kinds  of  Moldings.  Picture  Frames  to 
order.  Corner  of  Main  and  Plum  streets. 


BUSINESS  DIRECTORY. 


869 


Wiener,  A.  E.,  Dealer  in  Dry  Goods, 
Clothing,  Boots  and  Shoes,  Carpetings, 
Curtains  and  Trimmings,  Trunks, 
Valises,  Carpet-sacks,  etc.,  etc.,  new 
Masonic  Hall  Building. 

Woll,  William,  Dealer  in  Groceries 
and  Provisions,  26  Main  street. 

Wright,  O.  H.  &  H.  A.,  Attorneys 
at  Law  and  Solicitors  in  Chancery,  Real 
Estate  and  Loan  Agents. 

MASON  CITY. 

Ambrose  &  Sons,  Dealers  in  Hard- 
ware, Cutlery,  Stoves,  etc. 

Badger,  S.  M.,  County  Superintendent 
of  Schools. 

Cargill  &  Swing,  General  Merchan- 
dise. Dealers  in  Dry  Goods,  Clothing, 
Boots  and  Shoes,  Notions,  Groceries 
and  Provisions,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

Cook,  P.  H.,  Retail  Grocer  and  Dealer 
in  Queensware,  Glassware,  Lamps,Wood- 
enware,  Cutlery,  etc. 

Earl,  James  F.,  Dealer  in  Dry  Goods, 
Carpets,  Boots  and  Shoes,  Hats  and 
Caps,  Notions,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  Chestnut 
street. 

Fagan,  T.  J.,  Dealer  in  Wines,  Liquors 
and  Cigars.  Proprietor  of  Bank  Sam- 
ple and  Billiard  Room,  Chestnut  street. 

First  National  Bank  of  Mason 

City,   111.      A.    A.    Blunt.    President; 

John  Van  Horn,  Vice  President ;  Otho 

S.  King,  Cashier.     A  General  Banking 

Business  done. 

Hudson,  J.  P.,  J  ustice  of  the  Peace- 
Hulshizer,  John,  Proprietor  of  Hul- 

shizer's  Billiard  and  Sample  Room,  and 

Dealer  in  Wines,   Liquors,  Cigars,  etc. 

Entrance  on  Chestnut  and  Tonica  sts. 

Ironmonger  &  Tebbetts,  Proprie- 
tors of  Mason  City  Mills,  and  Dealers 
in  Grain,  Flour,  Feed,  etc.,  etc.  etc. 
Merchants'  milling  promptly  attended  to. 


,  H.  T.,  Dealer  in  Staple  and 
Fancy  Groceries,  Provisions,  etc.,  cor- 
ner of  Tonica  and  Chestnut  streets. 
Dealer  in  Farm  Produce. 

McDowell,  J.  B.,  Physician  and  Sur- 
geon. 

Mason  City  Independent, 

Haughey  &  Warnock,  Proprietors.  The 
Independent  is  published  every  Friday 
at  $1.50  per  year,  and  is  now  in  the 
thirteenth  volume.  Office,  No  16 
Chestnut  street,  between  Main  and 
Tonica. 

Mehan,  T.  N.,  Counselor  and  Attor- 
ney at  Law.  District  State's  Attorney. 

Naylor  Bros.,  Dealers  in  Staple  and 
Fancy  Groceries,  Confectionery,  Tobac- 
cos, Cigars,  etc. 

Onstot,  R.  J.,  Proprietor  Post  Office 
Book  Store.  Books,  Stationery,  Wall 
Paper,  Notions,  Pianos,  Organs,  Sewing 
Machines,  etc. 

ReiSinger  &  Dietrich,  Brick  Man- 
ufacturers, Ice  Dealers  and  Butchers. 

Randolph,  Charles  E.,  Wholesale 

and  Retail  Dealer  in  Groceries,  Queens- 
ware,  Cigars,  Candies.  Nuts,  etc. 

Smith,  F.  N.,  &  CO.,  Bankers. 
Receive  Deposits  subject  to  call ;  Buy 
and  Sell  Foreign  and  Domestic  Ex- 
change, Government,  County,  Town 
and  School  Bonds ;  make  Collections  on 
all  accessible  points,  with  prompt  returns 
at  current  rates ;  Discount  Notes  and 
Commercial  Paper ;  Make  Loans  upon 
Real  Estate  Securities  for  a  term  of  one 
to  five  years.  References :  Chase 
National  Bank,  New  York ;  Merchants' 
National  Bank,  Chicago ;  St.  Louis 
National  Bank,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Thompson,   W.   F.,   Furniture   and 

Undertaking,  No.  11  Chestnut  street. 

Walker,  J.   A.,  Physician   and    Sur- 


870 


BUSINESS  DIRECTORY. 


Wandell,  J.  H.,  Proprietor  of  the  St. 
Nicholas  Hotel  and  Livery  Stable. 
Large  Sample  Room  for  Commercial 
Travelers. 

BATH. 

AllGD,  J.  S.,  Dealer  in  Staple  and 
Fancy  Groceries,  Queensware,  Crockery, 
etc.  Also  Proprietor  of  the  Restaurant 
one  door  east  of  Grocery  Store. 

Barr,  Daniel  W.,  Proprietor  of  the 
Central  House.  Dealer  in  Horses  and 
Mules  ;  also  Trainer  of  Horses.  Saddle 
Horses  a  Specialty.  Livery  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Hotel. 

Cameron  &  Fletcher,  Proprietors 

of  Bath  Flouring  Mills.  Dealers  in 
Grain,  Flour,  Feed,  Bran,  Shorts,  etc. 
Queen  of  Mason  brand  of  Flour  a 
Specialty.  Orders  promptly  filled. 

Harmison,  D.  C.,  M.  D.,  Physician 

and  Surgeon,  and  Dealer  in  Drugs, 
Medicines,  Chemicals,  etc.  Physicians' 
Prescriptions  carefully  compounded. 

Heberling,  Warren,  Dealer  in 

Grain,  Groceries  and  Hardware,  Queens- 
ware,  Agricultural  Implements,  Salt, 
Lime  and  Cement. 

Horstman  BrOS.,  Dealers  in  Dry 
Goods,  Clothing,  Hats,  Caps,  Boots, 
Shoes,  and  Notions. 

Horstman  &  CO.,   Commission  and  ! 
Grain. 

LOW  &  Foster,  Shipping  and  Com- 
mission Merchants.  Main  office,  Havana, 
111.  Mason  County  Corn  a  Specialty.  : 

Middelkamp,  H.,  Undertaker  and 
Dealer. in  Lumber,  Lath,  Shingles,  Sash, 
Doors,  Blinds,  Household  Furniture  and 
Undertakers'  Goods. 

Schaaf,  A..,  Dealer  in  Groceries, 
Queensware,  Hardware,  Notions,  Stoves, 
Tinware  and  Salt. 

Turner,  W.  W.,  Proprietor  of  Billiard 
Hall. 


Turner,  W.  W.,  &  CO.,  Dealers  in 
Agricultural  Implements  and  Farm 
Tools  of  all  kinds.  Repairs  furnished. 

Whelpley,  J.  C.,  Dealer  in  Groceries 
and  Family  Supplies.  Goods  sold  at 
Lowest  Prices  for  Cash.  Highest  Price 
Paid  for  Produce. 

KILBOURNE. 

BigeloW,  E.  H.,  Grain  Merchant. 

Davis,  French,  Manufacturer  of  Sor- 
ghum Molasses  on  Shares  or  by  the 
Gallon. 

Feild,  A.  E.,  Groceries  and  Provisions, 
Tinware,  Notions,  etc. 

LOW  &  Foster,  Shipping  and  Com- 
mission Merchants.  Main  office,  Havana, 
111.  Mason  County  Corn  a  Specialty. 

B,OOt,  J.  W.,  M.  D.,  Physician   and 
Surgeon.     Treatment  of   Piles  a  Spe- 
cialty, without  the  aid  of  Knife,  Caus 
tic  or  Ligature.     Cure  Guaranteed. 

Routt,  J.  W.  &  Brother,  Black- 
smiths and  Wagon-makers.  Wagons 
and  Sleighs  made,  and  all  kinds  of 
Repairing  to  order  and  satisfactorily. 

RuggleS  &  Field,  Dealers  in  Drugs, 
Medicines,  Chemicals,  Fancy  Toilet 
Articles,  Trusses  and  Shoulder  Braces ; 
Grass  and  Garden  Seeds ;  Pure  Wines 
and  Liquors  for  medicinal "  purposes ; 
Paints,  Oils,  Varnishes  and  Dye  Stuffs, 
Glass,  Putty,  Carbon  Oil,  Lamps  and 
Chimneys ;  Stationery.  Prescriptions 
accurately  compounded.  Also  Dealers 
in  Hardware. 

MANITO. 

Eakin,  R.  S.,  Notary  Public  and  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace ;  Collecting  Agent. 
Lumber,  Doors,  Blinds,  Sash,  Brick, 
Lime,  Cement,  Drain  Tile  and  Chimneys. 

Heckman,  George,  Blacksmith  and 

Carriage-maker. 


BUSINESS    DIRECTORY. 


871 


Kosher,  E.  A.,  Dealer  in  Dry  Goods, 
Groceries,  Boots,  Shoes,  Hats  and  Caps. 
Interest  on  all  accounts  after  sixty  days. 

Sauter,  Richard,  Manufacturer  of 
and  Dealer  in  all  kinds  and  grades  of 
the  Best  Boots  and  Shoes,  Rubbers, 
Arctic  Overshoes,  etc.,  for  Men,  Women 
and  Children. 

Schoeneman,  F.,  Dealer  in  Saddles, 
Harness,  Bridles,  Collars,  Whips,  Blan- 
kets, etc. 

Shanholtzer,  J.  N.,  Proprietor  Lib- 
erty Mills.  Manufactures  and  keeps  in 
Stock  the  Best  Family  Flour,  Meal, 
etc.,  which  is  sold  cheaper  than  at  any 
other  place. 

EASTON. 

Cunningham,  J.  H.,  Dealer  in  Pure 
Drugs  and  Hardware;  Books,  Station- 
ery ;  Paints,  Oils,  Brushes  and  Fancy 
Goods  of  all  kinds,  at  prices  below 
Competition. 

LOW  &  Foster,  Shipping  and  Com- 
mission Merchants.  Main  office,  Havana, 
111.  Mason  County  Corn  a  Specialty. 

Terrel,  E.  D.,  Postmaster  and  Dealer 
in  Dry  Goods  and  Groceries. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Adkins,  J.  C.,  Dealer  in  Dry  Goods, 
Groceries,  Notions.  Boots,  Shoes,  Hard- 
ware, Cigars,  Tobacco,  etc.,  etc.     Cash  | 
paid  for  Grain.     Saidora. 

Ashurst,  John  L.,  Manufacturer  of 
the  Blunt  Succor  Drill.  This  Drill  has 
been  manufactured  only  to  a  limited 


extent,  mainly  since  1873,  when  he  was 
first  associated  with  Mr.  Blunt.  Since 
1874,  Mr.  Ashupst  has  conducted  the 
manufacturing  alone,  and  has  made  and 
sold  about  one  hundred  of  these  Drills 
this  season.  The  demand  has  been  far 
in  excess  of  the  supply,  and  it  is  Mr. 
Ashurst's  intention  to  increase  his  facil- 
ities for  manufacturing  so  that  the 
demand  for  the  coming  season  can  be 
met  for  this  Drill,  which  is  surpassed 
by  none  in  the  market.  Section  36, 
Town  20,  Range  9,  Bath  Township. 
P.  0.  Kilbourne,  111. 

Bell,  Theodore,  Dealer  in  Drugs, 
Medicines  and  Hardware,  Topeka. 

Downey,  J.  W.,  M.  D.,  Physician 
and  Surgeon,  Topeka,  111.  Office  over 
Martz's  Store. 

Jacobs,  A.,  &  CO.,  Manufacturers  of 
and  Dealers  in  Agricultural  Implements, 
Wagons,  Buggies,  Carriages,  etc.,  San 
Jose,  111. 

LOW  &  Foster,  Bishop's  Station. 
Shipping  and  Commission  Merchants. 
Main  office,  Havana,  111.  Mason  County 
Corn  a  Specialty. 

Neuman  &  Knapp,  Dealers  in  Dry 
Goods,  Groceries,  Boots,  Shoes,  Cloth- 
ing, etc.,  San  Jose. 

PaddOCk,  Howarth  &  CO.,  Pro- 
prietors of  the  Sangamon  Valley  Mills, 
Chandlerville,  111.  Dealers  in  Flour 
and  Feed. 

Smith,  Mark  A.,  Dealer  in  Grain, 
Snicarte,  111. 


POPULATION  OF  MENARD  COUNTY  BY  TOWNSHIPS. 


.TOWNSHIPS. 

1 

o 
H 

'a 

677 
1068 
204 
1059 
318 
1184 
1052 
311 
803 
2380 
1465 
797 
402 
289 
417 
393 

187U. 

e 
bo                   « 
°Z                   ~ 

£          £ 

Township  18,  R. 
Township  19,  R. 
Sweet  Water 
Township  17,  R. 
Athens  

5  W  793 

116 
175 
26 
113 
33 
87 
187 
62 
77 
441 
327 
144 
70 
50 
60 
33 

793 
1243 
230 
1172 
350 
1270 
1239 
373 
880 
2814 
1787 
941 
472 
339 
477 
426 

5W  1243 

.         .           230 

6  W  1172 

•  !       351 

Township  18,  R. 
Township  19,  R. 
Greenview  . 

6  W  j     1271 

6  W  1239 

i       373 

Township  17,  R. 
Township  18,  R. 
Petersburg,. 

7  \V  ;       880 

7  W  2821 

1792 

Township  19,  R. 
Township  17,  R. 
Tallula  

7  W  941 

8  W  472 

..  .,  .  .        339 

Township  18,  R. 
Township  19,  R. 

8W  477 

8W  426 

I860. 


Colored. 

3 
791 

Colored. 

1136 

1 

951 
392 

1 

1177 
841 

8 

682 

7 
5 

2013 
1196 

3 

962 

305 

374 

265 

POPULATION  OF  MASON  COUNTY  BY  TOWNSHIPS. 


1870. 

18 

60. 

TOWNSHIPS. 

1 

Native; 

S> 

'g         3 
£         £ 

Colored. 

jfl 

Colored. 

Allen's  Grove  

1199 

1027 

172       1199 

Bath  

2124 

1802' 

322  !     2124 

1070 

Bath  

464 

425 

39         464 

513 

Crane  Creek  

1068 

1020 

48       1068 

Havana  

2933 

"406 

527       2930 

3 

2075 

1 

Havana,  

1785 

1465 

320       1782 

3 

Lynchburg                               .     ... 

804 

692 

112  1       804 

Manito  

1352 

1088 

264       1352 

Manito  

375 

332 

43         375 

Mason  City  

2387 

2244 

143       2387 

/ 

652 

Mason  City     

1615 

1537 

78       1615 

264 

Xlason  Plains         .               .         . 

806 

639 

161         800 

Pennsylvania 

932 

875 

57         932 

Quiver  

893 

788 

105         893 

Salt  Creek  

1102 

1044 

58       1102 

Sherman... 

590 

492 

98  '       590 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  URBANA 


HISTORY  OF  MENARD  &  MASON  COUNTIES,  ILLI 


